2.3 6 bolt swap rebuild help

[j_biggz]

I recently picked up a 95 talon tsi with a swapped 6 bolt stroked to 2.3. A few days back the oil sending unit snapped off at the oil filter housing and she lost all her oil on the freeway. By the time I knew something had gone wrong it was too late for the motor. All the rod bearings are shot and I'm assuming the mains are gone also. I will be pulling the motor as soon as I have an extra day hopefully this weekend. My question is what parts should I use in putting her back together? From the few people I talked to she needs to be hot tanked (block and head). Have the rods and pistons reconditioned and and a new oil pump, and have the crank micro-polished. I plan on using Velpro gaskets and acl race bearings. Basically I'm just looking for advice. Anything helps thanks (this is my 1st build)

 

[g4ebguy90]

I have never heard of recondtioned pistons. But rods and crank for sure. Your pistons might be alright. You just got to take a look at them when you pull them out.

 

[kthackst]

Everything will need to be inspected. Crank/rods/pistons. Chances are no oil means you seized. Personally I think a new block crank rods and new pistons just to be safe. These parts are cheap enough for this car is doesnt cost much more to go new (new to you but used parts).

The crank is probably scarred beyond where I would want to use it or even getting it repaired. The rods probably got so hot they are now weak.

My advice on seized motors is just get rid of them. You spend more fixing them than getting another good used core.

 

[3kgt2nv]

use oem gaskets and the tri metal bearings are pretty nice. if its your first engine build a lot of reading and some special tools will be needed.

tools to have.
a GOOD torque wrench
set of calipers
bore gauge

services that should be done with the block

hot tanked
check the deck
check the cylinders for out of round and taper
re honed
bore checked for in tolerances from spec

head
checked for surface and finish

since the block was built one some other factors come into play, if you warped the block was it decked before and is it still tall enough to be decked again if needed

did you score the cyl walls and they need to be bored which will require larger pistons?

did the crank get scored and need to be turned beyond stock bearing clearance size.

take your time and build it right. dont rush just to get it done. there are alot of small steps that are involved with building a motor properly vs building a motor


fast
cheap
good

pick 2

 

[j_biggz]

From what I saw of the cylinder walls from having the pan off and rotating them by hand everything up top looked clean and in good shape. I wont know for sure until I get the top end off and can really take a look. I'm really hoping it isn't a complete mess. Any advice or experience on parts to put her back together? What works and doesn't? I just want to build it this one time and have it done right.

 

[3kgt2nv]

unless your eyeball is calibrated to thousandths of an inch or to put it simply if you can gauge the wear of the block down to half the with of a human hair by looking at it, I would get everything measured by a good shop.

 

[j_biggz]

She didn't seize up luckily. I know it was done up right the first time when it was built about 40k ago and have the paper work for the block work. Shes set up to make 500hp so shouldnt I use something other than oem? Felpro is what is on her right now according to the paper work I have on the motor. Not sure of the bearings used. From what I can tell there is no major scaring on the crank where the rods connect but I haven't seen where the mains ride yet. I did have a lot of metal in the pan unfortunately.

unless your eyeball is calibrated to thousandths of an inch or to put it simply if you can gauge the wear of the block down to half the with of a human hair by looking at it, I would get everything measured by a good shop.

I plan on having a machine shop do all the critical measuring and checking all the tolerances. I will probably have them install the rotating assembly for me for good measure.

 

[3kgt2nv]

its your car. i suggest a lot of research.

 

[j_biggz]

its your car. i suggest a lot of research.

I always try to do my home work. This more or less is my first step until I have the motor out and can see the extent of the damage. I would love to pick up a crate motor and just drop it in but for now rebuilding is more in my budget than going the other route. I completely understand this is going to be a long process and will probably more difficult than I want it to be but I feel like rebuilding and getting acquainted with the motor will help me understand it better. My goals are to run 12s and maybe 11s so I want to build it to last for that.