Something Something Tony G's E30 Sedan (we're using a coupe now) - S54 Swap

[lambo]

Oh it's all coming back to me now. You're right there was one in a parking lot in Marietta. That was me then! I consider those the "prime" days of the vert because it looked good and I was actively driving it around.

Heres a fun secret I'll open the bag on. I loved those Borbet Type A's I had and regretted selling them. Been looking for a set for years and I finally found a source and just snagged a couple sets of them. I plan to run them on the sedan along side a plethora of other wheels I've been holding onto for years.

Modena's finally???

[spike68]

2013 was at a park parking lot in Marietta. I remember a slammed black diving board vert on Borbets. I probably have pics somewhere lol

Oh it's all coming back to me now. You're right there was one in a parking lot in Marietta. That was me then! I consider those the "prime" days of the vert because it looked good and I was actively driving it around.

Heres a fun secret I'll open the bag on. I loved those Borbet Type A's I had and regretted selling them. Been looking for a set for years and I finally found a source and just snagged a couple sets of them. I plan to run them on the sedan along side a plethora of other wheels I've been holding onto for years.

[Codym42]

2013 was at a park parking lot in Marietta. I remember a slammed black diving board vert on Borbets. I probably have pics somewhere lol

[spike68]

Were you at 4ngiefest 2013? I think I remember seeing you and your vert there LOL

Woah. Talk about an absolute throwback. Was there one in 2013? Last one I remember being at was probably 2011. I might say I doubt you remember me. My vert was very stock and I was a weirdo just heading into college.

[Codym42]

Were you at 4ngiefest 2013? I think I remember seeing you and your vert there LOL

[spike68]

Whats your rebuild budget?

There really isn't one, but also I'm not trying to spend an insane amount of money. I guess a good rule of thumb needs to be reasonable and justified to me to spend the money.

I have a longer answer and I'm saving it for another post to go into "the plan" of the engine build and rest of the car too.

[moatilliatta]

Whats your rebuild budget?

[spike68]

I don’t think and haven’t seen the piston squirters break off in s54 like M54s. But still always conscious of them. I usually always replace them in rebuilds and the machine shop pushes to do the same. Older ones can get clogged or even heard cause low oil pressure. This design though I don’t think has anything inside to regulate than it’s orifice.

Most the time when I see ring lands break is from booster cars where the rings touch from factory gap, seize up and break down the piston.

After doing some reading I have also seen some people come to the same conclusion. The only part I'm skeptical about is which part actually breaks. Physically mine all look fine. I did read some people claiming they wern't flowing correctly or could be clogged and for that reason I may take a shot at cleaning them. They seem like such a simplistic piece that it would be difficult for them to go bad. I know I'm allowing new pistons to be part of the budget, but this squirters are another $200 I may not feel like adding lol.

[moatilliatta]

I'll look into this. I just picked up an inside micrometer so I need a reason to use it lol. I would also assume it can be honed out somehow if theres an issue.

I would prefer not to have to buy pistons, but again it'll be up to the machine shop and what it takes to remove the cylinder scoring. I did check a few different companies including CP and they all only sell pistons starting at 87.5. I took some measurements of the cylinders before and everything is sitting at a pretty consistent 87 so the previous owner just did a quick hone job.

Piston squirters are all intact. I'll get them off an asses for damage. Are these a common fail item?

I don’t think and haven’t seen the piston squirters break off in s54 like M54s. But still always conscious of them. I usually always replace them in rebuilds and the machine shop pushes to do the same. Older ones can get clogged or even heard cause low oil pressure. This design though I don’t think has anything inside to regulate than it’s orifice.

Most the time when I see ring lands break is from booster cars where the rings touch from factory gap, seize up and break down the piston.

[spike68]

If it its in pieces and you can be more accurate, might as well shoot for that .001 per inch. The rods can be torqued and measured on the bench for out of round. I assume they could hone them back?

Vac has CP pistons, I have had good luck with them. Lang Racing and Achellies has CP also. Hope the cylinders only need 87.5 as not much meat between the walls. The deck should get machined down with another finish good enough for another MLS

Are all the piston squirters still connected? Id get new ones.

Was the head gasket blown?

I'll look into this. I just picked up an inside micrometer so I need a reason to use it lol. I would also assume it can be honed out somehow if theres an issue.

I would prefer not to have to buy pistons, but again it'll be up to the machine shop and what it takes to remove the cylinder scoring. I did check a few different companies including CP and they all only sell pistons starting at 87.5. I took some measurements of the cylinders before and everything is sitting at a pretty consistent 87 so the previous owner just did a quick hone job.

Piston squirters are all intact. I'll get them off an asses for damage. Are these a common fail item?

[ForcedFirebird]

Genuine bearing, WPC treated.

That's crazy. Genuine had .028mm minimum clearance (.0011", I verified on two engines, both were less than .0015").

That's why almost all aftermarket bearings have an extra .001" in them today. First time I saw it was Randy at EPIC doing it in his e46 back in 2013? (opening the bearings)

BMW also changed the min clearance in ETK from .028 to .040mm after the recall. LINK and LINK

[Panici]

Heck, I changed m20 rod bearings mid-race in the parking lot of Road Atlanta, and it was even snowing, lasted the last 10hrs of the race haha!

[moatilliatta]

Genuine bearing, WPC treated.

[ForcedFirebird]

Ive probably logged 400+ hours with Genuine WPC and ARP hardware. M10 or M11s, Journals 1.9275, and clearance around .0018-.002 Every once in a while .00175, As good as you can refrence that in car with Plastigauge.

What bearings? I tore down a virgin s54 and there was much less than .0018! EPIC was the first I saw adding more clearance into the replacement bearings.

Plasti-gauge doesn't show roundness, only clearance in the one spot it's applied. I've home-brewed many engines with ARP that lasted, but as you said, this one is in pieces. Heck, I changed m20 rod bearings mid-race in the parking lot of Road Atlanta, and it was even snowing, lasted the last 10hrs of the race haha!

[lambo]

Became a bro with lambo and did broverlander things. Gotta be some of the best memories I’ve ever made. I’ve got plenty of photos in the Toyota off-topic thread.

Miss you too

Glad you actually started this lol. Accountability to actually follow through lmao