STI ENGINE REBUILD
04 June 2009, 07:30 PM
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STI ENGINE REBUILD
Hi all, just after xmas my engine started knocking, i tried a couple of local specialists but they where closed for the holidays, so i ended up taking it to my local garage as it was the only place open, he confirmed my fears that the bearings had gone & i left it with him till after new year when he said he'd open it up and asses the damage, and then it should be around 2- 3weeks to build it back up.
'1 month' later the engine is finaly out and split, crank was damaged and bearings obviously toasted and 2 rods where marked.
He said he'd get it re-ground and fit oversize bearings, then i told him that was'nt an option as sti cranks shoud'nt be re-ground.
A few das later he phoned and says he's found a crank in Ireland ? I said dont bother i'll source all the parts, just for my own peace of mind i wanted to know what was going back into the motor.
I got a brand new V9 crank, V9 rods, acl race bearings, new mahle rings, new oil/water pump, new modine, full engine gasket/seal kit etc etc.
The heads were sent off for re-working/skim and found to be both cracked, so i sourced a good second hand set and sent them off, thankfully they were ok and were fully stripped rebuilt & checked, while the engine was out i took the opportunity to get a new clutch and have the flywheel lightened & resurfaced and the whole rotating assembly balanced, this was all in the space of a week while he was on holiday, so not time lost i thought !
I dropped all the parts off and left him to it, and popped in every friday to see how he was getting on, 3-1/2 months and various excuses later it was finaly back in and running, only to my horror to see an empty bottle of millers gearbox oil next to it which i suspect had been put in the engine and left bedding in for around 2 or 3 hours, i pointed this out and the look of oh **** on his face said it all, but he denied that it had gone in & mumbled it would be ready in the morning, so not wanting to belive the worst i walked out & then saw him run over to it & switch it off.
I go in the next morning and suprise suprise he says it started knocking again while out test driving, he didn't admitt putting the gear oil in but blamed it on starting it without getting oil pressure first as he mentioned he couldn't get oil pressure for a while, to his credit he said he would stand the repair and get it done that week !
it took another month and a half, and he said it had marked the crank and he'd sent it off to be polished, which i wasn't happy about as i paid for a brand new crank not a repaired 1 !
Anyway i picked the car up on friday with anticipation, not the excitment that i should of had, but all seemed ok and the car sounded great as i had got a miltek de-cat down pipe and had also modified the standard STI back box internally to run staight through, it has just the right amount of growl and you can really hear the turbo spinning up.
I put about 100 miles on it, keeping under 3000 rpm as instructed, god i forgot how bad scoobys are on petrol ! but i didn't care and i even got a flash and a wave from a fellow scoobian !
The next morning i started it and there is a rattle/knocking from the engine but it went once the car was fully warmed up, it has been doing this for the last few days and it might be my paranoia, but im certian its getting worse, im thinking that the crank has been over polished and is now slightly out of tollerance and the problem is only going to get worse, i thought it could be piston slap but im sure its the crank.
Its been running on 5-30 semi synth for running in, which i changed on sunday and there were very small bits of bearing in the oil and some metal shards on the magnetic drain plug.
Is there any way of checking out if the crank is damaged, or an expert i can take it 2 im in the north west area.
The only good thing about this is i've not paid him yet !
Cheers guys any help would be Great.
'1 month' later the engine is finaly out and split, crank was damaged and bearings obviously toasted and 2 rods where marked.
He said he'd get it re-ground and fit oversize bearings, then i told him that was'nt an option as sti cranks shoud'nt be re-ground.
A few das later he phoned and says he's found a crank in Ireland ? I said dont bother i'll source all the parts, just for my own peace of mind i wanted to know what was going back into the motor.
I got a brand new V9 crank, V9 rods, acl race bearings, new mahle rings, new oil/water pump, new modine, full engine gasket/seal kit etc etc.
The heads were sent off for re-working/skim and found to be both cracked, so i sourced a good second hand set and sent them off, thankfully they were ok and were fully stripped rebuilt & checked, while the engine was out i took the opportunity to get a new clutch and have the flywheel lightened & resurfaced and the whole rotating assembly balanced, this was all in the space of a week while he was on holiday, so not time lost i thought !
I dropped all the parts off and left him to it, and popped in every friday to see how he was getting on, 3-1/2 months and various excuses later it was finaly back in and running, only to my horror to see an empty bottle of millers gearbox oil next to it which i suspect had been put in the engine and left bedding in for around 2 or 3 hours, i pointed this out and the look of oh **** on his face said it all, but he denied that it had gone in & mumbled it would be ready in the morning, so not wanting to belive the worst i walked out & then saw him run over to it & switch it off.
I go in the next morning and suprise suprise he says it started knocking again while out test driving, he didn't admitt putting the gear oil in but blamed it on starting it without getting oil pressure first as he mentioned he couldn't get oil pressure for a while, to his credit he said he would stand the repair and get it done that week !
it took another month and a half, and he said it had marked the crank and he'd sent it off to be polished, which i wasn't happy about as i paid for a brand new crank not a repaired 1 !
Anyway i picked the car up on friday with anticipation, not the excitment that i should of had, but all seemed ok and the car sounded great as i had got a miltek de-cat down pipe and had also modified the standard STI back box internally to run staight through, it has just the right amount of growl and you can really hear the turbo spinning up.
I put about 100 miles on it, keeping under 3000 rpm as instructed, god i forgot how bad scoobys are on petrol ! but i didn't care and i even got a flash and a wave from a fellow scoobian !
The next morning i started it and there is a rattle/knocking from the engine but it went once the car was fully warmed up, it has been doing this for the last few days and it might be my paranoia, but im certian its getting worse, im thinking that the crank has been over polished and is now slightly out of tollerance and the problem is only going to get worse, i thought it could be piston slap but im sure its the crank.
Its been running on 5-30 semi synth for running in, which i changed on sunday and there were very small bits of bearing in the oil and some metal shards on the magnetic drain plug.
Is there any way of checking out if the crank is damaged, or an expert i can take it 2 im in the north west area.
The only good thing about this is i've not paid him yet !
Cheers guys any help would be Great.
04 June 2009, 07:54 PM
#3
Sorry to hear- fingers crossed its OK.
Hate to say it, I'd never let anyone other than a specialist touch the engine - especially for a rebuild. I went to API when my bottom end went and travelled for 3 hours each way for the privilege - more than once. It was well worth it as they knew exactly what they were doing and only took them a couple of days once they got the engine. Appreciate you needed it done quick and sorry its not much help in saying so - but its always a bit of a gamble when you use a non specialist garage. Hopefully its OK. My advice would be to get it to someone who knows what their doing quickly - Good luck!
Hate to say it, I'd never let anyone other than a specialist touch the engine - especially for a rebuild. I went to API when my bottom end went and travelled for 3 hours each way for the privilege - more than once. It was well worth it as they knew exactly what they were doing and only took them a couple of days once they got the engine. Appreciate you needed it done quick and sorry its not much help in saying so - but its always a bit of a gamble when you use a non specialist garage. Hopefully its OK. My advice would be to get it to someone who knows what their doing quickly - Good luck!
04 June 2009, 07:55 PM
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5w30 is too thin to start with 
you need to be running a 40 rated oil minimum, but it doesnt sound as though you engine has been built properly
You can go to Prosport in stockport (0161 432 9999) who are probably THE best subaru garage around
Tony
you need to be running a 40 rated oil minimum, but it doesnt sound as though you engine has been built properly You can go to Prosport in stockport (0161 432 9999) who are probably THE best subaru garage around
Tony
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18 July 2009, 12:53 PM
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not the ending i wanted as i was hoping to have a strong uprated motor,not a oil/water leaking - knocking timebomb but suppose its just making the best lf a bad job !
Next time i'll be using a specialist or havin a go myself
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