I will be the first to admit I'm not a power train guru, so please bear with my on my attempt to get my car running again.

I burnt up cylinder 4 at Road Atlanta during a DE a couple months back in my Evo 9 RS. I recently got around to tearing everything down and found the block is pretty eaten up on cylinder 4. So the option of using a 4g64 block to build a 2.4l has peaked my interest. The application will be for a fun, light weight, DE car. So meeting any sort of class rules isn't a concern.

My question is has anyone had success with a 2.4l 4g64 in a road course application. All my searching comes to drag cars. I don't plan on making stupid power. Goal is 400 reliable AWP with torque to boot. It shouldn't be an issue on an over built block, with stock frame turbo, low-ish boost, and low RPM's. I know there are head gasket sealing issues, but can anyone else shed some light on the idea?

Or should I just find a stock 4g63 and swap it in?

I'm just searching for a reliable track duty engine...or is there such a thing? (Besides stock lol)

Thanks,

Craig

 

2.4L motors have been used successfully in road racing cars. I believe Professional Awesome is running a 2.4L with a small frame turbo in their TT car for example. I have heard about head gasket issues with that option, but some shops seem to swear by them while others prefer and recommend 4g63 instead. For 400 whp you won't need anything crazy though, you could just drop a stock motor in. I ran 400 whp on pump gas for 2 years with my stock motor before building it for this season.

 

I totally forgot about Professional Awesome. They run a MAP built engine if I'm not mistaken. (MAP built is my current train of thought).

Mine was a bolt on pump gas engine @ 350hp. That let go after 120k hard miles.

Finding a stock, not beat, OEM 9 engine is hard to come by for a good price. Then you factor in rebuild for peace of mind and the price goes up...

 

Really? All i've heard or read about on 2.4's is horrible

 

For what reason? I'm here to learn

 

AMS 2.3RR is a 4G64 block with 96.5mm crankshaft (I believe).

Lucas of English Racing uses a 4G64 block with 100mm crankshaft and stock frame turbo and I haven't heard any problems with that for road racing.

I'm sure there are plenty of people racing around on 4G64 blocks without any problems.

 

Good to know, I will shoot some emails out to them for more info on their builds.

 

Any other opinions? Personal experiences?

 

Found a deal on an OEM long block last night!! Going back to the tried and true stock step up.

 

Being your looking to road racing or autox why not build a 2.2 and still be able to have the revs? I mean the 2.4 is a great choice but 2.2 I think would give you more tq, but not as much as the 2.4 would, but it would allow a faster rev and higher rev for comming out of corners. Something to think about.

 

I tend to agree, money no object that the 2.2L is the best displacement for a road race Evo. That being said, its the most expensive option by a good margin and the benefits over a 2.0L aren't overwelming at the boost levels/turbo sizes most of us run. I ended up sticking with a built 2.0L for that reason despite my initial intent to build a 2.2L.

 

Well my thinking on it is this, your using a 2.4 block, I belive stock 2.0 crank and rods? Anyways its a larger displacement, but not over the top. I mean your gonna be in the upper rpm range anyways or in your powerband, so why not. You will be able to rev out higher, keep the car in its powerband longer and give you better laps being your not continueing to shift all the time. With the 2.4 you may have to rev high, which isn't a problem but just how high will it go? A LR 2.4 your at really nice revs, but are you still gonna be in the power band up at those rpms? I mean its a good arguement to think about but for road racing I would want a 2.2 just for the pure fact that you can rev it, you will keep spool faster being your having a little more displacement, and its still gonna be tame enough for the lower hp or mid hp levels your gonna want to run.

 

Any motor can be built reliably. It all comes down to budget and finding a good builder you trust. Finding a good stock motor is the cheapest option. All others will require a decent budget, and some more...as you will end up wanting to do other things while you're "in there. I recently built a 2.3L. I ended up spending close to 4k said and done, but that also included parts to completely rebuild the head also. It all comes down to budget.

 

A 2.2L has the best compromise between rpms/torque and powerband but you need a 4g63 block and a custom crank. All the cranks I know of for 2.2L are billet cranks which means $$$. A 4g64 with 2.0L crank and rods makes a 2.1L. My general thought is not to use the 4g64 unless you are building a 2.4LR and to only build a 2.4L if you don't have a clean 4g63 block.

 

How bad is the number 4 cylinder and has a machine shop looked at it to determine the block is trash?

Unless you want to do a 4g64 2.4 , 2.2, 2.1, 2.4LR build then by all means go for it. I had the chance to drive my friends 2.4LR at a track event and it felt great but if there is no reason to scrap the block you have now then I wouldn't. Especially if its never been machined....