Engine rebuild Plan/Questions

[ryanx99GS]

So after a failed ebay (seller was from comlubia, mo) engine swap (balance shaft bearing threw) I am just going to rebuild my 99 shortblock and use the rebuilt 1g head and the ported cyclone manifold that came with the ebay engine. My shortblock is getting hone'd and powdercoated black. Crank is getting rebalanced and micropolished.

Now I plan on ordering from partsdionsaur.com:
- Brass Freeze plugs
- New water pump
- Accessory belts
- New pulleys
- Hydraulic tensioner
- New front case/oil pump
- ACL rod and main bearings

From slowboyracing.com
- Balance shaft eliminator kit
- HKS kevlar timing belt
- Mitsu metal head gasket (Or should I go cometic?)

Now my questions are, where should I order pistons and rods? I will be keeping the T25 and probably will get a front mount. I have heard that the ITM pistons from partsdinosaur are pretty reputable. I would like to hear from some more people though if that is true. What about Rods? Will Scats do? Any input is welcome. Are there any other parts I am missing that should be ordered? Thanks!

 

[outkastracing]

are you going to bore it out and have the machine shop do anything??? if thats the case they will replace all the plugs ext that your going to get! now for pistons im using arias pistons and they are great have"nt had a problem yet! rods your guess is as good as mine people say eagle, scat or the others i think its mostly preference!!! but eagle makes a good rod and so does scat. I am also using the 4 layer metal head gasket and love it,its great since your going to be there you might think about going ARP since your there its extra but well worth it! it says your going to use your t25 now what are your power goals?? horsepower, track or street car ext. that will give us a better idea to help you!

 

[ryanx99GS]

Horsepower wise I would say maybe to upgrade to a 16g in the future. That's about it. I want the power but I'm more towards the appearance and comfort of the ride (deff a suspension man). I want people to be like, damn, thats a nice a** 99 GSX. The power I can wait on. So mainly a street car with the exception of a few runs maybe down the road at Gateway.

I said not to bore it out (unless it needs to be). I am having Ranken Tech's High Performance Racing Technology Program do the machine work which is like i said: Honeing the block, hot tanking it, powdercoating it and rebalancing/micropolishing the crank. One of my best friend's is in the automotive program so I got a nice deal .

 

[ryanx99GS]

Okay I think im going to go with brand new OEM pistons .020 over and Eagle H-Beams .020 for my piston/rod combo with ACL's. Now, I can just leave the balance shafts out right? and just put the blockoff bearings in correct?

 

[Grimis]

yeah when you get the balance shaft kit, you get to bearings a plug and the stuby shaft for your oil pump, simple and easy install. Good luck, looks like mine path but using beefed up 2g head

 

[ryanx99GS]

yeah when you get the balance shaft kit, you get to bearings a plug and the stuby shaft for your oil pump, simple and easy install. Good luck, looks like mine path but using beefed up 2g head

Nice, I have read mixed emotions about the ACL's and Clevites. Which would be the better route?

 

[Grimis]

both are good, Im going with clevites as that is what the shop uses. I was going to get the ACL tri metal but enh, what ever is in your budget would be the better choice cant go wrong with ether IMO.

 

[ryanx99GS]

So the tri-metals are pretty then?

 

[Grimis]

heh, i guess you can say that.

 

[bastarddsm]

ehhhh...i don't think you can use eagle rods with stock pistons. stock rods are press fit and the have no provisions for circlips that are needed for a full floating pin like the eagles use. get some ARP bolts for your stock rods and rock them.

 

[ryanx99GS]

ehhhh...i don't think you can use eagle rods with stock pistons. stock rods are press fit and the have no provisions for circlips that are needed for a full floating pin like the eagles use. get some ARP bolts for your stock rods and rock them.

really? hmm okay then, stock rods it will be. Or even better, what about some 1g rods? What mod's would I need to do make those work with the stock pistons

 

[Grimis]

if you use a 2g piston /1g rod combo, the machine shop will have to machine the rods to get them to fix. Shop prices very, some charge 30 a rod, some 40.

 

[dsm-onster]

really? hmm okay then, stock rods it will be. Or even better, what about some 1g rods? What mod's would I need to do make those work with the stock pistons

Just a heads up. Do get just any 1g rods. Get 6-bolt rods 1990-1992 4g63 t and n/t. Otherwise you're stock rods are equal in durability and don't have to be machined for 2g pistons.

Considering your goal, I'd just rebuild it stock. It's cheaper, easier, and done. The 7 bolt can handle what you want throw at it all day long.

 

[ryanx99GS]

Just a heads up. Do get just any 1g rods. Get 6-bolt rods 1990-1992 4g63 t and n/t. Otherwise you're stock rods are equal in durability and don't have to be machined for 2g pistons.

Considering your goal, I'd just rebuild it stock. It's cheaper, easier, and done. The 7 bolt can handle what you want throw at it all day long.

Okay, thanks, I'll go ahead and do that with ACL's and ARP hardware. Now, when putting it back together, I do not need to reinstall the balance shafts back in the block correct? Just leave them out and put the blockoff bearings in and do the front cover mods. Also, after I get my rods hot tanked (im going to get new oem pistons), they need to be press fitted on correct?

 

[ryanx99GS]

Also, since I have a 99, with the three peice thrust washer. I would need these correct, Slowboy Racing :: DSM :: Engine :: Bearings :: ACL :: ACL DSM Main Bearings, and choose 7 bolt split thrust and .020 over bore since I am getting it bored over.

Now with the rods bearings, do I choose STD or .020 over?

 

[TjPhillips36]

If your not doing any machining to the crank and leaving it stock, then you need standard bearings for both. However you need to check and make sure your crank doesn't need to be machined first.

The boring you are talking about is boring the cylinders and that is just the pistons and piston rings that are affected, and need the proper set for the bore.

And yes since you have a 99 block you have the split thrust bearing design

 

[ryanx99GS]

All that I know of is he is rebalancing it and micropolishing it

 

[TjPhillips36]

Then you would need standard bearings. Just as long as it doesn't need cut/turned.