Forged Engine Rebuild - do i need this much???

Right, after speaking to Dean at Powermax Engineering, and explaining that i melted a piston and now after a rebuild, want to run between 350 - 400bhp in my s14 SR20 engined s13 for competitive drifting, he has given me two options:

Option A - full forged rebuild:
* block rebore
* resurfacing of block
* polished crankshaft
* ACL race main bearings
* ACL race big end bearings
* thrust washers
* bottom gasket set
* 1.6mm metal head gasket
* HKS forged pistons
* PEC conrods

or

Option B - as above but with a Heavy Liner conversion costing an additional £740!!

QUESTION IS: obviously money is a big factor so do i really need the heavy liner conversion if i never actually intend on running more than 400bhp??? Dean at Powermax is very helpful but ive heard that the standard SR20 internals can cope with up to 450-500bhp so unless im running more than 500bhp, why would i need this heavy liner conversion??

surely option A is more than enough for what i want (400bhp)????

Thanks in advance guys.

option A sounds good. The crank should be fine unless your mains fecked up its been scored.
Hks pistons cost a bomb, why not cp or je ones?
Might as well get a full nissan gasket and seal kit then you can do your stem seals while your at it.
best to get the head skimmed while your at it too if running mhg.

How much boost are you planning on running? Standard internals are proven to be very capable at 1.4bar and some lads have run more on them.

Liners are the job when running when running silly boost or pistons over 87mm

well just cos ive already got the hks pistons and i got them as part of a good deal when buying my engine.

i thought the heavy liner conversion was a bit too much just for 400bhp....its not like il need more for UDC anyways..

Just planning on running a max of 1.4 bar. probably a lot less but just want my engine to be able to cope with that if needs be.

Dean at powermax was saying that he's done the heavy liners on a load of their cars running over 500-600bhp but like....id RB my car before id put my SR at that hp. lol

just wanted a few other opinions because ive not got much experience as regards running this sort of hp so im not too sure with what i need.

You don't need forged rods to run 400hp standard will do well above that!!!

The standard engine is well capable of 350- 400bhp easily. A fella in England called Polo ran 460bhp with a completely standard Sr20 with the head cracked for a whole season. There are plenty fellas drifting standard SR20s in the 350-400 region. I reckon you would be better off getting a 2nd hand engine in good condition. They can be had very cheap these times.
It would work out alot cheaper than rebuilding your own engine.
Thats just my opinion if your only going for that sort of power.
As for the options you engine builder is giving you, Go with the first one definetely. No need for uprated liners unless you are going for absolutely crazy power. Conrods arent needed either. Im saying all this to you coz I hate seeing fellas waste money on stuff they dont need.

yeh i know what you mean like and i wanna have money for other mods too. thanks for your help dude!

The first question to answer before you consider doing anything is why did the piston melt and have you rectified the problem.

What diameter are the HKS pistons you have?

For 400hp you don't need rods and certainly not liners etc.
There would also be no reason to surface the block unless it is damaged etc

I just basically explained the problem and what happened to the engine to the guys at powermax and they gave me an idea of what they said was needed.

I bought the engine with the piston already melted with the intention of rebuilding the whole lot to the point where i basically had a perfectly new engine...or almost.

the guy i bought the engine off said he had the engine rebuilt and hoofed it up a straight road right away without running it in or anything and the engine then started to smoke and was running on three cylinders after richard bradley checked it out.

Im not gona bother buying a new engine and doing away with the one i have, i just wanna know what exactly needs done as regards a rebuild.

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Originally Posted by kevy-s13

I just basically explained the problem and what happened to the engine to the guys at powermax and they gave me an idea of what they said was needed.

I bought the engine with the piston already melted with the intention of rebuilding the whole lot to the point where i basically had a perfectly new engine...or almost.

the guy i bought the engine off said he had the engine rebuilt and hoofed it up a straight road right away without running it in or anything and the engine then started to smoke and was running on three cylinders after richard bradley checked it out.

Im not gona bother buying a new engine and doing away with the one i have, i just wanna know what exactly needs done as regards a rebuild.

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Unless the block has been stripped you can't say what is needed. You would have to inspect the block after strip down and see what(if any) damage has been done to the bores.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kevy-s13

I just basically explained the problem and what happened to the engine to the guys at powermax and they gave me an idea of what they said was needed.

I bought the engine with the piston already melted with the intention of rebuilding the whole lot to the point where i basically had a perfectly new engine...or almost.

the guy i bought the engine off said he had the engine rebuilt and hoofed it up a straight road right away without running it in or anything and the engine then started to smoke and was running on three cylinders after richard bradley checked it out.

Im not gona bother buying a new engine and doing away with the one i have, i just wanna know what exactly needs done as regards a rebuild.

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Not much good to you now but never buy an engine like that again if you expect to use most of the bits in it.
My block was damaged so i went fully forged 2.2 otherwise id have kept it standard enough

no no no.....richard bradley (i dont know if youve heard of him) he's the man for the job regarding nissans up north... but he knew the engine and what exactly was needed for it cos he did the work on it previously etc.

but i was just pricing around with other companies to see what work i could get done for in and around a grand.

I bought the engine, gearbox, loom, ecu, a brand new clutch and hks forged pistons all for only £450. thats extremely cheap no matter what condition the engine is in. lol

i havent had a proper word with richard as of yet but he roughly quoted me around £700-£800 for having the engine perfect again, but i figured if i could upgrade all the internals for an extra £400 odd then surely it'd be worth it. but it was only then that powermax mentioned the heavy liner conversion etc.

Richard and I obviously heard the engine running before buying it so we knew it wasn't anything major.

The best thing you could do my friend is have a chat with the Pro driver Mike Dean.He knows Sr20s inside out. He will tell you exactly what you need .:)

thanks for the info dude. another guy already put me in contact with him. might just give him a shout!

sorry to bump an old thread but at what power would you need forged rods?

on what engine mate? sr20?

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Originally Posted by Ryan200sx

sorry to bump an old thread but at what power would you need forged rods?

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SR20det's with standard internals can run up tp 450hp when well mapped.

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Originally Posted by kevy-s13

on what engine mate? sr20?

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sorry its a sr20 lad!

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Originally Posted by nissan_doctor

SR20det's with standard internals can run up tp 450hp when well mapped.

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thanks for that. was thinking of going for round the 450 mark and was wondering if rods were needed aswell.

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Originally Posted by Ryan200sx

thanks for that. was thinking of going for round the 450 mark and was wondering if rods were needed aswell.

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I wouldn't attempt to run 450 on an engine that has not been stripped and inspected though. It would want to be a fresh engine idealy with new rings, bearings, oil pump etc etc.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nissan_doctor

I wouldn't attempt to run 450 on an engine that has not been stripped and inspected though. It would want to be a fresh engine idealy with new rings, bearings, oil pump etc etc.

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yea i was going to do that and fit metal head gasket and head bolts too.so would be safe enough to run 450 with just forged pistons and a good map?

thanks for the help.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ryan200sx

yea i was going to do that and fit metal head gasket and head bolts too.so would be safe enough to run 450 with just forged pistons and a good map?

thanks for the help.

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cost is my biggest problem mate so i was basically thinking the same thing about the rods. i want to go with the exact same original build but keep the standard rods as i can never see myself wanting more than 450bhp.

but my main question is, for the sake of another 300 quid, would it be better just going for the eagle conrods? or can the standard sr rods cope with 450bhp?????

im kinda thinking that the 300 quid il be saving will go a long way towards a power fc!! lol

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kevy-s13

cost is my biggest problem mate so i was basically thinking the same thing about the rods. i want to go with the exact same original build but keep the standard rods as i can never see myself wanting more than 450bhp.

but my main question is, for the sake of another 300 quid, would it be better just going for the eagle conrods? or can the standard sr rods cope with 450bhp?????

im kinda thinking that the 300 quid il be saving will go a long way towards a power fc!! lol

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im on the exact same wavelength as you!lol i would never want more than 450bhp and there isnt much point buying rods if they arent needed as money could be better spent on other things!:rolleyes:

tbh lads if you want big power you need to spend money. You might be better off aiming lower and doing it right instead of trying to cut corners to save a few quid