Engine Build Part 5: Short Block

[kwbunn]

Well, it's been a while since my last update. DSMTuners had made it so you had to be a "Proven Member" to post blog entries, so I was locked out for a while. But I've managed to contribute to the community a bit, and get my blog posting status back. Yay me!

Since my last blog entry, I got the block back from Jackson Auto Machine, and it's beautiful. It's quite nice and clean. It's like you can eat off of it! They managed to create the plugs for the 4G64 oil drain holes that don't match up to a 4G63 head as detailed here, and did it so well, they made it look almost factory. They also put the block together, and balanced all of the rotating assemblies as a unit. As detailed in a previous post, JAM was unable to put the 4G63 oil squirters in there, but they machined the rods to help in largely the same way. In the block pictures I have the balance shafts in and the front cover on, but it's not torqued down.

The first picture is the top of the block. You can see the tops of the Wiseco 9:1's there, and the light spots on the deck are where JAM plugged the 4G64 oil drain holes.

The second picture is the top of the block again with a 4G63 head gasket laid over the top of it so you can see that the holes that *do* matter are lined up perfectly. They did a great job. You can see the OEM gaskets I got from JNZ Tuning in the background.

The third picture is the bottom of the block, where you can see the base of the Eagle rods. I'm using a stock crank- it was surprisingly in really good shape. You can't see it in this picture, of course, but there's ACL bearings in there.

The fourth picture is of the balance shafts - JAM, as a part of their balancing process, included the balance shafts - yes, they balanced the balance shafts- I thought that was pretty cool! The shafts have assembly lube on them; this was right before I put them in the block.

 

[TSIfreek]

Why are your putting the BS back in??

 

[kwbunn]

TSIfreek: Those shafts are there for a reason, and the fact that it's a 2.4 means that the heavier reciprocating mass could benefit from the vibration cancelling the shafts provide. I went into this build wanting to retain the shafts, and Jackson actually told me they would have recommended it anyway. The horsepower gain by removing them is inconsequential as far as I'm concerned, and I plan to do regular belt maintenance. So, to me, it was a foregone conclusion to do it the way the factory intended.

 

[ChunkyLover53]

I'm not trying to start problems, but regarding your statement "what the factory intended" interests me. I am sure the factory intended for us to use GT35r's and AEM EMS with 1600cc injectors too, but...... Well you get where that was going.

 

[kwbunn]

ChunkyLover53: This whole build is sort of an "OEM plus" project. I don't intend to use a GT35R, or 1600cc injectors, or the AEM EMS. An EvoIII 16G, DSMLink, and >1000cc injectors are fine with me. But, even if I were going to use those parts, I'd still have kept the balance shafts. They're designed into the system, and I don't feel like removing them is worth the trouble in a 2.4.

 

[ChunkyLover53]

I know, I was just giving you a hard time. Nothing malicious intended. By the way all of your parts are looking super clean. I will follow this build to the end. Good Luck!

 

[kwbunn]

ChunkyLover53: I didn't think you were. No worries. Thanks for the support!

 

[Street Surgeon]

JAM sure loves them some balance shafts don't they? They told me I had to use them in the stroker shortblock they made for me but when I asked them why I had to use 2.0 balance shafts to counter the vibrations made by my 2.4l crank they didn't even know that the swinging weight value was different for the two . The killer thing is that it's not so much the belt maintenance that worries me as it is spinning a bs bearing. They probably got you a set of their coated bearings like they did for me though as well which I promptly popped out, turned, and put back in to block off the oil passages

 

[kwbunn]

Street Surgeon: Fortunately, my bottom end components, including all of the rotating assemblies, were from the same block. And since I'm building a (relative) duplicate of a '94 DOHC Galant GS motor, the parts cross over to it as well. That being said, JAM's opinion or not, I still would have kept the shafts. No matter what shop was going to to my build, it was a non negotiable option that I was going to keep the shafts in the motor, so it was fortunate that JAM has such a love for them.