I have been reading posts on this sight for some time. I will be getting an XB sometime soon. I am curious about one thing.

I hear people talking about going s/c or t/c but you won't get that much out of it cause the motors can't handle that much boost.

How much do one of these motors cost say from a junk yard? Are they expesive?

It just seems like if you are going to do something, do it right the first time. It might be more money up front, but in the long run it will be cheaper.

What I will do is get a spare engine and build it up first, then put it in the XB with the new Turbo kit. Break it in and then I shouldn;'t have to worry about blowing it up. This is the on;y way Ii will do it so I don't have to get worried about blowing up my motor.

When I had my honda, I always bought an extra block and head to build up while I was still driving my car. Then it was just a matter of taking out the old and putting in the new.

 

The main reason why people don't do what you are talking about is because the cost/benefit ratio does not end up in our favor. Sure, if everyone who bought an xB (or xA for that matter) had $5,000 plus dollars to spend after buying their xB, then it wouldn't be an issue. No one wants to spend that kind of money for not that many more horses, especially when you can buy a car for the price of an xB that comes with that much hp stock (and has a motor that will be able to handle more horses in the future - the car that comes to mind is that Saturn).

Personally, I'd rather keep the xB with a semi-stock motor and get something like an old Charger or Nova to build up and go really fast, way faster than my xB could ever get me, even with a bigger engine and super/turbo charged.

 

That saturn is hideous , as well as the cobalt , but oh well , you can get echo motors for like 300 or so at most any junkyard.
They blow because the rods cannot handle very much boost , thats the flaw , others have blown motors from improper tuning but on stock bottom end the general rule is max psi for longevity and safety is about 7psi some say 6 and others claim they daily boost 8 , all i can say is 7.

 

Spare Engines w/ no tranny will run 500-900 Dollars from a scrapyard. Building the engine like you stated would be VERY costly, and i have most parts priced out. Every inch of the block work is custom.

CP custom Pistons 9:1 (pistons,rings, pins)- 800 bucks
CP Rods: 600 Bucks
Balanced Crank: 250-500 Depending on your machiene shop
Sleeves: 1700
Oil Pan (custom w/baffles): 350-500
ARP Head Stud Kit: 500 custom
Block Total: 5k

Head:
Cam regrinds for FI application: 180
Supertech Valves, Springs, Retainers: 450
P&P Head: My shop costs 750, not just port matching
Ported Intake Maifold: 300
Head Total:1k-1.2k

This is just block and Head, now add the cost of a custom Turbo Kit, Your new Fuel System you will need, and the cost of an Greddy E-manage, Dyno Tuning time, Clutch, Axles, Transmission upgrades, etc....

My setup would have ran me 10K...and for 10K i can make something alot more powerful in the Honda Realm. Not worth building these engine IMO

 

Do you think it'd be possible to build the motor up enough to withstand 8 to 10 PSI in 15 to 20 second bursts every once in a while for 2000 to 2500 dollars?

 

I see no need for the extensive build up, the weak spot is not the crank/block/heads.... its the rods and pistons... specifically where the wristpin meets the rod.

Lower compression pistons and stronger rods will take you where you need to go...

 

Thankyou all for the responses.

First I have to get my XB but it doesn't hurt to plan ahead.

If I where to build it, it would be for reliablitly, not for 1/4 mile times. I would like to be able to run 10 to 12 lbs of boost and not worry about anything breaking. Granted it would be costly and it would be cheaper to go with another car. I have done the honda thing and it can get just as costly if not more. Plus, i want an XB not another car. Why do soemthing that is easy and that everyone else has done.

I would most likely just build the block since that seems to be the weak link. I don't see a need to really mess with the head since it is boosted and I am not going to change the redline. Atleast it is do able and I know some people that get good prices on parts so I think I could shave about 1.5k off your total of 5k for the block.

Granted some people might think that is to much to spend but I don't think so. It would give me peace of mind plus the ability to run more than 6lbs of boost safely.

 

go for it man. good luck to you. i know that there is someone that has custom pistons and rods ordered and are hoping to push over 200whp. grab one of those spare motors and build it like you said. plus that way if it blows you still have the motor that is warrarntied

 

Exactly that extensive of a buildup would be more suited in hopes of say 250whp , for about 200 I would think rods pistons and block guard.

 

Plus, sometimes, to get the desired results requires trial and error and parts breaking, before you achieve the goal you want.

I built a N/A Del Sol. I had no luck with engines. I went through 6 before I finally got one done right. It was just mechanical gremilins and doing things that no one else has tried before. Eventually, I had my sol running mid 13's. All I needed was to replacet eh ECU and low 13's or even high 12's was in reach. To bad I friend screw me over. No more Sol.

Once I get my Box, I will be doing an engine build up. I will keep the forum posted of results. It might be 6 months to a year before I get my box, but once I have it, the fun will start.