Budget engine build
 

Hello people of the internet!!

Planning on doing a semi budget engine build. By that I mean, buying only what I need, not everything I can.

For instance, I doubt I'll be pushing near or past 500whp so I'm happy running Skunk2 Alpha or Brian Crower.

The main question is; do I neeeeeed forged pistons? I want stock CR and an easy build.

inb4 do it while the engine is apart. Everything will be done in house so that's not a valid excuse/reason.

Facts: 2015 Engine, 20,000 KM

Current purchase/wish list:
King or OEM bearings
ARP head and main studs
Rods TBC
Head Gasket TBC

Anyone with experience with these engines please pipe up and fill me in :D

Thanks in advance

You should list your budget. And then double it. Any kind of proper build would be at least 10k(including turbo/fueling/supporting mods), probably closer to 15-20k. So don't even bother unless you are ready to drop that kind of cash.
You should mention your goals also.
I would just copy a build from a company or car and then go from there.
Cheap, fast, reliable. Pick two.

The oinly costs incurred will be parts. There is no building costs.
I already have the form of forced induction though I may change to turbo (currently looking at 18psi with sc) though I'd manufacture it in house.

Aim is as stated, under 500whp. Only supporting mod not purchased is any drive shafts that may break. And tires.

As stated above: there is NO labour costing. This will all be done in house. The only cost involved is parts.

You need pistons.

Why for?
I'm thinking of having the crowns ceramic coated?

We can't help you if you don't have specific budget or goals.
499hp then.
Cheap, fast, reliable. Pick two.
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=78

Cheap build = stock. Cryo, coatings etc. It can still blow up

I will throw my $0.02 (its Canadian so vs a US 2 cents its kinda worthless)

Do pistons and drop the CR to 10:1 if your planning on running more then 15psi boost. It will make tuning much easier.

I use the term budget to mean not spending more than necessary. There is no monetary limit because building an engine with a cost goal is stupid.
All I want to know is if pistons are essential to a build in this car and if so, why?

Pauter rods, Outfront Motorsports Custom 12.5 piston made by CP, Stock headgasket. Supertech valvetrain......
Here's why, when you boost a motor you need to increase the ring gap, and possibly the piston clearance depending.. I would never try to push 3X more power on a stock piston. Pistons are cheap compared to doing it a second time....

That's the second time I've been told that exact set up. Except I haven't really looked at valvetrain due to not planning to run any higher RPM or anything such. But I shall still look into it.

Thank you for an actually helpful reply :D

Every build needs to have an target, whether a monetary limit or an intended purpose. Right now, knowing only that you plan to target "less than 500 hp" is way too wide of a scope to give you proper advise. Vastly different planning is needed if you were trying to hit 500 as opposed to 300. It also matters if this is a DD/street/drag/track car. Without that sort of basic info, the word "need" doesn't mean anything because nobody knows what that means.

Doing a build with stock pistons is generally regarded as somewhat pointless, because regardless you have to get new rings and deglaze the block whether or not you change the pistons.

You can consider everything done in house and discount labor costs, but if it needs to be done twice, you're still doing it twice and you're paying with time.

If you boost and rev you need the upgraded valve springs.... The reason is the extra pressure on top of the valve will float a stock valve during high rpm sure your safe at 7 psi but 500hp will not happen pushing 7 psi:thumbsup:

Thank you for the legitimately helpful people here. I momentarily thought you'd all died out :D

We just have zero experience with this engine, it's a building ADVENTUREEEE! Infact we are probably going to buy and build a second engine just because.
Just gotta wait for the R32 GTR engine to be finished :D

Thanks helpful people! I know deep down I'm just being lazy and looking for reason to justify my laziness

Can you share the piston clearance and ring gaps for all three rings?

Also with the 12.5 CR, is it a forged 2816 or a 4032?

I'm using a big turbo pushing over 30psi so I am sure my specs will not be the same as what would work best for you. I would talk to my engine builder about that. I could tell you for example .004 but then on the street motor with lower boost smaller turbo it would use oil. NOW THATS JUST A EXAMPLE spec but when you build these engines you have to build them for what your going to use it for... Sorry I couldn't help you more.

Forgive me if missed something here. I was of the impression you can't find forged rods that will fit on the stock piston. You either change the piston too or grind out part of a brand new forged rod to fit the stock piston.

thanks. i understand that engine build is depended upon the purpose of the user. i wanted to find out what specs you agreed with your engine builder. to see if your build specs bearing and piston to cylinder wall clearances are good for my engine build and also compare to other engine builds (FA20).

thanks anyway.