Poll, Continue to be a DSMer, or throw in the towel...

[my98gsx]

Ever since I can rember ive been a DSMer, I love my GSX but its giving me nothing but heart ach... Im now on my 6th build and its been years since i enjoyed my car. In the past 5 years its seen the inside of my garage more than the street. Heres my history...

Build 1; Stock block, Stock head 272 cams, big 16g. rod knock. 110K miles

Build 2; PTE 57trim, eagle 100mm crank, eagle rods, weisco pistons - Improper ring end gap (machine shop error) 100 miles

Build 3; PTE 57trim, Eagle 100mm crank, eagle rods, weisco pistons, .040 over - Melted the piston skirts, 100 miles

Build 4; FP 3586R BB, New block SBR Stage 3, OEM 4g64 crank, eagle rods, mahle pistons - timing belt failure damage to piston and head. 1100 miles

Build 5; FP 3565R BB, Stage 3 SBR block, OEM 4g64 crank, eagle rods, new Mahle pistions, SBR stage 3 race head. - Spun rod bearings. 200 miles

Build 6; FP 3586R BB, Stage 3 head rebuilt, block... unknown...

Should I throw in the towel and end this DSM horror, or rebuild yet again... I purchased a new Manley crank and bearings all im short is new rods (which manley is telling me to use the turbo tuff series due to my past problems) Im sick and tired of pumping money into this sport with no positive outcomes Ideas? Thoughts? Words of motivation ha-ha???

 

[95talongirl]

Build a 16g or similar setup....

Bigger turbos usually end up in a never-ending project since you start getting to power levels that are better suited for a weekend car where it can sit for a long time without a problem.

It's an addiction. But sometimes a compromise is needed.

BTW, what are you using for tuning?

 

[TallestHERETIC]

Build a 16g or similar setup....

Bigger turbos usually end up in a never-ending project since you start getting to power levels that are better suited for a weekend car where it can sit for a long time without a problem.

It's an addiction. But sometimes a compromise is needed.

BTW, what are you using for tuning?

Damn, beat me to it!

Just an observation, maybe you aren't tuning correctly or enough.

 

[TSimage]

"If in doubt, part it out.."

 

[BoostedBen]

Sounds like its your luck is terrible.

 

[Diamond Star Werks]

Rebuild it again but try going with not so much big turbo setup. Try to gain more Hp out of precision instead of force. Build something more suitable for road race and not straight line performance. High performance straight line cars never last and though they may put down wicked numbers they are usually always short lived and rebuilt constantly. Build something that would be quick and agile. Like say building a car to be fast on a mountain pass. Which would not require high boost pressures or even real high hp but moderate hp that allows your car to pick up fast on the low end instead of top end. How can you enjoy driving a car you built for high top speeds? Straight lines are boring if you ask me. The curves are where its at for me. The real way to enjoy your car if you ask me is not building it for some high speed record but building it so its quick in through the corners and quick to get to the next one. Drag racing is cool but to me WOT and a straight line has its fun limitations. Don't give up

 

[DSM_love_GST]

Sounds like you dont know how to break in a motor. I mean they are all low millage, before the end of the break in period except 2, 4, and 1

 

[my98gsx]

Thanks for the input so far... Ill agree a little with everyone here. I loved my 16g setup. It boosted amazing for street use, and was alot of fun at the track. But I got power hungry... I went to the 57 trim back in the day when everyone had 50's (remeber when that was the hot turbo of the time) It made great power and I enjoyed it. At low boost I put down 372wph with an SAFC, Turbo XS RFL and a pace setter header

kris gsx 372 awhp 333 awtq - YouTube

I should have left it at that... Im into the straight line power though, and I feel like i am at the point of no return. I have a vehicle with no power steering, no ac, front seats are sparcos with harnesses, huge front mount, willwood brakes - itll look stupid to go back to a 16g setup in my opinion

As for my mods they are all listed on my profile. At this time it takes too long to list, and i forget most of the parts.

Tuning is done via DSMlink V3. AFR's were spot on, timing as well for break in period, never got to tuning with the big builds. I live in NY so AEM is out of the question with an OBDII car...

Engine break in was spot on what my machine shop and slowboy told me... prime the oil pump, run for 20 min, dump the oil and replace, ect...

I honestly feel like A i have bad luck, and B theres gotta be something im overlooking thats causing these engines to fail at such low milage... Lets keep this poll open and see if anyone else has any ideas - but again Thank you all!

 

[dsmtun3r98gst]

Hmmm seems like most of us here are leaning towards a rebuild. Ultimately is your choice.

 

[bryanwheat]

From the sound of it, these engines were assembled incorrectly. 2 with spun bearings, one timing belt failure a ring failure and a piston failure. This has nothing to do with luck, it's all about not double and triple checking your work. If you do things correct off the bat than you will never have these problems.

 

[danielsl1999gsx]

Wow.. im surprise your still in the game. Switch over to a 6bolt man, nothing wrong with 7bolts. But with my pass experiences and horror stories, they were all on 7bolts. RRE built my 6 bolt and this thing is already at 68k with no problems ( knock on wood)

 

[gusu]

I don't know about you, but I really enjoy working on my car. Even stupid small stuff. But I never seem to be able to spend the money on what I planned on. Something always comes up.

 

[hypergenesis]

Im not on 6 builds but I just had my 7 bolt walk on me honestly try to swap to a 6 bolt with a 2g head since you can do that for the better air flow. Unless im mistaken the reason 7 bolts get crankwalk is due to the bearings so that could have been your cause.

Armin

 

[1991 awd talon]

well i haven't really worked on my talon for too long. but its fun. the community here is really good. and as long as you have somewhat of good funding, i think these cars are well worth it! but i would say if you trust this community then go with the masses. that's one think i've learned on this site. for the most part the masses are always right because they've all already been through it before! cheers!

 

[Diamond Star Werks]

Engine break in was spot on what my machine shop and slowboy told me... prime the oil pump, run for 20 min, dump the oil and replace, ect...


Next time Try breaking it in by priming the oil pump, start it up and let it run for an hour. Change oil and filter. My current preference is Mobile1 5w-20 full synthetic. Then after the oil change full the tank up with premium and just let it run that tank out and fill it up again then drive that tank out driving normal and maybe limit your boost to five psi. Do another oil change somewhere btwn 500-1000 miles. That should be a good break in period for about any build. Nice car man rebuild it and take your time and if you have any doubts about anything go back and check to be sure even if you have already checked it twice already. Keep it up man. Next build you will get right and Will be in love with your car

 

[teenvette77]

Part out and buy an sti so i dont feel like the only traitor. Lol. But im having trouble parting with my dsm as well.

 

[dsmTripp]

Stay with dsm. My spyder has been on jacks for a year and I'm still in love with it. Oh and my Subaru daily driver um lets just say the three hours ago the engine locked up on the way home. Though in subarus deffense I have enjoyed it as a daily driver until today.

 

[goodbuds]

bring it down alittle, then start enjoying it again, you know what you want to do already, at this time. your just asking if it's ok with us. you won't know as much about a subi as your dsm.
if you don't love it anymore let it go. but don't say that subi's suck when you blow it at 300 whp.

 

[dexterholland04]

I've owned my current DSM for almost 2 years now...it's been driven a dozen or so times and I maybe put 500 miles on it. It spent the better part of last year in pieces because I went from t25 to 20g to BW S362 to HX40, completely rebuilding the car each time. I made 440+ whp on my stock block with the BW turbo on pump gas that has 110k miles on it. I guess what I'm trying to say is, if the car can sit and if you like sinking stupid amounts of money into it, keep it! Lord knows I like to do both.

 

[my98gsx]

hahaha its nice to know im not the only one in this situation

 

[4Lurker4]

Rebuild it, it's a hobby like anything else. If you don't you'll use the money somewhere else anyway. I don't think it would be bad switching back to a 16g set-up again if you have to as 95talongirl suggested. It's proven, easy to maintain and works beautifully with the 4g63T. My thoughts on DSMs was, the easier mod with high longevity and a fun factor I'd be happy with. You've already had the power in it, why not go back to an easy set-up that still puts a smile on your face and avoids the car being on stands instead of on the road?

 

[Raph]

I had a 57 trim on my DSM, now it was quick enough and still streetable.342 whp

My Evo 4 is running its stock twin scroll td05 hr 9t turbo..its response and driveability would blow my 2g out of the water.. the DSM would only be quicker in a straight line..in the right gear at the right time..catch it off boost and it was hopeless.

After a 2jz and back to a 4g63..ive learned that drivability/response (ultimatley-response and reliability) is what counts the most,and you will enjoy it more.

rebuild a sharp,responsive 4g63... with a nice 16g /something simular.

I ont know if this wise message has reached dsmtuners..but choose a turbo based on how much power you want,and not on how much power its capable of...i wish i knew that earlier.

On a side note..the Lanevo is on jackstands, waiting for an Evo 6 TME turbo for testing sake (slightly more lag,more torque and holds more boost ) And its just got a new flywheel and clutch(last clutch exploded!)

 

[rowdygst]

i had a gst that i bought " built" 1 week later, the car blew up on me, i rebuild it pretty nice new crank, forged pistons/rods arp everything,cams the whole thing..used it for about 3k miles..then decided i wanted awd..traded the gst for a crappy ass awd tsi plush cash ontop and now im starting again from the bottom up...car is a bucket, but i enjoy working on the car so i dont car...

my brother on the other hand has had some bad luck/machine shop error/tuner erros and he is currently on his 6th or 7th build on his srt4..everytime the car goes down it comes back up with more power, this time around he is aming for 700whp..or 10s at the track...

ofcourse he has been to the point where he is about to give up, but he steps away from the car for a bit, then comes back at it with vengance..so if you love it, keep goin at it eventually youll have one sick dsm, if you ar not sure anymore just forget about the car for a few days and if you still not sure then part it out and move to another platform

 

[V12 Killa]

I'm on my second go around with my 2ga Talon. At times I feel like dropping everything and cutting my loses but deep down I know I want to drive my baby once again. So I say keep it and throw a 16g setup in it and ride it 'til the wheels fall off.

 

[ElectronVTEC]

What's the alternative? EVO? Getting out of cars completely? Life is about options and compromises. My GSX put me through hell last year but rebuilding it (after very seriously considering parting it out, had the thread ready to post) was the best decision for me. My DSM is more than just a car, it's an escape, a stress-reliever (and stress producer, granted), an outlet from work. They can be expensive but only if you let them, IMO. I trashed a 6-bolt block good. Had it back up and running stronger for $700 or thereabouts. That's not chump change but I also didn't need to throw a $3500+ built motor at it.

You need to figure out what made the car and the experience fun for you. If it's too costly to get back to that, call it a day and move on. Sometimes just a simple change of scenery is all you need. I do believe in cursed cars, . Best of luck with your decision.