Well....

To give a little background, I am taking a Internal Combustion Engine Theory class at a local college like 10 mins away from the University I attend. My university doesnt offere course like this, this college has a very nice automotive program, and it's all hands on stuff. For example, this week i am performing 3-angle valve jobs on a head. We've pretty much covered everything there is to know about engines, and with the knowledge from this course i will be able to pass the engine exam that is required to become ASE or ASC (whatever the **** it is) ceritfied.

Anyways...

I just found out that the class after this is an engine rebuilding class. You bring your own engine into class at the beginning of the semester, and work on it until the end of the semester. I might need to take a chasis/electrical class as a prereq as well, but i think i can sweet talk my way out of it. If i have to take the other prereq, it will put me into this engine rebuilding class in the spring semester of 2003 (which means my prelude would be out of commision from janurary to april (not too bar). And i would have to drive my accord arround during that time. So basically i would take my engine into class, and be able to do everything. I can put in aftermarket everything, without paying for labor.

Of course, this is'nt cheap. I have always been against spending loads of money in an N/A setup, BUT this is a prime opportunity for me to learn, make my car faster, and not pay for labor. I am going to need to find a source of funding to do this, but I am also going to need to know exactly what im going to be spending.

A way i look at doing this is like this: I was planning on selling the lude, and buying a Supra when i can afford one, but who knows when the hell that is going to be. And where the hell am i going to get all the money to modify a supra? I mean it takes a good 12 grand to do a single turbo swap, etc... I mean, if i get a supra, it's probably going to take a while to afford going bpu, and then that will put me in like the average supra class. I know i cant settle for that, but i would have to, cause theres no way i can afford to put myself into the 10's, 9's, or 8's... If i stick with the lude, i figure i will be able to make a 13 second car without nitrous, I can build my motor to handle a 125 shot or so, and be chilling in the 12's (which is at the top of the prelude list) I will have a faster car sooner, and cheaper, AND it will be like having a new motor so i know its going to last me.

SO, **** man, I dont know what to do... I can just call this my car that im going to keep for a while, and go all out on it... (i wasnt ever planning on doing that) Anyways, let's see what im looking at here:

I dont really even have a great idea as to what can be done because like i said, i never planned on doing this. I guess I'll list a few things off the top of my head that i can think about getting, and if the wise ones out there can help me with a guess on price, and exactly what i will get out of each, it would be appreciated.

Overbore: I guess one of the questions I am wondering is if it is worth it to bore out the cylinders... I mean, then i would need oversized pistons, possibly oversized valves???? (not sure about this) And then im going to run into any problems that have to do with increasing the size of the combustion chamber... I mean, the larger the volume, the longer its going to take to burn the a/f mixture. I'm going to have to advance my timing (not a good idea with nitrous) Any other problems I am going to run into as a result of increasing displacement...? Blah, i really dont know because like i said, i've never really thought about it... Also, i have no idea if this would even be an option in this class...

Rods: How are aftermarket Rods different from the stock ones? What are the benefits? Do you only need new rods if you get new pistons (or different size pistons should i say?) How much are they? What are they made of, opposed to the stock ones? What companies make them? How much?

Pistons: Damn, i dont even know what i would get. I dont know if i want some high compression pistons??? Could be dangerous with nitrous. Oversized pistons if i increase my bore... I'm pretty sure they sell forged pistons for preludes right? Would that be what i would want to run a huge shot of nitrous??? Of course with pistons, i would need new piston rings and probably sleeves. (i not even sure if i will be capable of resleeving the block in this class???) What brands am i going to be looking at? What kind of Pricing

Valvetrain: Well i assume i am going to want a nice high rev-limit for my new "race" engine valves, valve springs, retainers, etc. Do i need new valves? How are the aftermarket valves better than the stock ones? Do they make valves that can withstand higher temperatures than the stock ones? How much will they cost? what company? Valve springs, retainers, yatta yatta, yeah i will obviously need them to be able to withstand some high revs. whats the deal on that ish? how much, what brands, whats best, etc? Since i will be doing the valvetrain, i will probably be at least be able to get some stage 2 cams...

Cams: yeeeeeeeeeeeah, now we're talking. Stage 2? Stage 3? I am leaning more towards stage 2 cams, but what are the advantages/disadvantages of each? Will my cam choice have to do with my pistons/compression? (or vice versa?) What companies will i be choosing from?

Now if i do all of this. I will need to upgrade my fuel system (fuel rail, fpr, injectors, pump)... I will easily sell my dry nitrous kit and go direct port (tapped into the new skunk2 manifold of course, cause it will be out buy then) I will definately go with a new clutch & flywheel.

It sounds like this is going to be hella expensive. Maybe not even worth it.... I mean maybe i can keep leave my block alone and just work on the head. Go with some new cams, and a valve train upgrade... What do you guys think about pricing??? I know cams are $750... i will need cam gears which will be another $200, so theres a grand easy. how much for the valvetrain upgrades? and even pistons/rods? Blah im so overwhelmed right now, and i thougth i had my plan all set......

Ok, I know its time to stop writing in this post because i have already forgotten what i wrote up there. I guess I would like to hear some opinions before i go on.

peace

 

you definately want to speak to 71dsp on preludeonline

 

Damn that's long.

This is the first motor you are rebulding. You are learning, and you will probably make some mistakes. If you make mistakes on a Honda motor, they will be expensive mistakes. I think a cheaper motor is the better option for learning your first time...

In all seriousness, if I were you, I would chose a much cheaper domestic motor to rebuild for this class. The Ford 5.0l V8 would be an excelent choice. It is far less complex than an H22a and costs 1/4 of what an H22a will cost you. And if you screw something up the parts cost like 1/3 of what Honda parts cost and they are much easier to find. You can build a 300-400hp 5.0l for under $1500. At the end of the class, you can either sell the motor for a nice profit or buy an old Fox-body mustang shell to dump it in as a beater/drag car.

Andrew