Took the GTR up to RB Motorsport today for a tune and to sort low idle problem its been carrying.

Driving up the motorway (60-70 as it wasnt running too good), I notice the oil temp rise to nearly 150 deg C. Back off to about 50 and it dropped to 130-140ish. Thought it could have been a dodgy sender, but aired on the side of caution. Anyways, I get to the motorway exit, and stop at the roundabout where the car typically cut out. Started it again and reved it a little to prevent another stall to hear the dreaded bottom end rattle

Its been about 4 months since it was last rebuilt with another crank, rods, bearings and uprated oil pump, and less than 2k miles.

This is the 2nd time the bottom end has gone on the car in the last 11months, and has covered less than 5k miles inc run - in - miles!!!

Last rebuild took place in the london area and Ill be damned if its going back there to get fooked up AGAIN - and after the guy said the last rebuild was needed following "swarf" in the engine

Not spoken to the guy yet, but naturally I want the car sorting, but unlike I paid for last time (we both paid as is was a kinda warranty / good will gesture as I wasnt the owner during the 1st rebuild)

Ive been quoted £5.5k by RB to do the job properly, so I hope its understandable why I dont want to pay towards this build

Any suggestions / comments welcomed.

Dont know what to say mate except im gutted for you!

Just spoken with the guy who did the rebuilds, and he knew who I was, and expected a call from me as hes spoken with RB.

Naturally he wants the car back in Essex (Where he is now based) as the labour wont cost him there, but Im very reluctant to send the car back to someone who has messed it up on 2 previous occasions

It may be a case of biting the bullit here and paying "some" of the costs to get the car sorted up here with a fresh pair of eyes / hands on the job.

The rebuilders argument is that he doesn know how the car has been driven for the last 2k miles, which is a fair comment, and very hard for me to prove either way, though my argement is Ive had modded cars for 5+ years and not had a problem over 60k miles in other cars.

He is currently calling RB to try and sort something out, TBH, Id rather pay £2k ish and get it doen right, up here, than send her back down there

I know exactly how yer feel mate. The exact same thing happened with the Evo.

It was off the road waiting for parts and when I did get it back the engine died again after only 2 thousand miles before needing another 1.5k spending on it. I got shut and now i've just bought an R33 which I much prefer to the Evo anyway.

Gutted for yer mate!

"R" or "S"???

Either way, they still use the RB motors and are known for big end troubles, though after speaking with Abbey MS they say a midly tuned engine should last 40-50k miles.

The sump pickup on both engines sits in a funny location and oil starvation is the main cause as its a long 6 cyl sump, a decent sump and oil pump are essential on any tuned RB engine.

£1.5 k is cheap mate I wish, RB and Abbey have both agreed around the £5-6k mark for a bottom end rebuild, anything less just wont be up to the job.

The only reson I sent is down south last time was because he had argeed to do the work under warranty.

The last rebuilders are currently talking with RB to try and sort summut out

Gutted mate, if my engine went boom id feel robbed spening 500 pound on a replacemeant lump(id get a 1.8-2.0)hope it goes well m8

Not clued up with Skylines at present. It says it's a 'R' on the reg docs but hasn't got 4 wheel drive, only 2 wheel. It does have Hicas steering but is a 2.5 non turbo??????????

After the problems I had with the Evo and all my other turbod cars I promised myself I would never buy another car with a turbo!!

Lol, they made so many different versions

Its deffo not a GTR, or GTS-T as they all had turbos, and the GTRs are all 2.6 twin turbo with 4WD, and the GTS-T's had a 2.5 single turbo (2.0 Turbo on the R32 GTS's)

Is it a 4 door?

Gutted for you Stuy

Your prize money could help towards costs?
That's a little joke to mayby cheer you up.

Paper trail is going to be key on this one
where ever it goes?

For isntance if you did get it re-built up this way, any problems they may say it was
the perevious rebuild causing the new problems?
So i would say which ever way you go get a paper trail of promises and comitment.

Hope they will sort you out and cover all costs this time?

O yeh,
They say they cant prove how the car has been driven (run in).
They cant prove how it hasnt either.
So i think that's a none starter?

Hope you do get a happy ending ?

Webby

£5.5k?? Surely you could have a brand new engine in for that price? why not look into that?

liks i said last night thats some bad news, not as bad as me only getting 3 breaks in work tho j/k

hopefully the guy in london will pay for the guy in ormskirk to do it, even if it does go back to london then there's a chance that he'll do it to a higher standard now that he's messed it up twice already and being threatened with an expensive court case

Unfortunatly 2nd hand 70k mile engines cost £2k+ and 50 miles down the road the same thing could happen

As for brand new engines, they are very hard to come by and are very expensive due to number they make.

As a rough idea 1 single new con rod is £130, con rod bolts are £170 and uprated shells are £150

The cost also includes rebuilding both turbos in case of any oil seal damage caused by the contaminated oil (This was almost silver due to all the swarf in it )

stuy mate am really gutted for you you must be crawlin the walls and pullin your hair out over this one?

I know you might not want to hear this but why don't you cut your lose's and just go buy something different that won't cost you as much if it breaks down?

TBH Tony I have thought about it. Selling the skyline and buying another S13

Cant sell the GTR with a busted engine though, and due to the number of times the motors been out, I shouldnt have to pay for this one!

anyway stuy best of luck in your venture and hope you get it sorted dude

Speechless mate, if you need any advice or info mate, you know where i am or bell me......

So peeps, what are my options here? What do you think Im entitled to???

1) 100% cover from the original rebuilder without me paying anything (Though he builds it and does the work)

2) I split the cost with the engine rebuilder

3) Engine rebuilder pays 100% of cost for RB to build the motor

4) Split the cost with engine rebuilder for RB to build the engine (If so, what % split?)

Basically what the cars had in the past is:

(Previous to my ownership) - New big end bearings, pistons etc - no new crank or rods.

When I had the car and it started to rattle, i had fitted - new crank, rods, bearings, uprated oil pump, baffled sump, re-ring, bore hone etc

And now she rattles again which MUST be one of the parts fitted during the last rebuild!!!

if i were you mate (by the way, gutted for you, must be a pain in the ass BIGtime) i would get the engine rebuilder to pay like 70% of RB rebuilding the engine and you pick up the 30.

yeah in fairness you shouldnt have to pay a penny, but its a compromise which might get the work done and get your car back on the road and as you say, a fresh set of eyes and hands on it might do the trick

Update!

Spoken with Rod at RB motorsport and he has had a chat with the last rebuilder. Agreed to let RB strip the engine to find out the cause of the problem and take it from there. This way we are getting an independant opinion of what has gone wrong, and where to take it from there.

He thinks work may be started mid to late next week

do you want that race now mate sorry mate dont know wot to say