Want to push my 2g off a cliff.. Need some help

[Ryanmalloy44]

I bought my 99 GSX April 12th 2011.. Engine blew April 12th 2011. Since then

-Engine rebuild kit was bought from machv and a full stock rebuild was completed
-Crank was resurfaced
-Walbro 255 fuel pump upgrade
-dsmlink v3 lite
-Bunch of miscellanious other things
-New big 16g turbo


Street tune was completed in September on stock boost until I bought stand alone and completed full tune

Driven about 100 miles gingerly and the tranny blows... Roughly three months ago
-Tranny rebuild completed
-New slave cylinder
-ACT clutch.. forget model but rated to roughly 400 torque
-ACT flywheel

I drove the car right out of the transmission shop and on the way home my motor blew again. When I got it home and checked it out I noticed the boost was cranked all the way up. Seems the transmission shop had some young mechanics that liked to go on fast test drives. It seemed funny right off the bat but I just kept off the boost for the most part on the way home. After contacting my lawyer and playing the finger pointing game I realized it would've been a waste of time going after the shop. It was all speculation even though I know I never turned it up after leaving from the street tune.

The best part is I ran home real quick when I broke down to pick up my other car and wait for the tow truck. In that half hour somebody smashed a glass liquor bottle on my windshield and cracked it.

I'm really thinking this car is cursed... I need some advice on what to do next.

This is my first DSM and the rebuild of the motor was really enlightening to me as far as tuner cars go. I'm used to my v8 mustangs not having anywhere near as many problems.

Somebody please tell me there's light at the end of the tunnel

 

[TrystanGST]

There always is light. Sometimes it's heaven, other times it's a train. Sounds like you caught the express line.

A properly running GSX is a thing of beauty. And maybe when you rebuild you'll learn even more from doing it yourself.

 

[boostingsx98]

What exactly happened to the motor? Headgasket? Spun bearing? How much psi are you pushing?

 

[Ryanmalloy44]

I'm pushing roughly 15lbs of boost. I wanted to keep it low since I was on all stock internals. I was going to save my money and purchase a 6bolt motor to build. Then go crazy with that.

For right now the motor is knocking really bad. I haven't really had much progress on it since it happened because it's been pretty cold here in CT and I don't have a heated garage. When it originally broke down smoke was coming out of where you can check the oil. The racing headers looked like moulton lava. They were bright orange. I'm debating looking for a built 6bolt but wanted some suggestions like who is a reliable company and what not. If I did another full rebuild to have it happen again I would be devastated.

The mechanic that did my first rebuild assured me I did not need to get the bored kit and send the motor out to be done. I'm really regreting not going with my gut feeling. The car has 140k on it but in taking all of the different components together you could tell the car was beat to hell

I'm not going to lie it was a really poor purchase for me. I'm typically a lot smarter. In high school I always wanted a red 99 GSX so when it came up on craigslist I had to have it. I did do a completed test drive and inspection the problems were perfectly masked to get it through a test drive and sale. I've been burned since day one with the seller and multiple shops.

I'm also willing to send the car out of state to be done properly. At this point I have far more money in the car than it's worth so I want to make sure it's done right. I plan on holding on to this car for a long long time after the road i've been on with it so far.

 

[DSM Chase]

I don't understand your story. Your motor "blew up" because the kids at the mechanic shop turned ## boost up on a test drive? Then on the way home you happened to not see what it was boosting an blew it up? Also you said ## exhaust manifold was orange, what were you boosting the whole time after you just got it out of he shop?Something's Wrong here...

 

[IrishBeatdown]

Well, my gut feeling is the car is cursed. I don't think many people on here will agree, there certainly isn't any empirical evidence to prove that it truly is cursed, but sometimes you just need to know when to fold a bad hand. Sell it, and never look back. Purchase a new GSX, what can it hurt? The one you have is all messed up. I think the part of the windshield getting smashed did it for me. God hates your car.

 

[supermario300hp]

Wow. Sorry to hear about your bad experienece with your car. Your lawyer was right in telling you not to pursue the shop. it probably would have cost you a ton of money. and your still left with a broken car. Had similar experience with my old S2k. Bought it with 70k on it drove it lightly for 1month and the motor blew. Cost me a ton. but i rebuilt it as well. If I was you, Id get a 6bolt and build it the way you want. And send it to a reputable shop. Ive got a couple by me..so im lucky that way. AMS, P&L, and strictly modified. AMS will be the most expensive, if your looking for places out of state to send the motor.Anyways good luck.

 

[jimbob_843]

Who did the engine rebuild? Did they have any experience with dsm's? Maybe they put the rod caps on wrong (tangs opposite of eachother) and eventually the bearing spun? I wuoldn't trust any of the shops you're bringing your car to. Do everything yourself so you know its done right.

 

[stuckwithgsx]

Cursed or not, it's up to you to decide if you want to keep going with it. Personally I believe in karma and superstitions. Curses, bad omen's, etc.. can all be overcame with enough determination and motivation. Treat it right, and it will return the favor. Some things just take a lot more love to be happy. Sounds like you got something that wants A LOT of love. If you don't want to, or can't give it what it wants then it'll never be happy.

This is all like going through girlfriends... one day you'll find one that will be your wife. It could be any girl, but do you want one that doesn't make you comprimise so much? Or are you willing to do whatever you have to do to have the one in your hands now?

Good luck!!

 

[91stocker]

I would talk to a different lawyer.

 

[nek]

Question. How was your boost turned all the way up without you knowing. As soon as I go into boost and looked at my gauge I can tell both visually and by common sense that my boost has changed.

 

[6bolt4g63]

Who rebuilt your motor?

 

[Force Fed 4g63]

If you really are willing to send the car out of state to get it done right, I would contact STM:

STM | STREET TUNED MOTORSPORTS | DSM | EVO | SUBARU | PERFORMANCE & DYNO TUNING

 

[Sebba]

You can push it right into my driveway if you'd like.

 

[95talongirl]

Wow....

Sorry to hear. At this point, I'd send the car to a reputable shop and have it gone over. I personally hate leaving cars like this in the hands of other people, as they do not care; since it's not their car.

Just a little over a month ago, I was working the Detroit Auto Show. They gave us valet parking passes that we had to use to park. I'm driving a beater 1989 Chrysler Lebaron Turbo with the a555 Getrag transmission. So I had this feeling the car was not going to make it through the 10 days. First it's a manual, and second it has a reverse lock-out since reverse is in front the first gear on the lever. Needless to day valet managed to break the reverse lock-out on the car. (so you can easily go in reverse rather then first) Of course, they told me the car "was already like that." UGH!!! I feel your pain...

Long story short.... it sucks leaving anything... beater or not... that *may* be fast and fun in the hands of other people.

But I say rebuild it.. they are such a blast when all put together.

 

[black_gst]

that really sucks man, I had a cursed 95GSX so I parted the B!tch out and when I took her shell to the scrap yard I got like $60 for her, she weighed like 600lbs

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I put her in the trailer with an engine hoist

 

[eclipse012]

Its totally your decision in what you do from here on out. But after reading your post, i will tell you that i think. You should be doing a ton more reading up and learning about your car, and your local dsm clubs / shops. For one, you state that you will send your car out of state to have it done properly. You should not have to go to this extent. I think you should check out the vfaq's, read up on there. Find some local dsm / evo clubs. Make new friends and learn a few things of what others have tried in the past, learn from others mistakes, et. Ask where local people have been getting work done by what shops, or if theres someone locally that can help you out in your build and knowlege. It will save you headache and money in the long run. It also kinda sounds like you get excited and get high hopes at the times your getting someone to work / tune your car, and put full trust in what they say they think is the best, or what they would do, goes. I understand this because i was the same way. My point is that if you bring your car to a shop or someone, bullshit your way into telling them what you want, and they clue into the fact you have not a idea on what you need done (parts, repairs, certain supporting mods) in order to hit a certain power goal that your aiming for. (Probly more so when they see a guy come in with a car that needs maintanence before modding and tuning). They most likely will take advantage of you and your wallet. They already know what needs to be done to your car to repair it, and do genral maintainance, they do this everyday for a living. But not all mechanics know exactly what parts will be needed to support your new turbo or how to tune etc. I know cause i've been down that path before. So calm down, take your time, read up on your car. Join a local dsm club, meet new friends. Find out who's a reputable shop / mechanic, and ask questions before you leave your car with them. If you get a sketchy feeling and are not sure you think they know completely what they are talking about, then don't have them do the work. Look some more unil you know you can trust them enough to do your work. It will not be a over the weekend process but it will be more of a project for a few months or so until you get your car back to running order. Remember to read on here as much as you can. Use the search button. Ask questions. Having a build plan & a budget will save you more money in the long run. Besides you said its too cold to work on your car right now. Why not use this time to learn and figure out your upgrade path?

 

[supermario300hp]

I would talk to a different lawyer.

Obviously you have never had to pay a lawyer or tried getting money from a privately owned bussiness after a law suit. Good luck. your better off telling them to go to hell and not wasting your time and money.

 

[Black95awd]

You can push it right into my driveway if you'd like.

This, but my driveway. I'll be out digging the cliff.

 

[bombDSM]

At the end of the day its still a gsx so rebuilding is always worth it IMO.

 

[IrishBeatdown]

Also, I know quite a few lawyers, a few members of my family are, and I'm in law school. Not an actual lawyer (yet) so I can't comment, however, what I do know is whatever damages you are able to win in court, if you are able to win, would hardly pay your lawyer's retainer. I can't see a lawyer helping unless the threat of a suit is enough for the shop to get on it and redo the work. That seems remote.

 

[mebetter]

I had pretty much the same experience. I purchased my 98 gsx out of state and picked it up there in Connecticut. The car drove perfectly for about 100 miles. Then the radiator went bad, the alternator, and the alternator belt all at the same time. Tow the car home and then it seemed to be one problem after another and then the engine blew. Honestly with the exception of the radiator, belt, and alternator, all problems I've had with the car were really my fault. The car was breaking up in boost, because I left an intercooler pipe loose. The car also was breaking up really bad because I had the spark plugs gapped wrong. I blew the engine because I was running too high of boost that I wasn't tuned for and hit fuel cut and was running the car ragged. I saved up my money found some good deals and now have a 2.3 stroker engine I'm dropping in and all the proper supporting mods. I've learned from my mistakes and for now on will do things right the first time, not beat on my car as much, and be mindful of things such as boost unusually high. Bottom line is you can blame things on everyone else if you want, or you can take responsibility for the actions and choices you made that got you in the situation, man-up rise to the occasion and finish out your dream car, or you can give up. Makes no difference to me what you choose but I know which route I'm going.

 

[Ryanmalloy44]

What happened is I left the shop and something seemed off. I had boost for a couple minutes not really pushing it. Then all of a sudden I had no boost at all. So I drove it straight to the other shop I had it tuned and when I popped the hood I noticed my intake pipping had come off the car. We threw the piping back on and I drive home. That's where we noticed the boost was turned all the way up on my boost controller. The mechanic of the shop told me I got lucky the motor didn't blow. I took off from that shop and didn't make it home. That's when it shit the bed

Yeah the lawyer thing wouldnt have been a good idea. I never would've won.

The car is currently parked in the back yard. I'm so mad at it as funny as that sounds. I'm not doing another damn thing until I figure out everything ahead of time. I'm not terrible mechanically it's just a greater learning curve with these tuner cars

 

[DSM Chase]

Have you even checked your intercooler piping, I suspect a massive boost leak. Literally the car will not run if a pipe is blow completely out of a coupler which probably is your problem. On your way home you probably just boosted to much and blew a coupler off your intercooler piping. Do a boost leak checks look for obvious things...

 

[Ryanmalloy44]

Yeah I'm working on a better location to work on it than my make shift unheated garage in my backyard. Not easy to work on a car when it's 15-30 degrees at night