265 engine forging

Discussion in 'Megane Projects' started by ianplymouth, Jan 3, 2020.

  1. ianplymouth

    ianplymouth RSM Club Member

    Hi Guys
    Just wondering if anyone is interested in my next in my next project.

    Before Christmas i stripped out the engine to get it forged, the car has now done 115k miles and i'm getting a bit worried about how long its going going to be before its going to throw a rod through the block, a mates went at 48k and cost him a lot of time and a shit load of money.
    I have already had to recover my last car (225) from Belgium and again from Snetterton (last straw, track day), so i thought it was better to get it forged before it happens.

    Drove the car into the workshop and the engine was on the floor about 4hrs later.

    Do you want me to carry on ????
     
    Idkellet95, Big ben, James275 and 3 others like this.
  2. Yes please

    Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
     
    ianplymouth likes this.
  3. ianplymouth

    ianplymouth RSM Club Member

    Okay here goes
    49322783253_0bc348d67d_k.jpg IMG_20191228_165802 by Ian Austin, on Flickr
     
    James275, JJZ, mardgee and 2 others like this.
  4. ianplymouth

    ianplymouth RSM Club Member

    Not the first time the engine has been out, changed the clutch last year, also took the cat out, as i was going to get it remapped.
    Turns out i couldn't get a rolling road slot that fell in line with a track day at Oulton Park or Anglesey, it's a long way for me to EFI, so wanted to combine it with a track day to make the trip worth while, i have done the trip before with the 225, left at 7am, drove to Runcorn, 4 +hrs on the rollers and drove home, Got home at 4am, never again, plan was to have the remap, track day the following day and then drive home.

    So, i had my local garage refit the cat for me for a very silly cheap price and its been back in all this year.

    I have done the Nurburgring 4 times this year, 3 trips to Spa, Snetterton, Donington, Silverston Etc, etc, etc, since i bought the car in August 2018 i have done at least 20 trackdays if not more.

    Now i'm getting worried and expecting it to go bang, i was at Snetterton when a mates engine threw a rod, his engine had only done 58k miles, Jamies also went at a low speed so i was panicking a bit, my 225 was fitted with a 250 engine, i had a reasonable amount of problems with that, it ran a big end at Thruxton, the hybrid turbo had problem at Spa, later in the year, it dropped a valve at Spa, then threw a cambelt after the rebuild after the broken valve episode and the final thing was the turbo totally shat itself at Snetterton (the 225's last trackday) the day after i bought the 265.

    To be honest, this has been the most reliable Megane i have owned, it's not used as a daily, i drive it to the track, rag it and drive home, 3rd gear did go, well very difficult to use at Snetterton, so i bought a used gearbox from Ebay and got the guys in the garage up the road to fot it for me (again for a silly price) i love them :sunglasses:

    So as the track day season is over (for me) i thought it was time to get this sorted.

    So here goes
     
  5. ianplymouth

    ianplymouth RSM Club Member

    49323484062_f348c42f4a_k.jpg First glance, very surprised by Ian Austin, on Flickr

    Head removed and sort of feared the worst, was expecting a lot of carbon build up, or funny burn patterns on the pistons, this is so clean i cant understand it.
     
    James275 likes this.
  6. ianplymouth

    ianplymouth RSM Club Member

    49322784313_67808dd7d3_k.jpg boring marks by Ian Austin, on Flickr

    You can still see the original boring marks in the cylinder walls, i know this engine has never been apart before, as the car was a one owner before me and i have its full history.
     
    James275 likes this.
  7. ianplymouth

    ianplymouth RSM Club Member

    49323485177_e7755c2338_k.jpg Crank by Ian Austin, on Flickr

    Next was to pull the sump off, the bearings have to be warn, this has spent most of its life bouncing off the limiter in my ownership, it's not my fault (honest) my 225 i could here when it was getting close to the limiter, this thing i can hardly here the engine, i also set the alarm to 400rpm before the limiter and still don't here it, that bleep is way to quite.

    But was very surprised by how good everything was looking.
     
    James275 likes this.
  8. Are these F4R engine really that unreliable? starting to wonder if i should sell and get another Honda.
     
  9. ianplymouth

    ianplymouth RSM Club Member

    49323273801_1126d7d94e_k.jpg big end bearing shell by Ian Austin, on Flickr

    This is the worst bearing i could find in the whole set, that includes the main bearings, i do do oil changes after every 3 track days, so i think this procedure has been worth it.
     
    ~Shaun~ and James275 like this.
  10. ianplymouth

    ianplymouth RSM Club Member

    so today i went and visited my local engineering company (Paul Inch) i knew his dad 35 years ago they build race engines for Mini's, Not the new shit but the old A series stuff, he checked over the block and crank for me and gave it the all clear to fit all standard size components.
    no wear in the liners or on the crank, result, no grinding or boring required saving money.

    came home and ordered some Iasa pistons and PEC rods, he's getting me some ACL bearings.

    So the cleaning and rebuilding will start soon

    will update as things turn up :kissingheart:
     
  11. Looks like it was in pretty good condition then!

    You may have been unlucky with the unit you dropped into the 225?

    Good luck with the rebuild, what turbo will you be putting back on?
     
  12. ianplymouth

    ianplymouth RSM Club Member

    I think some have been a bit tender, but i have beaten mine a lot and it's like new, my 250 engine that was fitted into my 225 was from a crashed car, so i think that where the problems started, the sump had a hole in it that you could put your hand in, after seeing some crash video's, bet they slammed the throttle and it was bouncing off of the limiter without any oil for a short time.

    Should of checked, but there you go, life is a learning curve :sunglasses:
     
  13. ianplymouth

    ianplymouth RSM Club Member

    Yes i'm sure i was a bit unlucky with the 225, but there you go :laughing::laughing:

    I have a turbo to fit, but i'm not sure it ill get fitted this year, i'm having problems finding someone to make an adaptor for me.

    ohhh iv'e said to much :laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing:
     
  14. ianplymouth

    ianplymouth RSM Club Member

    49323821953_cd79bdaba1_k.jpg oil pump by Ian Austin, on Flickr

    was also very surprised how good this is, i did a oil pump conversion on a mates Audi A4 2.0 diesel, (known fail) at around 100k, when i pulled it apart the teeth were like razors the chain was slacker than i don't know what, chain breaks and the engine is toast, so a new oil pump and chain kit are also on order.
    Not sure i need it but its all stripped now.

    Just as a matter of interest, Audi wanted £1100 for the kit and £1000 to do the work :sob:
     
    James275 likes this.
  15. Liking the updates. Engine looks in good nick for the abuse it’s had.
     
  16. honda engines are great....until you open them!
     
  17. better than expected then ian.just goes to show,regular maintenance pays dividends.
    what oil you been using?
     
  18. ianplymouth

    ianplymouth RSM Club Member

    Way better than i expected, on track it gets hammered, I've hit the limiter so may times it's embarrassing.

    I change the oil after every third trackday and use ELF sport 9 5w30
     
  19. Interesting.
     
  20. 5w30..sounds thin..but i suppose more suited to track thrashing..
     
  21. ianplymouth

    ianplymouth RSM Club Member

    Seems to have worked though, perhaps changing often has helped.

    Will check tomorrow but i'm sure its that spec
     
  22. ianplymouth

    ianplymouth RSM Club Member

    49333623448_ba37d11e39_k.jpg IMG_20200105_132056 by Ian Austin, on Flickr

    Bit of cleaning and painting today.

    Back to work tomorrow, will be doing evenings only for the next couple of weeks :neutral:
     
    James275, Ryan Butler and andrewjeffs like this.
  23. You made any progress on this yet Ian?
     
  24. ianplymouth

    ianplymouth RSM Club Member

    Pistons and rods are in but still waiting for the bearings to turn up, i think the guy i ordered them from has forgot, so i ordered a set elsewhere and looks like there going to be here tomorrow.

    Just been cleaning and painting in the mean time
     
    Coopz21x likes this.
  25. ianplymouth

    ianplymouth RSM Club Member

  26. Your'e making me want to forge mine now :tearsofjoy:
     
  27. ianplymouth

    ianplymouth RSM Club Member

    Go for it, or you can wait till a rod wants to see some daylight and then add another couple of grand for another block and crank, that's why i'm doing mine now.
     
    Coopz21x likes this.
  28. ianplymouth

    ianplymouth RSM Club Member

    They tried to deliver my bearings today, so will pick them up in the morning now.

    It's given rain on Sunday so a day in the workshop it will be, just waiting on the valves and springs then all the bits will me here.

    Will add some pics on Sunday.
     
    rockabilly likes this.
  29. Nice!

    I'm debating on getting another 225 engine to strip and rebuild so I've got one ready to swap when mine pops.
     
  30. ianplymouth

    ianplymouth RSM Club Member

    I have a spare R26 block if your interested :laughing:
     
  31. ianplymouth

    ianplymouth RSM Club Member

    old and replacement

    I gaped the rings, fitted the rods to the pistons and put the rods in the bores last week, well it was raining :laughing:

    49445497226_cf95731d6e_k.jpg IMG_20200126_102534 by Ian Austin, on Flickr
     
  32. ianplymouth

    ianplymouth RSM Club Member

    all fitted
    49445725592_706c771542_k.jpg IMG_20200116_145404 by Ian Austin, on Flickr
     
    Big ben likes this.
  33. ianplymouth

    ianplymouth RSM Club Member

    Today i wanted to carry on as my King bearings turned up yesterday

    Had to file the tangs off of all 10 halves on the main bearings

    49445728012_b3caffa96a_k.jpg IMG_20200126_110921 by Ian Austin, on Flickr

    49445728462_d536f21dd1_k.jpg IMG_20200126_112106 by Ian Austin, on Flickr

    Big ends are okay to use as supplied as the PEC rods have the cut outs in them for the tangs
     

    Attached Files:

  34. ianplymouth

    ianplymouth RSM Club Member

    fitted the top halves to the main and big end bearings
    49445507616_5df9f7f7a1_k.jpg IMG_20200126_120138 by Ian Austin, on Flickr
     
  35. ianplymouth

    ianplymouth RSM Club Member

    Then applied some sticky oil (Race engine rebuild lube) to the bearings to stop them being dry in the first moments of start up.

    Lowered in the crank, more lube and then fitted the main bearing caps, with ARP grease added to the bolt threads and under the heads and torqued, turn the crank at each tightening to make sure the bearings are not binding, then add more lube to the big end journals and caps.
    Add more ARP grease to the big end bolts threads and under the heads and then torque them up.

    Once that was done, i fitted the new oil pump and torqued that down.

    49445025083_7c49c49d2f_k.jpg IMG_20200126_133912 by Ian Austin, on Flickr
     
  36. ianplymouth

    ianplymouth RSM Club Member

    You have to seal number 1 main bearing cap

    49445025483_5a86547863_k.jpg IMG_20200126_134939 by Ian Austin, on Flickr

    And the sealer should start coming out of the gap all the way down.
    Especially on the inside.

    49445731022_5bbd89fdb4_k.jpg IMG_20200126_134948 by Ian Austin, on Flickr

    Put the front cover and seal holder on,fitted the splash guard then fitted new rubber gasket to the sump pan and tightened that down.
    Bottom end is done.

    49445026493_ab40df8e4e_k.jpg IMG_20200126_145724 by Ian Austin, on Flickr

    Also stripped out the old valves and springs from the cylinder head as they are going to be replaced with Supertec valves and springs, but there not here yet :cry:
     
  37. Loving it. Very informative
     
  38. ianplymouth

    ianplymouth RSM Club Member

    Hi Mardgee
    If there is any other pics or info you want just let me know
     
  39. Hi Ian, what sort of power are you going for?. My 250engine Clio runs 320/340, and the car is quicker than my ability to drive it. I assume you will be running around 360bhp?.Maybe see you on a track day this year.
     
    ianplymouth likes this.

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