To Sell or Finish?

[Katizzo]

Bought this car on BAT two+ years ago. https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2015-factory-five-818s/

Had weak motor when purchased that blew after some street and track use so I swapped in a JDM motor but did a lot of upgrades in the process. Turns out that “new/used” motor was also bad so I’m upside down even more after labor at this point after spending nearly $10k for the recent upgrades. I’m in over $30K on this thing with receipts to prove it. Time to cut my losses and move on if somebody wants to take the project across the finish line with the motor swap.

I’m thinking of putting it up for sale as is so a DIY’er can swap in another block (used or built depending on goals) and have an amazing car for a steal of a deal.

List of recent mods (all professionally installed) include:

Boyd’s Gas tank/new fuel sending unit
E85 flex fuel sniffer
id1000 injectors
STI turbo
Updated, custom Exhaust
Killer bee pickup
Radium surge tank

Everything is installed and was ready to tune when we realized the compression was low on the new motor and we stopped to regroup. Thinking about sale as is sale before I sink thousands more into the project.

Should I finish it or sell it? Need help here, folks! Thanks in advance!

[AC Bill]

Did you do a wet/dry compression check? Maybe it just needs a set of rings.

Do you like the car otherwise?
It seems like you bought it for a fair price, and I would think it would normally cost around $30k to build one from scratch. So maybe your not that bad off.

[Jetfuel]

Well, you're already deep into this project and you'll never get back what you have in it.
You know how much fun these cars are so might as well just finish it and drive the wheels off of it.

Jet

[GoDadGo]

Consider Sending It To Wayne Presley To Be Repaired & Completed!

Wayne knows these cars, especially the 818, very well and has a great reputation.
He is known so well by The Factory Five Team that Dave Smith had him testing the F9 Prototype late last year.

Wayne's Website:
http://verycoolparts.com/

F9 Forum Link:
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?36979-F9-Testing

Good Luck!

[Al_C]

I think AC Bill hit it on the head. This car must have appealed to you in 2018, or you wouldn't have purchased it. Do you still like it? Do you want to drive it? In my mind, if the answer to those questions is still "yes", then finish it.

[NAZ]

Seems that purchasing used engines has been a learning experience for you from the school of hard knocks. Suck it up, and deal with the setbacks. We all go through these, it's all those failures and setbacks that make us smarter. I'm dealing with several wrong turns and wasting $$ on my new project right now -- all my fault. Not the first, won't be the last. When dealing with a setback you just have to put these behind you and learn to corner.

Or, if you've simply lost interest or the project hasn't met your expectations, then reevaluate and if you decide this project isn't for you then dump it and move on. I've seen many times that folks have expectations that just don't pan out and get sour on a project. At that point, it's best to walk away.

[Katizzo]

Did you do a wet/dry compression check? Maybe it just needs a set of rings.

Do you like the car otherwise?
It seems like you bought it for a fair price, and I would think it would normally cost around $30k to build one from scratch. So maybe your not that bad off.

We did compression before installing it and leakdown. It passed. First pull on the dyno to begin tuning and poof. Likely ringland failure and now low compression. it can totally be fixed but I'm getting tired, hahaha, and I have another track car with a motor being rebuilt right now so may just cut my losses and consolidate all resources into the other build. That has over 100K into it so this isn't that bad and I really enjoyed this car a TON! Still on the fence but I appreciate everybody's input!

[Katizzo]

Well, you're already deep into this project and you'll never get back what you have in it.
You know how much fun these cars are so might as well just finish it and drive the wheels off of it.

Jet

Yes, good point and I may! Already have a built motor quoted out and decided to pause and think through before I go deeper. Maybe somebody wants to take this home and it makes more sense for a DIY'er.

[Katizzo]

Consider Sending It To Wayne Presley To Be Repaired & Completed!

Wayne knows these cars, especially the 818, very well and has a great reputation.
He is known so well by The Factory Five Team that Dave Smith had him testing the F9 Prototype late last year.

Wayne's Website:
http://verycoolparts.com/

F9 Forum Link:
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?36979-F9-Testing

Good Luck!

Thanks! I'll look him up!

[Katizzo]

I loved it for awhile but it kicked my *** to hear of getting screwed on this last motor. Ouch. Probably a 4K kick in the gut so I'm catching my breath and thinking this through. I appreciate everybody's feedback. The car, with 300whp+ would probably make me fall back in love...

[Katizzo]

Yeah, I feel ya. I was fine with the first time the motor went...in fact I was pushing it in ways that I expected it to. Then this second motor hurt so gauging how much I love this thing...

[Lickity-Split]

I've been there. The problem I have is fixing it again sinks more money into it and I'm never again happy with a project I know I have $4 into it and it's only worth $2. I know it's not all that rational but when I get rid of it and start on something else with fresh vigor, I feel better moving forward. Life's getting shorter all the time.

[GoDadGo]

Yeah, I feel ya. I was fine with the first time the motor went...in fact I was pushing it in ways that I expected it to. Then this second motor hurt so gauging how much I love this thing...

If you can get Wayne Presley or another well-established fellow to rebuild or replace the engine then you may want to consider going to a dry-sump system.
Oil control in any Factory Five that is driven hard can have issues because these cars accelerate harder, stop quicker, and turn like a jet fighter compared to most cars.
At the very least, adding an oil accumulator to level out any oil starvation issues may be a less expensive option to a dry-sump system.

[Katizzo]

If you can get Wayne Presley or another well-established fellow to rebuild or replace the engine then you may want to consider going to a dry-sump system.
Oil control in any Factory Five that is driven hard can have issues because these cars accelerate harder, stop quicker, and turn like a jet fighter compared to most cars.
At the very least, adding an oil accumulator to level out any oil starvation issues may be a less expensive option to a dry-sump system.

I agree and appreciate your input. I already added a Killer Bee oil pickup and an STI pan and have spec'd out an Accusump that should allow the built motor (if I go forward) to live under any conditions.

Thanks!

[Katizzo]

I've been there. The problem I have is fixing it again sinks more money into it and I'm never again happy with a project I know I have $4 into it and it's only worth $2. I know it's not all that rational but when I get rid of it and start on something else with fresh vigor, I feel better moving forward. Life's getting shorter all the time.

Yeah, part of my feelings on this thing. Might be best to pass off to somebody new to start fresh with a killer deal. I advertised the car locally on Craigslist at 16K to see what its worth to people. The problem is that most people have no idea what this car is...

[AC Bill]

Well, it sounds like you've answered your own question..
Good luck with the sale.

[MartyD]

The motor that's in there now, what's the problem? Low compression, ugly noises? Drivability issues?

[MartyD]

Just read your Craigslist add saying low compression--how low? Did any body try to adjust the valves? I know that's a pain in the *** but these run pretty tight tolerances in term of actual clearance. If I remember right it's only about .002-.003. A tight valve could be hopefully an easy fix.

[Katizzo]

Just read your Craigslist add saying low compression--how low? Did any body try to adjust the valves? I know that's a pain in the *** but these run pretty tight tolerances in term of actual clearance. If I remember right it's only about .002-.003. A tight valve could be hopefully an easy fix.

Not yet. Tuner thinks ringland failure but it could be something waAaaaay minor too. The cost to remove and break it down when paying for labor makes it smarter to just build it once you open it up. Or you get a known quantity, running ej20 and drop it in, tune and go. That’s where we were but I’m not willing to bet on another used motor. If I keep, I’ll drop in something built and have a little monster!

[Katizzo]

Well, it sounds like you've answered your own question..
Good luck with the sale.

For sale for now but if nobody buys, I’ll build her.