How does engine rebuild work???

[dying2get1]

I see everyone doing rebuilds on their engine to make them better and stronger. Im new to all this and i dont even have a car yet(saving for one, planning to get a GS). so my question is how exactly does the rebild process work? do you take the engine out and send it to the people that do it? do you order the parts and take it to the shop and they do it for you? What is this exile rebuild that i see here and there? im obviously very lost so any info is helpful. Thank You all in advanced.

 

[ChvyKc]

When you rebuild a motor you are basically taking it back to the original manufacture's specs. Generally, you have the cylinders honed or bored, new piston rings, new valve stem seals, head decked, block decked, new head gasket, etc. You can usually get the parts that you need and take it to a machine shop for them to do the work. You can send it off to a place that builds motors (Slowboy, Buschur, FFWD) but you will end up spending a lot more money.

Over time, motors will eventually lose compression which in turn causes you to lose power. Rebuilding a motor will take care of this problem and ensure that the motor will last a lot longer. I am having this problem right now. Everytime that I do a boost leak test there is some air that is moving past the piston rings and into the crank case meaning that my piston rings need to be replaced. If you think about it, I am losing compression as the air is leaking past that piston ring when the motor is at full boost. If I where to rebuild the motor and seal the cylinders back up then I would probably end up gaining a considerable amount of power just from the rebuild and the gained compression.

I have no idea what this exile rebuild is though. I haven't even seen it in any of the threads. Is there anyway that you can post a link to one of the threads that you saw it in? Anyway, good luck on the GS.

 

[dying2get1]

the reasons that im not going tubro are these:

- im 18
- gota girlfriend(shes not a gold digger or nothing, but Gfs always take up money .)
- going to college
- paying for college on my own
- only making avg. 800 a month
- i need to think about MPG
- i need to think about insurance
- i need to think about maintenance
- the more complicated the machine the more money i have to spend.
- i know almost nothing compared to some guys here on DSM and cars in general
- GS is gonna be a ok starter car, and a few years down i can always buy turbo car.

i know turbos are much more fun and all but i wanna do this step by step, and i wanna learn how to work on my own car, so i dont think i can go wrong with the GS.

Thanks a lot guys for your help.

 

[Jordanbutter]

I agree with dalatin if you don't save for the turbo model you'll be saving for a turbo kit, or at least buy a turbo kit while doing the rebuild. But yes there are many processes to rebuilding, you can send it in, a local shop can do it, you can get parts and take it in, or the cheapest if you have the resources then do it yourself or well with a friend or two. Also talk to some shops and websites and see what thier costs and processes are before choosing anything.

 

[dalatinromeo]

the reasons that im not going tubro are these:

- im 18
- gota girlfriend(shes not a gold digger or nothing, but Gfs always take up money .)
- going to college
- paying for college on my own
- only making avg. 800 a month
- i need to think about MPG
- i need to think about insurance
- i need to think about maintenance
- the more complicated the machine the more money i have to spend.
- i know almost nothing compared to some guys here on DSM and cars in general
- GS is gonna be a ok starter car, and a few years down i can always buy turbo car.

i know turbos are much more fun and all but i wanna do this step by step, and i wanna learn how to work on my own car, so i dont think i can go wrong with the GS.

Thanks a lot guys for your help.

I understand where your coming from now. I'm 21 now. I know whats paying for college, insurance, and gas.

Not to mention girlfriend .. She is by no means a gold digger. But we are constantly going out every weekend to do different things. If I didnt have a girlfriend damn I would def have much more more to throw into my GSX, but they do bring other things that a car just can't bring.

Have fun with the GS

 

[Jordanbutter]

I'll say this then too. Honestly don't worry about a rebuild untill your worrying about a turbo kit. You'll be ok untill then but if you turbo it you'll wanna make sure the internals, compression, ect. are up to par, i.e. rebuild.

 

[drivemusicnow]

I think you may have a few things confused.

Rebuilds rarely make more power than a stock engine. Now, if the stock engine in is bad shape, has low compression, etc. the yes, you will see more power.

I think you're just looking for general information, so here goes:

You have 3 options when rebuilding an engine. You can send a large check to one of the companies that sells longblocks, either using your own engine as a core, or buying a completely new one. There are a number of things they can do to help it be more reliable, stronger, and in general "better". This will cost a decent amount of money.
You can also have a local machine shop/engine shop rebuild your engine. This will cost less, however they're not as familiar with 4G63 motors. You will likely have to shop for the parts yourself and buy them seperately, then have them build and assemble the engine.
Or you can build it yourself. Machining will have to be "sent out" to the local machine shop, but you CAN assemble an engine in your garage and have it last 100k miles. I would reccomend against this, unless you have all the tools and knowledge necessary to complete such an undertaking.

I've never heard of "exile rebuild" either...

And I agree with all of your reasons for getting a GS... just don't grow attached to it

 

[dying2get1]

thanks a lot for the info everyone, i understand where all the turbo guys are comming from. I think you guys are right in the long run, but for me right now im not ready for a turbo car, im not looking for a fast car or anything as of rite now, i just need something that decent and good looking that can take me from A to B. and yes its ALWAYS gonna be a DSM

 

[Jordanbutter]

Something I thought of is yeah if you get a GS insurance will be cheaper and later you can always get a turbo kit and well just don't mention anything to the insurance company. It sounds like you have a good plan with your car so good luck with school and the car. I hope it works out and is a good investment for you. Truth is mine has really only be fun (when it runs ok), and the investment part......well......yeahhh.

 

[VelocitàPaola]

Please keep the thread on topic, and don't turn this into another "420A vs. 4G63" thread.

 

[dalatinromeo]

Please keep the thread on topic, and don't turn this into another "420A vs. 4G63" thread.

I don't think anyone is turning this into 420a vs 4g63. All us turbo'd guys just recommend he should save up for a turbo'd DSM. And once he said he is set on the GS, we all said good luck and wished him well with his DSM pursuit.

 

[talnteddriver29]

I agree, Everyone here is on the right track.

dying2get1,

I know exactly how u feel. Im currently working and bringing in roughly 350/week. But each month i gotta pay 425 for rent. 200 for food.a couple hundred for the GF. & 1800 for my tuiton and 1000 for my books n shit too.

Its awesome seeing your paycheck. but terrible when you find out you gotta spend it on somethin other than a dsm.

Right now, i don't own a dsm because...

1. I was quoted at 400/month on a 1g turbo awd. (Not including any unexpected Repairs & Gas ontop of that)
2. I don't have a lot of tools. jus the basics. (No air tools, Engine Hoist, etc.)
3. I need to pay for college/rent/living for the next 3 yrs. (Im only 18)

Im looking for a project 1g awd & i am known as the "DSM Mechanic" out of my group of friends. So, basically i go on the forum and read as much as i can and help my buddies out with their dsm's /rides in my spare time. This way, I know when i decide to get that DSM, ill have some knowledge on what Im gettin myself into. Im no master Tech. but i try to learn atleast somethin new each day

You need to know your car inside out first in order to do a rebuild.(Atleast know what all the parts do)

But, thats only if you want to do your own work.

Be patient and don't get a car until you know how it works or your ready to spend the big bucks

 

[dying2get1]

I agree, Everyone here is on the right track.

dying2get1,

I know exactly how u feel. Im currently working and bringing in roughly 350/week. But each month i gotta pay 425 for rent. 200 for food.a couple hundred for the GF. & 1800 for my tuiton and 1000 for my books n shit too.

Its awesome seeing your paycheck. but terrible when you find out you gotta spend it on somethin other than a dsm.

Right now, i don't own a dsm because...

1. I was quoted at 400/month on a 1g turbo awd. (Not including any unexpected Repairs & Gas ontop of that)
2. I don't have a lot of tools. jus the basics. (No air tools, Engine Hoist, etc.)
3. I need to pay of college/rent/living for the next 3 yrs. (Im only 18)

Im looking for a project 1g awd & i am known as the "DSM Mechanic" out of my group of friends. So, basically i go on the forum and read as much as i can and help my buddies out with their dsm's /rides in my spare time. This way, I know when i decide to get that DSM, ill have some knowledge on what Im gettin myself into.

You need to know your car inside out first in order to do a rebuild.(Atleast know what all the parts do)

But, thats only if you want to do your own work.

Be patient and don't get a car until you know how it works or your ready to spend the big bucks for repairs.

amen to all that.

 

[ChvyKc]

1. I was quoted at 400/month on a 1g turbo awd. (Not including any unexpected Repairs & Gas ontop of that)

How much are you paying for the car? Is that for a loan? I figured that out to be paying around 4500 for a year at 15 percent interest. I only paid 3000 for my car and it was in awesome shape. Basically bone stock, which is what I wanted.

2. I don't have a lot of tools. jus the basics. (No air tools, Engine Hoist, etc.)

You don't need air tools or an engine hoist. I have never had to pull my motor out and if you do there are alternative ways of getting the motor out. Make some friends that have a cherry picker. That's what I did. I have two friends that have a cherry picker just incase I decide to pull the motor. Air tools are nice but they are not an absolute must. I just use regular hand tools for everything that I have done to my car. You can pull the head off a 1G in an hour and a half with just basic tools (as long as you happen to have that crazy 10mm hex socket for the head bolts)

3. I need to pay for college/rent/living for the next 3 yrs. (Im only 18)

I feel you there. No way to get around that.

 

[talnteddriver29]

How much are you paying for the car? Is that for a loan?
You don't need air tools or an engine hoist. I have never had to pull my motor out and if you do there are alternative ways of getting the motor out.

I got quoted at 48 a year on a 91 tsi worth 3000. No its not a loan. Its an Insurance Quote

I understand ya when you say you don't need an engine hoist. But i do a lot of reading on vfaq and forums and am eager to start a rebuild . Theres a lot of little things that i needed when working on my buddies dsm. For example- The engine mounts were a PITA. I needed the help of a torch to get those off. & a handy impact gun can help those rusted bolts and shit too. But your right, you dont need to buy a hoist. I guess i could try to rent or borrow some type of lifting device.

I jus gotta wait my year out and ill grab a beater DSM and slowly build my way up, cause I dont need a DD.

Cheers

 

[luvmygst]

I would wait and find a good used 1g turbo. I just bought a 91 tsi AWD with 110k on the car. I got the car for $900 becuse the guy didnt know what he had. Good deals are there you ust have to look. I looked for over 6 months. GO with the gs, but keep your eyes open for a cheap 1g turbo to play with. And this way you save money on insuramce by just gettin liability not full coverage. Then you have tranportation and use the turbo car to learn your way arooud a car. Good luck in school, and the Gf That is probably the hardest part. Cars are simple compared to women.