Ok… I’ve been debating on what I should do. Spend $5,000 on chain job or just waiting for failure then getting another 4.2?
Getting another another engine could potentially put you right back in the same place. Also, does that mean you have a warranty? Keep in mind there are a million ways for the warranty companies to get out of paying for a job like this. Not saying you don’t have a reputable one, if you even have one at all, just keep that in mind. Also, if you tank the engine they’ll just stick you with another engine with similar miles if they can find one. Do you have a reputable shop to do the work or would you be diy’ing this project?
I am in the same dilemma right now and the two questions I have to ask are: Are you attached to the car? and do you owe money on it?
If the answer is no to both, then I would just drive it til it blows then get another car.
If you’re attached and do(n’t) owe money then get the service done and enjoy the car for another 100k.
If you’re not attached and do owe money then short sale it for what you owe and move on.
That’s just my opinion on it. But I am guessing you’re attached to the car since you’re in this dilemma. It is obviously a big decision and I think it really comes down to how attached to the car you are. Mine keeps playing games with me. I decide I am going to do the service, then the rattle quiets down. So then I think maybe it will last another year, then it gets loud again. It really is going to come down to what the shop is going to charge me as I have a limited budget and there are a few other small maintenance stuff that needs to be addressed.
I don’t owe money but I definitely am attached
Yep mdubz is right if u get another engine specially not knowing if is 100% good or not , you could easily be paying for used engine and a new chain job! ???
If you’re attached and don’t owe money, I would say start saving up for chains and also a JHM built motor if you plan on keeping it. If a built motor isn’t a possibility you should also investigate a little further into the engine to see what the overall condition of the engine is before paying to do chains. There’s no need to throw a bunch of money at chains if you have bad cylinder scoring or other deeper issues.
Here is what I have done. I love my car and I put my motor under a great amount of abuse. I have realized that no gimmicks are going to save my motor. Guys are trying auxiliary oil systems and oil valves. The end game is simple. Your guides break and your adjuster wears out. If you have a good motor with good compression and it’s not consuming more then 2 quarts between oil changes try to keep it. Long term try to find a warped block used for cheap and send it to jhm for a built motor.
If you have a low compression motor or a motor that’s eating lots of oil save the money on the chains and still look for a spare block and send that to jhm for a built motor.
What he said
where can I find a warped block?
They come up for sale every now and then in the forum classifieds. Just have to be patient and check through every so often.
If I remember correctly your car is JHM supercharged right?
The BFH can be reliable long term if you do everything timing related on them early and often. It seems like the cylinder wall scoring is getting less prominent on the forums as most on the forums have a JHM tune and/or piggies. Basically no precats, and a tune that can manage the heat better to prevent(bold statement there) scoring. If you have a motor with no scoring and great compression, then I would not think twice about doing the timing job if you have the money to do so.
Finding and installing another motor is a roll of the dice since you usually can’t know compression of the motor before purchasing. Plus you have to put new timing gear in it. All of this assuming you are buying a used motor.
Whats the health of your engine look like?
If its healthy with minimal oil consumption/scoring then I would bite the bullet and put forth the effort to replace the guides/adjusters before "catastrophic failure. If you wait for failure, the chances of you swapping in a healthy to good condition BHF is 50/50; a big gamble if considering you can spend anywhere from $5-15K when all you had to do was spend about 3-5K originally.
Personally, I’m emotionally and financially vested into my Avant; me spending almost $10K was worth it.
yea jimmy
Chains rule.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTuD8k3JvxQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nco_kh8xJDs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-uN22sI4JM
Hahaha you’re fucked up
If your jhm supercharged and you know your going to want to go stage 2 you need a built motor anyways. It is a gamble but you would want to just spend the money on new guide and chain parts for the stage 2 motor.