hi guys i need some opinions on what i should do with my engine

some background info...
i am from hong kong so everything here is jdm...and i can source parts from yahoo jp
there arent really any "specialists" here and its pretty much impossible to find space to do a rebuild myself...
i have a 1998 type r sti with a ej20k engine with rod knock apparently...
i was at 5th gear 7400 rpm...got out of a turn then it started knocking...
i bought this car used a week ago and the po claimed the engine has only been rebuilt a few months

anyways...the engine was taken apart by my local garage but im not sure what can be reused and neither are they...all they said was..if i was to reuse any old components from my engine they wont guarantee if it breaks down again even after the rebuild...they wont even comment on whether which part is reusable as they recommend me to get a gdb sti engine with harness and ecu..install it and drive off but this is $$$ so i am now looking for cheaper options but i need answers quick before they throw my car out on the street since it has been sitting for two weeks already

i was hoping to post on here and see if you guys can see anything thats looks out of place before i commit to making a decision

all cylinder walls on the block have grooves in them that can be felt with fingers...



pistons are grooved on the side



didnt feel any "play" when i wiggled on the connecting rods...


po claimed engine rebuilt with a ej22 crank



i don't know if it should look like this inside...

what i want to know is...whether my cylinder heads are reusable without taking them apart. i saw some metal shavings in the oil pan but i don't know where it came from and they didn't feel like taking it apart as they recommend an engine replacement.

one side



and the other



i have searched for a few days and came up with a few options that might work...however, i will need details since they aren't willing to source the parts for me and honestly i am not sure what i need either

all i know is i hope to get this done the cheaper the better.. i am hoping to upgrade somewhere down the road with bolt on upgrades. since the car already have a 3" turbo back and fully decatted...i think the only things left are find some way to tune it...headers...turbos...injectors but it really depends on how much i spend now...
i only use the car during weekends for spirited runs

anyways...my options if the heads "seem ok"
a - jdm gdb sti ej207 short block + my ej20k heads
b - jdm v5/6 sti ej207 short block + my ej20k heads

are there any differences between these? if i was to go down this road, what would i need?

options if head seems bad...rebuild the head plus options above but this seems to cost a lot of money

or should i just get a jdm v5/6 sti engine with harness and ecu and pray this doesnt happen again soon

also...when i shift into 5th at 4k rpm or higher..the gearbox seems to grind... should i replace the gearbox as well?

worst case: i get a loan and get a gdb sti front clip and swap everything over... but this costs a lot of $$ and there is no guarantee on how long the engine will last

Buy EJ207 bottom end and bits, refit heads

Refit

Dont do 7400rpm in 5th

Prosper

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I am only an asshole on the internet :)

[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

what "bits" will i need to put it altogether?
looking for specifics as i am unsure what to get...

thanks a lot...

i drove it like my e36...it loved revs but oil pisses out of oil pan and valve gasket every 3 months

send doug from S Technik an email with it all, pay him to build you a motor, transport it and profit

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R32 GTR - 800ish

60.7 Long Track at Barbs
57.6 at RAC Reverse circuit.

Good bearings, pistins and rods is a start

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RB2666

Go to auction, buy a rear ended subie of the same year for next to nothing. swap the engine and gearbox.

Depending on the $,

Do what TJ said.
If heads are good, make sure face is smooth,
207 short block (v7),
new oil cooler
new oil pump
new water pump
timing belt kit
good head gaskets
good head studds to hold it all together

fun times, GL.

The EJ20K heads on a EJ207 short will have a very high compression ratio. You will need to address that or get an engine control unit that can deal with the increase.

hi guys... how do i calculate the compression and is this fixable with thicker headgaskets?
tuning is not an option at this moment as i have nothing

Calculating the compression ratio would be something your engine builder would do. It requires measuring the combustion chamber volume with a piece of glass over the face and a syringe full of liquid. It's not really something you can easily do yourself.

Then you nee to know or measure the piston dish, gasket thickness and deck height.

I can tell you that the chamber on an EJ20K is vastly smaller than a EJ207 head and EJ20K already use thicker headgaskets than EJ207.

Engine building (contrary to what a lot of forum readers may think) is not as easy as often thought to be. Sure, people bang them together with lots of ignorance and they sometimes work, but it's not the correct way to a good result.