Due for engine rebuild? What's worth upgrading? Sensible budget?

Discussion in 'Technical' started by bobbs, Aug 1, 2018.

  1. bobbs

    bobbs Member

    That's the hard question I have difficulty answering... The same question was asked when I first had it dyno tuned after I finished fitting supporting mods, but I couldn't give a proper answer - just "umm as much as possible???" In my mind, when it can't take any more timing or boost - the power figure, is what it is.

    I guess it really boils down to is: The only goal for the car is to consistently and reliably generate "happiness" for myself well into the foreseeable future. I can't measure happiness. (Sorry I'm not trying to be a smart ass) But I don't compete in any forms of racing, so it's not like I'm trying to break 11 seconds, lap times or just to beat my mates (don't have any lol) Though I'm sure throwing $15+ grand on a beast of an engine doesn't buy you happiness... Or does it? I can't really say as I've never experienced owning a +400kw monster... :confused:

    But currently I've grown rather bored of 245kw... So this build I would say is more of future-proofing my expectations and any future plans for drags/track days... But right here and now, it's also a little bit of "while I've got the engine out" sort of mentality.

    As for a power figure - no idea. More is better, and budget is cheaper is better. Obviously I can't have both and obviously I need to be sensible otherwise I'll just end up with an overkill gold plated toilet - and I don't need more people laughing at me lol...

    Flex fuel would be cool of course... but weather its cost effective or even necessary, I'm not 100% sure. But I bet not being able to find a service station selling E85 would not be conducive to ones 'happiness levels'

    TLDR: I have no idea - I don't really know anyone to talk to about these sort of things... So my ramblings are off in LALA land... Sorry.
     
  2. MagicMike

    MagicMike Moderator Staff Member

    Like I said, unless you are planning to go all out and spend $20k+ on your build, dial it back to pistons and a rebuild kit.

    Then add turbos of choice if you are going that way. Now add a fuel system to suit. If you are going flex fuel (crazy to just go dual fuel IMO), top feed rail and injectors, pump, reg etc.

    Stop there and see how many dollars you have left.

    If you want to beef it up or if you chose a big turbo/manifolds, change your shopping list to rods/bolts etc aswell.

    Cams if you have to but only if you are going to 500hp+.

    It all costs money, and where you stop is up to you.

    There used to be a recipe to make x hp, but that has changed in recent years with the ethanol equation, if you are going to use it.
     
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  3. rob260

    rob260 Administrator Staff Member

    Most of the parts on your list I have in stock and better prices than you have listed..
     
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  4. bobbs

    bobbs Member

    I guess some time in the future, a big turbo upgrade would be nice, but I guess the good thing about that is they are external, so I could potentially shelve that idea for now.
    So what would you think about doing it in stages? i.e. If I were to just beef up the bottom end now with rods/bolts but exclude any head work? Cams are physically easy to access to change (assuming the pistons wont need additional clearance-ing), but changing valves and port work not so much... Or would you recommend doing bottom end + top end first? I'm sure I can putt around on stock turbos for a while longer. Changing manifolds, injectors, fuel pumps, turbos etc after the fact would be easy. I guess any performance gain from those basic bottom end mods would be marginal at best, but at least I would have a solid foundation to build from later down the track.

    So I guess the cross road is:
    1) pistons and rebuild only (if stock rods can handle future punishment)
    2) pistons, rods + stud kit
    3) pistons, rods, studs + headwork (valves, porting etc) and that might yield a tiny minuscule bit more power on stock turbos etc

    Everything else I can just push back until I feel more comfortable parting with my hard earned AUD. I have saved really hard, I'm just not comfortable spending lol

    Hey Rob, what bits do you have? Hope you're not too expensive :D
     
  5. jellybeans

    jellybeans Active Member

    I doubt you will get to a power level with your budget that is high enough to shock you for long. If your current power level is not enough I suggest you find some more challenging driving conditions. Much cheaper. Forget drag racing, the reason they have 1000's of hp is because in a straight line you get used to anything. My neighbour has a 6 second Torana. I don't know what he has spent but I'm guessing at least $250,000 ( I could be way off it might be 1/2 million) and still not happy
     
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  6. jellybeans

    jellybeans Active Member

    Bobbs I have a very poorly balanced z. It was built by UAS for a guy who said " I want 400rwkw". It's fast in a straight line on very smooth roads but is dangerous if there is so much as a dip, bump or camber change in the road. Too low, too stiff. It has massive lag and when it finally does get going at 4500rpm it rockets to the limiter with no correlation to the accelerator pedal. This makes bends pretty disappointing. Could a better driver get more out of it? Yes, but we could both get way more out of it if it had 150hp less peak and 75hp more down low and some sort of progression to the power. I'm not balancing oversteer through corners with the throttle and that's the most fun you can have in a car. Build a balanced car with power that matches your skill level and the rest of the vehicle and you will have the perfect car. Chase some arbitrary Hp number that you think you need and you'll most likely be disappointed very soon. Not to mention embarrassed by any number of stock standard cars on anything but a straight.
     
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  7. rob260

    rob260 Administrator Staff Member

    Everything you’ve mentioned... work out what you want to do and send me a PM. Can put a quote together for you.
     
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