Motor done blowed up. Solo II people what should I do?

[Martini Focus]

With the demise of my current engine I have to make a few choices. The motor started knocking after a 3-2 high rpm down shift last Saturday. I was spinning the engine 1000RPM over the factory RPM limit for the last two years. :rolleyes:

1) Buy another stock Zetec ($800)

2) Use the engine I built last winter and complete the turbo project.

Engine is built with the following.
Billet Main Caps
Eagle Rods
JE 8.0:1 Pistons
Total Seal rings
ARP Main Studs
Ford Racing Head Ported Polished
Custom Crower Cams

At this point my project ground to a halt with a oil pump failure while the engine was being run in. The damage was minor just some bearing issues which were all replaced but by this time it was April and I decided to scrap the project for the year.

Part I have waiting to be used.
Custom Exhaust Manifold with a Turbonetics DeltaGate II
T3/T4 Turbo
RS500 Intercooler
Mandrel Tubing.
42lb Injectors
70MM MAF


Parts I'm missing to complete the project
Intake Manifold if I want to run more than 15psi. $1200
Fuel Management - I can either get 1 time custom tuning cost about $1000 or I can get a plug in Pectal T2 Cost about $2800.
Intercooler Pipe. $300
BOV. $300
LSD $1000
Center Force Stage 4 Clutch $500

As you can see there is still quite a bit of money needed to complete this project, sure most of the big dollar items are already in place but still the engine tuning will be crucial.

3) Option 3 is going NA. I can use my built motor, and just swap the pistons to 10.5:1 and get new cams. That should cost me about $1500 but I still have the issue of tuning. To get it done correctly it's either the 1 time custom tune for $1000 or the Pectal for $2800.

HP wise I with option 2 I'm between 220 and 350 depending on my boost level and NA I would be close to 180HP.

4) Complete the turbo or NA motor sell the car and buy a Mini Cooper S.


So anybody have a suggestion for what I should do?? I already know that at 134hp, my current HP level I was still leaving 3-4 sec a run out on the course and I would expect that more power is the very last thing I could use at the moment.

Hmm new Option 5: Buy the another stock engine a set of R comps and go to driving school over the winter.

[haniforama]

Option 1 would probably yield the most seat time and correspondling the most improvement in lap times...

Hanif

[haniforama]

Oops - i just saw option 5...

[Logan]

Option 5.

Sure, going with any of the other options will be lots of fun, you'll end up with a fun car that could be really fast.
The problem then is that if you want to compete in solo 1/2 with any hope of being competitive you're going to have to be really fast.
Otherwise you're going to be disappointed in how people are beating you on pax.
If you don't care how well you do, then it doesn't matter.

I say do option 5, then continue to save money over this winter and next summer and release a turbo monster upon ontario for 2005, when you are a much better driver.

[andrew1984]

stay n/a.

turbo's lag way too much, poor response.

trust me, i dont regret going n/a, and im never gonna look back.

[roooo]

Option 7 ? Import a real Cosworth engine from the UK :D

[John P]

Buy a stock engine and do Solo 1, Solo 2 and lapping to get the ultimate seat time. Take the Solo 1 driver's school in the spring. Fine tune your suspension for the Solo 1 Class you enter so that you are competitive. You can run a stock engine and be very competitive if you maximize the car's handling for a particular class.

Based on that experience, you can decide what to do engine wise for 2005.

John

[speedevo]

option 5 man, plus you'll have another motor for "parts" if ever need be.

[ice/solo racer]

Option#6 Buy a race prepped corolla gts,proven history and easy to drive(honest)set up for fun and fast times.I know a guy with the perfect car that needs to sell:D (you allready have a truck/trailer).
If owning the 2 time class winning car doesn't interest you I say go with option 5,it'll be the most rewarding/easiest to focus(no pun intended)on driving and not hanging on for dear life to the next corner and then locking the wheels,missing the apex-repeat for next strait/corner etc.
Maybe thats why I think the corlla is easy to drive-not much power to take your attention off what the car does best which is turn baby turn!:cool:

[paulmon]

Ouch! That sucks.

My heart says OPTION 4 ALL THE WAY! But I'm a little biased.
:rolleyes:

All joking aside, option 5. Power won't do you much good if you still think you're leaving 3-4 seconds on the course.

Paul

[DuPontRacing]

my Condolences :(

Dont worry Simon my car will almost be like urs
396,000 km on the original motor and she still pulls
:cool: all 102 hp :D

btw, i heard vortech is making a supercharger for the focus, dont know when that will be happening

[Martini Focus]

Hello from Denver Colorado.

Well a big thanks to everyone for their suggestions, I'm going to have to agree with you all that option 5 seems the best way to go.

The Mini is still very tempting though every time I see one I wish I could be driving it.

I've got a full 6 months now to decided on what to do as the car is officially way in untouchable storage.

DuPontRacing: The Vortech kit is already out, it's expensive but if you want a blower it's probably the best one.