My fellow S2Ki Enthusiasts:

I think my luck has finally run out. Up until about a month ago, I was the proud owner of a low-mileage (30,000 miles) 2003 S2K with a Greddy Turbo Kit and a couple of bolt ons. I babied the car. I loved the car. I bought the car new and it was stolen from me just a few months after I purchased it. I got the car back from the police and everything was stolen: airbags, doors, dash, ECU, hood, trunk, hardtop, wheels, seats..you get the point. I bought the car back from my insurance company, after the car was declared a total loss and put humpty dumpty back together again slowly and painstakingly.

Fast forward 8 years....

A friend of mine that was thinking of buying an S2K wanted to test drive mine. I let him borrow it and it came back to me with rod knock. Apparently, as a favor he took the car for an oil change and the filter was not tightened. All the oil dumped out and he continue to drive it, ignoring the oil warning light. Tough pill to swallow.

I took the car to Project Import in Orange, CA (referred by Church Automotive) and the cost to rebuild the motor is quite expensive. $11K total (sleeve, rods, pistons, bearings, etc). The alternative is to buy a used motor and install..that alone is about $6K.

Thoughts?

I am also playing with parting the car out.

Car-2003 S2K
Rims - Spoon SW388
Turbo Kit Greddy Turbo Kit

Any thoughtful advice is appreciated.

Thank you,

 

Ouch. My thoughts? If this was a good enough friend that you let him borrow your turbocharged car without you even being present and let him drive it around for however many days he had it, he should be a good enough friend to have at least offered to pay for your repair bills. I would also look into getting money from the shop that screwed up and didn't tighten your filter down, though honestly you're probably not getting anything from them unless you file a lawsuit.

All that aside, if you like the car and want to keep it, I would suggest rebuilding the motor. It'll be cheaper than buying a new one. If you keep your eyes open, you could also find a used engine here on the boards or elsewhere out of a totaled and parted out S2K, and it might not be $6000.

 

^^^ what he said. Step one would be to get a lawyer. The shop is at fault for not making sure the filter was tight.
Step two. If this "friend" has enough money for an S2k (since he is considering purchasing one) then he has enough money to get you back in your S. Whether he fronts the lawyer fees or buys a used engine and has it put in, this shouldn't be on you.

 

I would go after the shop.

 

A brand new honda short block can be had for around 3500.

Your cylinder head is likely fine.

 

This is exactly what I was going to say.
File a lawsuit against the shop. Did he get and keep the receipt from the place that did the work?

 

you know they f@#ked up when a fellow mechanic says to sue the shit out of them

 

That's crap. I would definitely cause a ruckus with the shop, although I think it'll be hard to prove the shop is at fault unless you happen to have a reasonable judge, it's definitely where I'd start.

$11,000 for a rebuild? Sounds ridiculous. Assembly is easy. I built my first engine with my own hands and had no trouble whatsoever, and have put $30k miles on it so far. I've never ran an engine without oil so it's hard to say what the damage is like... A knock is most likely a spun bearing. Crank, bearings, rods, pistons, rings, and sleeves surely all need replacing. I'd check the oil pump as well and make sure it's within spec.

For $11,000, you can probably buy a SLEEVED block, some forged rods and pistons, the bearings, crank, throw it together, and still have plenty of money left over.

Good luck.

 

11k for a rebuild? Lmao..

 

11k!! damn! id pull block send to benson sleeves get sleeved, rods, full strong bottom for 3500... and friend or not id make him pay for the repairs...