I need some honest opinions. I know this is the place that will give them to me! Bear with me as I walk through this, please....

Background: As many of you know, my thrust bearings crapped out and my crank walked back on April 11, trashing the short block. I took it to the dealer who offered to do an OEM replacement. Would have taken about 10 days to get the part and do the install. As many of you also know, I have a GReddy turbo setup that I have loved, that was installed by the guys at PSI. So I checked with PSI to see what they recommended. Their suggestion was to let PSI instal a build F22 shortblock with hardened internals to handle bigger boost if I ever wanted it. And because PSI isn't a Honda dealer, I could probably get the stronger engine for the same price as OEM. The downside? 4-5 week delivery time on the build shortblock.

Dilemma: Here we are on July 8 and there has been no shortblock delivered. I will spare you the full saga, but the block is being built by ERL Performance in Indiana. Delivery dates have been pushed out repeatedly, the last time for main studs they claim were backordered by Honda. PSI tracked down a set and FedEx-ed them to ERL, and they arrived June 27. Now they are telling PSI ship date won't be until July 15.

I fear ERL is stringing PSI and me along because of financial problems. I have no way to know this, but delivery dates are the first thing to go when a company can't scrape enough cash together to buy parts and get a job done on time. I wonder if we wait until next Friday if the phone will even be answered...

Question: do I A) cancel the order and go OEM? B) cancel and start the search for a new build shortblock? or C) gut it out and pray that they stay in business long enough to get my block out the door before they fold? I appreciate everyone's time.

Other details you may want: '06 DBW, 55K miles

 

John, I think you probably frequent the FI thread as much as the rest of us boosted guys, and noticed what most of the high power guys are noticing that the OEM motor can actually handle a lot of boost reliably. A lot of them are actually now starting to suggest new comers to shy away from a full engine build unless they plan on doing some hardcore racing, and have the budget to rebuild their engine on a regular basis.

So if I was you, I would actually seriously sit down and figure out exactly what you want out of your car, or what is your final HP goal? If you plan on staying under 500HP, I vote for staying with a good OEM motor, proper sized turbo setup, and a good tune on pump and race gas, and your good to go.

 

unbelievable. i think you just have to wait since the short block is overthere already because if you go to another route like Golden Eagle or Laskey and Benson's Racing or Inline Pro it will take you again another month and yeah! it takes a while specially the sleeving process and getting all the parts in takes time. Honda Dealer is always runout of parts also...one time ordered an 06 valvecover and it was backordered for two weeks because of the Hondata K-pro. Just make sure you or PSI are still communicating with the ERL and on top of it and call them every two days and find out the progress. Anyway, checked out ERL website and it seems legit but they only specialized in K24 or 2.4 engine. I guess only we can do John is wait and hopefully they will get it done so just hang in there, buddy.

 

I suggest OEM and then COMPTECH!!!!!

 

Thats lame john sorry to here that. Personally if it was me at this point id have them send my isht back and go with another builder. Just curious though why did psi not build the block?

 

I would assume psi sent it to erl becuase they are a full machine shop and the s2000 motor has to be be sleeved. Well there are a few frp pistons that can be used.

Erl has been failing with a lot of customers on honda tech, if you can do anything have it done by bensons. Or buy an oem shortblock and get your car back on the road.

 

Thanks, everyone, for your input. I think where I am shaking out on this mess is to hang in there and let it play out. After all, I am a client of PSI and they are the ones who are at risk if ERL falls down on this project. I know Jason and JJ at PSI are as frustrated as I am. In theory, ship date is just 4 days away, and I wouldn't get anything done anywhere else (OEM or not) before then. After waiting so long for his engine, maybe the next best thing to do is up the boost!

 

That was my original thought when reading your first post... keep us updated