Top Hat Engine

[Chezedik]

That is a real son-of-a-*****. My worry for you now is that they will try not to warranty the engine, since you opened it, and you will have to sue them. But I think that they are likely to man-up and take care of you, I have only heard good things.

But if you need, however, you can fly me to AZ and I can act as an expert witness. I have a degree in Automotive Technology and carry 5 ASE certifications, one being Engine Repair, and also I left my heart in AZ.

[480sx]

Wow thats absurd man, im sorry to hear that. This was definitely a defect in their workmanship or in the parts they used. I would think if you showed them the pics, ect, they would own up and fix their mistake. I mean your pics would speak for themselves, its nothing you did that could have possibly caused this problem. If they dont offer to build you a new one, you can sue them and get your lawyer fee's paid off. Theres no reasonable defense for them not fixing their mistake, even with you ripping the engine apart.

[WDRacing]

But if you need, however, you can fly me to AZ and I can act as an expert witness. I have a degree in Automotive Technology and carry 5 ASE certifications, one being Engine Repair, and also I left my heart in AZ.

You have 5 ASE's? Damn son...I thought you were a shade tree dude like me...

AZ sucks, stay away forever. Unless of course you enjoy illegals, cheap coc and more auto theft then any other state in the nation

[Brandon93240]

I think he let them now something was wrong from the get go. They should let him take another block and parts to a local shop and they can third party the bill. We do that at the shop I work at all the time, not with out of state companies that much, but we have before. Because if they want you to ship is back and forth and all that crap it can really cost you some shipping real quick. I would make them just send me an entirely new built block and pay for my shipping with a pickup for the old crap. **** happens but when it does you know how good a company is by if they will take full responsibility. At my work we have lifetime warranty on craftsmenship, paint, and mechanical.

[offroadbob]

I have the pictures up go to http://www.putfile.com/o_ffroadbob/images/133212to see them. Tophat is being really cool to me. I'll keep everyone informed on what happens. Sorry for the delay with the pics. As of today I am homeless living in my buddys garage w/ my car and my engine. I am in the process of moving to tucson but w/ no way of getting there

Oh and thanks everyone for all your support. This another reason I love nissans!!!

[480sx]

So many pics, damn it even got metal up into your heads. Thats a completely shot engine, i mean maybe you could salvage the short block.. Though with the price of a KA long block however its not even worth the machine shops time.

I hope that they take care of that, the pics speak for themselves. Whether they were faulty c clips or they bent them when installing them, its their fault. Good luck man

[eazye2000]

Can't believe it had C-Clips.. What kinda pistons are they?I used Arias pistons, and they had some kinda gnarley continuous ring/clip that kinda corkscrewed in there.....

[offroadbob]

They are supertech pistons w/ stock rods that are shot peaned. I'm guessing they are supertech wrist pins as well

peace

[fiznat]

Yikes! Guess that explains why it was smoking eh?

Would you mind clarifying exactly how much tophat is covering on this? I would be interested to know, as this is definitely something that should be covered under warranty.

...And like I tell everyone.. since you're rebuilding anyways, seriously think about aftermarket rods.

[offroadbob]

As of yet no word from tophat. I will be calling them again tomorrow. Mike has been super cool so far. The stock rods have been shot peened to increase their strength. As for now im not wanting tons of power so they will be sufficient.

[red boy]

I hope my engine turns out better. Its been 3 weeks since I droped my parts off to Mike at TOPHAT. Heres my list.

Alamo Auto Sports-arias pistons 20 over 8:8:1, rings,pins,and clips.AMS- sportman rods with arp bolts, the first ones they orded payed $540 i'm steel pissed

AMS- complete engine flelpro gasket setAMS- cometic head gasket. Can't use, tophat gets cometic to delete a hole that causes leaks. Useing that one.

AMS- clevite main and rod bearings, OEM thrust bearing. Clevite thrust bering have been nown to cause failyers.AMS-oil pump kit, can't use because it does't come with a front cover. Useing new complete pump with front cover.

Top Hat- timeing chain kitENJUKU RACING- arp head and main studs. The head will be torn apart checked, hot tanked new valve stem seals that came with gasket set. Three angle vavle job, cut completely around, not just at angles. The block will get the royal treatment also. And the rotateing assembly will be balanced. Thanks guyz for reading
Modified by red boy at 8:27 PM 8/2/2007

[JAY-BIRD]

WHERE ARE THERE GUYS "TOP HAT" LOCATED???? AND DO THEY HAVE A WEBSITE???

[red boy]

Top hat performance.com.Conyers GA. I20 one hour from Bush gardens. They gave me a good deal.$900 dollars for all machine work and short block assembly, with all my parts. The head work is also included. They own half the machine shop.Scott has built more Kats than AMS and HRT put together, and thats no sh.t. They use to advertise on ka-t.org when the site showed everything, so theyve been around for a little while. They also had 17 SKYLINES taken because of that illegal Import stuff, lost out on 75 grand. Then the government auctioned them off. They have a black one for sale for 18 grand at the shop. Its stock besides suspention and exhaust. They also have an old red one too.

Those guyz always buy and sale cars. Scott had a 240 with a sr20det that theY SAY IVAN the great built. It made something like 380hp at 13psi. It was camed so low it barely would idle.

Modified by red boy at 8:21 PM 8/2/2007

Modified by red boy at 8:23 PM 8/2/2007
Modified by red boy at 8:24 PM 8/2/2007

[Chezedik]

The KA doesn't have a separate thrust bearing, it has a thrust section on the center main bearing. So what did you buy?

[red boy]

We will be useing a oem nissan thrust bearing, from what I was told.Everything else will be clevite. Did you guyz know HRT won't use clevite at all? They advertise on ka-t.org also. Or mabe I got the wrong idea. The main bearings might be nissan. I know there costing me an extra $85. I'll call them to day. People say it's very hard to get the clearence rite on the clevite thrust bearing.

[offroadbob]

Alright... Tophat is going to warranty the engine. I am going to be sending them the head studs and main studs and they are going to build another long block. So far I am very impressed with tophat. I'll keep the updates coming and all. peace

[red boy]

Good luck buddy. last week they told me the head and block was at the machine shop. I talk to Scott today and he hasn't started on anything yet. It might be done in october.

[480sx]

Good to hear that everything seems to have worked out for you, i bet they'll get it right the second time ^^.

[240sxRAOR]

Hey man how many miles did you put on that clutch and what kind of driving and horsepower did you have. I bought the same clutch but with the billet steel flywheel and I thought worked pretty good. Did you resurface the flywheel for the new clutch?

[Brandon93240]

Like everything in life mistakes happen, its how its handled that makes the difference. At the expense of loosing business and bad mouthing TopHat did the right thing. **** happens you know.

[offroadbob]

Yo, about the clutch I was running an entirely stock motor. only 3000 miles on it. It tore up both the flywheel and pressure plate. There were even chunks of the clutch that were missing. A bummer I know! I've heard other ppl say that havent had any problems w/ the clutch. So good luck.

Peace

[240sxRAOR]

Ya thats alot of wear for 3000 miles. Maybe it can't get enough cooling with the stock flywheel, mine has about 5000 miles and hardly looks worn at all and it was definetly abused. Your pics had me scared, cause I never realy looked at the clutch when we took the engine out. Who knows maybe you just got the rotten apple.

[Florida240sx]

I have an rps 400ftlb. Put maybe 6k miles on it all which have been go-kart season. Still holds great and 0 problems been swapped on engines 3 times....

[offroadbob]

Well... I finally received my motor on Monday. This is how it came to me. I'm only worried about a few things.#1- the rust buildup in the coolant passage#2 I can't get the lower timing sprocket off because of the that key pin#3 it was sent to me w/ only a piece of cardboard protecting the cams during shipping. (nothing seems to be damaged tho)

I think I might tear it down and inspect and rebuild it entirely just to make sure. everything is A-ok. I do believe that they built it right this time considering all the trouble they went through. but then again on the same note they may not of been as careful this time around considering they didn't make any profit. well. here are the pics. I value any opinions as what to do.



Rock, Matt

(P.S. is it bad that I am on Nico 7 hours a day yet don't ever post anything?? )

[480sx]

I wouldnt touch a damn thing man, a little rust in the water passage isnt a big deal at all. Its probably just a little surface rust and if you were really worried about it just sand it out.

I think it would be a bad idea to tear down a crate motor.

[Brandon93240]

Yeah I would just run it, I'm sure they did everything by the book this time around and double triple checked just to make sure so you should be fine.

[offroadbob]

Yea, You guys are probably right. Luckily as of right now I found a used head off of a broken engine and I am using my old stock bottom end to drive my car around for the time being. So now I don't know if I should save up for suspension parts or start to build this engine up to finish my turbo setup. damn I wish I had a better cash flow...

[480sx]

Heh i hear yah, im at the end of my build and im 700 dollars in debt.

[offroadbob]

Yea at least it is only 700... I was a dumb *** and got my self into 4,000 in debt by buying a bike and a lift for my truck back 4 years ago... and I'm just starting to put a dent into it haha. Oh well once my friend finishes using my welder I'm going to to start fabing up a exhaust mani to see if I can do it. plus I wont have to spend 200-350 for a already built one. We will see... just time and $$$

[480sx]

JGS i think has a DIY exhaust manifold kit you could scoop up, its not to expencive. It comes with the flanges you need plus all the piping. Pretty neat kit imo.