2013 FA20 engine build / direct swap ideas?

[NoHaveMSG]

Originally Posted by davydawg

Thanks for the detail. I'll use this as sort of a template to learn what all I need to do.
I'm comfortable doing my own work, I have a full shop worth of tools, and i'm no stranger to wrenching, but I have never built my own engine from scratch, that's the reason I'm coming into this from this angle. I think getting a short block and prepping the heads, removing/ installing the engine myself would be a comfortable amount of work for me.

If you have the heads done you will likely need to adjust valves. I have a bunch of shims if you need some, about an hour south of you. They are expensive little burgers and a PITA to measure. You need a really small spindle on a micrometer.

[Eaton PSI]

If the engine is pumping glitter around in the oil, you may find the cams and carriers are damaged as well. I bought a few fa20 engines in the hope of finding a rebuildable one but the majority of the parts ended up being scrap.
The cam gears are glitter traps! They are fiddly to open and clean but if they've come off an engine that's been eating itself I would recommend doing it. Or replacing them. Mine were full of super fine metal paste.
Roller rockers that have been running in glittery oil make me nervous.
If your engine is telling you its getting tired, best to stop driving it before its all ruined.

Easy way to measure tappet shims. Find a ball bearing that fits in the shim cup. Measure it with the ball in it and subtract the diameter of the ball. No special tool required.

[NoHaveMSG]

Originally Posted by Eaton PSI

If the engine is pumping glitter around in the oil, you may find the cams and carriers are damaged as well. I bought a few fa20 engines in the hope of finding a rebuildable one but the majority of the parts ended up being scrap.
The cam gears are glitter traps! They are fiddly to open and clean but if they've come off an engine that's been eating itself I would recommend doing it. Or replacing them. Mine were full of super fine metal paste.
Roller rockers that have been running in glittery oil make me nervous.
If your engine is telling you its getting tired, best to stop driving it before its all ruined.

Easy way to measure tappet shims. Find a ball bearing that fits in the shim cup. Measure it with the ball in it and subtract the diameter of the ball. No special tool required.

I used a small torx bit that fit in the shim cap.