605bhp Per Ton 200SX Powered Kitcar
Discussion
wormus said:
dave2007bc said:
Glad someone is listening. Thought my posts were invisible or something.
Well with respect, it hasn’t worked out well so far so you might want to try something else? Your money I guess.Don’t post stuff on the internet if you don’t want other people to comment.
I'd imagine that it would need a new clutch, new adaptor plate, new exhaust, new engine mounts, new engine loom, maybe a new ECU etc.
While, yes there is the whole sunk cost fallacy at the same time even if another engine *is* much better and someone gives it to you for free it can still be cheaper and quicker to fix what you already have!
wormus said:
dave2007bc said:
Glad someone is listening. Thought my posts were invisible or something.
Well with respect, it hasn’t worked out well so far so you might want to try something else? Your money I guess.Don’t post stuff on the internet if you don’t want other people to comment.
I do appreciate the feedback and comments, but I did clearly explain the entire reason for the decisions made in the post above to to simply repeating what you've said is a waste of your time.
A Saab engine would need a refresh, few hundred minimum, clutch, gearbox, mounts, exhaust, ECU, loom, new if pipework, steering might need to be modified etc. It would cost way more than it would to fix this one and be a 'normal' engine. It may do 400bhp but this engine at this spec (with a bigger turbo) should do 600bhp safely sadly I've had problems which, as I've already mentioned, are primarily related to workmanship.
wormus said:
dave2007bc said:
Glad someone is listening. Thought my posts were invisible or something.
Well with respect, it hasn’t worked out well so far so you might want to try something else? Your money I guess.Don’t post stuff on the internet if you don’t want other people to comment.
For me the pleasure is in driving. For others, it might be in the fixing/rebuilding. I respect that too.
Personally I couldn't live with only getting to enjoy it for 12mths at a time before it bit me, and constantly worrying about the impending failure. But then I'm pretty risk-averse - I sold a CA18DET-engined car because it bit me.
It feels a bit like the conversation a counsellor might have with a wife going back to the husband who mistreated her to "give it another go". It's not a logical decision.
C70R said:
wormus said:
dave2007bc said:
Glad someone is listening. Thought my posts were invisible or something.
Well with respect, it hasn’t worked out well so far so you might want to try something else? Your money I guess.Don’t post stuff on the internet if you don’t want other people to comment.
For me the pleasure is in driving. For others, it might be in the fixing/rebuilding. I respect that too.
Personally I couldn't live with only getting to enjoy it for 12mths at a time before it bit me, and constantly worrying about the impending failure. But then I'm pretty risk-averse - I sold a CA18DET-engined car because it bit me.
It feels a bit like the conversation a counsellor might have with a wife going back to the husband who mistreated her to "give it another go". It's not a logical decision.
t itself every couple of hundred miles!!!Greg_D said:
C70R said:
wormus said:
dave2007bc said:
Glad someone is listening. Thought my posts were invisible or something.
Well with respect, it hasn’t worked out well so far so you might want to try something else? Your money I guess.Don’t post stuff on the internet if you don’t want other people to comment.
For me the pleasure is in driving. For others, it might be in the fixing/rebuilding. I respect that too.
Personally I couldn't live with only getting to enjoy it for 12mths at a time before it bit me, and constantly worrying about the impending failure. But then I'm pretty risk-averse - I sold a CA18DET-engined car because it bit me.
It feels a bit like the conversation a counsellor might have with a wife going back to the husband who mistreated her to "give it another go". It's not a logical decision.
t itself every couple of hundred miles!!!Greg_D said:
quite, and if you look at the miles covered/trouble caused the results would probably make pretty sobering viewing. It's basically always broken. I wouldn't say that the OP shouldn't rebuild it, that's his judgment call. but i would personally save up and put in a motor that is less likely to expensively st itself every couple of hundred miles!!!
It did 5 years on a 30 year old standard engine. Rings went.t itself every couple of hundred miles!!!It did 4 weeks on a forged engine. Tuner melted it
It did 1 day on a 30 year old engine. Headgasket went.
It did 12 months in a forged engine. Part failure
Certainly annoying but hardly "always broken" or "s
t itself every couple of miles".None of the issues are those that are the common faults of a CA. They're either part failure or workmanship. These things happen. Life goes on and as said by someone else above, if it worked all the time I'd be bored.
Kitcars are like Lego cars, you take bits off, change, improve. It never ends, it's all part of the experience and learning curve.
I've learnt so much from having this car, what to do, what not to, how to choose a tuner etc I don't have the funds to just ship it off to a builder and get a 5 figure bill and the car back so it is what it is. You don't always succeed the first time, or fourth ha.
Edited by dave2007bc on Thursday 26th November 16:43
I'm not one for saying that this engine is "cursed" or "unlucky", but there's something non-coincidental about the way you're approaching this that results in continual failure.
If you're hell-bent on rebuilding this engine rather than replacing (which it seems you are), maybe it's worth stopping and evaluating the root cause and decisions that led to the numerous previous failures.
Are you picking the right people to work on it? If not, what's causing you not to choose those who do?
Are you spending the appropriate amount, or choosing proven parts for longevity at the power level you're running? If not, what's causing the corner cutting?
Ad nauseum.
If you're hell-bent on rebuilding this engine rather than replacing (which it seems you are), maybe it's worth stopping and evaluating the root cause and decisions that led to the numerous previous failures.
Are you picking the right people to work on it? If not, what's causing you not to choose those who do?
Are you spending the appropriate amount, or choosing proven parts for longevity at the power level you're running? If not, what's causing the corner cutting?
Ad nauseum.
dave2007bc said:
It did 5 years on a 30 year old standard engine. Rings went.
It did 4 weeks on a forged engine. Tuner melted it
It did 1 day on a 30 year old engine. Headgasket went.
It did 12 months in a forged engine. Part failure
Certainly annoying but hardly "always broken" or "st itself every couple of miles".
I’m not after an argument, but breaking in a major way 4 times in 4 years and 2,800 miles meets my definition of expensively sIt did 4 weeks on a forged engine. Tuner melted it
It did 1 day on a 30 year old engine. Headgasket went.
It did 12 months in a forged engine. Part failure
Certainly annoying but hardly "always broken" or "s
t itself every couple of miles".tting itself every few hundred miles...Don’t think I’m against kitcars or having a go, I built my own road legal single seater from the ground up, including a big power turbo conversion. But your car simply isn’t reliable enough. Hence my previous comment about trying a different direction.
You can’t tell me you trust that ca!!!!
Golly .this has all gone a bit roman games , to counterbalance it , well done chap for building such a fast car , and making great vids , and having the determination to travel a less well known path . You're a credit to the british home building fraternity .Personally i think its more interesting to work on an engine that requires thought and problem solving .
regards
robert
regards
robert
C70R said:
I'm not one for saying that this engine is "cursed" or "unlucky", but there's something non-coincidental about the way you're approaching this that results in continual failure.
If you're hell-bent on rebuilding this engine rather than replacing (which it seems you are), maybe it's worth stopping and evaluating the root cause and decisions that led to the numerous previous failures.
Are you picking the right people to work on it? If not, what's causing you not to choose those who do?
Are you spending the appropriate amount, or choosing proven parts for longevity at the power level you're running? If not, what's causing the corner cutting?
Ad nauseum.
Engine 1 failed because it was 30 years old and was running twice the power it came from the factory with.If you're hell-bent on rebuilding this engine rather than replacing (which it seems you are), maybe it's worth stopping and evaluating the root cause and decisions that led to the numerous previous failures.
Are you picking the right people to work on it? If not, what's causing you not to choose those who do?
Are you spending the appropriate amount, or choosing proven parts for longevity at the power level you're running? If not, what's causing the corner cutting?
Ad nauseum.
Engine 2 failed because I fitted it in the space of 2 hours without so much as an oil change because I had a trackday the following day.
Engine 3 failed because the mapper was incompetent.
Engine 4 appears to have failed due to the engine having debris going through it as my air filter wasn't doing its job. The timing jumped also- still investigating this.
The new engine will be built by a professional.
Greg_D said:
dave2007bc said:
It did 5 years on a 30 year old standard engine. Rings went.
It did 4 weeks on a forged engine. Tuner melted it
It did 1 day on a 30 year old engine. Headgasket went.
It did 12 months in a forged engine. Part failure
Certainly annoying but hardly "always broken" or "st itself every couple of miles".
I’m not after an argument, but breaking in a major way 4 times in 4 years and 2,800 miles meets my definition of expensively sIt did 4 weeks on a forged engine. Tuner melted it
It did 1 day on a 30 year old engine. Headgasket went.
It did 12 months in a forged engine. Part failure
Certainly annoying but hardly "always broken" or "s
t itself every couple of miles".tting itself every few hundred miles...Don’t think I’m against kitcars or having a go, I built my own road legal single seater from the ground up, including a big power turbo conversion. But your car simply isn’t reliable enough. Hence my previous comment about trying a different direction.
You can’t tell me you trust that ca!!!!
dave2007bc said:
C70R said:
I'm not one for saying that this engine is "cursed" or "unlucky", but there's something non-coincidental about the way you're approaching this that results in continual failure.
If you're hell-bent on rebuilding this engine rather than replacing (which it seems you are), maybe it's worth stopping and evaluating the root cause and decisions that led to the numerous previous failures.
Are you picking the right people to work on it? If not, what's causing you not to choose those who do?
Are you spending the appropriate amount, or choosing proven parts for longevity at the power level you're running? If not, what's causing the corner cutting?
Ad nauseum.
Engine 1 failed because it was 30 years old and was running twice the power it came from the factory with.If you're hell-bent on rebuilding this engine rather than replacing (which it seems you are), maybe it's worth stopping and evaluating the root cause and decisions that led to the numerous previous failures.
Are you picking the right people to work on it? If not, what's causing you not to choose those who do?
Are you spending the appropriate amount, or choosing proven parts for longevity at the power level you're running? If not, what's causing the corner cutting?
Ad nauseum.
Engine 2 failed because I fitted it in the space of 2 hours without so much as an oil change because I had a trackday the following day.
Engine 3 failed because the mapper was incompetent.
Engine 4 appears to have failed due to the engine having debris going through it as my air filter wasn't doing its job. The timing jumped also- still investigating this.
The new engine will be built by a professional.
It might be worth talking to people in the 200sx owners' club, or on Driftworks, or on FB groups. There are a lot of people who have used and do use this engine in high stress applications, like drifting and sprinting/time-attack.
I know of at least one specialist (who I've used in the past) who knows these engines like the back of his hand. He's in Kent (https://www.facebook.com/d.a.lperformance1), but I've no idea where you are in the country.
I have followed this thread for a while.
I think getting a professional to build the engine is a good thing in my eyes.
I would also not run that HKS mushroom filter, they arent great in an engine bay let alone out side the car. I get that packagaing is a little difficult but would say a K&N with a Pre-filter in the bay will be the best solution although i get less then ideal air temps.
Keep up the effort and I would stick with the CA18
I think getting a professional to build the engine is a good thing in my eyes.
I would also not run that HKS mushroom filter, they arent great in an engine bay let alone out side the car. I get that packagaing is a little difficult but would say a K&N with a Pre-filter in the bay will be the best solution although i get less then ideal air temps.
Keep up the effort and I would stick with the CA18
ivanhoew said:
Golly .this has all gone a bit roman games , to counterbalance it , well done chap for building such a fast car , and making great vids , and having the determination to travel a less well known path . You're a credit to the british home building fraternity .Personally i think its more interesting to work on an engine that requires thought and problem solving .
regards
robert
^+1, someone takes the time to document and film his car build and woes. Puts it all out to see free of charge for our entertainment. regards
robert
Explains in the video and the thread why he’s not going to drop a k20 etc in with his reason why.
People then berate and criticise him for his choice and not spending an extra £2-£3k on it above the cost already being incurred despite him repeatedly saying he can’t afford or doesn’t want to afford the extra cost.
Well done guys. If I was him I’d f
k you all off and not bother documenting it any more. This does take up his time and effort. I for one am glad you take the time op. Best of luck getting it fixed, hope it goes well.
MB140 said:
ivanhoew said:
Golly .this has all gone a bit roman games , to counterbalance it , well done chap for building such a fast car , and making great vids , and having the determination to travel a less well known path . You're a credit to the british home building fraternity .Personally i think its more interesting to work on an engine that requires thought and problem solving .
regards
robert
^+1, someone takes the time to document and film his car build and woes. Puts it all out to see free of charge for our entertainment. regards
robert
Explains in the video and the thread why he’s not going to drop a k20 etc in with his reason why.
People then berate and criticise him for his choice and not spending an extra £2-£3k on it above the cost already being incurred despite him repeatedly saying he can’t afford or doesn’t want to afford the extra cost.
Well done guys. If I was him I’d f
k you all off and not bother documenting it any more. This does take up his time and effort. I for one am glad you take the time op. Best of luck getting it fixed, hope it goes well.
MB140 said:
Well done guys. If I was him I’d fk you all off and not bother documenting it any more. This does take up his time and effort.
That's a wild overreaction. If you read back the last page or so, nobody is being rude or unkind to the OP.k you all off and not bother documenting it any more. This does take up his time and effort. OP seems to (understandably) go through peaks and troughs, and when he's in his troughs he seems very sensitive or snappy to suggestions that he might consider alternatives. I suffered his wrath for politely suggesting an alternative, from personal experience of the CA18DET, when it broke this time last year.
C70R said:
That's a wild overreaction. If you read back the last page or so, nobody is being rude or unkind to the OP.
OP seems to (understandably) go through peaks and troughs, and when he's in his troughs he seems very sensitive or snappy to suggestions that he might consider alternatives. I suffered his wrath for politely suggesting an alternative, from personal experience of the CA18DET, when it broke this time last year.
You’re not wrong... I had noticed that. OP seems to (understandably) go through peaks and troughs, and when he's in his troughs he seems very sensitive or snappy to suggestions that he might consider alternatives. I suffered his wrath for politely suggesting an alternative, from personal experience of the CA18DET, when it broke this time last year.
Anyway, best of luck to the op in getting it back on the road.
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