Well after tearing down the motor i found the culprit.

The previous owner sold me the car assuming it had a spun rod bearing.

I never started the car and took his word for it so we planned to build the 2.0L w/ good internals and so i took things apart and.....







Needless to say i was kinda bummed to find out it was just a balance shaft bearing that went.

Funny thing is that Sean our head mechanic/tuner said when i opened up the oil pan that he was surprised that there was such large chunks of bearing and no signs of any damage blueing of any of the rods

Oh well i'm almost done getting it back together for CMI this weekend in Sacramento.

Here are some extra pics of the work done and some new goodies











And just one more of the lifts full of cars to get ready for this weekend's race:

 

Nice. Looks real good. I like th IM.

 

Still, crap like that in the oil is equivalent to bearing failure.

Do you know why the balance shaft failed, or what maintenence was done prior to the failure, like timing belt? What shaft, fed or aft?

 

Interesting. Don't hear too much about balance shaft bearing failures. Any idea if it WAS a maintenance issue?

 

Reminds me of my DSM days - too much!

 

Common mitsu problem. I see it most on cars with over 100k so alot more Evos should be coming up on that problem in a few years.

 

ill always love DSMs what about a balance shaft removal kit... like a DSM? if its possible

 

that set up is soooo sick

 

The engine ran without oil because somehow the oil filter managed to unscrew itself loose.

Our Time attack car had a similar problem this weekend when the oil filter got hit by track debris, the balance shafts seized up, but the crank still spun normally.

 

Crazy

 

Need anew spot for that oil filter

 

Hope to see u at CMI cause I MIGHT run too

 

Back before Chrysler could afford an engine line their minivans had Mitsu engines. My brother-in-law had one of these and every time he'd come by he'd oil up my driveway. So, I'd reach under and screw the filter back tight. The following week I'd do the same thing again. Amazingly this van went over 100k and never had engine trouble.

DSMs were also known for having the filter unscrew or come off. My pet theory is that Mitsu engines can put out enough oil pressure to bulge the filter and lift the seal off of its mating surface. I always install my oil filters tighter than recommended and only once had a problem. That time I had only hand tightened the filter and it leaked.

 

Tell me more bout CMI. Im in cico and sac isnt far. Its drag racing right??

 

I see, it must have been the aft shaft that failed then since that one sits way up there and gets it's oil from the runners from the head. Without pressure perhaps the aft balance shaft goes out first and the crank and fwd shaft will still get some lubrication from the sump