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So if you followed my crate engine from hell thread you know that Topspeed finally agreed to pay for the return shipping - well now I'm not sure if I want to send it back.
We ended up installing the headers and supercharger on the existing motor (238k) and wouldn't you know it I now have an intermittent oil pressure light. Once warm it flickers and goes solid at a slow idle, but with just the slightest throttle it goes out. And although it could be my imagination I think I hear a bit of "looseness" in the engine.
I checked the level of course, and I even put in an engine flush and changed the oil - no change - and then I put in a "high mileage" oil additive - again, no change. So now I think I might be losing the engine.
So ... any ideas about what else I can do to diagnose the problem with the existing engine ...
And I'm also thinking I should pay an engine shop to rebuild the crate motor I got from Topspeed - so who do you recommend and considering no new parts or machining is required (I think/hope) and maybe just a gasket / seal kit - how much should I have to pay.
Thanks guys for your input.
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Well you could do it all yourself if you have the time and you baby your engine now...
But if you don't have the time I'm not really sure where you could go. DaSilva would be great but I'm sure they don't come cheap seeing how the dyno costs $200 per hour. Master Performance would be my next stop as I'm sure they have fought side by side with the DaSilva boyz on the strip over the years and plus they are closer lol.
You know me Ken and I rather do it myself But give Master Performance a visit on Kenedy south of Clearance st.
http://www.masterperformanceplus.com/
Good Luck
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for your current issue all you can do is a oil pressure test with a test gauge. One of the best engine builders around is Gord Bush http://www.gordbush.ca/ he builds most of the touring car engines in canada
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04-20-2012, 10:05 PM
(This post was last modified: 04-20-2012, 10:05 PM by drunkinmonkey.)
i had auto service and supply do my motor the bored/honed/acid dipped the block and acid dipped and rebuild my head for 175$ there located on vine street here in downtown hammer guys name is Matt. they also resurface flywheels
on side note maybe your oil sending unit is faulty???
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(04-20-2012, 10:05 PM)drunkinmonkey Wrote: i had auto service and supply do my motor the bored/honed/acid dipped the block and acid dipped and rebuild my head for 175$ there located on vine street here in downtown hammer guys name is Matt. they also resurface flywheels
on side note maybe your oil sending unit is faulty???
thanks for the input so far - and yeah I thought about that Sean but geez the engine has 238k on it - even if it is the sending unit this time, how many more clicks can I get out of this engine at 8 psi and doing track weekends?
I'm thinking I just bite the bullet right now and maybe having a brand new crate engine isn't such a bad thing even if it does need reassembly. How many really low km zetecs could there be out there?
2008 Fusion SEL MTX - DD1 * 2009 Fusion SEL - DD2 * 2007 Focus ZXW - R*I*P * 2004 Focus ZTW CD Silver - sold * 2004 Focus ZTW Black - sold * 2003 Focus ZTW Black - sold * 2001 Focus ZTW Gold - sold * 2000 Focus SE Wagon (ZTW option) - Black - sold * 2000 Focus SE Wagon (ZTW option) - Gold R*I*P
2003 Focus ZX5 infra-red Track Rat - R*I*P
2003 ZX5 CD Silver Track Rat - retired, but still in the driveway
New track rat: 2000 ZX3, Atlantic Blue * JRSC with lots more to come
* New Zetec crate motor - NFG - thanks Topspeed *
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doesnt really matter how many clicks are on an engine if your gonna rebuild it anyway...mine supposidly had 5,000km on it when i ripped it apart...sure looked more like 500,000km by the shape it was in though...mine runs fine besides a neverending oil leak i cant find ANYWHERE..so im gonna pull mine agian this winter tear it all aprt for a 3rd time and reassemble all over agian....it never ends lol
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Stupid question, did you check the oil pump and wiring connections for the oil pressure sensor on the current engine? I'm suspecting that if you did track days with that engine and oil sloshed around without a baffle, the pump may have run dry a few times (which probably isn't good for it). I'd drop the oil pan and take a look before going any further in the rebuild process.
If you're going to rebuild the other engine, tear it apart yourself and bring the cylinder head assembly (springs, valves, seals all intact) along with the block bare to the rebuilder. The more broken down the engine, the more cash you save (although not sure if they will hold warranty for the repairs). Have them check for warpage and pressure testing the head. If all is good, this is a good time for upgrading, cylinder boring, deck shaving (or whatever you want to do). I'd suggest if you go this route, have the engine rebuilder assemble the engine back together to ensure that timing isn't screwed up.
Just to let you know, I do have a bias for sending this to the rebuilder as my dad's been an engine rebuilder for 30 years, but as stated, you can do a lot of the work yourself. Just maybe before you start, talk to a good shop before going any further to discuss cost/warranty/liability.
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i would put a new gasket on the new motor and do all the proper test and then deside if u should send it back or just build your motor fresh and bullit proof
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(04-20-2012, 10:05 PM)drunkinmonkey Wrote: i had auto service and supply do my motor the bored/honed/acid dipped the block and acid dipped and rebuild my head for 175$ there located on vine street here in downtown hammer guys name is Matt. they also resurface flywheels
on side note maybe your oil sending unit is faulty???
I can throw another +1 at Auto Service and Supply. I had them R&R my head when I rebuilt the engine for my Scirocco back in 04'. Great service, good communication, and very competitive pricing.
-George
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Don't go to aero hill engine rebuilders in Vaughan. Terrible customer service, I had towed my
Focus to them from Oshawa (not cheap) after they said they'd do the engine swap.... Except after they got it the guy turned into an ass and refused to work on the car
Long story short, they did 90% of the engine swap - enough to get the car running. There was a lot
Of small things they skipped out on and they changed te price from 600 (agreed over the phone) to 700 on the day of. The focus died around the block
From where they were and I ended up having to get it towed back to Oshawa after all
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im betting your oil pump pick up in the pan has some carbon build up on it. Pull the pan and take a look at the screen, if its all covered in black s**t, brake clean the crap out of it.
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