PROject2200 - Total Learning PROcess

My Main Goals in completing this project

This is a project that i started slightly over a year ago.

The original project started around july of 2003. Me and Scruf were pulling an engine from a local autoyard. one day we removed the head, the next day it rained, the third day Scruf couldnt make it.

So i set off solo to see if i could get this engine. only hand tools with me.

Part 1



July - Hot as hell, and i get all the engine out of the car. the forklift lifted the car and i pulled the block from under the car with a seatbelt i jerry rigged around the block.

Lifted the engine as you would do any 2-300lbs piece of metal (sumo deadlift style) and put it in my trunk, drove home.

by the time i got home, it was near time for round two of the rain. no one was home or locally, so i stashed it in a rubbermaid container that could carry two human adult bodies if need be.

lifted the engine by hand from the autoyard, in my car, from my car to the container, and carried the engine filled container up the stairs to my apt. SOLO.

Part 1 accomplished.

Part 2

starts with disassembling it.

Now keep in mind, this is an apt. white walls, white carpet...or cream... i cant just go haywire slinging all the oil around and stuff.

and so much for the BULLSHIT about people not having room to do stuff. MAKE ROOM.
also during the PROject, i decided i wanted to do the port and polish. sure you can pay a shop 150$ to do it by hand, but like said above, this was a learning process for me. After visiting SummitRacing.com i settled on the Standard Abrasives Basic Porting Kit. Runs about 40-50$ shipped and needs a die grinder or Dremel Advantage due to the fact it needs a 1/4 inch collet. Most dremels spin to fast for headwork with rookies, and they arent large enough to accept a 1/4 inch shaft. only 1/8 inch. I started on the head first mainly cause thats a common and easy place to start. i dont have the machines to bore and hone blocks, so besides me dissasembling it in the living room of the apt, it was put to the side for a bit. Here's a few shots of the head before anything was done. As you can see the engine was pretty much in bad shape from sitting in the rain, and carbon build up. other wise than that the head was sound as well as the block. Some think the 2200 is one that overheats a lot. The older 2.2's had headgasket problems, but the 98+ engine was updated with a new head, better gasket, and reversed the flow of coolant. not an off the bench powerhouse, but then again the speed limit in the US is 55mph-70mph at its fastest. not anything like back home in germany.

REbuilding The Head


like stated above, this isnt for bragging rights, or to an "import fighter" or any other of the retarded shit people come up with these days. this was something to learn from have fun with and get a some results over stock with. NOTHING MORE. granted when done it will be ready to accept some nitrous, not NOS, or perhaps a small supercharger (Courtesy of RSMracing.com) if i chose to. granted i will prob be in Hawaii by that time, but if i choose to, i can.

Specs on the head are my own sorta. i simply followed the porting guide, didnt do anything fancy, just removed flashing, smoothed things out, and slightly, EVER SO SLIGHTLY enlarged the runners. i have flow charts, not that most are ever interested. email me for em if need be. Main goal i had, to gain better flow. Accomplished.

Things i added to the head:

-Port and Polish/blend/bowl/chamber work (myself)
-Stainless Steel Valves from SI Valves
-New Springs and Retainers (stock spec)
-Radiused Valve Job (AHMperformance.com)
-Bronze Valve Guides
-Howell Automotive 1.6 Roller rockers and ARP stud Kit
(stock doesnt have the bearings and stock rockers also teched out to be 1.54)
-Howell Automotive Pushrods by Crane Cams
(currently in my car now, but will transfer over when the swap occurs)
-Milled and pressure tested (AHMperformance.com)

Now here are pictures of the finished product
keep in mind the chambers had the same texture that the exhaust runners did above in the first picture posted. the head was made using a "lost foam" technique. finally the finished product. Half the engine down. Half to go.
The BLOCK

Basically the meat and potatoes of the engine. i have some pics on my camcorder, but on another tape. someday soon i;ll upload em. Basically its nothing more than the engine stand that was in my living room for about half a year and the engine attached to it. and when i say living room, i dont mean some side room of a house, i literally mean "living room".

Quick Specs on the block:
-Standard 2200 (2.2 OHV) block
-Overbored Cylinders .030
-Crower Rods rated for 500 HP (yea i'll get to that point in about NEVARRRRRR!)
-Arias Custom made pistons 9.5:1 CR (fly cut for the valves)
-Total Seal Piston Rings
-Swaintech Coating on the piston heads and skirts
-Crank knife edged and slightly lightened and balanced
-Clevite 77 Bearings throughout
-Crane Cams Howell Automotive Cam for 2200 (prototype)
-Melling Oil Pump and Timing Gears/Chain
-GM Lifters
-FelPro headgasket, since companies are dicks about making MLS headgaskets. Main and Head Studs from Jbodyperformance Via ARP
SIDE NOTE***Felpro makes a MLS for a 1.8 prizm engine, 2200 engines are just as plentiful considering they came in Chevy S-10's, cavaliers, & Pontiac sunfires.****UPDATE***** cometic now has released a MLS headgasket, which i now have....finally!

PROgress of the Block thus far:

So far this is how far i have gotten. Its been a fun learning process and i;ve definately had fun with the car and tearing down and creating whats posted above.

This part may offend some, but now in the true nature of life, surely some idiot is gonna read this and WITHOUT THINKING, wonder

"why mod THIS engine, why not get this or that or this"

the answer is simple.... instead of me getting the same car as you, cause you may personally think its cool to have.....

its on the same lines as me asking them, well since you sink so much money into a sport compact, classic car, why not throw some of that money into getting an high end exotic???
simple answer for the fucktard that can not and will not try to understand the concept of personal choice....

i chose to mod what i have. i already own 3 cars. i dont need to run out and get the latest fad whether it be a V8, or the newest import. Now i think both choices are cool, but as of right now, i am a college grad, no credit cards by choice and as a result....

NO DEBT!!!!!!



Half of the people you see on the streets today pretty much have their ENTIRE car on loan. thats cool if you wanna chance wrecking it and owing on the car in addition to all the money you spent on mods and attempting to be "uberschnell" (fast), then struggling to get another car, paying for insurance thats now fucked up, and etc.

I personally dont. My car is paid for, my insurance is low, and i dont really feel the need to build a "13, 12, 11, 10 second or fill in the time" car. If thats what you wanna do, do itBY ALL MEANS...be happy... but you build one of those, then someone is faster than you, then you add more money ==SPEED COSTS , HOW FAST DO YOU REALLY WANNNA GO???..... no matter what you do you add money until it dies or you wreck it.... cause reality is... in ANY racing. someone is always faster. never ending money pit if you wanna keep improving...unless you get sponsors. speed costs, how fast do you wanna go? Personally, me, i respect all cars...ALL... none of the "i HATE this or that stuff you get with alot of teenagers with egos that have no experience with the cars they allegedly HATE.... but just follow a mindset...

i also AutoX. i dont need an engine that runs low double digits or single digits. i have a suspension that handles, and the car on race days is relatively light. the engine is enough for the class i race in, and my driving skills are decent enough to place in the top 10 consistently. my car accomplishes my goals for it. it gets me to and from work as its my daily driver, gets me to where i go to have fun meet friends etc, and it gets me around the track decently. so there is no need for myself to build a 13, 12, 11, 10, 9 second car.