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[theidealone]

So I cracked a sleeve in the ZC. Was running about 27 psi with that little eBay 44 trim piece of shit. Probably blowing hot as fuck.



There is a nick in the top of my piston in that cylinder (#4), and Im thinking it might have caused a hot spot, or could. So I will have to replace that piston.

With that said, Im between buying another ZC short block, replacing the piston, and rings, or just buying a Z6 and some Vitaras. Theyll cost me about the same in the end.

But either way I go, I cant afford to sleeve, and I want a stronger block. So I was looking at block guards. Then remembered the old HotRex fail.

Has anyone has a good experience with Devcon? What is the proper method? How thick of a layer should it be? How much space should be left at the top? Should I leave more space, as the Vitaras wont be reaching the deck? (Like going 1/16th " from where the Vitara hit TDC)? For a street car, will having 1-1.5" thick Devcon be a cooling issue?

Or should I just stay the fuck away from Devcon, and go with a block guard?

[Teg2boo]

Everyone who have a block guard say they work cause their motor didn't blow up.

Everyone that don't have one say they are useless cause they don't have it and their motor didn't blow up.

Good luck

[theidealone]

Haha. Pretty much. I do have a friend making 535whp @ 5800 ft. altitude, on a D16Z6 Vitara build, and he has a block guard. And that motor has been together for 3 years. Made about 350 the first year, 4-450 the second year, and 535 this year. He dropped a valve, popped a head gasket, and the pan has still never been off. Hes probably just lucky, but I havent seen any issues with him running a block guard.

So I figure it cant hurt. Its just the Devcon method is cheaper, and easier. I just want to make sure that the Devcon method actually works, and what is the best method, since a machine shop wont be installing it, like a block guard, they would.

[Jorsher]

Is the top of the Devcon below the top of the pistons at TDC?  Don't see how it'd be too useful when it's not where peak pressure occurs...

[jabberwock]

IIRC, the original purpose of using devcon wasn't so much to reinforce the sleeves, it's used more to keep them from shifting around.  Like posting a block or whatever.

[Joseph Davis]

Is the top of the Devcon below the top of the pistons at TDC?  Don't see how it'd be too useful when it's not where peak pressure occurs...

Correct, pour the band about halfway up the bore, leaving plenty of room both top and bottom for coolant flow..  Twenty other people do the same.  We'll all report back in two years and derive a consensus majority on the subject.

[Jorsher]

IIRC, the original purpose of using devcon wasn't so much to reinforce the sleeves, it's used more to keep them from shifting around.  Like posting a block or whatever.

I see.

Still don't understand why it's not filled to the top, if you're going to do it.

[jabberwock]

How do you expect the top of the cylinder to stay cool with no flow except for 1/4" holes surrounded by epoxy?  Yes it's aluminum infused epoxy but it's still epoxy. 

Fill to top
Get shit hot
Crack sleeve top encased in epoxy
 
 ;D

[theidealone]

So how thick should the Devcon be? And how much below the piston's TDC level, should it be?

[92CXyD]

So how thick should the Devcon be? And how much below the piston's TDC level, should it be?

Have mine about 1/2" below deck w/ the block decked 0.020". ;D

So far so good.

[theidealone]

Is that with Vitaras? Or Honda piston heights?

[bigdaddyvtec]

Youre missing the point.


The info has been provided already.


Especially in a street car that gets driven and beaten regularly, Its at the bottom of the sleeve and in your case not going to help as much as hurt.

[92CXyD]

Is that with Vitaras? Or Honda piston heights?

With vitaras and for my Twincharge setup. I've drove about a total of 4k miles in 2 summers w/ s/c no issues with heating.

So far usually the s/c is engaged for short burst not all the time.

[theidealone]

Werd. Thanks man. How thick do you think your layer of Devcon is?

[92CXyD]

The Devcon is start at the same height as the top of the water pump out let.
 
And ends about 1/2" below deck.

I do not know the exact thickness.

[bigdaddyvtec]

Devcon =Ghey

[theidealone]

Well, its that, or a block guard. I dont have money for sleeves, and Ill do whatever I can to relieve stress on the stock sleeves, so I can make a little more power.

[PhilStubbs]

Why do you need to do either one? 500+ has been done too many times with no cylinder support.

[Joseph Davis]

Well, its that, or a block guard. I dont have money for sleeves, and Ill do whatever I can to relieve stress on the stock sleeves,

Block guard thermally rapes the tops of the bores, and doesn't support anything since the deck face of the bores + the head already do that.

Worst case scenario with Devcon and your block hotrex's... the Devcon lets you limp the car home, saves you a tow bill.

I'm not doing either.  I'd rather spend blocktard/devcom money on a AAA membership.  I just watched a friend split a couple blocks in a row and tuck the same crank, rod, bearing, piston, and rings into each new motor.  Hurting anything beyond the sleeve is rare, and you just replace the block.

[theidealone]

He put the rings in the new block??? Is that a good idea?

[Jorsher]

He put the rings in the new block??? Is that a good idea?

No.

[HiProfile]

My z6 has been posted for almost 3 years now, with no leaks. However I did it before the trip to the machine shop, and made sure it was cleaner than a scalpel when I devcon'd the posts in. I very well may use devcon next time to keep the sleeves from shifting, since I want to use an LS crank. You can conceivably do it after it's machined.

Devcon =Ghey

So are red accords. Proven by facts that prove it.

He put the rings in the new block??? Is that a good idea?

If the rings aren't broke in yet, there's really not an issue. Kinda like an oil pump that was used for 5 dyno pulls, or bearings used for five miles.

[Joseph Davis]

I've seen 30K mile rings reused.  Hell, Robb reused some 150K mile rings, worked great.

[bigdaddyvtec]

God Im a faggot and love the cock

Youre ghey  too...


Facts

[ryan89crx]

I've seen 30K mile rings reused.  Hell, Robb reused some 150K mile rings, worked great.

I re-used mine after I split a sleeve, sealed good enough for me. Compression test showed within 5-10psi on each cylinder so I was happy

[Eville140]

I've seen 30K mile rings reused.  Hell, Robb reused some 150K mile rings, worked great.

When you don't give a fuck, and slap shit together is when I have noticed I have the best luck.  :yes:
Spend an assload of time being anal with shit and it breaks in minutes.

[Robb]

I've seen 30K mile rings reused.  Hell, Robb reused some 150K mile rings, worked great.

Lol I forgot about that.  3 years later that engine has 200k miles on it and the guy still drives it everyday, no smoke.

[onlyflash944]

He put the rings in the new block??? Is that a good idea?

sounds like a great idea if you are poor

[theidealone]

If I was gonna reuse the SRPs I would consider it, since JE wants 108 bucks for a set of rings. But Im going Vitaras, since the pistons and rings combined, cost the same as JE rings.

[ryan89crx]

If I was gonna reuse the SRPs I would consider it, since JE wants 108 bucks for a set of rings. But Im going Vitaras, since the pistons and rings combined, cost the same as JE rings.

You can get Hastings that work just fine with JE/SRP pistons for about $35.