Swallows some pride.......

[CoreyB]

As some of you know I rebuilt the engine in my 91 VR4 recently. I used a reground forged crank from NAPA. When I got the crank one of the rod journals was plugged solid with blasting material, I did my best to clean it all out and was pissed about recieving it this way but I was impatient after having to order it from half way around the country so I wasnt about to return it. I knew I should drill out the oil galleys and clean, tap and plug with set screws, I skipped this step being confident that I got it all. So for about 500 miles the car ran great but I began to hear what sounded like rod knock at around 3.5k rpm. After further investigation I determined it was in fact knock. I dropped the pan and found that I had not spun a bearing but that the rod bearing furthest from the pump was badly worn and had some of the blasting sand embedded in it. I decided to use carb cleaner and do my best to clean out the crank, polish it and slap in a new set of rod bearings and keep my fingers crossed.
Well this was going great until about 1100 miles total on the build. I once again noticed some rod knock, I had already made up my mind that I no longer really cared about the engine and had enough with it. So today I am driving it home from work and its running great when I feel a sudden loss of power. It was using full turbo power just to accelerate at all. I took the nearest exit and checked it out. It spun a bearing badly. It was clanging a banging worse then when it spun the first bearing. A interesting note is the rear turbo was also glowing bright red, but the oil pressure had dropped way of so I suspect the bad rod is in some way causing the turbo to glow not the turbo causing the racket.
So currently the car still sits at the exit because I didnt dare to drive it any further for fear of the rod going through the block or causing a fire. At this point I think I am done with this car. I know its not the cars fault but my own but its always something and I just dont have the money to keep dumping into it. Tomorrow I will get it towed home and take some good pics of her and start a for sale thread, or trade for a running base if someone is interested.
I was hesitant to post this because I know I screwed up and it will probably hurt my rep with some of you. But whatever, know you know the story and why I sit here drinking beer, a little depressed but not gonna let it get to me too much. :(

[CoopKill]

wow that sucks man! Sorry to hear the news.

[beepbeep]

Damn, man. I've read some of your threads. What a crappy break, huh? Don't sell, give it some time, and just re-evaluate.

[CoreyB]

Thanks, I appreciate it. At this point I am thinking I might go base if I can find a trade. I figure someone with a decent base will be interested in a decent VR4 needing some work. I am just sick of all the crap I have gone through, even though I admit this ones on me.

[Roybatty]

Bummer situation on the car. These cars definitely take some fortitude to own! I believe most of us have been through the frustration in varying degrees, and can empathize. At least we aren't paying the stealership! My wife has been VERY supportive. I agree with beepbeep. Relax with a beer or four and let it settle in, don't do anything rash.

Also your posting does not affect your reputation; that has been built on many helpful posts on this and the old site.

[terrets]

:( :(....Id take it off your hands if your were a little closer :p....This is a sad day.

[MR2]

Sucks dude, but then alot of people are swapping blocks n things going for strokers....hint :p

[CoreyB]

If I keep it I wont be building it back up until next summer. I am about to go have it towed home now. Still a little undecided on what I want to do with it. Thanks for the supportive comments guys.

[j2k4]

Sorry to hear this, Corey.

Keep the car.

[Granny]

Also your posting does not affect your reputation; that has been built on many helpful posts on this and the old site.

This ^

If blown engines effected rep in this community I would have been ousted a long time ago with a lot of others.

I am really sorry Corey. :hugs:

I was exactly where you are now a few months back and had basically decided to start parting out but as pissed off as I was I just couldn't do it.

Bring the car home and put in the the garage or cover it up and give yourself time to get past the anger and disappointment. If letting it sit there until next summer doesn't cause a hardship then let it sit.

Then if you still feel the same move forward but just make sure it's really what you want to do.

[Atrosity]

Sucks dude, but then alot of people are swapping blocks n things going for strokers....hint :p

:smartie:

[blindmist]

Pull the crank, send it to me, and I will have these guys that did my engine do your crank. I know for 100% they can get this shit taken care of. I wish I had taken pictures of all of the machine work they did. My god, it was beautiful, and the best I have ever seen from ANYONE. They took a forged crank I gave then from a junk motor, ground the journals, cleaned the oil gallies, and tapped them and put set screws in. When I got it back, it was amazing.

[CoreyB]

Yeah I should of drilled the oil galleys. I know for a fact thats what I did wrong and hate that I actually knew it at the time. Its on craigslist know for $2000 OBRO with trade options. I dont really care if I get any offers or not. It can sit if it needs to.

[MR2]

bugger I'm in the wrong country...I have a working GTO and a stroker motor I'm building....would save me ripping apart my working car :|

[CoreyB]

Yeah thats always the way. Nobody that would want it is near me. I may start an add here as well but I know us 3S owners are cheap bastards LOL. Kinda hope someone comes forward with a non turbo 3s to offer up. I will have a VR4 again if I get rid of this one but its gonna be awhile. Next winter money will no longer be a issue, so if I still have it I will build it properly.

[beepbeep]

Don't sell!!! It's just your aggravation and disappointment talking! If you are already saying you will have 'another' VR4, KEEP THE ONE YOU HAVE!!!!

Nothing has to be decided right now.

[Granny]

Yeah thats always the way. Nobody that would want it is near me. I may start an add here as well but I know us 3S owners are cheap bastards LOL. Kinda hope someone comes forward with a non turbo 3s to offer up. I will have a VR4 again if I get rid of this one but its gonna be awhile. Next winter money will no longer be a issue, so if I still have it I will build it properly.

Hang tight Buddy!

Back off and then make a decision. Please??????

[CoreyB]

Its not going to sell so dont worry. Even if it did I am not going anywhere, not gonna get rid of me that easy :)

[Patryn's Girl]

I'm brand spankin new here, so I don't have anything helpful to add. But I know how much my husband loves his hunk of metal and how upset he gets whenever she breaks. Which really, seems like all the stinking time to me. I agree with what the others have said. Have a few beers, kick the tires (but not the wheels) and glare at her for a while. Just like arguments with loved ones, a little time and space will help, I think.

[lawdogg]

Damn man. :( I'm so sorry to hear it. 3SNE has a few engine pulls to do this winter. :p

[CoreyB]

I will likely be able to go give you a hand Ryan when you decide to have the mini meet. I probably wont pull my engine until next winter if I still have it. Are you still selling an engine Ryan ?

[blindmist]

I will likely be able to go give you a hand Ryan when you decide to have the mini meet. I probably wont pull my engine until next winter if I still have it. Are you still selling an engine Ryan ?

If you pay for the parts and shipping I will build the engine labor free. Just offering that out there.

[CoreyB]

I can build the engine myself. I know what I did wrong, knew it at the time too unfortunatly. Thanks for the offer though.

[lawdogg]

Corey I'd love to have you up this winter when I have the meet. I do have another engine but I'm not yet sure when I'll be able to have it ready. Also, Bridge needs an engine too and has asked me about it. It's a 2 bolt and I might not have it ready to go until my 4 bolt is 100% ready which might take a while ... anyway we'll talk. Don't sell your car. Remember how I told you I'd seen that car on the road before you bought it? You're 1000000000000000000000000000x more deserving of it than that last douche. I would hate to see you have to sell it.

[CoreyB]

HAHA, Thanks Ryan. I wouldnt want someone like super Douch get the car. I am in no hurry to replace the engine so maybe we can work something out once you are all set. I understand Bridge gets first dibs. Really hope to come up and get your car together, would be fun. We havent gotten together since I spun my first bearing lol.

[mh3kgt]

I know you live way away from me, but I have a spare 2bolt longblock laying around, I believe it has a forged crank in it already, but has a melted #6 piston (stock) and the intake valves on the front head are bent, but otherwise the front head is brand new rebuilt with 0 miles. Rear head is stock with ~70k miles on it as well as the rest of the engine. I could arrange to put it on a pallet and ship it out to you if you're interested. Engine has never spun a bearing to my knowledge, I ripped it out when the stock piston fragged and had a forged block built for me, but never went and inspected the bearings on the old motor since I wasnt going to be using it anyway. PM me if you want more info

[Amphiron]

I keep swearing im hearing rod knock on my build. I'm so paranoid. Must be ghost knock can't wait to get my exhaust fixed just to hear whats going on. I only spent a total of $600 on my build so if it don't work out I wouldn't be surprised.

[CoreyB]

Yeah I onlyu spent about a grand on mine. Just kicking myself for not drilling those oil galleys. I hope you dont really have rod knock. Your car is NA right ? At least the pan is easy to drop and inspect the bearings if you are concerned.

[Amphiron]

yea, i should have did it at the 500 mile oil change but I don't have a torque wrench atm so it would have done me no good.

[CoreyB]

You can get a torque wrench for like $30 at autozone. How does your oil look, any metal in it at all ?

[Amphiron]

i didn't see any after the 20 minute change and even then there was only some tiny tiny flakes, i figure thats normal as the bearings wear in. I just replaced the bearings as preventative maintenance the old ones were very healthy.

[terrets]

You do realize replacing bearings is the main cause of spun bearings right? ;)

[CoreyB]

You do realize replacing bearings is the main cause of spun bearings right? ;)

?????? First time I have heard that one.

[Amphiron]

You do realize replacing bearings is the main cause of spun bearings right? ;)

I thought it was dented oil pans.

[CoreyB]

It is.

[terrets]

That was mean. :p.

Low oil can cause them too. That can cause dented pans. You can get rod knocks without spinning a bearing also.

[CoreyB]

I think you mean that dented oil pans causes low oil pressure, not that low oil pressure causes dented oil pans. And yes you can get rod knock without a spun bearing but it is sign that a spun bearing is on the way.

[terrets]

Not talking pressure...Talking the amount of oil in the engine....I thought thats why sometimes the pan becomes dented because the oil is low and the strainer is trying to get oil but cant and sucks up the pan.

[CoreyB]

NO. That is incorrect 100%. They become dented from people using the pan to support the engine and from hitting things. The oil pump has nowhere near enough suction power to bend the pan, and if it did then low oil would prevent it due to air being easier to suck than oil.

[terrets]

Okay, thanks for the clarification. I could have sworn I read on 3si somewhere that low oil can sometimes cause a dented pan. But that never really did make sense.