The TALON, Running Project Report Options

[black92_tsi_awd]

A very nice attribute she has picked up is smooth-as butter engine performance...aside from the fact that it has no balance shafts. Cruising at 55mph is so smooth now it feels like when I first bought the Talon.

I only notice some vibration around idle after I removed my balance shafts. Now I don't notice anything anymore. Are attributing the smoothness to the new crank?

Glad to hear the beast is back running, go easy on it until Vicary Day!

[awd4kicks]

Yeah...the crank and bearings are the only major things I changed. so I can only attribute the smoothness to the crank and possibly a better fit in the stock bearings.

The only vibration I get is down between like 1800-2000RPM and 2500RPM where my dash is doing some anoying rattling. The crank is internally balanced, my rods and pistons were all balanced and my old dampener still looks to be in great shape. So I'm hoping that is just the harmonics of the engine without the B-shafts.

[black92_tsi_awd]

You're running poly hard mounts right? That could be causing a wierd harmonic and the noise.

I window-welded my mounts so they're stiffer than normal but not as bad as the poly type mounts.

My vibration is right in the steering wheel, no at least it dosn't cause any rattles.

[awd4kicks]

Yeah polly mounts, but they areplyably, not rigid like cutting board.

And now I've got the boost turned down to a more pump gas safe 25psi. We will be tuning Thursday night.

[wortdog]

2.3's and 2.4's vibrate more than 2.0's as a rule, I wouldn't worry about it.

[awd4kicks]

Thanks for the reasurance Wotrdog. Like I said otherwise this is the smoothes running engine I've had in a while.

[awd4kicks]

Well, I do believe I'm done for the year fellas. I've used all the bandaids I could come up with to make this thing run.

At the begining of a WOT run the bottom end let go tonight at about 3500-4000RPM before it even really started to wind up. It appeared to only be one rod as I seen it fly up above my rear spoiler, but it did a lot of damage on the way out.

By chance I spoke to Darrel tonight. He said that he had the exact same thing happen to him before he even got into the power band. On his motor he found that one of the rods were slightly bent from a temporary hydrolock situation. The bend in the rod fatiged and gave out just as mine did. I could have bent a rod when I bent a couple valves in cylinder three earlier in the year I guess. Incredible... It sounds right but I don't know how I could have accounted for this unless I built an entirely fresh motor everytime I had any semi-serious problem.

I will have to really come across a change of heart to ever try building a DSM motor again. I think I've given the good ol' college try. These motors just can not take the HP & Torque I'm trying for without EVERYTHING being absolutely perfect. I can't get things any more perfect than I have been doing. So I'm probably heading back to the V8's in some form or fashion.

I have to thank NCGalant for his continued support and shared head scratching over the tuning of this 2.4. I also thank everyone here for their support todate.

The End... For now.

[wortdog]

Ouch, sorry to hear about that man , kinda makes me wonder how my own build will turn out.

[JBone]

Oh my god, Marcus. I can't believe it. It sounded so promising, like everything was finally going your way.

I'm at a lost on what to say. I would like to say to hang in there, but you kept your car unoperational for almost 3 years, so, I don't know. The Nissans are pretty cool. C'mon, let's play with Nismo's together!!

Good luck with whatever you do, dude

[black92_tsi_awd]

Damn Marcus! That's a bad deal. I can't beleive the luck you've had, but I'll be damned if you didn't stick it out over the long haul.

Instead of giving up on the DSM, maybe rethink the project as building a SCCA (open track or parking lot) racer with a milder motor instead of all out high HP drag car.

[ncgalant]

I don't think I could feel much more sorry for you Marcus.

Everything was back to normal and I thought we were finally going to see a clean run, then we ran over a rod.

I say JB weld the block back together and give the autox hell on 3 cylinders

[natedogg]

That absolutely sucks man. You've put more blood sweat and tears into that car than anyone I know on any DSM and the Talon has done nothing but spit back in your face every time. What a bitch!

I certainly understand why you'd want to call it quits for a while though. If I were you I would have thrown in the towel a long time ago. Huge props to you for all the hard work and effort.

[turbohcar]

Marcus,

Here's a bit of advice from somebody who's been there. Keep your car, buy a low-mile stock shortblock, put a cometic headgasket on it with ARP head studs, eliminate balance shafts, and run it with all your hardware with a nominal amount of boost. This "easy to build" shortblock will be 400 flywheel horse capable and be plenty of motor for an autocross badass. You may need to step down to a smaller turbocharger as well, but you'll still be able to save money and have a wicked little machine.

I bet your wondering, why is Brett "the traitor" telling me this? Well, given your desire for your project and your goals you've had for so long, I don't think they're unrealistic with a build like this. Super16G whooped a turbo Porshe years back in a straight line with just his super16G and a mild build like this one. A smaller, quick spooling turbocharger, would be best for autocross while still retaining good gas mileage so you can still afford to drive it to work now and again. You're sooooo very close Marcus and I hate to see you give up now. I know you don't want to give it up and V8 is not the route you want to go with the goals you've got in mind. Come on pal, use your head (don't be like Rob, the obsessive compulsive car trader!).

Either way you decide though, we'll still like ya!

[AWD DSM 1]

(don't be like Rob, the obsessive compulsive car trader!).

Hey, I resemble that!!

Really sorry to hear this Marcus. I'm not going to give you any crap for deciding to throw in the towel. You've definately put your heart and soul into this car, and it just didn't work out. Good luck with whatever you do next!! Hopefully you'll stick around and keep the site going.

[turbohcar]

Hey, I resemble that!!

I was wondering if you were going to catch that. J/P buddy!

[mitsu90]

you have got to be f*cking kidding me. I can't belive it let go again. I wouldn't blame you for calling it quits. how ever if you change your mind i have the 6 bolt from my auto, I'll give you a good deal

[awd4kicks]

Thanks guys.

And Turbohcar, although your 'advice' seems a bit out of place I appreciate the sentiment. Just keep in mind this is not really sentimental to me, just unfortunate and frustrating as I'm sure it is easy to see.

And for the record ask Super16g who beat his black bitch with a maroon 14b AWD car twice at a farm meet. And I never said that I was or was not selling the Talon. And yes I do want a V8. Hmmm

[black92_tsi_awd]

And I never said that I was or was not selling the Talon. And yes I do want a V8. Hmmm

How about a v-8 powered rwd Talon!!!

How's your fabrication skill???

[BudmannG]

Marcus,

My dad always told me if the horse throws you, You get back on and ride it. I know partially how you feel with my car. But I cannot say it has been as long as yours. I know you are not giving up on this car. Sometimes we just have to walk away for a couple of weeks, months and think the proccess through again.
Good luck with getting her back together. I am pulling for you. You and everyone else here on the board knows that this is feasable. It is just going to take the right parts to get r done!

[awd4kicks]

INCREDIBLE! I finally looked under the Talon today. The carnage is from cylinder #3 ONLY, just as I theorized after hearing Darryl's perception of the event.

#3 was the cylinder that came in contact with the valves earlier in the year which must have caused a slight bend in that one rod. I wish I would have taken the time to know this before hand.

The carnage is not quite as horrific as I imagined since it all came out of a 1-2" wide slot in the oil pan and block, but it does include some pricey items:

Minimum parts required to rebuild:

An engine rebuild...
$350-(1) New set of Aftermarket rods (#3 is in half)
$400-(1) New set of aftermarket pistons and rings (#3 is messed up now)
$400-(1) 2.4 Block machined with oil squirters drilled and installed(2"x3" window hole)
$50-1) New oil pan (1"x5" long hole)
$75-The crank may be salvagable but would need checked and maybe machined
$75-250-Check the head for valve and surface damage
$150-Entire new set of bearings
$100-Entire new set of gaskets

$50-Repair of a hole or two in the new Fluidine radiator
$5-Repair of a hole or two in the driver front tire

$1655 Total destruction


My fabrication skills are pretty good and I have friends that can do what I cant. a LS1,2, or 6 with a 6 speed sounds pretty good. Add some turbo action a healthy rear end and drive shaft with some transmission tunnel modification... That would be sweet.