rebuild questions

[glht_omni]

i am going to rebuild my 89 mini 2.5. i plan to add (couple of months after rebuild) : stage 4 or 5 cal,wallbro 255 pump, +40 inj.,adjustable fuel pr 3 bar map, and 3in. down pipe & exhaust with a ported exhaust manifold and 2.5in. swingvalve, and of course t2, ic, and decent bov.

so my question is will a standard, cheap ($150) rebuild kit be sufficient?
or do i need a better rebuild kit?

so what parts would you use for rebuild on a $300 budget? thanks

[purevl]

where did you find a rebuild kit for that price, because i'm in the market for one and the cheapest i can find is over $300, you are talking about a master kit and not just gaskets or something right? sorry for hijacking your thread, just curious

Spend your $300 on something else. Rebuilding a motor on $300 will result in you having to cut corners or exclude crucial elements of a rebuild. I'm sure others will disagree but it's your choice. I have over $1700 in mine and I'm still buying stuff for it.

[glht_omni]

i know a few places that have rebuild kits (all rings, bearings, and gaskets.) i was tryin to figure out if i should be buying standard rings and bearings or something a little better to handle 20 psi. for 1700 i would have a hay day, or be lazy and pay someone else to do all the work.

[purevl]

little help please...

[Dan Culkin]

Quote:

Originally posted by glht_omni i am going to rebuild my 89 mini 2.5. i plan to add (couple of months after rebuild) : stage 4 or 5 cal,wallbro 255 pump, +40 inj.,adjustable fuel pr 3 bar map, and 3in. down pipe & exhaust with a ported exhaust manifold and 2.5in. swingvalve, and of course t2, ic, and decent bov. so my question is will a standard, cheap ($150) rebuild kit be sufficient? or do i need a better rebuild kit? so what parts would you use for rebuild on a $300 budget? thanks

For $300 I'd get the big ends of the rods resized (~$80), new rod bearings ($12), new rings ($60), gaskets ($40 or so), valve job + head planed ($120), and hope you don't find anything else wrong. Don't even take the crank out - this is basically a "re-ring" and head refinish exercise, not really a rebuild.

[Glhs60]

Ive done many low cost rebuilds and completely strip the engine and examine, clean everything. I like to start with used running engines and often consider a good used crank better than a regrind. If a block needs align boring/honing or rebore I rather not use it. If the bores are not scuffed a ball hone does a great job. Used stock Mahales are better than most new pistons. The wrist pin retainers are a weak link so I like to use the 85 and older press fit rods, with new bolts and resized. I run a large file across the block deck to check and smooth high/low spots. Sometimes I even hand lap the valves. The point is you can make a great engine if you start out with good used parts. Machine shops certainly have their place but they have parts and services to sell so you can't always expect them to give your used parts the O.K. Theres a lot of satisfaction in creating a good engine for little money. Spending large doesn't guarantee sucess.
Rings, gaskets and seals are necessary. Everything else is possible.
Thanks
Randy