I swear half of working on cars (at least half) is a test of patience. You cant get a stuck bolt out if you're frustrated, and you pretty much need to realise that without unlimited funds, building up a serious car is going to take a LOT of time, and a LOT of setbacks.
Speaking of setbacks,
1. The machine shop called me today and one of the rods in my 97 KA is "bent to hell." Apparantly the engine hydrolocked at one point, and the rod just couldnt take it. I was planning on using the stock rods, too... The guys at the shop are going to try to source me a replacement stock rod, but if they cant find one (although they said they probably would), I'm going to have another huge $$ decision to make. Guess that explains the "ticking sound" the previous owner of the engine described. So much for my timing chain guide theory.
2. When I finally pull my KA to swap in the new built motor, I was planning on fixing the rust thats on my strut towers with a little professional cutting and welding. I was under the car today and I noticed the damage is far more extensive than I thought, one of the pillars is completely rusted through at one point (there is no rust on the rest of the car, only here...). I brought it to a trusted, well respected body guy in town and he said that I am probably going to need a new apron (the whole tower assy.), and 8 "or so" hours of labor @ $75 an hour, and thats just for one side. The other side is about to have the same problem soon, too.
Bleh. Im getting really frustrated with this damn project. The thing that sucks is that I'm already so deeply invested in it already (machine shop work is over a grand, plus I have close to $2k in parts), so it's not like I can just decide it's too expensive. I was thinking about just getting another S13 body instead of paying the $1500+ cost to fix the strut towers, but then again who knows what problems that one will have, how much it might cost etc etc...
ARRRUGH somebody here must have some comforting words... tell me I'm not the only one with big, hugely expensive, project-stopping caliber problems....
setbacks in my KA-T buildup
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bruinbear714
- Posts: 1159
- Joined: Thu Sep 05, 2002 9:58 pm
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Re: setbacks in my KA-T buildup
fiznat wrote:I swear half of working on cars (at least half) is a test of patience. You cant get a stuck bolt out if you're frustrated, and you pretty much need to realise that without unlimited funds, building up a serious car is going to take a LOT of time, and a LOT of setbacks.
Speaking of setbacks,
1. The machine shop called me today and one of the rods in my 97 KA is "bent to hell." Apparantly the engine hydrolocked at one point, and the rod just couldnt take it. I was planning on using the stock rods, too... The guys at the shop are going to try to source me a replacement stock rod, but if they cant find one (although they said they probably would), I'm going to have another huge $$ decision to make. Guess that explains the "ticking sound" the previous owner of the engine described. So much for my timing chain guide theory.
2. When I finally pull my KA to swap in the new built motor, I was planning on fixing the rust thats on my strut towers with a little professional cutting and welding. I was under the car today and I noticed the damage is far more extensive than I thought, one of the pillars is completely rusted through at one point (there is no rust on the rest of the car, only here...). I brought it to a trusted, well respected body guy in town and he said that I am probably going to need a new apron (the whole tower assy.), and 8 "or so" hours of labor @ $75 an hour, and thats just for one side. The other side is about to have the same problem soon, too.
Bleh. Im getting really frustrated with this damn project. The thing that sucks is that I'm already so deeply invested in it already (machine shop work is over a grand, plus I have close to $2k in parts), so it's not like I can just decide it's too expensive. I was thinking about just getting another S13 body instead of paying the $1500+ cost to fix the strut towers, but then again who knows what problems that one will have, how much it might cost etc etc...
ARRRUGH somebody here must have some comforting words... tell me I'm not the only one with big, hugely expensive, project-stopping caliber problems....
I know how you feel.. if it makes you any better, I have invested over $3-$4k into JUST the turbo components and I still don't have the parts that I need. That added to the fact that my engine isn't in tip-top shape and needs new rod bearings.
This is all on my 97 KA24DE engine. I havn't even looked at the spare KA i have sitting on a stand, which will require some machine shop work to overbore and install pistons, rods, not to mention new bearings, gaskets, water pump, the works - all of which I have to purchase.
I havn't even mentioned the countless hours and effort spent on just GATHERING the parts, pestering suppliers to get my components, and multiple 1-hour drives to pick up parts so I can piece together the turbo kit, only to have the turbo kit delayed because I'm missing a flange or a coupling.
Added to that, it was difficult finding someone who can do welding for the downpipe and bov and oil pan. Most of the guys I've talked to just wanted to do it to take advantage of the fact that I needed some welding done. After months of talking to different people I finally found a place that is honest, enthusiastic, and experienced about doing custom welding.
So there you have it, you're not the only one with problems.
"If it gots tits or tires, then there will be problems and it's going to cost a lot of money!"
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Checkered-Member
- Posts: 1593
- Joined: Wed Sep 24, 2003 7:14 am
- Car: 1998 Nissan Altima (modded)
2003 Audi A6 2.7T (stock) - Contact:
haha you have 16 rods just laying around!?
wow that would be REALLY cool if you could send me a few... I could have the machine shop pick the best one to match and then balance them all. Are any of em from a 97? I'm not sure how different they are...
I'm definetly interested in that though, that would be so awesome! I'd be willing to pay shipping or whatever... let me know!
Thanks man!
wow that would be REALLY cool if you could send me a few... I could have the machine shop pick the best one to match and then balance them all. Are any of em from a 97? I'm not sure how different they are...
I'm definetly interested in that though, that would be so awesome! I'd be willing to pay shipping or whatever... let me know!
Thanks man!
Re: Re: setbacks in my KA-T buildup
bruinbear714 wrote:"If it gots tits or tires, then there will be problems and it's going to cost a lot of money!"
Just better hpoe "it" , doesn't have both!! (especially a spare)haha.
right on far1002!!See fiznat no need to feel down. There is good in the world. To bad no one has a fully built engine lying around for $1000.
wow you gotta love the forums.
anyway I too have one of those "it aint so bad" posts.cause I've got like 4 or 5k in my car into what was initially going to be a sub 1k build up with a mild rebuild and turned into a full rebuild with some expensive stuff.
the worst part? I have nearly all the parts I need and I really need to get to work because I have to move in less than a month and if the car isn't done, I don't know what I'm going to do with everything.
anyway I too have one of those "it aint so bad" posts.cause I've got like 4 or 5k in my car into what was initially going to be a sub 1k build up with a mild rebuild and turned into a full rebuild with some expensive stuff.
the worst part? I have nearly all the parts I need and I really need to get to work because I have to move in less than a month and if the car isn't done, I don't know what I'm going to do with everything.
Don't feel bad fiznat... you ain't the first ain't gonna be the last "suffering" because of your car. I've spent over $5k in what was supposed to be a $2k project. I've blown 2 motors. Last time it took 5 months to rebuild, cause of money issues and sourcing the parts from the US. This time it's been 3 months and counting. The worst part? It's my daily and only driver.... :rolleyes
So hang in there... things have a way to go right... just need time and patience... and some $$$ :pface
So hang in there... things have a way to go right... just need time and patience... and some $$$ :pface
hell yeah man, I'm always down for getting beers. Bridgeport is quite a drive from m-town, but we go to New Haven sometimes... thats a decent meeting point, no?
...or you could come up here and cruise the pike
IM me, I'm usually on at night: foosternitor email: [email protected]
...or you could come up here and cruise the pike
IM me, I'm usually on at night: foosternitor email: [email protected]
Setbacks....hmmmm where do i start?- currently 4 lower control arm bolt holes that have damaged threads, but the bolts are stuck in there nice and tight.- one damaged thread on the intake side of the head that holds the rocker arm bars down.- one damaged sump bolt
A few more little things that i can't remember too....btw this is on a U12 KA24E Pintara (Stanza)
A few more little things that i can't remember too....btw this is on a U12 KA24E Pintara (Stanza)
All you guys have it easy!!! My motor guy filled for chapter 11 bankruptcy and after waiting 3-5 months to get my money back from the courts, I can no longer get ahold of him, so there goes my $4100 down the drain. 
So I have decied to turbo the stock KA, Which I think know after researching, turbo KA are better in my eyes then a Sr. So to everything that is having issue's things could be alot worse.
FYI the motor dude is Brian Brewer from Okinawa importmotorsports and also from Santeca in Indianapolis, Indiana. So if any body know anything please let me know.
So I have decied to turbo the stock KA, Which I think know after researching, turbo KA are better in my eyes then a Sr. So to everything that is having issue's things could be alot worse. FYI the motor dude is Brian Brewer from Okinawa importmotorsports and also from Santeca in Indianapolis, Indiana. So if any body know anything please let me know.