Hi folks, recently when Greg and I were going to do the 120k maint. on my car we discovered brass shavings in my oil pan.

The car is a 1992 vr4 with 125,000 on the motor. Total spent on fixing the car, since buying it for 3500 this last summer = ~2500.

None of the bearings have spun yet but it looks like it may happen soon.
So now I need to decide what to do about the engine...

The engine was apparently rebuilt before but my knowledge on why is a bit spotty. I am now assuming it had spun a bearing. The mechanic (who worked on it for the prev owner) told me he just "rebuilt the crank".

My theory (influenced by Greg) is that when the first spun bearing happened, the crank was resurfaced and new bearings were put in.
No new oil pump, no new oil return lines, or oil cooler etc....

Either the *crank resurfacing was not up to par* or *the metal flakes still in the oil pump, cooler and return lines hastened the bearing wear* or likely *both*.

So, what would you do in my situation? (And don't say put the car up for sale to some other poor guy.)

How much would it end up costing me for a new shortblock, oil return lines and oil cooler ? (I allready have the oil pump sitting in my parts pile)
?

I'll be graduating from college this December and then hopefully working at a real job, so I will have funds then.

Thanks,
Jason

Don't buy a new short block unless you really really want a 4 bolt. You car could better benifit $3000 somewhere else. All that motor needs is new bearings, new oil cooler/lines, crank/rods polished, 120K stuff (which you have), and a good cleaning.

If I had about $8-1000 sitting around, I'd pull the whole motor, take it somewhere, have them rebuild the turbos, rebuild the heads (and maybe do a little port/polishing), and clean up the short block (bore, balance, clean, replace/remove crank oil squirters...). This is what *should* have been done last time the motor spun a bearing.

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06 Blue EVO 9

I'd flush the oil out, right now.

Then I'd drive her till she spun, then start with a new crank, rods, pistons, and fun stuff. (rebuild the old block, but with new guts.) Then build the engine to have some serious fun with bigger turbos.

but that's just me. and most people know better than to listen to me.

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Bad decisions make good stories.
Look at it! LOOK AT MY @SS AND TELL ME IT'S PRETTY!

If it could be done that cheap I think I would go that way. I don't think that is realistic from what I've read though. (Please prove me wrong, since I could cough up that cash sometime soon)

The other thing is, I would not plan on resurfacing my crank again.
From what I understand, a bad (see resurfaced multiple times) crank will continue to cause bearing problems. So I would need a new crank. ($800?) You can buy used, but there's a chance of it being defective.

Also, it seems about 50 % of the rebuild stories I've read, result in bearing failure. (Probably do to some sort of error made in the process) But that doesn't make it any less disturbing. It would suck to be in this situation again.

Jason

OH, one other thing. I did some research and the crank in your motor was a forged one meaning it was replaced. It can still be salvaged. The only way to know for sure it to take is someplace and have them do some checking but I'd put $$ on it being alright.

Jeff has a place in Milwaukee that he sends stuff like this too. Maybe the 1st order of business is to give this place a call and get a quote.

the 6g72's are fairly fussy on rebuilds. that's why everyone has bearing problems on the rebuilds.

not many people line hone all the bearing surfaces at once any more.

320 hp out of a mini-van motor is gol' darn impressive. you need tight tolerances to keep it running reliably for any amount of time.

_________________
Bad decisions make good stories.
Look at it! LOOK AT MY @SS AND TELL ME IT'S PRETTY!

Call "Norm" at Allis Machine


414-543-7710

He has a proven history (successful history) with these engines...