I'm back...and have to start over...

[Urban_S]

I got out of dsms about a year and a half ago. I just had a bad deal(my 420a blew, and I bought a shell and got screwed out of a lot of parts). But after a 18 months of "convincing" from my fiancee I have decided to get my 95 AWD shell back up and running. The trick is the car was torn apart when I got it. I don't know whats missing or where to really start. I can take stuff off and put new stuff back on and simple things like that but this is a little much. But taking it to a shop would cost me how much.... I don't even want think about it how much that would be. So I am thinking that I should get a full JDM motor and get to know my chilton very well. It feels good to be back in this again. I just don't know where to start.

 

[pnishr]

A. congrats
B. Get to know the factory service manual, not a Chiltons
C. Why a "JDM" motor...? these aren't hondas... unless by "JDM" you mean evo III... in which case, just buy the block from a junkyard, have everything built, and slap on a new turbo. Don't waste your time with anybody who want to sell you "JDM" DSM parts...

 

[Urban_S]

I say JDM because I am going to have a hard time finding a good turnkey 6 bolt with low miles.

 

[LordZed]

Nothing wrong with an engine swap. A lot of guy's here rock the "JDM" engine. JDM is the wrong word for it really. But if your looking for a drop the motor in and go method, then used Japanese motors are not that bad of and idea. It will be tricky if you have never done this before, but everyone here will help you with questions I'm sure.
Get the service manual as suggested and take your time. Do you have any mechanic friends that can lend you a hand? A shop or a garage with a good amount of tools? Cherry picker and what not?
Just noticed you also said six bolt. Are you doing a seven bolt to six bolt conversion?

 

[Urban_S]

Ya the 7 to 6. I have a couple of friends that are know what they are doing....and one that is a dsm nut but never has time. I have acess to a shop with more tools then I know what to do with.

 

[LordZed]

Ya the 7 to 6. I have a couple of friends that are know what they are doing....and one that is a dsm nut but never has time. I have acess to a shop with more tools then I know what to do with.

Well shoot man...don't just stand there go to it! Sounds like you have everything you need to make it happen then! That's all it took for me to get up and running. A good used engine, a place to work on it, a friend who is smart and likes to help out, and a case of beer! If you start looking for good used motors, everyone who has one will gladly tell you who they used and if they had a good experience or not.

 

[Urban_S]

Becides the timing belt and balance shafts anything I should be replacing when the motors out?

 

[pooker]

Welcome back..

 

[LordZed]

Besides the timing belt and balance shafts anything I should be replacing when the motors out?

On mine we went ahead and did the water pump, timing belt, balanced shaft belts (if your keeping them) and all the other belts. You can toy with the idea of replacing your oil pump just for shits and giggles too. I don't think it's necessary, but for piece of mind it never hurts. Other than that, I can't think of anything else we tackled while it was out. I filled the motor mounts with window polyurethane window stuff from the Home Depot. Worked great, just do it in stages to let it dry if you go that route. I think that's it. It's pretty plug and play....and busted nuckles
I feel like I'm forgetting something. Mess with the AC system while it's out to if you plan on using a used Japanese motor with a Cyclone manifold. You will have to do some mild grinding on one of the intake runners to get the U.S compressor to fit. Otherwise you will never get that sucker in!

 

[Urban_S]

Ya I ment a BSE kit. Water pump is a good idea. If I end up going jdm I will probly take off the Cyclone manifold(more stuff to break) and replace it with my ported 1g I have sitting around.

 

[LordZed]

Not so much more to break as just a pain in the ass sometimes. If you already have a ported mani, use it. I love my Cyclone, but I'm a whore for mid range punch and it provides me with plenty of that. Took me a while to get it working right, but I love it now.
Oh yeah, if you havent planned it already, which I'm sure you have, do a nice clutch install while it's out too. That's kind of a given though.

 

[Urban_S]

Thats the plan just a stock clutch.

 

[LordZed]

I would HIGHLY recommend you not do that. Save up the 400-500 for a good performance clutch. Otherwise you will hate yourself in the long run.

The guy who helped me build my car has a GVR-4. He put a stock clutch in his when he did his rebuild. I went with a Centerforce from RRE's website. He can't launch above 3K without massive slipping. and that was just on about 12psi of boost. Now he's going full stand alone ecu, better turbo, all the other speed goodies and he has to drop his tranny to put in a better clutch. He would have saved the pain if he would have waited a month or two and saved up the cash for a moderate clutch. If you plan on making any kind of power, and it's really easy to make pretty good power, save your pennys and put in a clutch that will hold your tourque.

 

[Urban_S]

I am not really worried about putting in a new clutch down the road. Just the basics to get her running.

 

[LordZed]

You'll be fine then. You can still have fun no doubt.

 

[ekanddsm]

something that was forced down my throat was(DO it right once, Not wrong twice), save some pennies, these are toys more than daily drivers, at least mine is anyways.

 

[Urban_S]

I rather daily drive this then my camaro. Snow+ rwd+power=crappy winter.