Building bottom end for turbo

[Vongsy]

Hey guys, I’m planning to start building my FRS with a turbo kit and having fun with it. I have goals of around 350 whp (or whatever my transmission will let me have) and have some questions for rebuilding a block.

I just purchased a seized fa20 short block for pretty cheap and the plans for it are to rebuild it with new internals for a lower compression. I am eyeing the Carrillo pro H connecting rods and matching pistons. It is probably overkill for my power goals so any recommendations for rods and pistons would be appreciated, probably going to end up going with BC beam connecting rods.

I am going to get the block machined and honed. I should probably wait till that is done before buying anything right?

This is going to be my first ever build done by myself so I am taking it as a learning process as well and I know it’ll take me some time lol. Any tips would be helpful too 😂

[Irace86.2.0]

Some would wait until the block has been examined just to make sure there isn't any damage that prevents a builder from being able to machine the pieces. When you say seized, that could mean a lot to me. My mind immediately thinks of a junkyard motor that has seized from rust and time, but a seized motor could mean it locked up from damage. There could be a snapped rod that is protruding through a cylinder or a piston ring failure that severely gouged the side of the cylinder or chipped the top. Again, I would wait until you know the block and head are good.


If 350whp is your goal, and it is for daily driving, then you probably don't need to go crazy with the build, as there are many people near that on the stock motor, so consider a modest build unless money is no object. If you plan to track the car at 350whp then more insurance could be good, but if it was a difference between a better build or a build and good supporting mods then perhaps the latter would be a more effective way to spend the money.

[dholloway543]

Be careful with used aluminum blocks. When I was rebuilding my block the head bolt threads pulled out of the block. Aluminum is soft and stressing and un-stressing the threads will cause it to weaken. Especially if you plan on using ARP head studs.


Its all too common, not saying it will happen though. Just saying be ready for the possibility.