Engine Swap, 1.8L slow to 4g63 Options

[ToD_atheon]

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hello im new to this site, reffered by gsxracer80, and so far i like it. I just bought a 1994 eclipse, 1.8l slow as it can get, and i want to put in a 4g63 engine, not soon, prolly over the winter months. i was wondering is it possible: how mch of a pain it would be, where can i find a decent price for it, what mods i wouldnt need, the whole nine yards basically. this is my first eclipse, and i would appreciate the help, and thanks


Atheon (Jarod)

[Taxiwardance]

The best thing you could do is sell it and buy a turbo. Thats probably what everyone else is going to tell you to, but it will save you a lot of time and a shit load of cash. But yeah it can be done with time and $$.

[natedogg]

The best thing you could do is sell it and buy a turbo. Thats probably what everyone else is going to tell you to, but it will save you a lot of time and a shit load of cash. But yeah it can be done with time and $$.

Yes.

[90GSX]

I was gonna try to do it, and they are right, your better to sell it and buy one thats already equipped with the 4g63 in it. You would need a new ECU for that motor, wiring harness, misc sensors and its just a pain to have to route all the hoses and wires. Unless you have time, money and a lot of patience, i would just buy another car with the 2.0 already installed. And truthfully i had a 94 eclipse with a 2.0 non turbo and gas mileage is basically the same between the two, and there really wasnt a huge performance difference, but the 2.0 does have alot more possibilities.

If you decide to do it, the trannys are the same, axles, radiator and everything, unless you get a turbo, then i believe the trannys are different.

[akamiami]

WARNING: shameless advertisement.

rather than spend the money to convert your car, I've got a $1900 turbo laser for sale.

If nothing else, you could buy the running car for 1900, swap both engines and everything else out if you're really attached to the body and interior of your car, and then sell the laser at a 1.8L beater.

[ToD_atheon]

well i like the car i have, im comin up with some cash soon, and i wanna put the 4g63 motor in, turbo of course, but i have a lot of patience and time. plus i just bought this car..... it is the first car im gonna put anything into, and i want to do it. thanx for the offers, but im keepin it. alsothere is nothing better than havein a bunch of redknecks mistaking a slo,that can go with bein just slo...

[Taxiwardance]

alsothere is nothing better than havein a bunch of redknecks mistaking a slo,that can go with bein just slo... 

Its not like anyone would be able to tell the diffrence from just looking at the car?? all you would have to do is remove a little X or T at the end of that GS. But if your looking to get intimate with the 1.8 just make sure you know the kind of money you will be spending to do it. Oh yeah and odds are if your buying used parts 1 out of every 3 parts will be somebody loading there broken garbage onto you as good condition "as is" parts. So you will want an over estimate. But good luck and if you do go though with it let everyone know how it goes.

[90GSX]

Kris,

Just out of curiousity, what are the details on your laser?

[AWD DSM 1]

Plan on replacing the entire motor, transmission, ECU, wiring harness, axles, exhaust.... basically everything foreward of the firewall. I'm assuming you have a manual tranny already, otherwise you will have to replace all that also. Plan on spending $3000 or more to assemble all the parts, get them in good working order, and put them together. Probably take at least a month or two depending on how much time you have and what facilities you have to work in. If I were you, I'd sell your car, buy Kris's laser, put $1000 in mods, and have time to spend beating up on those rednecks.

Definately not worth the effort, but that's just my .02...

[ToD_atheon]

well guys first of all i dont want just a 2.o non-turbo, i want a gst motor. i dont want a plymoth laser, Sorry i just bought this car, and i want to do the engine swap. this is the first half way decent car i have owned. i already plan on getting a new tranny (gtrag t56 6speed), and all i want to know is where can i get the motor, thas all i want now.

i do appreciate your advice, but i was born with a thick skull, and cottonballs in me ears LOL

Atheon

[Taxiwardance]

What everyone is saying is that if you want to do this, to buy the laser or a turbo model and use it for parts . If you just go out and buy a turbo 4g63 you wont be going anywhere fast. Use a parts car to get all of your parts from. 1900$ for a good running car is a good deal unless you would rather find a junk car and rebuild the motor and maybe tranny. Or you can buy everything separate and go broke fast. Are you going to be doing all the work, and if so what kind of experience on dsm's do you have? Just wondering as its not really a weekend type job.

[JBone]

They're all right. 94 Laser, beat him to it and do it now!! Live one of my goals thru my old car

[90GSX]

Naw jbone, i dont feel like trying to tackle that project. LOL The laser is doing fine the way it is now. I actually had it over in Rantoul the other day and got the best gas mileage i have ever gotten with it. Actually i seen a 2G Eagle Talon TSi at a salvage yard for sale, the only down side is its a rebuilt vehicle, but hey if the price is right

[SCCA Stang]

Jarod,

hey man, i think that the group is right, a parts car is definately something to consider. and for $1900,
turn key, you cant beat it. plus until you do get the time to fix yours up you can have quite the kick ass piece (compared to your turd) to drive around, who knows you might just change your mind and keep the laser.

the guys in this group know what they are talking about, they've been around the block a few times and done everything that you can ever imagine that you would want to do to your car.

[90GSX]

Well im not sure what a 98 TSi would run for, but they have it advertised for 11k. So thats out of the question. I cant believe they want that much for a rebuilt vehicle. Well as for that laser goes, you should consider getting it, and it should have about every part you will need for the conversion, then part the rest of the car out and get most of your money back out of it, or put the 1.8 in the laser and sell it that way. But you may just want to look for the 6 bolt turbo motor instead. just my $.02

[MidwestDSM]

I once had the notion in my head to do this....hence why I know have a 1.8 and a turbo. The price to do the swap is simply stupid, and plus you end up with a worthless 1.8 motor sitting in your garage. My advice: do what I did. Go buy a turbo, and make the bitch fast. Drive the 1.8 most of the time and enjoy the easy shifting, good gas mileage, and insaine slowness. It wil be worth it, trust me.

[ToD_atheon]

well i agree with what is mostly said, but stilll have a few questions... for instance; does the lazer have the same motor as a 94/ or a 95 gst?, and will the lazer be around in say six months? also, if i decided to go with a 6 bolt turbo motor where can i get it.

and to answer Taxiwardance's question, i have never worked on a dsm before, and this will be my first, but beside that point i ll have to learn some time. (plus i have plenty of friends....)

[AWD DSM 1]

Stay away from anything 93 or newer. You want the six bolt motor. Just ask super16g or Katie....

[4g63tsi]

listen to them

[4g63tsi]

No one has actually spelled it out. The 1.8 Doesn't really share anything with the turbos as far as drive train goes. Body is pretty much the same and interior is also same. Other than that all the other stuff will need to go. Talons, Eclipses, Lasers= All built by Diamond Star Motors.All the exact same thing except for a few cosmetic touches. They all have The mitsubishi 4g63 engine (1G all 2.0s; 2G turbos only). Vehicles built before 1994 had a stronger 6 bolt engine. The later 7 bolt engine is weaker and could have crankwalk (basically the engine self destructs). I know you've probably seen that the 2g came from the factory with more horsepower, but the 1G engine is a much better platform to begin modifications and can handle much more power without internal mods. IE listen to the rest of the guys. They've been there done that. It's probably not their first DSM. They've probably broken it three or four times and had to fix it so they know.