Is the stroker worth it? Options

[The Iron Goat]

Since the Goat is in need of a rebuild shortly, I've been kicking around the idea of stroking it. What are your thoughts?

I've also thought about throwing boost on a 4G64 and putting that in. I'm just curious if the benefits of either setup would be equal to the cost.

[JMoushon]

Depends on what you want to do with it.

[turbohcar]

For me, a stroker would have been too much of a hassle, but that's just my .02 The biggest problem I've seen is that not many people have built them or tuned them in comparison to the stock 2.0 The problem with that is if you have a problem with the engine or tuning, only a select group of people with experience are going to be able to help you. If this doesn't scare you, do it!

[The Iron Goat]

Depends on what you want to do with it.

Ok, so when is it advisable to have the stroker? Is it only worthwhile if I"m racing at the track, or is it more of a street-worthy option? Or is it something else entirely?

[awdnot2]

It's a matter of do you want lots of low end torque? Spool up time will be decreased drastically.

[awd4kicks]

To further Darryl's explination...I consider it the equalizer for domestic roll on torque. A 2.4 by it's self will have a little extra torque and the quicker spooled boost will finish the job!

Roll on power... I'll let you know how well it all works together in a few months!

[The Iron Goat]

Hmmmmm.........low end torque........fast spooling turbo..........yeah, I'm doing it.

Would it be cheaper to assemble the parts yourself or go with a kit like the one Slowboy and others sell? I know lots of guys have purchased this stuff individually, but I didn't know if it was as cost-effective.

Are there any known drawbacks to doing the stroke?

[awd4kicks]

My 2.4 has actually been in the works for the last year and a half. I spent a lot of time researching the do's and don'ts while getting together all the best parts that I could afford. Once together I found that I had a blown head gasket and warped head. Soonafter it was back together a rod began to knock. Fast forward to this year... My short block is now at Precision Machine in Bloomington because they claim to have good experience with DSM engines that are run hard, not to mention all the normal domestic iron. The pro's at Precision looked over my rotating assembly and concluded that my perfectionism was my own down fall. Apparently there was a small amount of debree floating through my engine from some of the parts that I bead blasted like the oil pan and valve cover. They say it is nearly impossible to ensure there is no contaminating debree hidden in anything with baffles. So my nice clean engine destroyed it's self with the cleaning agent.

Precision also feels the 'new' Ross pistons I had purchased on-line were actually bead blasted used pistons. The seller of these pistons apparently used the teflon and ceramic coating I purchased from him to cover up the tale-tale signs. Pistons that have been bead blasted do not have smooth ring lands for the rings to seal with and Precision feels they aren't worth using.

Well that was then this is now. This week a check has been sent to Precision to get the machine work started! New Weisco pistons will be mated to my Eagle rods. These will be made ready for my turned 2.4 crank that Precision says I will have no problem with by their own experience with turned 2.0 cranks. The block only needs a cleaning hone to fit the bores to the new pistons exactly and then it will be ready for me to assemble with my ported cylinder head.

After that the BR500 will be sent off for a rebuild and injectors purchased to fire it back to life.

[The Iron Goat]

Cool, I'll have to sit down and chat with you sometime about it all. God knows I don't want to screw it up after all that work.

[awd4kicks]

Drawbacks are:

Less experience with problems and tuning
More possibility of transmission/drive-train breakage that are already weak
Less gas mileage
Not being able to honestly run in a standard 2.0 racing classification if there is such a thing

Hmmm...Nothing else comes to mind

As far as a path of greater economy? It realy depends on your desire to learn. If your willing to put your own parts together it will depend on if it stays together. Currently I would have been better off monetarily to buy a short block or kit, but at least I can say I did it myself this way. Plus I've added a lot to my engine building knowledge!

[The Iron Goat]

So were the pistons you purchased from a know retailer or just a random guy? I'd like to avoid such a person if possible. Are there any problems with getting the pistons for an overbore or .010 or .020? I wouldn't imagine so, but those are the little things that can kill ya.

I think I'll assemble the needed items myself, but I'll just have to be extremely cautious of where I'm getting my parts. Thanks for the info so far, Marcus!!

[MidwestDSM]

I do know that Precision has had experience stoking motors before, as I have personally seen one of them sitting in the shop after it was put together. I also saw it in the car afterwards, and the car ran like hell until the n00b owner messed around with some stuff he shouldn't have and messed up the turbo. Can't remember the specifics on the incident, but it was no fault of Precisions. Anyways, I stand by firmly that they know what they are doing very well when it comes to the 4Gs and would take my motor there any day.