sigmafour

...little bit at a time. taking a long time though.

Pictures still to find. I think of engine reassembly... http://www.sigmafour.net/build/IMG_2225.jpg http://www.sigmafour.net/build/IMG_2227.jpg http://www.sigmafour.net/build/IMG_2229.jpg http://www.sigmafour.net/build/IMG_2232.jpg http://www.sigmafour.net/build/IMG_2233.jpg http://www.sigmafour.net/build/IMG_2235.jpg http://www.sigmafour.net/build/IMG_2236.jpg http://www.sigmafour.net/build/IMG_2237.jpg http://www.sigmafour.net/build/IMG_2238.jpg http://www.sigmafour.net/build/IMG_2239.jpg

progress... heads are back from machine shop, ready to be reassembled and figure out what buckets will be needed and some other goodies ready to install. The bores are de-glazed and ready now for the pistons. http://www.sigmafour.net/build/IMG_2178.jpg http://www.sigmafour.net/build/IMG_2180.jpg http://www.sigmafour.net/build/IMG_2181.jpg http://www.sigmafour.net/build/IMG_2182.jpg http://www.sigmafour.net/build/IMG_2183.jpg http://www.sigmafour.net/build/IMG_2184.jpg http://www.sigmafour.net/build/IMG_2185.jpg http://www.sigmafour.net/build/IMG_2186.jpg http://www.sigmafour.net/build/IMG_2187.jpg http://www.sigmafour.net/build/IMG_2189.jpg

it's been soooooo long and perfection takes time. Not just putting in pistons and buttoning it back up, nothing for performance but putting back some margin of reliability as we go.

Pictures still to find! I think these were just some of the shortblock disassembly. http://www.sigmafour.net/build/shortblock1.jpeg http://www.sigmafour.net/build/shortblock2.jpeg http://www.sigmafour.net/build/shortblock3.jpeg http://www.sigmafour.net/build/shortblock4.jpeg http://www.sigmafour.net/build/shortblock5.jpeg

Alberto does. Engine pulled on Saturday and he had those pistons out quickly after he finally got those cam's off!

#4 no more. Pictures to find! I may take some new ones as I still have the damaged piston... http://www.sigmafour.net/build/WP_000956.jpg http://www.sigmafour.net/build/WP_000954.jpg http://www.sigmafour.net/build/WP_000952.jpg

Alberto is borrowing the OZ wheels as he needed something to clear his new larger brakes until he purchases the wheels he wants. The car is just rolling on scrap shop wheels so we can move its lifeless frame about.

Picture to find. I think it was the Wiseco's in a box... big deal. http://www.sigmafour.net/build/IMG_1989.jpg

Engine is finally out but lower cam bolts are really stuckl! http://www.sigmafour.net/build/IMG_1997.jpg http://www.sigmafour.net/build/IMG_1998.jpg http://www.sigmafour.net/build/IMG_2001.jpg http://www.sigmafour.net/build/IMG_2002.jpg http://www.sigmafour.net/build/IMG_2004.jpg http://www.sigmafour.net/build/IMG_2011.jpg http://www.sigmafour.net/build/IMG_2012.jpg http://www.sigmafour.net/build/IMG_2013.jpg http://www.sigmafour.net/build/IMG_2023.jpg http://www.sigmafour.net/build/IMG_2024.jpg http://www.sigmafour.net/build/IMG_2025.jpg http://www.sigmafour.net/build/IMG_2027.jpg http://www.sigmafour.net/build/IMG_2030.jpg

spotted a palm tree. lots of mopeds and toyota's but no subarus.

It is unfortunate only because of timing... but when is a good time to have your engine fail? It was always understood it was likely we would break a piston but 'maybe' being hopeful it might get away with it for a while and it did but it was definitely never done in ignorance. We took precautions to see if you can minimize the event but clearly even with that cylinder 4 still wants to quit! It had 115K miles on it and that's a lot to ask when you get close to 400whp. When we open it up, if the cylinder walls are okay then the plan is to replace the pistons with forged wisecos if the walls are damaged then I will consider a new block. However this strengthens the engine I do not want 'more power' - As I have mentioned before the way this tune behaves performs faster on the track than others with bigger whp numbers simply because their power comes so late. I have no need or want to get a bigger numbers. This car is fast! At this moment I am fingers crossed I am hoping I will get away with replacing the pistons and not the block - I will definitely refresh the heads of course and then I will consider sensible choices for other engine parts that make sense for reliability. I will not skimp on replacing worn out parts since the engine is out, I want reliability more than anything else now. I will be away with Alberto soon so you can bet we'll have hours and hours between us to talk through all the options and know exactly what we'll be doing before we start. I honestly expected to be bummed when this happened but I have always said to others we all secretly love it when the engine breaks so we can have the excuse to pull it and give it what we needs. (Dujo you're right!) Coincidentally Alberto was only off a little bit on his estimation on when I would break the piston... he said July/August we'd be pulling the engine out. To be honest, I'm surprised it lasted as long as it did.

no... not yet. But rich fuel trims... I can understand why people who have cracked ringlands do sort of ignore it for a bit or convince themselves the problem may go away, searching for other answers of why the car keeps up with the P0304 code . It's almost completely benign as car is still very smooth more or less but the evidence is there and the car has spoken... the oil will be consumed and any more boosting about will engage the old marble in a can syndrome as the ringland so far just cracked will likely break free and rattle around - then we will see some knock!

Picture to find... I think it was the broken piston number 4! http://www.sigmafour.net/lgt/byebyepiston4.jpg

The time has come! Cylinder 4 misfire codes, puffing from the oil cap like a lovely old steam train. Car gently broken, still drives, bit rough on idle but will be consuming oil and can only get worse. Will limp the poor thing to Alberto's and will rest it there until he has time to pull the engine, then some new pistons and off we will go again. So there's the answer... Can you run +400whp on stock pistons? YES! But not for long especially if the methanol fails... then definitely no!

Or those who have good reason not to give the po po any other reason to consider a traffic stop.

spotted these: http://www.sigmafour.net/lgt/spotted052013.JPG oh... and a mini and a volvo.

I do like them wheels - I even liked the green ones against your color car... Bold.

Not on the first date...

You want to ride on my big wheel?

I am happy to hear you got your Kettler tricycle out from winter storage and are enjoying that ride again Spc.

OZ doesn't completely morph it!! Just less of a sleeper - damnit. Going wheel shopping now for something more stock looking - ah! Rotagrids...

excuse me?

Mmmmm powah.

It is a photo forum but this seems to be where all the build threads end up... I could post more pictures but there's nothing else to see. 500AWHP - so there goes the drivetrain... and it's just not worth it. I can get bigger numbers but practically it won't make the car any faster. Those bigger Turbos develop the power so late it's all over by the time it matters. Best bang for the buck has already been reached.