As most of you know my motor gave up and I am now doing a complete rebuild. The shop has finally started removing the engine. I will update pics as well as what I am planning on doing.

Jeff

 

Thanks for doing this.
I'm sorry that your engine blew and but am very interested in your rebuild process.

 

 

In for updates...

 

The shop informed me one of the pistons blew. As you can see from the pic the "ring" or "ring land" is partially missing. I am in the process of ordering a new set of rods and pistons from Carillo.

 

I am also getting the Spec Stage 2 clutch, rebuilding the turbo, ARP head stud kit and sending out the head to a machine shop to bore it 0.5mm over

 

Ouch. How many miles before it blew?

Were you still using the OEM turbo and Stage II Alta tune?

Can you refresh us on what you have planned for the resurrected motor?

 

I only had less then 65k miles on the car. Yeah I was running the stock turbo but I changed my exhaust to a full 3" cat back so I was running a stage 3 tune.

I will be upgrading the rods and pistons with Carillo. Going to bore out the head to 0.5 mm. Changing the clutch to the Spec stage 2. Complete rebuild of the stock turbo to a hybrid turbo. We were going to do the GT28 turbo at first but my guy was saying it won't be a fun street car. If I was planning on just tracking then he can see us putting this turbo. Gonna change out the Ex/In manifold gaskets, Oil Pan gasket, oil & water pump. I am sure I am missing other things. All in all this should be a pretty quick Mini.

I will be posting more pics as the process continues. I am hoping to have my car in about a month depending on how quick the turbo shop sends my replacement. I will also post a dyno run after I break in my motor. I am hoping all this $$$$ I am spending is well worth it.

 

It's all very well replacing your rods and pistons, however, you need to find the issue as to why you're piston broke in the first place ?

Simply replacing pistons, will not repair the issue!

The damage to you're piston is from detonation issues, and typical in the sustained damage, so you now need to investigate further to find the cause of the detonation issue, as already mentioned, a new set of pistons, simply masks an underlying problem!

 

I'm betting too high of boost with the Alta Stage III tune and the wonderful insulating properties of black carbon. Too late too see now!

Even on the track I could not see the GT28 being that more advantageous especially considering all the adaptation to the engine & engine bay you'd have to work through. You'd probably have some fantastic pull from 4K+rpm to redline, but hell this isn't an engine you wind up to 8500rpm The smaller turbo on the MCS and JCW is what keep the car a nasty contender on the short track.

 

sorry to hear about your motor, hope it all ends good!

 

How many miles did you have the Stage III tune on the car?

 

Wouldn't detonation cause damage to the top of the piston, where the combustion happens? Not on the bottom of the piston?

 

There are many variables to uncontrolled detonation, and dependant on the cylinder pressure spikes and heat harmonic vibrations, will determine how a piston fails, and in this case the unsupported ring lands are the weak point on this particular hypereutectic trapezoidal piston.

 

Consistant with how mine and everyone elses have failed

Keep everyone updated on your new build though!

 

in for updates - Good luck with the rebuild

 

Oil build up on intake valves. Engine is completely stripped waiting for the rods and pistons and turbo

 

I just knew we'd see a picture of carbon build up.
Wow.
So, is this carbon build up universal, no matter what?
Sure seems like it...

 

excuse me if this sounds dumb since you were running the stage 3 tune, but were you running an upgraded FMIC?

 

yes i was running the forge fmic

 

okk, now im scared...

 

If you're pushing 20+psi of boost on stock internals you'll eventually get the pistons very upset even if you have a FMIC. It's only a matter of time and how tolerant your particular engine is of the extra cylinder pressure.

 

OK, I'll buy the hypereutectic reference, but I'm having a bit of trouble swallowing "heat harmonic vibration"...



Cheers,

Charlie

 

Why are you having difficulty, is it because you don't understand the effects of uncontrolled combustion pressure shock waves/frequencies ? Common reference to knock detection, or lack of detection, if the harmonics fall within the anti knock detection sensor/s range.

 

interesting thread.
how hard do you drive the car?