I am getting ready to turbo my car, however, before I even think about turbo I want an engine that can handle whatever I throw on it. I am keeping my options open. Which would be the best setup for a turbo boosting anywhere between 15 - 20 psi? I would like to achieve at least 300 hp. I searched the forums and noticed that this has beed asked a few times but no broad comparisons have been made. Also, I noticed that some people where really happy with Howell and others said they got ripped off. If I pay that much for an engine I would definately want it to be a drop in. I was considering the FTY engines, however, their website is down and I can't get pricing information. Below are the options I'm considering...... I'm more than happy to consider others. I just want to know what will be the most cost effective, bullet proof engine that would have no problem accepting 15 - 20 psi without problems.

1. Howell 2.0, 2.0 long rod, 2.2 crate engine
2. FTY 2.0 or 2.2
3. Buying all my own internals and doing it myself using the machine shop to do the boring, honing, etc..... ( I have a friend that can help me that knows what he is doing) If so, what internals should I get?

Also, all of you who are pushing over 300hp, what do you have in that engine?

Any help would be much appreciated. I'm hoping to buy what I need within the next couple weeks or so.

IMO just buy the howell rebuild kit with the stock compression pistons, most will tell you to go with the 8.6.1 pistons but as long as you tune/have the right amount of fuel youll be fine with stock compression rebuild. and get the .020 over pistons and just have a machine shop install it all in the block.

Hey man, Im in the same boat... but this depends what kinda setup you want...

Anyhow, if you want 15-20psi, I think u better go lower compression, so you don't have to be running 102octane gas all the time :/.

Also, mind you the more displacement u get, the more torque the engine will make but less hp.

Everyone keepts talking about FTY Blocks, but I can't access their site to get more info?

I'm not too familiar with engines, but slowly getting up to speed on them. (no pun intended)
Curently, I purchased an FTY head and block, the both of those supposily can be pushed to 30 psi... I dont know it for a fact though. Before their site went down, I make a copy of what I was getting, here's what the site read:

FTY RiceKiller 2.0 Liter 420A 1
So, you're pushing the stock 420A to it's limits, and you don't want to risk popping it? Do you run a turbo on your 420A? We've got a sweet economical solution for you: the FTY RiceKiller 420A block. This block is resurfaced, bored, honed (with a torque plate,) balanced, blueprinted, and assembled. It's stuffed with great parts that you won't have a problem with. Eagle rods, custom 8.8:1 compression CP pistons, ARP Main studs, a Melling oil pump, Clevite bearings, and new front and rear main seal. It's ready to drop in. All you need to replace your shortblock with a new block that will handle upward of 600 horsepower without a problem. This is an assembled shortblock.

FTY RiceKiller - 420A Head
We've finally got some 420A head packages for you 420A guys! Our first one, the 420A RiceKiller head, is made for you guys who want to step up the performance of your car a little bit. We built a sweet package to make your mouths water. We do a complete valve job, drop in a set of Ferrea stainless valves, Compress a set of Crower springs between them with a set of Crower titanium retainers to top them off. Then, we hold it all together with a new set of OEM locks. That's not the best part though, this is: We also include a set of Crane Stage 3 turbo cams! This head is almost ready to rock - all you have to do is use your existing rockers and lifters, and bolt this puppy on!

Maybe you know what retards, lifters, ARP Main studs, ect is, I dont really. But from there, it just gets better!
I cant say anything about Howell, never even looked into them.


Undergoing MAJOR modifications, inside and out
member# 2498 / girl member# unknown

Why doesen't anyone mention VT engines? I got mine from them and the engine is working fine. I am pushing 16psi.

Thanks guys for all the info..... Do you know the prices on the RiceKiller head and bottom? I'm starting to like FTY more and more. I'm going to go and get an accurate estimate tomorrow at the local maching shop, but I think that an FTY engine is actually cheaper than buying all of those parts and paying to have a machine shop do all the work.... I also like the FTY head coming with the aggressive cams. That head and bottom end would seem like an excellent combination. Any more ideas anyone? What about you guys pushing over 300hp?

Does anyone know where I can get in touch with someone from FTY? (Email, phone, etc...)

if i remember right the bottomend standard rebuilt ealges cp's balances blue printed and assembled is 1645$ and a core charge of 400$

150-200$ at most for shipping


for head work i would checkout www.NRGYheads.com nicholas is a cool guy and has been doing 420a heads for a long time and opened his own shop for porting 420a heads a few months back right before blackdog went down.

i also went through fty. they give the blocks to vt engines ( www.vtengines.com ) and they do all the work on them. ill be writing a review once i get my block from them, hopfully some time next week. but they seem like they know what thier doing. total came to like 1900 and some cents for all the work, parts, taxes, and shiopping back to me. i had etx drive a spare block to them, so that saved me some money.

That is cheap. Did you get the 420a RiceKiller head and bottom end? is that a crate engine ready to be dropped in for $1900. If it is then that is teh best deal yet depending on the internals. Here what I've figured up so far. I was going to buy the following.......
1. Howell Long Rod 2.0 bottom end kit - Clevite 77 or Federal Mogul Rod Bearing Set Clevite 77 or Federal Mogul Main Bearing Set Total Seal Piston Rings Mopar Oil Pan Gasket Set (includes rear main seal) Melling Oil Pump Eagle Specialty Forged Long Rods and Je pistons for $1,099.95
2. Howell Top End Kit - 16 Eaton PT Cruiser Lash Adjusters (Lifters) * 16 PT Cruiser Cam Followers (Rockers) * Dyna Gear Timing Belt * Mopar Complete Head Gasket Set * 1 Pair of Crane DOHC Cams 0010, 0012, or 0014 * 1 Pair of Fidanza Adjustable Cam Gears * Crane Valve Springs for $999.95

My total for all of this would be $2099.90 plus shipping, machine shop work etc....... whereas if I just bought their 2.0 long rod crate motor for $1999.95, which is ironically cheaper than buying the kits alone. The only reason I don't go and buy one today is because of the varied opinions on Howell crate motors. I searched and found this post http://forums.2gnt.com/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=5&topic_id=36444&mode=full

I haven't found cheaper than Howell yet with as much inside the engine. I would particularly be interested in hearing the opinions of those with the crate motor from Howell. It just seems like the best "bang for the buck", but I don't want to recieve an engine that has been painted over rust, half of the bolt holes are rusted out, or has leaks. I mean don't they even hot tank an engine before assembly?

sorry to rape the topic, but how do we go about contacting FTY for a purchase? I was in chat earlier and someone said that if you contact FTY they tell you to call VT. So really what is FTY doing then? Also is there website coming back up anytime soon? Id really like to do business wit these guys as I have heard they do damn good work.


*winter rebuild in process*
GST Muffler
injen short ram intake
magnecore 8.5mm wires
EGR removal/blockoff
front/rear strut tower bars
GSX dual piston calipers

Originally posted by TXTurboGS
Why doesen't anyone mention VT engines? I got mine from them and the engine is working fine. I am pushing 16psi.

b/c most've VT's business is just done through FTY now.. since FTY's site is down you guys should prolly just checkout VT's site. www.vtengines.com they've got pretty much the same info on there. not sure if they updated to include their NEWER 2.2 w/ the forged crank and everything though. FTY's site usually had more current info but being that it's down now...

Any more inputs? Any better options. From what I could tell VT engines don't come with as many internals as the Howell for the price.

Originally posted by TrickedEclipse95
Any more inputs? Any better options. From what I could tell VT engines don't come with as many internals as the Howell for the price.

Howell blocks and VT blocks are assembled with the same basic parts (eagle rods, JE's, stock crank) so as far as one being "more complete" than another, it just isn't so. The difference is in the machining and the assembly. I'm not fully aware of Howell's capabilities but i know VT uses multiple $100,000 machines to be as precise as it gets in the industry. Another thing you may want to consider is that VT can also get other manufacturer's internals that you may not be able to get elsewhere, (CP pistons, Oliver rods, billet crank...though I think Howell can get a forged crank now too). I suppose it all depends on what you want to spend. I'd say the best motor for your application is the FTY 2.2 but its expensive. The 2.0's are fine too, as long as you dont do anything ubsurdly stupid they wont ever break. I believe at this time FTY is just referring their customers directly to VT since their website is down, but thats what people did anyway before FTY was around so its no big deal. My only advise is to take you time and pick out what works the best for what you want to do because there are a lot of people on this forum who will tell you that they wish they had done it right the first time.