I bought a Street Ported Engine from Atkins and blew it at 2050 miles. I did the break-in 1000 miles as described in there litterature. They pulled it apart and said I was running lean and will not honor the warranty (actually, Dave was kind of an ******* about it.)

Here are my mods:

Pettit ECU (not the unlimited)
Pettit Intake
J-Spec hi flo Turbo's
Downpipe
Hi flo cat
catback
Profec B set at 11psi
Walbro upgraded fuel pump

An a/f meter showed all things fine, but I understand that a wideband is necessary to truly see what the a/f ratio is. The injectors are clean and stock.

I can't imagine with these mods that there is not enough fuel getting in, but lean is lean.

Is there something that I am missing? Do I need the Unlimited ECU chip?

 

Man that sucks! Get a PFC or haltech and get some proper tuning for your mods. You will get more power out of it and chances of running lean are less likely.

 

how much boost were you running/peaking at? if only 11psi, something went very wrong with your fuel system or ecu cuz even a stock system should be able to easily handle 11-12psi.

 

Never above 12 psi.

 

Did you see him tear down the motor?

 

Greg,

I'd point the finger at the Pettit ECU, and the stock intercooler. The ECU might not be providing enough fuel, which can cause a lean condition. Also the stock IC is just too small to cool the intake charge air. If the manifold air charge temps are too hot, you have a very high likelihood of running lean and detonating.

I also have a set of '99 J-spec twins, but I've been advised by many posters from this forum to use a stand-alone ECU like the Apexi PFC... It's apparently the best way to ensure your motor is getting the fuel it's supposed to. Also large IC and radiator are on the way to deal with the much more efficient Japan spec twins and Anfini Y-pipe.

As a failsafe, I plan to go ahead and have Dave Barninger of KD Rotary to build me a ported motor with reliabilty mods from a Malloy Reman, so I'll have it ready for the inevitable failure of my 102,250-mile original motor...

12 psi is probably too much boost for your stock IC and Pettit ECU to handle--NO DOUBT!

Don't forget that a ported motor will also make more power, because you're getting more air into the combustion chamber as well as more boost (12 psi).

IMHO the combination of a street ported motor, the lack of a stand-alone ECU (Apexi PFC), using a stock IC, '99 J-spec Twins, all contributed to the untimely demise of your new motor!

 

No. He's in Washington and I'm in Ohio.

 

Ouch, thats the problem about running lean, by the time you know it, it is too late. I can't help you about the engine(It should have been covered by the them and replaced)

Get yourself a Palm Pilot with an OBDII program so you can plug it into your ECM when your tuning, it will tell you how lean your running.

 

that sucks, he should at least help you cover a percent of a re-rebuild. i think 2050 miles with half of that being break-in is way too little to blow a motor from running lean, no matter how many 12lb boost sessions you threw at it...

 

I'm interested in this...PM me please with more details

 

If Atkins actually put the motor in your car (as opposed to shipping it to you) and all the mods you listed were in place I think you have a decent case for seeking some type of remuneration.

I would have thought that an experienced shop would have at the very least warned you about going lean.

I heard that any chipped ECU cannot handle a ported motor. In fact, I believe that Pettit and M2 performance explicitly state this--again, from what I recall.

The 99 spec turbos probably just pushed the envelope further.

 

Raaaaamon!

What do you think...should I go SMIC ASP large, Apexi FMIC, or Chuck Huang's HMIC http://www.rotaryextreme.com/rehmic.html ????

I'm so confused....

 

"Get yourself a Palm Pilot with an OBDII program so you can plug it into your ECM when your tuning, it will tell you how lean your running."

Sounds like a great idea but we don't have OBD II.

 

AIM In Indianapolis put the motor in and they talked me into adding the Welbro fuel pump.

 

should n't you have enuf fuel for up to 14 psi with the walboro fuel pump. how old was your fuel filter???? sorry to hear about your loss. they should at least give you somekind of break. they knew what mods you had and should have warned you about poss running lean. good luck man.

 

exactly fd3virgin....the fuel filter may need to be replaced. hell, I just repaced with k&n and relocated to engine bay. The a/f would have told all but too late for this scenario

 

I just repaced with k&n and relocated to engine bay. The a/f would have told all but too late for this scenario [/B][/QUOTE]

how easy is it to relocate the fuel filter to the engine may. it was a pain in the *** to change the filter now. is there a how to thread or link. thanks.

 

I would doubt that it was the Pettit ECU. I have seen multiple dyno runs with wideband on it, and all of them give an average of 11.3 : 1, with a max of 11:7 to 1.

Interesting.

 

Thanks.

The Fuel Filter was replaced this past Spring.

 

...another Atkins bites the dust. I seriously doubt it was your mods. Do some searching on Atkins.

 

Sorry to hear about the engine. If Dave isn't going to cut you any slack on a rebuild, I certainly wouldn't pay him another dime. An additional bit of satisfaction would be to make him ship your engine to someone else for rebuild.

I would recommend Bruce Turrentine of rebuild video fame. He's the master when it comes to rotary engines. In fact, I just sent my factory new 13B to him a couple hours ago. He's reworking it for reliability, and porting for more power. This will be my airplane engine, but he was also just telling me of a recent engine he built for an FD with ceramic seals to run high boost. He'll build you the engine you want/need. His number is 919-212-0671. I hope Dave makes it right, but if not, give Bruce a call.

Good luck,

 

Greg,

My new Malloy Reman will be torn down and "massaged" by Dave Barninger of KD Rotary...the master rotary builder near the eastcoast...

http://www.kdrotary.com/price_list.html

 

he built a motor for my car about 2 weeks ago. he is building one for an FD i am selling next week. he told me about the motor that you are sending him. his motors are the ****. here is a pic of the block he sent back to me.---j

 

Just wanted to throw in another potential engine builder for you: Pineapple Racing (www.pineappleracing.com).

I had my engine done there, and couldnt be happier I'm well past 2050

 

Problem is, Atkins already has it torn down. If I have him ship it somewhere else, he will probably charge me for the work he has done plust the freight.