What should I get?

sphell · 31-07-2005, 10:21 PM

I always imagined that I would blow up my motor running a mega shot of NOS but it all fizzled out the other weekend when I killed it in the rather un-spectacular fashion of caving the sump in when the car fell off the jack.

I thought that since you have to lift the engine to replace the sump, why not just replace the engine altogether. So this weekend I got to work ripping the old motor out. Here's some pics to keep you all happy

Here's the damaged sump. The jack actually punched a hole in it and it leaked oil all over the road.

how it looks at the moment.

So now I'm left with the question of what to replace it with????? My first thought was to rebuild the 3.9 with a ACL Race Series kit to cope with the NOS. But then I thought that a good condition EL or AU motor would be fine cause you always see boosted E-series like a few on this site that just run stock motors with a cam and they're fine. Plus there is no performance advantage to be gained from rebuilding the bottom end, it's just for reliability.

I've kinda got my heart set on getting an AU motor at the moment cause they have a stronger bottom end and everyone says they rev easier and the heads have a lot of potential for porting etc.

So has anyone got any ideas or suggestions?

And here's a pic of my fav new toy! Can't wait to get it installed!!

EFFalcon · 31-07-2005, 10:31 PM

Deffinately the AU engine IMO.
only difference would be the need for another cam.

LUXO_8 · 31-07-2005, 10:46 PM

go with the AU engine

.

Gunns · 31-07-2005, 10:50 PM

You could go a EL2 motor you get all the goodies of the AU engine + it fits in with no grinding or cutting.

EFFalcon · 31-07-2005, 10:54 PM

EL hybrid bottom end isnt as good as the AU one.

Psycho Chicken · 31-07-2005, 10:55 PM

I have an AU bottom end ;) Needs a rebuild though.

InitialD · 31-07-2005, 11:02 PM

Go the XF Motor LMAO j/k

AU Motor sounds like the go ;)

Damo · 31-07-2005, 11:17 PM

I'd go for an EL engine, low CBF factor with changing sh!t. Low Km AU engine would be sik too but more effort.

Who helped ya pull the motor ? you left the transmission in ? Good stuff Doug, if ya need a hand with anything (passing tools etc :P) i'm just around the corner. I think I saw an AU engine at Just Falcons sitting waiting to go when i was there the other week.

Keep us updated.

Damo

ilsautomotive · 01-08-2005, 10:14 AM

Since you can weld, there is no reason not to go with the AU motor.

dansedgli · 01-08-2005, 10:17 AM

AU motor if you can be bothered messing around with the accessores.

Where did you end up getting the crane from?

dansedgli · 01-08-2005, 10:33 AM

Will the EA T5 bolt up to the AU engine?

There was something that was odd with the gearboxes I think I recall someone saying.

ilsautomotive · 01-08-2005, 10:37 AM

I got an AU BTR bellhousing for mine, but others said the E series bellhousing would be fine.

As for the accessories, the solution was using all AU accessories.

dansedgli · 01-08-2005, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trouty

I got an AU BTR bellhousing for mine, but others said the E series bellhousing would be fine.

As for the accessories, the solution was using all AU accessories.

Is that including the BBM? If not you need to ditch aircon dont you?

ilsautomotive · 01-08-2005, 10:41 AM

I'm using the ED manifold which is more suited to my purpose (I just need an ED aircon compressor bracket), as for aircon I am hoping to get some custom piping made so it can still operate. It's not the kind of thing I can live without.

Kenaz · 01-08-2005, 10:44 AM

Drop an AU 5.0 in it ;)

Seriously, I reckon an AU I6 would be your best bet.

Oh and if you need a hand with anything give us a yell, I have Sundays off

parawolf · 01-08-2005, 11:30 AM

Get a BA engine into it...

TUFED6 · 01-08-2005, 12:20 PM

I'm gonna go in the other direction, and say get another cheapy EB 4.0 while you work out how to tune for Nitrous. Or depending on how f&#cked your current motor is and throw that back in for the time being.

Doesn't take much of a lean-out to turn a piston into vapour!

Either way you probably want something with an AU head gasket.

- John

Age182 · 01-08-2005, 12:48 PM

every ones saying yea AU motor theres 3 of them 2 without VCT one one with it?????

ilsautomotive · 01-08-2005, 01:28 PM

There's the base Intech, the HP and VCT. Shouldn't make any difference, but I assume VCT would be more challenging to modify because you can't just throw a Wade in there.

Age182 · 01-08-2005, 01:45 PM

tru and would be harder to find somthing for the VCT, Meh!! She b rite

sphell · 01-08-2005, 07:10 PM

thanks for the suggestions guys. Sounds like the AU motor is the GO. I'll just get the normal type not the VCT one. To answer some of your questions...

Damo - nah I took the trans out as well, just did it yesterday...nothing better to get you over a hangover than ripping an engine out :yeees: oh yeah, someone told me that you don't have to plug the trans to stop the oil coming out on a manual box.....they lied :( Might get you round when I'm putting the new motor in...since ur the clutch expert now!!

Dan - got crane from kennard hire. I think the EA bellhousing mates up to the AU motors ok. And I'm not gonna use the BBM, gonna keep it ED manifold and also have no aircon anyway so the bracket doesn't really matter.

John - I'd rather have a good base engine to start with rather than putting my crappy old one it again....it's pretty hammered. I will probably get the whole lot dyno tuned though so I don't blow it up first go!

Psycho Chicken · 01-08-2005, 07:39 PM

Let us know if you want anything, if you feel like rebuilding an engine. Probably easier to buy a complete one but.

dansedgli · 01-08-2005, 07:44 PM

Now that its out would you bother just fixing the sump and reinstalling it so you can kill it properly?

Damo · 01-08-2005, 07:55 PM

lol, yeah I forgot to plug my box too, got covered in Trans fluid... again.

Let us know how you go with the engine.

sphell · 02-08-2005, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dansedgli

Now that its out would you bother just fixing the sump and reinstalling it so you can kill it properly?

nup....i'd like to but the CBF factor is pretty high.

Rob, whats wrong with the AU bottom end you have?

Tonight Sunny came over and helped me rip the rest of the stuff out of the engine bay....there is nothing left in there now. I'm gonna re-paint it cause stupid me forgot to put hardener in the paint last time so it never really dried properly.

Now I'm tossing up what colour to paint it. I could just do it in blue again like the rest of the car or go for the factory Matt black look or go for Gloss black which I think could look ok with a detailed engine??? What do you guys reckon?

InitialD · 02-08-2005, 01:48 AM

The gloss black would look good. I was going to do the same oneday when Onereded paints my car ;)

EFFalcon · 02-08-2005, 01:52 AM

i like the matt black engine bays.

02-08-2005, 02:01 AM

yeah it hides the grease well ;)

InitialD · 02-08-2005, 02:07 AM

Didnt the old HZ kingswood have a black engine bay? That use to work well ;) I couldnt see the crud in my friends enginebay.

What about metalic black?

Psycho Chicken · 02-08-2005, 07:23 PM

Don't know to be honest, it could be perfect. Haven't looked at the bearings. Bit of surface rust in the bores from sitting around, nothing too bad. I was going to hone it, re-ring it and maybe do the bearings if they needed it. For obvious reasons I don't need it anymore.