RIP 420a

We all knew the time would come. 1.5 years and about 18k of boost was all the motor could handle. This week the car starter to act weird and run rough at idle. Under boost it would smoke bad and cover the road. Under the hood there was oil everywhere. The valve cover has puddles of oil on it.

I knew that this wasn't a good sign but I was hoping for the best. As most of you know I am building up a motor to drop into the car this summer. I dont have the time or the funds at the moment to finish that motor up any sooner.
I ran a compression test on the car yesterday. I got 160 140 160 30. Cylinder four is dead. :frown: The car still runs ok and I have no choice but to drive it till it completely dies. The wastegate is set to 3psi now but Im not letting the car boost at all. My gas milage has gone down some.

Im hoping the car will make it to the summer or I will probably have to start riding a bike to school or something.

bah that sucks man but at least you have planned ahead.

NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

Well that just means you need to find funds and everything sooner. We all know a stock 420a can't take endless number of miles under boost. Plus you said earlier you liked to push it hard. Get that new motor done!!

Can you still make it to the meet?

Don't drive it, ride a bike save gas money.. Then work more and save save

Damn dude! Well, atleast you are building a block right?

Don't drive it, ride a bike save gas money.. Then work more and save save

Im not going to resort to a bike untill I have to. Its still cold here some days and I live like 4 miles from school. O yea and I dont even have a bike, I would have to get my sisters from home I guess and its pink.


Thor - Yes I am building the block. Money really isin't an issue since I only lack a couple hundred which I could borrow from my dad. BUT I still dont have the time to assemble it and put it in the car. If the motor does finally go I will start the build soon and try to hurry it along. I may be able to have it in and broken in somewhat in a weekend.

I have never put a motor together so I dont want to rush this one along and have it f*ck up in a couple thousand miles.

And just so everyone knows how bad my weekend was I got a ticket on Saturday for 51/40 and I got a 3" bolt in my tire today which made it flat. Luckily I was able to patch the tire so hopefully it will hold.


And yes I will still be at the meet. The eclipse may or may not be there. Depends on if the motor fails or not.

Well that sucks. Thats why I have a second car, for crap like this. I need to do a compression test on my spyder once I finish it up in a few weeks, because the last time I fooled with it, it smoked a little blue when I cranked it up, but I'm hoping that it was just because the car had sat up for like a month without being driven, but w/e. I'll drive the sum bitch till it slings a rod :D

well, this isnt as bad as i had thought when i first saw the title and read the first bit... then i realised its just your motor thats dead, not the whole car... had me worried for a min their!

i also vote for you to not drive it, or drive as LITTLE as possible.... bike FTW... wear 2 coats...

dont drive it, those motor is weakling any way, get it build or let it go :banghead: , i knew its tough time, to be honest if you are live by me, I will let you borrow my second car, because I been in your situation before, and I know how its fell. Just take it day by day and work it out ( some how my parent is helping me the most, talk to your parent or relative, mabe that help ). I know its going to be arite. good luck.

Damn it bro, that really sucks. When it rains it pours, but keep your head up. Nothing you can't fix up.

Im going to try and drive it as little as possible. The car died at about 109,700 miles. We will see exactly how long it will go from here. Remember this motor is not seeing boost again.

What really sucks is spring break is next week and now I have to leave my car at home.

Im going to try and drive it as little as possible. The car died at about 109,700 miles. We will see exactly how long it will go from here. Remember the car is not seeing boost ever again.

What really sucks is spring break is next week and now I have to leave my car at home.

Good for no boost. Spring break means time to work on it and get that motor done.

Im going to the beach for the first half of the week and working the second half of it. All the money that I make from there will be used to buy parts with. When I get back in town Im taking the head to a machine shop which will finish that up.

why dont you want to boost the built block???

why dont you want to boost the built block???

Who said anything about that?

I think he is man.

Come on guys you got to keep up. This broken ass motor wont ever see boost again. The built one... Well thats another story

LOL, I know. Thats why is he going to try and make it bullet proof.

Update on the blown 420a. The motor is still running. About 700 miles on it since the motor started acting up. The car seems like it has gotten slower. Maybe the compression is getting worse. The car still drives fine most of the time. Occationally it will die when the clutch is pushed in when stopping. I usually just put it back in gear and start it up and it cranks no problem. Today it had to keep patting the gas for a few minutes or it would cut off. It only does this randomly cause it ran fine a minute or so later. At this point its look like the motor may make it till the summer.

Update on the blown 420a. The motor is still running. About 700 miles on it since the motor started acting up. The car seems like it has gotten slower. Maybe the compression is getting worse. The car still drives fine most of the time. Occationally it will die when the clutch is pushed in when stopping. I usually just put it back in gear and start it up and it cranks no problem. Today it had to keep patting the gas for a few minutes or it would cut off. It only does this randomly cause it ran fine a minute or so later. At this point its look like the motor may make it till the summer.

stop beat on that motor, let it rest in peace.

I wish I had that option. Unfortuatly I dont have another car to drive so this one must be driven. Its not going to hurt it anymore than it already is. Unless it throws a rod or something.

Yeah, sound like you're asking for trouble.

Well this situation just keeps getting worse. I was checking the oil the other day before starting on the long drive back to school and I noticed there was some oil coming out the BOV. I knew at that point that more shit was broken, I pulled the filter off the turbo today and found some oil on the compressor housing. This can only mean that the seals inside the turbo are now leaking also.

The last couple of times the motor hit boost (right after the motor blew) caused so much blow by that the crank case pressurized and backed the oil up in the turbo. Not sure at this point if it has stopped leaking since I dont boost it anymore or if the seals are f*cked.

I rebuilt this turbo a little over 1 year ago so Im kinda pissed. I guess if it wasn't blown now it would be after the new motor is broken in. I will probably just rebuild it again after the new motor is running and then upgrade to a 16g/20g in a few more months.

Damn crazy. Problem after problem. Get that car done.