I'm now thouroughly pissed off with the Indy, or more accurately my choice of engine, the ZZR1100.
The engine I've just spent £150 on rebuilding with a head skim and new gasket set still won't hold water.
I spent £150 on a replacement engine only to find half a circlip lying in the bottom of the sump, so there is something wrong with the gearbox.
So I'm thinking I have several options.
Bear in mind, I'd really like to do a couple of trackdays this September before I lay her up for the winter and start any major changes.
Mike
I'd go the Mx5 route - that way , if a Mazda V6 comes along half the work is already done
you not tried this bloke, he used to work for kawasaki newcastle and now has his own place in jarrow, ( kawwan ) he might help with the motor you
have.
but failing that go for the zetec cheaper parts i would think than the mazda.
Awkward one mike,you could end up chasing money rebuilding the zed again.A quality engine from malc at Yorkshire engines looks the best choice,avoid
the ebay garbage.
You might be able to draw some cash back from the bec parts if you go CEC,i would lean towards the MX5 but only because the box (not sure if its just
the later 6 speed) will bolt onto a Duratec.
I voted for fixing the engines you have. Even if you rip the bike engine out at a later date, you'll have the engine to sell.
Trackdays next month, you have no choice, another random engine or if the water loss is not that great just keep topping up every 10 laps and drive it
to death.
With care you could reuse the head gasket, make one from two and stick the other bits together with sump gasket seal.
Are you absolutely 100% sure the water is being lost within the engine?
Borrow beg or steal a test kit and pressurise the system to the limit and look for leaks, drop some dye in the water, it must be going somewhere.
Regards Mark
What do you mean by "wont hold water"?
I voted to build a good one from the two you have!
The great thing about going the Zetec route is if you get any further problems replacement engines are dead cheap.
I've not voted Mike, - I can't make my mind up either 
quote:
Originally posted by mookaloid
I've not voted Mike, - I can't make my mind up either
I'd stick with the current engine type but buy a known good engine from a proper bike breakers rather than the rabble on Ebay who can be a bit dodge..... It's nice to be a bit different engine-wise...
Is your chassis a bec chassis? If so the tunnel might not be wide enough for all that gearbox type stuff which might naturally eliminate some of your options
quote:
Originally posted by Richard Quinn
Is your chassis a bec chassis? If so the tunnel might not be wide enough for all that gearbox type stuff which might naturally eliminate some of your options
Mike,
I voted for the MX5 route as if it fits your chassis (and sounds like it should) you will have upgrade options to the newer 2ltr and 6 speed box.
The MX5/Miata is a common donor on the Locost USA sites ans there are a good number of build blogs on there that you could use for info.
.............you must be pi$$ed off to consider getting the slating for switching to a CEC
good luck
Steve
hhmmm tricky, no matter waht you choose, in the end when you add up the bills, you'll be convinced you chose the most expensvie route!!!
not a BEC person but the ZX10 R would be the one I'd vote - ebay, yeah, I know, has one for
£ 500 .... you could haggle.
there is another for same price but sounds like it is damaged, and others for over £ 1 k 
I voted to make 1 good engine out of the 2 bike engines. If it only costs £150 and works, great, and it will just bolt in without any mods. If not,
you can probably get something for the bits and then I would go for an MX5 engine and box.
Let us know what you decide and how you get on.
vauxhall
Mike, if you want to do a trackday in September the only viable option IMO is to make a decent engine from the two engines you have or buy another one
to drop straight in. I'd go for making a decent engine from the two you have.
Phil
You must really be pi$$ed off to even consider fitting a boat anchor
[Edited on 29-8-09 by Hellfire]
ive not voted either, but i was in your position last year with my cbr1000 engines. i rebuilt one, blew it up with a turbo, then rebuilt it again and
it was still not working without the turbo, oil was in cylinder 1 and i dont know why. maybe my engine build skills are poor?
Anyway i thought i wanted more power, better gear ratios as the cbr1000 was topping out at 110 and i newer engine so i went for the newer BEC route.
it cost an arm and a leg but its my main hobby and i thought sod it. Dont regret it and the extra power is just what i wanted.
i would say if you love the car and want to keep it for along time then go this route.
Definately not buy another random engine... Would be a good idea to rebuild the bike engines either way if you're going to use them or not...
As for the Zetec if you have one of them and it fits it's a case of the old BEC/CEC argument...