buy or build?

SUBIEMARINE · 09-26-2010, 06:43 PM

ok here is the situation. i have a 04 sti and i want to either rebuild the motor with cams, forged internals, springs retainers and a few other things. my motor has over 100,000 miles on it. i was also looking at prebuilt motors like the short blocks or full long blocks. i want to go the cheaper rout, but i also want it to last a long time. i dont think i ever want to get rid or my car i love it so much. haha. any advice would be appreciated. im building it to put a gt35r on it.

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morrocco88 · 09-26-2010, 07:02 PM

I say buy a built long block.

1. It's not good to bore a 2.5 block and weaken the liners. I know Maxwell Power will not bore a 2.5 block, they always start with a fresh case.

2. You would also have far less down time. Drive your car until you get your new motor, and then you just swap over a few parts off your old motor and drop it into the car.

3. Better possibility for success/warranty if one builder builds the whole motor and you get it with the heads attached.

ASU · 09-26-2010, 07:33 PM

Better to buy a shortblock, you can save some money and refresh your heads. All the stress is on the shortblock not so much than the heads so they should be alright.

kasra007 · 09-26-2010, 07:45 PM

your better off starting with a brand new shortblock, this way you eliminate many of the possible scenarios where things can go wrong with rebuilding your current one.
Plus you can sell your old one or keep it incase your new one blows..

al82 · 09-27-2010, 02:20 PM

Hey what's up man...first of all start with a new block

flatironstuning.com these ppl have bare block, blocks without pistons, rods and cranks. Get the bare block, crankshaft and gasket kit here.
realstreetperformance.com get your pistons and rods combo and send it to them for assembly.
All in all you will spend $4500 for everything, $3500 in parts and about $1000 to hone and assemble.
Send your stock heads for a valve job.

jscspeed
importimage
oakos
These three websites you can shop for pulley kits, timing belt and all other accessories. You can get Clevite bearings from AMS performance if ACL is still out of stock or Crawford has some nice sti bearings.

I just rebuilt my motor so this is where i shopped. Goodluck.

SUBIEMARINE · 09-27-2010, 10:12 PM

awesome. thanks for the help. i would rather piece it together because i don't have the money to drop about $15,000 on a new built long block. this is going to be a track/daily driver. so i need it to be reliable in all aspects. also if i wanted to put a stroker kit in it would they be able to work with that for assembly?

09-26-2010, 06:43 PM	#1
SUBIEMARINE Scooby Newbie Member#: 222195 Join Date: Aug 2009 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: CT Vehicle: 2004 WRX STi java black pearl	buy or build? ok here is the situation. i have a 04 sti and i want to either rebuild the motor with cams, forged internals, springs retainers and a few other things. my motor has over 100,000 miles on it. i was also looking at prebuilt motors like the short blocks or full long blocks. i want to go the cheaper rout, but i also want it to last a long time. i dont think i ever want to get rid or my car i love it so much. haha. any advice would be appreciated. im building it to put a gt35r on it. * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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09-26-2010, 07:02 PM	#2
morrocco88 Scooby Specialist Member#: 104098 Join Date: Jan 2006 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Eastern WA Vehicle: 1997 LGT 2.1 stroker Rotated S200SX-56 6speed	I say buy a built long block. 1. It's not good to bore a 2.5 block and weaken the liners. I know Maxwell Power will not bore a 2.5 block, they always start with a fresh case. 2. You would also have far less down time. Drive your car until you get your new motor, and then you just swap over a few parts off your old motor and drop it into the car. 3. Better possibility for success/warranty if one builder builds the whole motor and you get it with the heads attached.

09-26-2010, 07:33 PM	#3
ASU Scooby Specialist Member#: 164551 Join Date: Nov 2007 Chapter/Region: SWIC Location: Baumholder, Deutschland Vehicle: 2006 Brotastic STi Land of beer and laws	Better to buy a shortblock, you can save some money and refresh your heads. All the stress is on the shortblock not so much than the heads so they should be alright.

09-26-2010, 07:45 PM	#4
kasra007 Scooby Specialist Member#: 225361 Join Date: Sep 2009 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: ashburn, va Vehicle: 2006 wrx sti beige	your better off starting with a brand new shortblock, this way you eliminate many of the possible scenarios where things can go wrong with rebuilding your current one. Plus you can sell your old one or keep it incase your new one blows..

09-27-2010, 02:20 PM	#5
al82 Scooby Newbie Member#: 177913 Join Date: Apr 2008 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Miramar, FL Vehicle: 2011 WRX STi PBP	Hey what's up man...first of all start with a new block flatironstuning.com these ppl have bare block, blocks without pistons, rods and cranks. Get the bare block, crankshaft and gasket kit here. realstreetperformance.com get your pistons and rods combo and send it to them for assembly. All in all you will spend $4500 for everything, $3500 in parts and about $1000 to hone and assemble. Send your stock heads for a valve job. jscspeed importimage oakos These three websites you can shop for pulley kits, timing belt and all other accessories. You can get Clevite bearings from AMS performance if ACL is still out of stock or Crawford has some nice sti bearings. I just rebuilt my motor so this is where i shopped. Goodluck.

09-27-2010, 10:12 PM	#6
SUBIEMARINE Scooby Newbie Member#: 222195 Join Date: Aug 2009 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: CT Vehicle: 2004 WRX STi java black pearl	awesome. thanks for the help. i would rather piece it together because i don't have the money to drop about $15,000 on a new built long block. this is going to be a track/daily driver. so i need it to be reliable in all aspects. also if i wanted to put a stroker kit in it would they be able to work with that for assembly?