RIO engine tear down - Tuner-Junction

jadkar · #1 (**permalink**) October 24th, 2006, 10:04 PM

I still can't believe I have to make a "Engine tear down" thread after just 4500miles. Well anyway.........

The engine isn't out yet, but I spent 2 hours yesterday and 2 hours today and she's just about ready to be pulled now. The bumper was removed along with the radiator, AC compressor, AC hoses, MSD ignition stuff, intercooler, intake manifold, and SC. Some interesting things that I found so far.

Over 50% of the bolts I touched were loose to the point of "unacceptable". It seems that the vibration this thing puts out is shaking everything loose. Lock-tight must be used on reassembly.
The super charger may have taken one for the team Yup, it sucks but it seems the SC maybe shot. Some of the material from the valve failure must have got sucked up into the rotors and they're not looking too good. The SC binds slightly while turning now and you can see the rotors are scuffed.
After taking the intake off I stuck my head back there and looked into the intake ports on the head. I can see the number 2 intake valve (closest to the dizzy) is busted at the seat. It's turned sideways and jammed about 1/2 into the intake port I have no idea how it jammed itself so far into the port but it looks nasty. The guide on that valve looks bent as well. I'm not sure if that was the cause of the failure or if it happened after the fact.

More to come (with photos) once the engine is removed.

macbasq · #2 (**permalink**) October 24th, 2006, 10:17 PM

this all sounds painfully expensive to me. if the jrsc is shot, will you have it rebuilt or will you decide on another performance adding route?

Pooch 1069 · #3 (**permalink**) October 24th, 2006, 10:25 PM

the new RDX motor!!! be the first!

scottigee · #4 (**permalink**) October 24th, 2006, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pooch 1069

the new RDX motor!!! be the first!

woa hooo hooo!!!

jadkar · #5 (**permalink**) October 24th, 2006, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macbasq

this all sounds painfully expensive to me. if the jrsc is shot, will you have it rebuilt or will you decide on another performance adding route?

Yeah, it's getting there. My preliminary numbers land me at about 6K for the rebuild and that's if my SC is OK. I guess add another grand if the charger needs to be replaced.

Damn this hobby is expensive!!

macbasq · #6 (**permalink**) October 24th, 2006, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jadkar

Yeah, it's getting there. My preliminary numbers land me at about 6K for the rebuild and that's if my SC is OK. I guess add another grand if the charger needs to be replaced.

Damn this hobby is expensive!!

yeah i don't think there's any way to get a car to the level the rio was at and be on a small budget. so i'll take it you're staying with the sc. how do you feel about a K in your bay?

jadkar · #7 (**permalink**) October 24th, 2006, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macbasq

yeah i don't think there's any way to get a car to the level the rio was at and be on a small budget. so i'll take it you're staying with the sc. how do you feel about a K in your bay?

In this CRX I am very much against it. My next project will have a K for sure, but in this car the B makes the "look". Plus, with everything I'm doing I'm gonna be well over my power goals.

My original goal was 240 and I hit 270ish, now I'm looking at 300 and I'll probably land around 310ish. The K would be nice but they look ugly in CRXs.

88 rex · #8 (**permalink**) October 26th, 2006, 09:33 PM

I found a loose tranny to motor bolt the other day. Guess I missed the lock tite on one bolt.

So what's the plans if the blower shot?

jadkar · #9 (**permalink**) October 26th, 2006, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 88 rex

I found a loose tranny to motor bolt the other day. Guess I missed the lock tite on one bolt.

So what's the plans if the blower shot?

I spoke to Larry at Endyn today. They were porting my blower anyway so I figured I'd talk to him about the damage. He thinks the blower is salvageable but can't be certain until he gets it apart. The blower does turn which is a good thing and the blades aren't missing material the tips of them are just scuffed. I posted a photo of the rotor damage in the CRX photo thread today.

If the blower is destroyed I'll probably end up buying a new one. I have too much $$$ into the SC project to ditch it for a thousand dollar blower (god if my wife heard me say that).

I just got the engine out tonight. It's sitting on the floor of my garage, tomorrow I will take the trans off and mount the engine on my stand. By this weekend I'll have the head off and be able to inspect the carnage.

sloganish · #10 (**permalink**) October 26th, 2006, 10:52 PM

i say turbo the best, build the engine make 500hp and call it a day

charliemopps24 · #11 (**permalink**) October 27th, 2006, 12:02 AM

I'd love to see a 300 hp crx that is as perfect as anybody is ever gonna find.

njn63 · #12 (**permalink**) October 27th, 2006, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sloganish

i say turbo the best, build the engine make 500hp and call it a day

power under the curve > peak power

88 rex · #13 (**permalink**) October 27th, 2006, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by njn63

power under the curve > peak power

GT28RS

jadkar · #14 (**permalink**) October 27th, 2006, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sloganish

i say turbo the best, build the engine make 500hp and call it a day

You're crazy

Quote:

Originally Posted by 88 rex

GT28RS

You're crazier, especially since you know how much work I put in to go down the SC road

88 rex · #15 (**permalink**) October 27th, 2006, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jadkar

You're crazier, especially since you know how much work I put in to go down the SC road

Yea, I thought, " Wow, here's the perfect oppurtunity to build an awesome little turbo set-up," but then I realized that you had put so much time and effort into this project that it would be pretty wasteful to completely change directions. If you didn't have the whole intercooler set-up, then I would have mentioned, or maybe shouted, time for a GT28rs. Bring on the disco potato!!!

<-----Hopes to someday pull out my John Travolta outfit and mirror ball and do a little dancing with a wicked little turbo set-up.

jadkar · #16 (**permalink**) October 27th, 2006, 07:55 PM

^^

Plus I don't like to do what everyone else has done. Built SC or all-motor FTMFW

Turbo Honda is like the new Mustang GT

carboncivic · #17 (**permalink**) October 27th, 2006, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jadkar

^^

Plus I don't like to do what everyone else has done. Built SC or all-motor FTMFW

Turbo Honda is like the new Mustang GT

This is why i envy this project, hard work and the final result.

88 rex · #18 (**permalink**) October 27th, 2006, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jadkar

^^

Plus I don't like to do what everyone else has done. Built SC or all-motor FTMFW

Turbo Honda is like the new Mustang GT

Well, yes and no. You would essentially be different by selectively choosing an accurately sized turbo for your application as opposed to slapping the fanboi T3/T4 turbo on there and going for peak numbers.

With that said, there is still nothing lacking with your set-up. It is well thought out and tastefully done.

triniskill · #19 (**permalink**) October 27th, 2006, 11:11 PM

Your setup in RIO is the best setup for road racing..which is what you built RIO for..Theres no point to change up or try something else..

K series are good...but i got to say..It sux to put in a crx..the motor is higher and bigger..u have to cut out oringal motor mounts..and either you cut a big ass hole in the hood..or get a custom hood that looks like a muscle car hood..

Hope just the head is the only thing wrong with your motor...

jadkar · #20 (**permalink**) October 27th, 2006, 11:32 PM

So I got the engine on the stand tonight and tore the head off. The pictures speak for themselves........

All in all the head looks like it's done and obviously the piston. The cylinder doesn't look bad at all and is probably salvageable. The blower itself is probably OK as well.

So now it comes down to........ Since the engine is all apart do I just replace what's busted or do I go all out and bore and stroke it as I originally planned. Mostly likely I will bore and stroke it. It's just too much work to get the engine out and not do a ground up build.

Tomorrow the blower gets sent off to Endyn and Monday my head gets thrown through the window of the machine shop that did my head work

Link to the RIO engine rebuild album