I've had my go around with it, bad HG seal. I've seen it happen on other setups especially with the E85 "gunk" that happens out of nowhere and starts to choke off an injector. Just be glad it's freeze plugs and not balooned radiators, damaged internals, etc

 

When assembling the motor, I set the timing so that the gears were positioned 1/2 a tooth off from Mitsu's timing marks on the valve cover. This was per Buschur to make the 2.1 motor run correctly.

 

Are you running a stock ecu or AEM? Other question did you ever replace the mivec gear when you snapped the cam. If your mivec gear is damaged internally the mivec system wont function correctly and what happens is the computer has no clue where the cam is in location to the rest of the rotating assembly. I had that issue with my motor and the Techs over at AEM said that if the mivec isnt working right you can cause some serious damage to your motor.

 

Stock ECU, and I never replaced the MIVEC gear. I was speaking with a couple people about the MIVEC gear though and we were thinking the car would be knocking more consistently or drive odd if the timing wasn't right regularly. Something for me to look into though now..

 

Many pics to follow in a moment...

 

In the following pictures, you will see everything from good to bad of what I have so far. Please note the distinguishing difference between the good pistons (covered in carbon) to the bad pistons (much cleaner - and cracked).

I also noticed the pistons cracked right where the valves come down on the thinnest point of them.

 

So what is your future plan? Block/rods/head can be reuse?

 

except for the pistons, it doesnt look all that terrible. i dont like how the thin spots next to the valve reliefs arent machined out though.

 

Have to more carefully look through the block. Hopefully there are no wear signs on the crank anywhere, gonna double-check the valves to be sure none are bent, and aside from that looks like piston damage only SO FAR. :|

Agreed! I'm scared about those thin spots for the valves on the pistons!

 

my custom arias pistons have that spot removed, exactly where they broke on yours. it wont prevent all damage, but it reduces damage when something goes bad.

 

is this a 2.1 or 2.4 build? Where'd you get the pistons like this?

 

2.23L, 4g64 block and 94mm billet crank. ill try and find the info and p.m. you later tonight as far as the specifics on who to talk to at arias.

 

Sick. Thanks!

 

For God's sake, YOU NEED A MOTHER ****ING TUNER THAT'S WORTH A ****. WHAT PART OF ****ING DETONATION DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?

I've said it too many times before, some people simply can NOT be helped.

Yes, change the pistons to a different design, GREAT ****ING idea. Then have the same dumb *** tune it again too............both the dumb asses you already had do it actually.