| Below are some recent pics of the bearings in my motor that ASH pulled at ZCON - link here about ZCON - 9/2007 20K on the motor - My current tune ( prior to the motor swap ) was 11:0 and I didn't boosted above 21psi / 1.3 bar (I can boost to 24psi w/out detonation with water injection on pump and 26psi on race ) .. - never been drag raced or re-tuned to a more aggressive 11:5 ratio ( which would have been a normal tune anyway ). I was waiting to tune both Z's at the same time
Bearing number 5 failed ..all others were perfect .. since tuning is not individual cylinder specific and all Border 850 cc injectors are fine as of 5/2006 .. the only two culprits are detonation or workmanship. Here is what we found ..
5 cylinders with perfect bearings and another reground crank :( --previously had an issue with bearing #4 
A reground crank was the culprit in my previous engine build and I had bearings put in the bottom end in 10/2005 by ASH --- post - Ash put's in new bearings prior to bearing failure -- states does not know how long will last - is a band aid - 10/2005 it held for about 6k miles .. Basing my experience with bearings and leveraging several tuners / vendors on this site, I requested a new or used crank in my warrantied motor ...
--- post here about regrinded cranks --- Even though I requested SGP to not use a reground crank and clevite bearings .. among other issues I had with them last year --- partial history / post here - 7/2006 ---I am not suprised to find out that they didn't build / warranty the motor to the specs that I requested and thought I was being billed for / used clevite bearings and a regrinded crank ... <<<< From: Dee Anthony Ridgeway [mailto:info@thedevilsz.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 13, 2006 8:18 AM
To: Sales@Sgpracing. Com
Cc: Ash Powers
Subject: RE: Engine Failure
Importance: High ....... Also - can this engine be built with a crankshaft that has NOT been reground? I have some serious issues with this being done on a built, performance engine. Micropolishing a good used crankshaft will be just as good as new and it will not compromise the nitride hardening of the journals like a regrind will. I also want stock bearings used not the cleveite ones that was previous used in my motor. >>>>
Based on my history with bearings and regrinded cranks, I have no reason not to believe that a crank regrind is the culprit here again.
This whole fiasco has cost me a lot of time and money over the last two years ( literally both - missed all of ZCON 2007). My hope is that anyone who is looking for a serious motor build requests and get untreated cranks ( from a N/A if it boils down to it. Not many of you will have the ability to have two Z's with two built motors to do a swap to get up and running and get it done in two days like I was able to during ZCON. I spoke to Kyle and Russell seperately about these issues and it seems that they have pretty solid processes in place and don't experience the crank / bearing failures that I have experienced on the builds that they have done. This motor is currently in my Devils Z now. I can tell you that ASH went over my IPP built motor for the Demon Z pretty extensively and stated that Kyle put that motor together as requested ( OEM crank not machined ) and it was all around top notch work. Now all I need to do is replace the short block in my Demon Z to get that on the road asap .. Unfortunately more delays :( When getting an engine build -- make sure that you ask for an untreated crank or that you are comfortable with the build process. It would be nice if someone made a FAQ about what to ask for in an engine build or the steps to take to ensure that new 4k - 5k race motor (that has no warranty) with new BB turbos is assembled correctly. I know some of this is proprietary information ( I will not disclose the information that has been shared to me - I will leave it up to the vendors ), but a simple FAQ for dummies would do wonders so that others do not have to be painfully educated as I was ...
=============Sig begins here================ The Devils Z.com 
"Even a broken clock is right twice a day" ...AzHeat on February 21, 2007 at 1:59 PM
"I would have had to have balls the size of China to think I could get away with overcharging someone 5 times the going rate for that install." ...Kyle(Houston) on February 21, 2007 at 12:22 AM "....Thanks captain obvious, would you recommend air to resolve a low tire pressure situation? coolant to keep temps down? perhaps a battery for electrical devices? " ... LJZTT on June 10, 2006 at 6:36 PM "How the hell would you have gotten on the track had you not *somehow* purchased a ticket? He's so overzealous about making other people look bad, that he sticks both feet down his throat. It's fun to watch though :) " ....ZEngineer on June 07, 2006 at 6:22 PM "as useless as an EGT Gauge..." *shakes head* Its comments
like this that hold the Z32 community back. " ....Z-Jay (Edmonton, AB) on April 21, 2006 at 11:46 AM "Somebody give this man a medal. Arguing with kenny is like being in the special olympics" ....ENVYMYZ on November 01, 2005 at 11:59 PM " .. going back and forth with you on a stupid point is like watching a retarded kid double dribble in basketball, you get tired of calling foul all day" ... Slowninja(GT28RS Inconel Z) on October 03, 2005 at 8:43 AM "the only chips you know about are Doritos. =)" ...ZEngineer on June 11, 2005 at 4:23 PM "....These posts only serve to make you look even worse, its gotten so bad it even makes me look bad to reply to you...." maglito on January 22, 2005 at 3:11 AM "What, are you afraid that only a couple of good ones have rolled off the production lines and the rest are crap?? ... Its mechanics not the stockmarket." ... ZisLuv on May 03, 2004 at 6:12 PM 
The Devils Z Pic
666 rwhp dyno The Demon Z pic (in progress)
View Me! Disclaimer : Not Safe For Work !
|
Crank regrind issues on motor builds - 
