Rebuilt Engine - Is this Legal?

#1

I am looking at all options to address my low HP and Torque issues uncovered after the dyno. Someone this weekend mentioned bavararian Auto Recyclers for engines. Here is the link to their description.

http://www.bavengine.com/engine.html

If I recall correctly, these engines are illegal because the pistons are not the factory ones and are lighter then factory. Can someone confirm this?

Hopefully, removing the CAT will give me more HP/Torque so I do not have to investigate other options.

Thx,

-Steve

#2

I’d look pretty hard at tuning your engine before pulling it and getting a rebuilt. Things to check are the compression in each cyl. Fuel supply, Injectors, have they been cleaned/blueprinted. O2 sensor, value adjustment, intake air flow, I could go on with a lot more. Some fine tuning will most likely get your HP/torque up.

#3

Steve,

Do like carter said and spend a few bucks on a leakdown test, or do it yourself, if you have compressed air handy. It is the quickest way to see if it is engine internals. 4K is a bunch of money for an engine if you dont need one. A cylinder head job is much cheaper.

#4

nasaregistrar wrote:

[quote]Steve,

Do like carter said and spend a few bucks on a leakdown test, or do it yourself, if you have compressed air handy. It is the quickest way to see if it is engine internals. 4K is a bunch of money for an engine if you dont need one. A cylinder head job is much cheaper.[/quote]

Guys,

Thanks for the advice. Believe me, I can think of other ways I would rather spend 4k… :slight_smile:

With that being said, I will definitely do the above mentioned before pulling the engine. I just want to see what the worst case scenario would be. Looking at Vic’s numbers, I am most concerned about increasing the Torque since Vic seems to do ok without the extra horses :slight_smile: I am also going to remove my CAT, since that is the last part of the exhaust that needs to go. I already have bigger pipes and a free flow muffler. Hopefully that, a couple of tweaks, and some good old fashioned luck (my substitute for skill :P) and I will run more competitively next year.

-Steve

#5

Steve…

Is the engine not running right? Unreliable? Just down on power?

I’d leave it and focus on the driver!!!

You and I have lots to learn and little to gain by replacing functional (yet not optimal) equipment at this point in our racing careers.

One reason why I still run bottle caps. Sure new 15 inchers would probably be faster…but until I can consistently run smooth fast laps within a couple of seconds of the leaders all day long then I am the issue…not the tires.

Save your money. $4000 is lots of racing budget!!!

Now if the engine is failing or a cylinder is dead that is one thing. But if it works and is just not putting out class leading HP. I’d leave it for another day.

Just MHO…not meant to be a knock on anyones driving.

Ric

#6

Ric,

It is down on HP and Torque. I agree that I need help in the driving department, but it is difficult to even keep up with the second to last person in the group. I had a great time racing with Steve B. and Jon M. the last time out. But, after getting a good run once in a while in the corners and passing, I would get passed down the straights. After a while it gets frustrating to get a good run only to yield little.

I make the analogy to when I played tennis in my youth. Playing somone with much more skill does not help as well as playing someone with much less skill. But, playing someone with just a little more skill can increase your personal skill. In racing, it would be nice to have more people to race with so I can get better. Not having the miatas this year and being 2+ seconds per lap slower than the next driver made it a very lonely racing season for me.

I would like to have a car that I know can be competitive so I can focus on what I need to do to be competitive.

-Steve

#7

Steve:

I’ve driven near you enogh to know that you’re not a bad driver. Yes, you can carry some more speed into most of the corners but you’re keeping the car on the track and are getting better.

In your shoes, I would have a good shop go through the engine (leakdown test on each cylinder, pull and inspect each spark plug, test the O2 sensor, checkout the stiff diff we found at the dyno, pull the cat, adjust the valves, etc. Your engine sounded ok during it’s dyno pulls.

After doing all that, make another dyno pull and see if there is any difference. On the Dynopack, my car made 139hp and on a Dynojet it made 148.

I would also let one of the front-runner drivers take your car out for a few laps next year. Chris would probably let someone drive a couple of laps during an instructor session. Even at his 8/10ths it would help you know more about the car. I have driven Brain’s car and Robert’s car and gave them both some good feedback. Robert was concerned about his driving but I immediately knew his previous motor was down on power, after just a few laps at VIR.

Let us know how it goes.

Carter

#8

Thanks Carter for the advice. I will do all of the above and let you know where I end up. I am going to use the same dyno that was used at Summit (JEvans) who is about 30 miles from my house after everything has been done.

-Steve

#9

What was the issue with the diff?

#10

Steve,
I can relate to your problems of being a decent driver who can’t seem to stay with your competing drivers in your class. Hello everyone. I wish I could say that I was back Spec racing with you all again, but I can at least be found on the bulletin board now.

The engine in our car seemed to be down on torque, but okay on the top end last year. I was not able to run with anyone else in the group, and that was really frustrating! The suspension was even more of an issue since we had not even aligned the car, so it was slow in the corners. Camber plates would have been nice too.

Steve, what were your dyno numbers?

Seth
Steve’s racing partner in 2004.

#11

Seth:

'Good to see you here.

Where are you living now? Any chance we’ll see you at the track?

Carter

#12

I live in Houston, Texas now. The exciting news here is that NASA - TX finally adopted the Spec E30 racing series for 2006. I don’t have any current plans of building a car, but I could be persuaded otherwise.

Also, the new Motorsports Ranch will open a few weeks nearby! Yes, a brand new racing facility just 35 miles away from my home. http//msrhouston.com

Depending on the date and my license re-instatement, I would consider attending the enduro race at VIR, still my favorite track by a mile.

Seth