Facian

Hi All,

Unfortunately I'm having to embark on an engine rebuild on my '00 JDM S2000, due to big end bearing failure (fortunately caught very early on, so hopefully limited damage!). I'd rather put it back together as strong as possible as I plan to track the car regularly once completed, so with an emphasis on reliability rather than power gains what would people recommend changing/upgrading while it's apart? My current list goes along the lines of:

APR Head Studs & Rod Bolts, can't seem to find main studs? So probably just new OEM Mains?
Valve Guides & Retainers, worth swapping to AP2 Intake side retainers?
ACL or similar bearings as long as there's no rod damage. If there is, are Brian Crower Rods good? Other alternatives?
New timing chain & tensioner - OEM Honda?
Head Gasket - OEM Honda or aftermarket best?
Hopefully just new rings/hone while it's apart. If not are Wiseco/CP/JE pistons all much the same?
Lightened flywheel worthwhile?

Thanks!

James

lovegroova

Lots of good info here:
https://www.s2ki.com/forums/uk-irela...legend-1162841
though it's all Greek to me

Facian

Brilliant thanks! That's my lunch hour sorted

BuggyofMildDiscomfort

New thrust washers, and tidy them up before fitting, the OE ones have flashing marks all over where it's supposed to draw oil over a ramp from the feed slots, OE vs hand finished + moly coated one:

unclefester

I'd be inclined to clean / check the oil pump and screen filter also.

flanders

I would stay with as much OEM stuff as possible, most of the aftermarket parts is not an upgrade at all.
Lighter flywheel is nice, I'm super happy with my ACT prolite.

Facian

Thanks I'll add thrust washers to the list, Oil pump check is a definite and I'm going to fit new OEM oil squirter jets & bolts. Mainly because at this point I can't identify the failure cause, I was driving through a 30mph zone and pulled up outside my friends house to the dreaded noise.. Hopefully the strip-down should yield something obvious otherwise I'll want to replace anything that could possibly have contributed to it!

I'll certainly be going OEM as much as i can, with things like piston rings, gasket sets, timing chain/tensioner etc. It just seems to be rods that's not an option (or at least a viable one).

flanders

ARP head studs is also included in the "not an upgrade at all section".

Facian

Just a quick update, engine is stripped and measured. Looks like my paranoia paid off and zero damage to the crank or rods, just the very start of some bearing wear (10 minutes of sub-3k rpm running following the start of the noise). Diagnosis appears to be it took a disliking to the oil grade that was in it, which is strange but I'll investigate as it was slightly more smokey than normal beforehand.

So it's just starting to go back together with:
King bearings, standard size for rods, mains & thrust washers
OEM Rings
OEM Head Gasket & Lower Gasket Kit
OEM Oil squirters & Bolts
OEM Main Studs
ARP Head Studs & Rod Bolts
OEM Timing Chain & Tensioner
OEM AP2 Retainers (Intake side)
Ferrea Valve Guides

In a way it's frustrating to sink this much time and money into something that will only put me back to where I was 2 months ago, but by the same token I'll now have complete faith in the engine and combined with the already brand new clutch, suspension & brakes over the last 7,000 miles I'm essentially in a mechanically new S2000 and ready to enjoy plenty of track days & road trips.

That's the downside/upside of the engine being so well put together from the factory, there aren't any easy gains to be had!

noodels

What is standard size Kings bearings am interested ?