Advice/suggestions


I have had my B18c4 Turbo engine built for 3 years now 11000 miles and 2 track days so far and I have not had a problem yet. If it was me I would stick with the B18 turbo. I think it is such an awesome car to drive and surprises quite a few bigger cars. I was pushing a C63 AMG merc round Knockhill. The merc slowed me down by 2 seconds a lap.
But my engine spec it:

B18c4

CP Racing forged O/S 81.5mm Pistons 9.0.1 and Ring set.

Manley H beam Rods

Crank Knifedged and balanced with ACL Race Bearings

Block guard

Spoon Baffled sump

Manley Alloy retainers

Manley Steel Valves

Titanium Double valve spring

Ported, Polished and Gas flowed head

Trust N1 alloy pulley with 36-1 timing pulley

Custom Coilpack

Custom Magnecor competition Spark Plug leads

koyo aluminium radiator

12” slim Line fan

Full Race turbo Kit

Garrett T3/T4 Turbo A/R 0.60

Full Race Ram Horn manifold with Wrap

3” custom exhaust from turbo back with the screamer pipe plumed back in

Black intercooler pipe work

Front mount intercooler

Tail Q Bov

Tail MVR wastegate

HKS air filter

Walbro 255 fuel pump

725cc ID Injectors

Turbo smart 800 Fuel Pressure Regulator

Custom Fuel rail

Skunk2 Black edition inlet manifold

Mocal Thermostatic oil cooler

Full 3” Custom Exhaust, Turbo back

Haltech Sprint 500 ECU with IQ Expander

Viper Oil catch can

GM 3 Bar map sensor

ARP Head & Engine Studs

Cometic 1MM Head Gasket

Innovative engine mounts 95A

Oil Pressure Switch

Haltech Air Temp Sensor

Haltech fluid Temp Sensor

Greddy Kevlar Timing Belt

KMS High Flow oil Pump

Mishimoto 65°c Temperature Thermostat
 
Integradan said:
TDI north have developed some amazing looking throttle bodies for the K20 complete with carbon trumpets!

300bhp is possible with deep pockets :D
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Pockets ain't empty cuz....nah in all seriousness they are beyond empty, they have the bottoms cut open lol

Current engine is a stock c4 bottom end with a stock b16b head. Still making metal but it has gold glitters in on this one. Forged ones weren't gold atleast lol
I know when the turbo conversions work they are great, but the majority of people that say they've had no trouble either don't track often(mine is all track work) or have only just had them built etc. clearly something in my build isn't right, but finding the problem is proving difficult, costly and exhausting.

Then when the engine is fine you've got the distributor issues, the turbos themselves aren't exactly reliable either.
If it was just the small issues I'd be fine but it's not....
 
xxxencorexxx said:
Yes but not a built engine completely stock c4
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Standard c4 in the bay ATM bud.
Where I track at the ring it's not helping with stock blocks. The heat from high rpm 5th gear pulls for half the lap really pushes the stock piston/ring lands.
UK tracks are ok because they are short and you rarely see the large end of 5th unless your making godly power. The ring is so fast a track with long stretches of full throttle.
 
jesse888 said:
Standard c4 in the bay ATM bud.
Where I track at the ring it's not helping with stock blocks. The heat from high rpm 5th gear pulls for half the lap really pushes the stock piston/ring lands.
UK tracks are ok because they are short and you rarely see the large end of 5th unless your making godly power. The ring is so fast a track with long stretches of full throttle.
Click to expand...
Goes to show I don't know about the track, I've only experienced at street level. I've been to the ring twice but hired a suzuki swift lol.
 
Its probably fine on low boost but you are taking a chance when your running more power/rpm. I got stuck out there once I'd prefer not to do it again.
Atleast if the pumps are failing I get a decent amount of warning through the pressure gauge and can just replace it before I go for another lap.
2-3hours work and we are back on track lol
 
Can't believe I'm reading you wanting to swap for a k Jesse! :(

Mines oodles of fun and spot on so far, only managed the one track day (still waiting on brakes) but it gets a lot of death on the road too and the only issue I seem to have is a plug lead popping off occasionally. Not sure what I did so right (touch wood) but keep at the turbo b!
 
If it works this time then I'll keep it. Not holding my breathe though, just want my track car back!
 
Yayyyyyy
Kswapftw

Ha ha
Oooooooooooossshhhhh

Kswap....then boostage...awesome :)
 
If built to handle it, it shouldn't be inherently unreliable. Will@RDT's ran for years and years at 400+whp being used daily without fault. Saying that, I do love my K20! Nowhere near as quick as his boosted B was, but still surprisingly quick round a track.. The gearing is better and the overall package is lighter, which both help too
 
I would stick with your b18 turbo the thing is every swap/build has its problems, and you would lose a fair bit of money selling up, but the kswap is getting a lot cheaper.
 
Beetlejuice said:
If built to handle it, it shouldn't be inherently unreliable. Will@RDT's ran for years and years at 400+whp being used daily without fault. Saying that, I do love my K20! Nowhere near as quick as his boosted B was, but still surprisingly quick round a track.. The gearing is better and the overall package is lighter, which both help too
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Again if I wasn't having such issues with all the bottom ends I'm putting in this car It wouldn't even be a question I'd ask myself. I want the b series to work so in effect the k swap is more of a 2nd best solution for me. Only so much i can do with it.
 
Will see how much my machine shop wants to build my block up, balance it etc. give it the best chance it's got to work with a new head and a professional building it.
If it's meant to be then it'll work, if not then I'll look forward to N/A screamer fun instead. Either way this sagas got to end, can't keep on like it is ATM.
 
As much as it has not been plain sailing, you might end up going the K20 route and buying a lemon there as well?
Then what?
If it were me, I would be finding the route of the cause 1st, then throwing money at it.
Get both the block and head stripped and cleaned and start again. If you think the crank is bent, get it checked and make sure it is within spec. Make sure the crank end float is within spec as well.
 
I'll get that done along with getting the bottom end built up at the machine shop.
I'm hoping that when I tell them/show them what's happening to the oil pumps they'll pay special attention to the crank etc to make sure it's not going to happen again.
The c4 was about getting the car back on track again whilst I find out what's going on with the forged block but that's turned out even worse tbh.
I'll get the forged block into a machinist soon as I'm back home and get the ball rolling on that. Hopefully they'll find something otherwise it's all just unknown again.
Could buy a lemon k20 but then it's just another stock block isn't it. So a new engine fixes that, a stock block b18 has turned out worse and I'm not sure They can handle too much Nurburgring abuse, UK tracks are fine like I already said it's the extended periods of WOT in 5th that's the killer.
 
I'll try bud.
Where would you take the bottom end for assembly/balancing if my shop can't/won't do it?
Pref close to me in Kent but if they come well recommended then I'll travel endless distance lol
 
jesse888 said:
Do we think k20 is enough to get under 8 at the ring? Obviously my own ability is a factor but assuming General trackday driver ability...

My issue is I always want to set a faster lap, will the NA k series hold me back?
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I managed an 8:32 with some traffic in my k20. For me I wanted the reliabilty of k20 plus the future potential keeping it n/a. Dont get me wrong would love a charger but 240bhp i currently have is plenty.

I dont have the rbc so that should net me some more power up top end.

With the ring its more about track knowledge and balls than out right pace of a car.

You ever had tuition there? Bets €100 i spent having a porsche cup racer sat in with me for 2 laps
 
si8pny said:
I managed an 8:32 with some traffic in my k20. For me I wanted the reliabilty of k20 plus the future potential keeping it n/a. Dont get me wrong would love a charger but 240bhp i currently have is plenty.

I dont have the rbc so that should net me some more power up top end.

With the ring its more about track knowledge and balls than out right pace of a car.

You ever had tuition there? Bets €100 i spent having a porsche cup racer sat in with me for 2 laps
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My best lap is 8:31 in a 200hp b18 ek9 yellow flags and traffic holding me up a good 6-7secs over previous laps.
I think 250 is needed for sub 8 unless your real talented(which I'm not). K20 should do it but it's not as easy as with say 300hp from a boosted b.
I'm confident that this next build will work, it's been a massive learning curve for me and I've been taught some expensive lessons.
Bought some more equipment so that I can accurately measure the crank and it's alignment.
Failing that I can try Toda pump gears, not ideal but I'll take anything ATM.
 
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