Well, I blew my headgasket the other night and Im going to have to tear into the motor anyway so I figure, I might as well just go the distance and build the block! Im planning on buying a geo metro for $600 as a beater while my car is under the knife. My questions to you guys are, what should I go with for internals? I dont really want compression to go much lower than 9:1 cuz I would like the car to be able tomove when its not in boost. My goals are around 15psi and maybe350whp, nothing too crazy. Im pretty set on eagle h-beam rods but not sure what kind of pistons to go with. I will be building an already running b16a2 block so I shouldnt have to replace much. Hopefully this will be in the project section in the next week or 2.
Parts List:
eagle h-beam rods
forged 9:1 pistons w/rings(?)
arp rod bolts
arp headstuds
head gasket(?)
intake mani gasket
cylinder hone
head resurface

Suggestions needed for anything else Im missing. Im working with about a $1600 budget just to give you an idea.

(this should probably be in engine/internals)

 

This isnt my opinion, but ive heard a lot of people using vitara pistons. Good luck with the project and give us a lot of pics along the way!

 

Vitaras are for d series.

 

oem headgasket will hold just fine, cp pistons all the way, if you can do a 3 angle valve job it will make more power

 

i'de source up another block, and start building that block. put an oem replacement gasket on ARP studs and go at it.

 

Well Im gonna get a beater to drive around while Im doing the build and probably to drive to school and stuffso I really dont need to spend more money onanother block. So oem headgasket is the way to go? Not a good idea to get a slightly thicker one? How much would a 3 angle valve job usually cost? Ive heard they dont really help out as much on a boosted motor compared to n/a.

 

my machine shop charges 150 for a 3 angle

 

If you get a thicker headgasket then it will lower your compression more and you said that you don't want to do that.

 

I really don't think you need to build the block with the Greddy kit, you'll max the turbo before you max the strength of that engine.

Put in some ARP hardware and a new headgasket and then get back on the road.

 

Ive read that the18g is good for 400+whp and like 23+ psi or something so I think I should be good there, but I will do some more research to make sure Im right about that. Its a bigger turbo than most people think.