So, I'm losing faith in my beloved VIII and/or my ability to maintain it properly. It is in the paddock at mid-ohio after losing oil pressure (guage read zero) after a few laps in my first session.
I had an oem block and rotating assembly installed last summer at Batlground in Atlanta. No reason to think it was any problem with their work. Likely cause in my mind is loss of 2.5 quarts of oil at my first track event after rebuild at AMP in Oct. 2012. The dipstick blew out of the tube. Pretty stupid of me not to check the oil sooner; just never had any issue with oil or anything else before my "blue period" began. That would be when my timing belt broke one year after it was installed. This was about six months before my engine became a rattletrap at Barber, resulting in my adventure with Batlground. (Since I have mentioned them twice, and they may be innocent bystanders here, I should mention that Justin has helped me/saved me with a brake rotor issue, a "need it now" alternator replacement and (at no charge) a mail in flash to remedy the infamous "multiple misfire" hassle. I really appreciate his help.) My guess on the cause of these two problems is the infamous "two turns balance shaft."
I had the timing belt etc replaced per maint schedule by a local mechanic who I trust but who wasn't aware. Can't really blame him, as I had this done right before a three-day event at Watkins Glen. I know there was a vibration problem as soon as I got it back, took it back to my mechanic but all he could say was "all the marks line up." In hindsight, I probably could have save myself all this grief if I hadn't pushed the engine through three days of vibrations at the Glen (but it was heavenly) and I'd be sitting here now grinning about another great weekend. I'm guessing all those vibes weakened the belt and wore my main and rod bearings at about 10x the normal rate.
So, now do I have it rebuilt again, try to sell it to someone who wants to put a built engine in (if ever) or just have it towed to the junkyard? (I had new Swift springs and Bilsteins as well as new clutch, oil pump, etc installed last summer; it is an '03 with 96k mi and 20 track weekends on it. I feel like it has plenty of good life left...no?)
I LOVE to drive it on the track, but...like I said, there is one or more weak links here as described above. Just be a big boy and try to live and learn?
Do you see through something here that is opaque to me?...or what?

 

dont take this personally as i dont know you.

if u cant properly maintain the car and have to rely on local mechanics that you say are unaware... u might as well just sell or junk it.

u cant expect a track car to not be maintained properly.

take a loss as the car isnt worth anything anymore with these unknown problems. save yourself the headache.

if u had to make this thread ur mind is already made up to give up. so see it through.

 

If it were me, I would sell it and start over with another evo. Your losses on the vehicle may be less than what you may have to put into it later down the line and still not be able to fix it. Looks like the car is a money vacuum at this point..

 

sell it and buy an e46 M3. same price, more reliable and just as good on the track.

 

Well, if you have the money to invest and drive the car, then keep it. If you dont have the time or want the hassle, sell it. I wouldnt see a reason to junk it.

I can also build you a long block for pretty cheap if you want to go that route.

If you wana sell it let me know. Im in the market to buy a fixer upper to turn into my daily as my current Evo is no longer a daily.

 

I managed several car businesses over the years (repair, rental and sales). While we had an impeccable record of maintenance, things happen.

It really surprised me when something would go wrong and the customer would ignore it and continue to drive. I learned quickly to give people the run down of liability. "If the car is doing something it shouldn't, then stop immediately and call us OR YOU WILL BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGE."

That being said, I too have done something similar when I was 14. I ran my motorcycle with old oil. I think it had sat for 3 years. Blew the engine within 5 minutes of high speed runs.

Anyhow, I recommend rebuilding the engine. I don't see how selling it and getting another will get you ahead. Do the math and I think you'll come up short. That is for doing a rebuild. If you're doing a built motor with the works, then it will cost you more than selling and gettting a stock Evo, maybe.

GL and a lot of us learn this way. Others will learn from our mistakes.

 

I'm in the process of building my motor after mine blew at Road Atlanta, so I feel your pain. I don't know what I would do if it happened again to me less than a year later after the rebuild... My track car is a huge love hate relationship, I'm sure you understand. I come home from my daily job of repairing Porsches and the last thing I want to see or touch is my Evo in 1 million pieces exploded all over my garage. But then I watch old footage of when I first broke the 1:40 time at road Atlanta on street tires and I get super pumped and start back on the car...until I run out of money...again lol. For being in a similar situation I've decided to keep the my car and just make slow progress ( 6 months and counting since the rapid energetic disassembly of my engine). But I have to admit tracking these cars is not cheap! If you trying to cut your loses and lower your operating cost while keeping the fun factor high I'd look into buying a spec miata. I've almost sold my car a few times for a turn key spec miata and trailer...with cash to spare!!! At the end of the day it's your decision.

If you keep it I'm a North Atlanta local that frequents road Atlanta and AMP once my car is running...I do all my own work and would be willing to lend a hand to another Evo track nut.

Cheers,

Craig

 

i would say fix it up and try to bring it to a reputable shop for maintenance if you dont have time. You have to stay on top of these cars and keep them in top shape, otherwise you have the problems you are experiencing. Do the work yourself and know its getting done right, or have someone you highly trust and is knowledgeable in the 4g63 platform do it. Maintenance is a lot on these cars and if you cant keep up on it, dont track it. Selling the car to buy another car to track wont get you anywhere because you will still have to upkeep on the maintenance just like the evo, or end up with another platform in similar shape as your current car.

 

Christian, mouse IX, evolve VIII, evoDon, and all,
Thanks for your kind and thoughtful replies. I really needed to hear from people who could look at my situation from different viewpoints, and it has helped a lot.

 

And please dont junk an evo if its not totally wrecked...

 

Rebuild and chalk it up as another learning experience. Take the time however to learn about the ins and outs of Evo maintenance. A quick read on the net would have told you what the vibration was.

 

I agree, it's worth the rebuild. Find someone that knows Evo's well, and let them do the work.

 

I have had students with E46 M3's, and no way do I think it is on par with an Evo. Not stock anyway. Too big and floaty, downright mushy. E36's feel so much better.

And for crying out load, rebuild the engine, take the time to do it right (or have it done right) and drive the Evo. Properly assembled and maintenanced the 4G63 is one of the least failure prone parts of our cars.

AND, if you are going to track the car heavily, you are going to have to heavily maintain the car. That is unavoidable.

The only way around it is to get something very light with (much) less HP as a track vehicle. I have a friend with an Integra GSR, stock motor gutted, TTE car. The motor has over 200k on it and probably 40+ track weekends and still dynos right on factory HP. Brake pads last dozens of weekends, his Hoosiers look untouched after multiple TT sessions (and he is fast in TTE).

That is the decision that anybody who decides to track an Evo must come to terms with and understand. It's a great platform, generally very reliable, but it is NOT a cheap car to track with.

Where are you at in TN? I'm just south of Nashville if I can be of any help.

 

Clarksville. I was supposed to pick up the Evo today from the shop. During the test drive a rocker arm snapped in half jamming up a cam and snapping my gates Kevlar timing belt.

 

In reliability aspect, e46 would be a much better track car. Handling wise, put some coil overs on the BMW and it will be fine.