1999 Eclipse non Turbo to Turbo Conversion is it worth it?

[Ideon]

About 2 months ago I bought a used 1999 Eclipse, (my old car was a 92 Eclipse) The 99 is a non turbo model and I was wondering if it is worth it to tune and take a NA car and turn it into a Aspirated car. I've been reading online on all different sites and forums looking for some advice and I came across this site and have spent a good amount of time looking around and reading thread after thread. I know a lot about tuning cars but I have never done it before, I know what has to be done in order to make more HP gains but at the same time what other add-ons you will need to keep the motor happy and not blow up on you. I had read on another site someone asking the same question but with a 88 Supra, every one on that post told him to just sell the non turbo car and buy a turbo Supra, I know that DSM motors are picky and different then other cars so I thought that I would ask on here. This site / forums seem like a great place to learn more so I thought that I would post my question here. The only mods to the car are a POS cd player that skips more then it plays (I just listen to the radio) and 18' rims that are not in the greatest of shape (previous owner must not of known how to go around a corner very well) But after all that the car is 100% stock. It has a 2.0L DOHC motor. What kind I don't know. I've seen a few people call the motor a certain name but I don't want to spit out a name for it and be wrong so I hope that I can give you enough information about this car.

I know I will have to upgrade the internals of the motor, as well as, fuel pump, turbo, bov, fuel injectors, cool are intake, exhaust, and ext. to convert the car to a turbo car. But again my main question is, is it worth it?

Also the body of the car is in great condition.

 

[Tobuk]

I'd say for the time, money, and effort it would take to make the N/A car into a powerful turbocharged car, you may as well sell your current car and find a decent GST or GSX (go for the GSX...i wish i did) and start your modding there. The 4G63 in the Turbo models is a much stronger engine and is capable of much more abuse than the NT 420a. Plus, you'll already have a good start since the car already has a turbo (and the necessary supporting parts) so you won't be starting from total scratch.

Just my $0.02, I'm sure others will go into more detail for their answer.

 

[DSMcrazy3]

take a NA car and turn it into a Aspirated car.

Just for clairification, NA means naturally aspirated. Therefore it is already "aspirated" turbocharging your car will put it under the forced induction category.

may as well sell your current car and find a decent GST or GSX

He didn't ask if he should do this. He asked if it is worth it to turbo his car.

Turboing your car really isn't as hard as you would think and well worth it, in my opinion. Before you decide to turbo your car, run a quick compression test to get a slight view on the condition of the motor(this won't tell you much, but the numbers you get will give you a good idea of the overall condition).

 

[1993eclipseGS]

If you know where to get the parts, You can turbo the car with everything you'll need for a few hundered dollars, If that. That is, If you have the resources and accessability to the parts, Some people do not.

 

[MrBoxx]

The majority of 2g 420a owners who choose to turbocharge their car tend to go with the Hahn Racecraft turbo kit. Many DSM'ers have had good results with it, running decent boost numbers and generating pretty good power. In addition, they don't pay any more for insurance than any other non-turbo DSM, and keeping their stock badging on the car can give a few surprises to people when they see what the car can do on the track.

Check out http://www.2gnt.com for a more in-depth look at your particular vehicle and what people say is the best route for you to go to attain your goals.

And if you get time, check out http://www.hahnracecraft.com/ to see a few different turbo kits available for you.

Since you own a 420a-equipped car, you're going to get a lot of the "sell it and get a gsx" comments from people. Some people, in fact, do just that. For others, it's not an option. Lots of people are perfectly happy with just boosting their GS or RS and getting on with their lives.

 

[Ideon]

Well Thank You All for the replies and with your advice and opinions. It gives me a little more to think about going forward. As far as internal parts.

The 4G63 in the Turbo models is a much stronger engine and is capable of much more abuse than the NT 420a.

Now is this just the makeup of how the motor is built stronger then the 420a as in how the motor was engineered? I.e. Stronger / thicker metal.

Also what all would need to be replaced? From what I've been reading it would need to be the pistons, rods, valves, springs, gaskets (I would say a good idea) , cam shafts / gears, and fuel injectors. Umm I think that's all I can think of as far as internal parts of the motor. I know there are other parts as well, fuel pump, exhaust, cool air intake and ext. again.

One big reason why I had asked this question was because I had planned to upgrade a lot or all of the internal parts any ways to help 1. The performance of the car and 2. To help the motor take on this new upgraded abuse. I'm not looking to just slap on a turbo kit and call it a day but fully modify the performance half of the car, I don't plan to do any thing visually on the out side of the car like body kits or any thing, to me its under the hood that counts not how the car looks on the out side. That and if I do this I want to do this the right way the first time not a half asked rigged up way.

 

[bullettdsm]

If you know where to get the parts, You can turbo the car with everything you'll need for a few hundered dollars, If that. That is, If you have the resources and accessability to the parts, Some people do not.

Back a couple of years when I was curious about the cost of turboing the 420a, the cost for everthing needed (including all gauges and supporting mods) was around $2500 to 3000. Now I know that Chris (GSGoinfast) came out with a great DIY that dropped that price tag (if you are capable of the work) but are we now down to $300 to turbo a 420a? Sounds a little low to me.

MB

 

[vegasbounddsm]

there always someone going to ask that question should i turbo a 420a , think you should ask your self how serious are you going to get , i own a dsm shop in las vegas called vegasbound racing its a dsm shop only for both 4g63 and 420a ,i had couple people always asking me that question i tell them to do it the 420a motor is just as strong as the 4g63 , companys make everything for this motor , and all so i have a fully built 420a race car i posted a while back i think it the second page of the same forum topic check it out . there is alot of kits out their in market today complete bolt-on kits and pretty safe to use .

 

[VelocitàPaola]

This subject has been beaten to death. If I don't see any new questions, it won't stay open much longer... furthermore, I don't want to see any "sell your car for a 4G63" responses. It's against the rules to reply like that. Finally, don't let anyone tell you your 2G N/T isn't capable. The 420A is a much newer design than the 4G63, and is fully capable of just as much power as any factory turbo Eclipse, when done right.

 

[dalesmitsu]

If your wanting to replace the 420a

check out osakajdmmotor.com for $ 2700 they can replace the complete front-clip.
They have 4g64t and 4g63t

 

[Ideon]

Well again thank you guys / girls for your replies.

From what I have been reading is that I can turbo charge my car with the proper up grades and modifications necessary to keep the motor in one piece.

These styles and models of eclipse are not seen to often in my area. Don't get me wrong they are around just not to many and you don't see very many at all in the good condition mine is in . So it would be very difficult for me to find a turbo model even in my state. I could sell the car pretty easy due to the demand for the car in my area but again finding a turbo model I would say the odds are very slim to none. But I will look into what I can find out as far as parts and I will have to get back with you guys and see what you all think as far as parts go.

I've looked into the hanracecraft's turbo kits, they seem to be very popular is this because they are easier to install vs another turbo kit and other add-ons?
I've been reading a lot about HKS and Greddy, I'm not sure of they make them for my car but are they worth it as well or worth spending the extra money on?
I'm looking for some more advice from the wise men on this. I've been reading around and it seems that there are a lot of people on here they really know what they are talking about and I am always up to learn new things and picking there brain about things to make sure that things will be done right!

Thanks again every one!!

 

[Ideon]

Just for clairification, NA means naturally aspirated. Therefore it is already "aspirated" turbocharging your car will put it under the forced induction category.

Sorry I got that mixed up, and thanks for setting me right

 

[BigRand]

If your wanting to replace the 420a

check out osakajdmmotor.com for $ 2700 they can replace the complete front-clip.
They have 4g64t and 4g63t

FYI: stay far away from even thinking of replacing front clips or swapping motors.

By the car w/ the motor you will be using in it already.

Think of it like this

The 4g63 is a 2.0L DOHC, so is the 420a.

The only difference is that the 4g63 was built w/ turbo internals, and its ecu meant to handle boost.

WEll if your going to be ripping apart all of the internals anyways I'd say you've got two of the same type of motors. And if your going to be building a super 420a turbo anyways, then you already know your ditching the stock ecu.

Basically I'm saying that a built 420a vs. a built 4g63 are on the same level, and its up to the tuner to get the most out of it. You just don't see as many people put that kind of money into a 420a project because it takes a couple of large chunks of money to get it done right. (1. 2500 for turbo kit, 2. 1500-3000 for rebuild, 1000+ standalone, wireing, and tuning).