What steps are needed to Rebuild or should I just get a new JDM motor?

[vr4gasmtt]

My car feels sluggish, and very slow. I'm getting owned by stock civics, mostly due to my slow shifting because the synchros are about to go.

I was wondering what would be a better thing to do. Rebuild my motor, or should I just get a new motor. The reason I ask this is my car currently runs "fine" but doesn't run "great". If I rebuild it, which I believe are just new gaskets, pistions, rings, etc. But the tranny I believe is going bad? ( Whenever I shift I can feel metal clanking in the car).

If I got a new motor, I believe it would come with the motor and trans?

My cars a 99 GSX with 180k on it. I can feel the miles when I drive it.

Someone give me some helpful advice. I'm on a budget also. My goal for the car is to make 400AWHP. But I want the car to be healthy first.

Thanks in advance.
JAmes

 

[Dream On]

Do a compression test and see if it actually needs a rebuild before you start throwing parts at it. Your car is stock, it isn't going to be too terribly fast though. Try a boost leak test. You'd be surprised how many little leaks you may find. Does the current motor leak or burn oil?

 

[JUANPSI]

+1 on the compression test. If you have low #s a rebuild would probably be cheaper than a jdm motor. As far as the tranny goes you can get a stock rebuild for under $1000. Plus it's all new parts.

 

[flashburn02]

+1 on the compression test. If you have low #s a rebuild would probably be cheaper than a jdm motor. As far as the tranny goes you can get a stock rebuild for under $1000. Plus it's all new parts.

Forget thet 1000 thing. I rebuilt my tranny for about 300 bucks. Everyone seems scared to do it, but once you crack into it, the gears really only go in one way. Take pictures of it as you break down for reference. But honestly, if you are mechanically inclined enough to take a tranny out or drop a motor in, you could rebuild you tranny for cheap. Mine was more expenssive because I disintegrated my diff.

 

[Dream On]

Forget thet 1000 thing. I rebuilt my tranny for about 300 bucks. Everyone seems scared to do it, but once you crack into it, the gears really only go in one way. Take pictures of it as you break down for reference. But honestly, if you are mechanically inclined enough to take a tranny out or drop a motor in, you could rebuild you tranny for cheap. Mine was more expenssive because I disintegrated my diff.

I don't know what it is, but looking into a tranny just seems scary to me. Where'd you get the parts for a rebuild?

 

[Cs4g63]

If you want to rebuild your engine the price will depend on how far you want to go with rebuilding it. If you plan on doing the work yourself and all you plan on doing is replacing gaskets, seals, bearings, piston rings, and honing the cylinders without doing any machine work it will be fairly cheap. If you get all of the machine work done and have someone else build it for you the prices can go from slightly expensive to holy crap I could buy another car for that price. It depends on what you want to get done, but if you check out the supporting vendors than it will give you a better idea of what it will cost.

 

[vr4gasmtt]

Well I was planning on doing it myself, but I know nothing about cars, but I really want to learn.

I have done a compression test, and cylinders 2 and 4 are 130. I also did a wet test adn the compression went up in both cylinders, so I believe that is rings?

I know I should do a leak down test, but thats way too much work.

Should I be feeling metal stuff when I'm shifting? It used to shift like butter...

 

[Dream On]

What are the other 2 cylinders?

 

[Cs4g63]

Have you checked to see what your gear oil level is in the transmission?

 

[flashburn02]

I don't know what it is, but looking into a tranny just seems scary to me. Where'd you get the parts for a rebuild?

EBAY

 

[SnowBird]

Congrats on owning a 7 bolt that mad it that long, Im guessing your car is bone stock though, so that helps. Dont build your engine by yourself if you arent confident because itll be a waste of money.