I decided to start this thread so I could share with the community, and also document progress.

4/6/2010 - Stock block sends a rod out of both sides of the block. Check the pics.
Mods on the day of failure
Stock IX Turbo at 27 psi
ER Tune, 93 octane
(Unless I find evidence otherwise, the tune did not contribute to the failure. I pulled the maps and the timing and fuel maps are well within what I would consider safe parameters.)
Snow Performance 100% Meth Injection
Cosworth M2 Cams
3.5" ETS FMIC
ACT Heavy Duty Pressure Plate
ACT Street Light Flywheel
ACT 6-Pad Sprung Race Disc
Dynoed at 390hp at ER

I was in 5th gear going 70 on the highway. I rolled into boost and as soon as I hit 5 lbs, there was a huge pop. Smoke poured out of the hood and around the car. I knew something major had happened but I didn't think the engine had gone since the car was still idling at 1k rpm after I took it out of gear. I coasted with the engine running for about 10 seconds after it went so I wouldn't lose power steering. There's still a trail of oil on the highway and I pass by every day.


6/1/2010
I've been slowly but surely disassembling, cataloging, and organizing pieces. Last week I pulled the engine. Today I finally had time to separate the transfer case and transmission from the block. Here are some pictures of the progress and a full build list. I put the order in for the motor this week. The pistons will take a few weeks due to the compression ratio.

I will also be modifying the stock MIVEC cam gear. All work and tuning will be done by myself except for the primary engine assembly.

Regarding fuel and meth, I will be running E85 as the main fuel, with an alt map for 93. The tune for 93 will be safe for straight 93, but I will be spraying 50/50 meth on top for an unnecessary safeguard. This way, if the meth system does fail or there is an issue with uneven distrubution, the motor "should" remain completely detonation free.

I'm hoping to finish the build late August. I will update this thread as new parts arrive I get things put back together.

Any questions or comments are welcome.

Updated 9/1/10
Build List

• MAP 2.4L Evo Shortblock (Stage 2)
• Wiseco HD 10.5:1 Pistons
• Manley Turbo Tuff I-Beam 150mm Rods
• New OEM Front Case/Oil Pump with Stub Shaft BSE Kit
• MIVEC Oil Feed Solution
• ARP Main Studs
• MAP Headstuds
• Full ACL Bearings
• Power Enterprise Headgasket
• Waterpump Adapter Plate
• GSC Beehive's w/Ti Retainers
• ER Custom GSC 2.4L Cams
• FP Black Ported conversion from the Stock IX Turbo
• MAP Stock EM Porting
• MAP Rev 2 IM
• MAP Stage 3 Head Porting
• MAP Open Dump
• FIC 1450 Injectors
• BR Double Pumper
• ETS 2.5" UICP Kit
• Synapse BOV
• Grimspeed 3-port EBC
• SD Conversion
• 2010 Zeitronix Zt-2 with Fuel Pressure/AFR/Boost/EGT LCD Readout

-Acree

 

Seems to be a lot of the same builds going on. Its a proven performer, and should put up some great numbers for you.

With the 10.5:1 pistons are you going to be running e85?

 

I honestly haven't decided. I will obviously be doing a 93oct tune, but the wildcard is I already have a meth injection kit installed. I like the idea of map switching on the fly and adding another ~80hp with the meth kit on 93. At the same time, I'm slightly worried about the possibility of it failing.

All of that being said, I want 500hp at the ground on straight 93, no spray. After that, I'll decided what to do about meth/E85/etc. There's a station with E85 1.5 miles from my house, but its the opposite direction of school and work.

-Acree

 

Well I personally have never dealt with meth. But, if the meth fails, it could get very bad for your motor with that high of compression. I would suggest running e85 daily, and then using the 93/meth as a backup.

But either way, I wouldnt be running 10.5:1 on straigt 93 all day.

 

I think with a conservative tune running 25psi off of the WGA, I don't see any reason why 93 daily would be a bad thing as long as the knock is at 0. Any thoughts otherwise? I'm definitely open for learning more than I "think" I know.

-Acree

 

Well im in the same "think" boat haha. But Im with the better safe than sorry after spending 5k on a motor. So personally I wouldnt be comfortable driving around daily on 93 oct.
Maybe at 25lb wg boost it will be alright, but that is for someone more knowledgeable than I

 

Well my cars gonna be running 10:1 on 91oct, granted my normal fuel will be E85 but David said the 10:1 on 91 would be fine. I guess its all in the tune.

 

That's kind of what I was thinking. I'm confident I will be able to do a very good self-tune for this build. We will see in time.

-Acree

 

Yeah I dont mind if I can only run like 21psi on 91oct because I plan on using E85 most of the time which will let me drop the 35+psi hammer lol.

 

i could have sore i read that 93 oct and 10:1 compression was a bad thing and dangerious time bomb but i could be wrong as i am not running 10:1 in my setup no e85 here

 

Well vettes run 11.5:1 and require only 91oct. So its really all gonna be on the ammount of boost you run.

 

Precisely. I don't believe 25psi will be too much. If it is, I will simply run the meth injection on 93, and primarily run E85. I checked the pump next to my house last night, and it's $2.39 a gallon. Seems to make up for the decrease in mileage.

-Acree

 

E85 is a mile and ahalf away and you are not sure about using it? Most of us would kill for that distance lol. Use the e85 and stop playing around

Good luck with the build.

 

Cool build! Sorry it happened though, 27psi on the stock turbo should be nbd. Do you have your alky kit wired into the ecu for a true failsafe setup? Maybe there were problems that you weren't aware of, and (like a lot of engine failures) it just let go later, while gently driving.

 

I honestly don't know how the meth kit is currently wired. It was installed by the shop the previous owner used. I will have to look into it after the major build is finished. I want to get everything running, then I will be converting to ECU-Controlled boost and SD. That's all Phase II.

-Acree