SCC's article about the 4G63 (Feb03)

[monkey_eclipse]

'sup hot chicks and cool dsm owners!

I was just reading the article in the last Sport Compact Car magazine (Feb '03) about how to tune my 4G63. At the end of the article, SCC clearly says that when going for big power application either switch to a 1st gen head or a whole 1st gen engine, because of its bigger intake ports. Now, there's the thing. I need to change my head gasket on my '95 GSX and I AM going to start tuning my engine in the months to come. Since, my engine is already going to be in pieces, should I follow what SCC says or should I just stick with my 2nd gen head? If I should really switch to a 1st gen head, what do I do about the head set? I get a 95 head set or a 94 head set? Will my intake manifold fit with this new head? Do I need to get 94 gasket for intake, head, and valve cover and 95 turbo 'o' ring, and exhaust manifold? As you can see, this thing got me really confused. Help me out somebody!

Love you all!

Dave, the Canadian rep for DSM... (I wish...)

 

[TSi92]

You also need a 1G intake manifold and trottle body to make the 1G head swap worthwhile. Or, you can get a 1G intake and send your 2G head and have it ported to match the 1G intake.

 

[larryd]

exactly what he said as well as matching gaskets, the intake and exhaust gaskets on a 1st gen head are different then the 2nd gen head.

 

[hostile]

You should go with a first gen. It is cheaper than porting your 2g.

You will need to have your cam angle sensor mounted on the head though.

Edit: Guys could he just wire in the cam angle sensor portion from the 1g cam sensor. And let the crank angle sensor stay where it is at?

 

[TSi92]

Yeah you can use a 1G CAS.

 

[BryanK]

Here's the deal. All that matters is how much $$ you have to do this with. If you're short on cash, go ahead and switch to the 1G head. You'll have to do a few electrical modifications, like with the CAS, and I think you'll also have to do some very minor machining to the bolt threads (I think they need to be enlarged a little... not sure). Then you can just bolt up the 1G intake manifold and you're set. The 1G head does flow better than the 2G head right out of the box, but the 2G head is designed more efficiently, and has more "meat" so to speak, with which to port. This means you can port match your head to your intake manifold and your exhaust manifold very well, and usually make more power that way. If you're going this way, I'd suggest switching to the 1G intake manifold (so either gen head you use you're going to be switching to the 1G intake). Or if you're doing well on $$ you can go ahead and order a sheetmetal intake, or the new cast one that has recently come out (do a search on here on intake manifolds).
To sum it up:
Cheap way: 1G head w/ the 1G intake. Good for quite a bit of power, probably enough to scare the pants off you.
Expensive way: 2G head port matched to the intake and exhaust manifolds, mated to either the 1G intake or an aftermarket one. Quite a bit more expensive, but this will be able to take pretty much ANYTHING you throw at it, being an APG L4 + nitrous... whatever you can dish out. You can't cut costs on this one... you gotta have it done well and done right.
Good luck on your decision,
BryanK