Epoxy engine block mod

[Scol]

Has anyone ever done or considered doing this mod to strengthen the factory weak liners ?

I do not have any first-hand exerience, however the Honda and BMW communities have been using this method for years with great success.

 

[Grsemky]

I mean for backyard engineering it works, but epoxy and aluminum do not expand at the same rate and it will eventually cause issues... If I'm making big enough power to support the block I would just spend the cash on this

 

[rallytaff]

I have a Toyota block sitting in my garage for the last 10yrs looking for a buyer. The block has copper inserts and I was going to have someone build this 3TC block into a screamer for my Corolla, but I retired from rallying.

 

[Scol]

I mean for backyard engineering it works, but epoxy and aluminum do not expand at the same rate and it will eventually cause issues... If I'm making big enough power to support the block I would just spend the cash on this

Agreed 100%. For reliability long term, going for aluminium CNC inserts is the way to go. However i've read a few have used this for years on high boost applications without any issues. Hence why I am asking the question.

With regards to the expansion rate between materials, a seller of this epoxy (without mentioning names) claims the following :

 

[Grsemky]

Agreed 100%. For reliability long term, going for aluminium CNC inserts is the way to go. However i've read a few have used this for years on high boost applications without any issues. Hence why I am asking the question.

With regards to the expansion rate between materials, a seller of this epoxy (without mentioning names) claims the following :

View attachment 67806

I'm curious what the composition is🤔🤔

 

[Dialcaliper]

It sounds like a low expansion epoxy derived from the stuff used to fill uncooled engine blocks for drag racing.

Procedure seems to be to fill the engine block partially with sugar or salt, pour a bit of epoxy into the top to reinforce it, and rinse out the sugar/salt post cure.

Seems interesting but not without the hazards of any kind of custom modification. Holes need to be drilled to allow coolant to flow to and from the head.

There’s even a photo here of a block like ours (with thin slots between cylinders) filled this way

https://epoxy54.com/products/epoxy54?