Howell Automotive

[NeonGreenEclips]

Im thinking about getting the crate motor short block 2.2 stroker from Howell Automotive. I talked to Todd at Howell Automotive and he said that it is an easy bolt up. Just wondering on how easy this project is because I thought this would be the easier route in building up my engine for my turbo kit. Just wanted to get everyone's opinions on what they think about Howell Automotives crate motor or if they know anyone who did this?

 

[turboed420A]

Good products, long shipping time

 

[NeonGreenEclips]

So im guessing you bought one from howell automotive? How long is the shipping time?

 

[pr0]

So im guessing you bought one from howell automotive? How long is the shipping time?

It could take as long as 3 months. I ordered my turbo kit back in October and still haven't got it as of today but if you're ordering, talk to Gary, he can usually speed things up.

 

[bones_420_99]

hey pro are you on 2gnt as well. cause there is someone on there having same deal (figured it might be you) but anyways if so have you gotten any more word on when they are going to ship the stuff to you. after reading that last post on 2gnt dude it does seem that you are getting shafted. :thumbdown

 

[pr0]

hey pro are you on 2gnt as well. cause there is someone on there having same deal (figured it might be you) but anyways if so have you gotten any more word on when they are going to ship the stuff to you. after reading that last post on 2gnt dude it does seem that you are getting shafted. :thumbdown

Yea thats me on 2gnt, still haven't gotten a firm date as of today. Gary at howell is trying to find out what happened because when I talked to him he said it probably wasn't even ordered!

I was hoping to get it all installed before winter but I guess that's not going to happen

 

[green95hrcgs]

I have the Howell Stroker. I love the engine, but it did take some time to have it done which was quite frustrating for me at times.

 

[BigRand]

Okay I was gonna post this exact thread yesturday myself but didn't get around to it...so thanks neon green for getting it started.

I'm having a shop help me out in rebuilding my motor before I go turbo, and I was wondering if it would be easier to just have howell send me a rebuild kit, (bottom end), or just pick up a short block from them (that is the right block? I"m still basically a newbie) or alternatively pick up the pistions/rods/rings/bearings etc from another place or magazine?

Also whats better std. rod length or long rod
and should I leave the bore size stock or do go bigger or change it in anyway

I'm having a shop help me, but I figure I better ask you guyz, cause it seems to me first hand experience goeas a long way.

Thanks

 

[NeonGreenEclips]

I have the Howell Stroker. I love the engine, but it did take some time to have it done which was quite frustrating for me at times.

How does it run with your turbo? How much pounds are you boosting on it? Have you dyno'ed it? How much Horsepower?

 

[green95hrcgs]

How does it run with your turbo? How much pounds are you boosting on it? Have you dyno'ed it? How much Horsepower?

Engine runs great with the turbo. I have only boosted 12-14psi, but was running way lean at the time with an almost 18:1 A/F ratio. YIKES!!!!!! But the car put out 262.7hp@ the wheels and 272.5ft/lbs of torque TOTALLY UNTUNED. Not too bad IMO, but still could be better. I now have the 8 injector setup, but have not been back to a dyno.

The car does seem to have a good bit more torque than when I still had the 2.0L.

 

[green95hrcgs]

Okay I was gonna post this exact thread yesturday myself but didn't get around to it...so thanks neon green for getting it started.

I'm having a shop help me out in rebuilding my motor before I go turbo, and I was wondering if it would be easier to just have howell send me a rebuild kit, (bottom end), or just pick up a short block from them (that is the right block? I"m still basically a newbie) or alternatively pick up the pistions/rods/rings/bearings etc from another place or magazine?

Also whats better std. rod length or long rod
and should I leave the bore size stock or do go bigger or change it in anyway

I'm having a shop help me, but I figure I better ask you guyz, cause it seems to me first hand experience goeas a long way.

Thanks

It would be easier to have Howell biuld the engine, than have them send you the parts and then you take/send them to a machine shop to have it assembled etc. The less "middlemen" as they say is better IMO. However, as i already posted, Howell can take ( and did take a while in my instance ) to get things done. There are others that can tell you the same.

Increasing the bore size may be necessary, but not needed. If you order from Howell, I think that you have to specify what size rings you need ( .20 or .40 overbore ). Not really worth the money to overbore IMO.

Only a few people have the "long-rod" kit, and they seem happy with it. However, its not really the same as the 2.2L stroker that they offer. If you want more displacement, get the 2.2L stroker rather than the long rod or overbore.

FTY used to make engines for us, and a slightly larger stroker than Howell, but they have since ceased to do so from what I hear.

Another option is the 2.4L swap ( not a direct swap ) that some peeps on 2gnt are doing. Too much work for me IMO.

BTW, you cannot just order the 2.2L stroker kit from Howell as far as I know. The crankshaft is offset machined to allow for the increase in stroke from what i understand. Its not just a matter of pistons and rods. You have to order it from them, and have them build it for you.

Good luck!

 

[BigRand]

It would be easier to have Howell biuld the engine, than have them send you the parts and then you take/send them to a machine shop to have it assembled etc. The less "middlemen" as they say is better IMO. However, as i already posted, Howell can take ( and did take a while in my instance ) to get things done. There are others that can tell you the same.

Increasing the bore size may be necessary, but not needed. If you order from Howell, I think that you have to specify what size rings you need ( .20 or .40 overbore ). Not really worth the money to overbore IMO.

Only a few people have the "long-rod" kit, and they seem happy with it. However, its not really the same as the 2.2L stroker that they offer. If you want more displacement, get the 2.2L stroker rather than the long rod or overbore.

FTY used to make engines for us, and a slightly larger stroker than Howell, but they have since ceased to do so from what I hear.

Another option is the 2.4L swap ( not a direct swap ) that some peeps on 2gnt are doing. Too much work for me IMO.

BTW, you cannot just order the 2.2L stroker kit from Howell as far as I know. The crankshaft is offset machined to allow for the increase in stroke from what i understand. Its not just a matter of pistons and rods. You have to order it from them, and have them build it for you.

Good luck!

Okay well I talked to one of the guys at howell, and he said if I didn't order soon, it would take longer because race season is coming so do I.......

a) buy a turbo kit (hahn or star) slap it on, and save up for the short block head?
b) buy the short block head wait for it to come, and put it on, and while I"m waiting save up for the turbo and have them both by mid summer or later?

 

[onepimpclipse]

Option B would be better so the car is only down once and it will be ready for some real boost. I know it sucks to wait, but it doesn't suck to do it right.

 

[turboed420A]

Option B...Rebuild it first, so you can handle the boost and sleep good at night

If I had to do it over again I would get the 2.2 or 2.4

 

[green95hrcgs]

Well it took about 5 1/2 months for them to get my engine done. They gave me the same reason that he gave you about the race season, which is perhaps true plus other reasons. NOW is the time to have engine work done, so that you can enjoy the car in the summer. I think thats what most people do, and thats why they get backed up this time of year.

If you do order your engine now, you have to realize that you have to be VERY VERY patient with them. IF thats something that you dont want to have to deal with, then go with option A.

 

[97eagletalonesi]

So if I opted for the 2.2 stroker should I go with the forged crank also. What else would I need like, water pump, cams, head pulleys etc...... Do sheperd trannys make fwd trannys or are they into the awd. Oh and how much boost could those engines hold.

 

[dustyb]

Do sheperd trannys make fwd trannys or are they into the awd. Oh and how much boost could those engines hold.

shep doesn't rebuild 420a transmissions. no sense in it when a 420a transmission can hold roughly 500 hp stock. if you're set on gettin a different transmission, get a neon tranny. has better gear ratio's than the nt's we drive. any built motor can hold roughly 25-28 pounds of boost w/o different headgaskets and shiz. and if you want the stroker you have to get the forged crank i believe because otherwise they don't send you a crizank. (fk me if i'm wrong about the crank tho)

 

[97eagletalonesi]

i plan on going turbo so what compression ratio shoul i go with

 

[green95hrcgs]

So if I opted for the 2.2 stroker should I go with the forged crank also. What else would I need like, water pump, cams, head pulleys etc...... Do sheperd trannys make fwd trannys or are they into the awd. Oh and how much boost could those engines hold.

YOU DO NOT NEED A FORGED CRANKSHAFT! I have NEVER seen anyone that has broken a stock crankshaft in these cars much less any other car to a point where you have to worry about it. Howell contracts out to a shop that modifies the stock crankshaft to allow the increase in stroke. Hence, you cannot just buy the stroker kit from Howell ( in pieces ) and have it shipped to your door. Howell BIULDS the stroker FOR YOU.

Shep does not work on the NVT350 transaxles in our cars.

You do NOT need cams etc. You dont HAVE to do anything to the head if you dont want to. I think that a water pump comes with the bottom-end package that they sell.

 

[97eagletalonesi]

what compression should i run

 

[green95hrcgs]

what compression should i run

A friendly 8.6:1 compression ratio is want to go with.

 

[dustyb]

YOU DO NOT NEED A FORGED CRANKSHAFT! I have NEVER seen anyone that has broken a stock crankshaft in these cars much less any other car to a point where you have to worry about it. Howell contracts out to a shop that modifies the stock crankshaft to allow the increase in stroke. Hence, you cannot just buy the stroker kit from Howell ( in pieces ) and have it shipped to your door. Howell BIULDS the stroker FOR YOU.

Shep does not work on the NVT350 transaxles in our cars.

stuff i already said. and you have to buy a forged crankshaft if you don't send yours in. you don't have to port and polish your head or do any of that cam nonsense. it only makes the air flow a lot more efficient and huge hp increases for what its worth, but hell its not worth it. (if you can't tell i'm really exaggerating). you can get your head ported and polished plus camshafts and valvesprings (don't want valvefloat now do we boys?) for about 1200 if you can find a good machine shop. you don't need it of course, but its well worth it when you can run higher boost and not blow your head off of your block....

 

[97eagletalonesi]

thanks for your help all. i know what this yr im doing save save save. although i almost have enough just for the 2.2 but after this i should have enough to woop some ass next spring

 

[green95hrcgs]

stuff i already said. and you have to buy a forged crankshaft if you don't send yours in. you don't have to port and polish your head or do any of that cam nonsense. it only makes the air flow a lot more efficient and huge hp increases for what its worth, but hell its not worth it. (if you can't tell i'm really exaggerating). you can get your head ported and polished plus camshafts and valvesprings (don't want valvefloat now do we boys?) for about 1200 if you can find a good machine shop. you don't need it of course, but its well worth it when you can run higher boost and not blow your head off of your block....

Yeah, I guess, when you consider that HRC has been running the stock head for a while with the ho they have been making. But if you wanna SPEND your money, by all means do so.

 

[DSMSimms]

I've been lookin into the 2.2 stroker, but my question is lets say you run 25 psi on it and have your car tuned, what do you think the estimated horsepower will be?