Difference between K8 and Stock Engines?

[TheNelson]

Hi guys, before I go any further trying to figure out why my freshly engine-swapped car won't run properly maybe you can shed some light on something for me.

I bought the car with a blown motor, at the time it looked like this:



Got a K8 from Tiger JDM Engines:
http://www.tigerjapanese.com/index.php? ... &Itemid=26" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Last weekend did the engine swap, now we have this:



Since that picture was taken an intake pipe was fabricated and the VAF (MAF) is now in place.

basically I need to know what things a person should do to make this swap work. What's the difference between the stock engine and the new one I put in?

what is the stock engine??

Thanks!

[RS_OBD'oh_2]

check the stamps on the engine. That looks like a KL IM to me. Keep in mind I'm a 4 cyl guy.

[Nd4SpdSe]

Nope, a straight-neck K8 does actually exist, oddly enough, This is probably only the second time I've seen it. Unless it's a KF, it does use a K8 head.

Just swap the intake manifolds from the old motor and you're done. Maybe it's not happy cause your ECU is programmed for the EGR and this doesn't have it, but that's just an emissions thing. That's just a K8ZE, makes about 5 more hp than your stock motor.

[RX8SE3P]

Yeah the old intake should fit, I'd use the old one for easiest installation. There should be no real other difference. Unless you are using the distributor off the new engine. Use your old distributor.

[MrMazda92]

It may be the angle, but it looks like the new engine has square intake runners to me. I'm not knowledgeable about the KF, or the straightneck K8, but so far as I know no K8's had square runners.

[Pritchett]

Tiger japanese are a bunch of crooks. I laughed when I seen the condition: best. They sold me a curved neck KLZE with kl-01 cam's. It was sludged beyond belief, the pics are on this site if you want proof. I thought it wouldn't be that hard to clean out the head's, which it wasn't. But I had no idea of the damage that lay in wait. I had the motor professionally installed for 760 bucks, not to mention the $160 I spent on powder coating the valve covers, a $200 valve cover gasket and grommet kit, and a $120 timing belt. Oh ya, the motor costed me 740 bucks. It ran for like 1 km before the oil light came on. The bearings are now shot and the whole thing has to be pulled and rebuilt. Tiger jap refunded me $100 for the cleaning products and labour (9 hours) before I had even installed the motor. Since they refunded me that, they said I was uneligible for a 2nd claim even tho my warrenty still had 8 days left. I contacted the BBB and through a few letters they offered to refund me if I had the engine back to them in 8 days...lol it took them 8 to get it to me. Problem is the motor is still in my car, cause after it bankrupted me I had to find new transportation since I have a job and have 2 kids. After I told them I couldn't send it back right away cause it would cost me roughly 640 bucks to have it pulled, shipped etc, they offered to pay me $100. I obviously refused and now it sits as UNRESOLVED.

To answer your question the stock engine is either a 1.6L 4 banger or the 1.8L v6 that was in your first pic.

Did you change any parts on the new motor, like timing belt..etc?

[Nd4SpdSe]

If you search, there's plenty of threads that don't talk too hightly of Tiger Japan. Sad to had to find out the hard way...

Japan Auto is suppose to have amazing service, but their motors aren't cheap, but you not only pay for product, but you pay for the service too. Sadly no one wants to pay for good quality service anymore.

[RX8SE3P]

Pritchett, hate to say this dude but I gave you my opinion from my own bad experience that your engine would be crap and you still installed it.

I guess you were like me though so I do have sympathy, some people told me to get mine returned I didn't listen either (mine had way way less sludge though and people still said it would be crap). Brown engine/Sludge = old and abused. Even 200,000kms engines can still be a light golden goodness! (My MX6 was and it ran perfect).

I just got way excited by the KLZE hype and forgot basics! I guess we live and learn mate. But please, post your result in your thread because I think it will help people in similar situations, don't be embarrassed because it's happened to plenty of people. Also helps teach that tiger japan should not be trusted.

Hope things work out for you buddy.