Rear Main Seal, Timing belt, Rebuild Opinions

[Slipstream]

Sorry for the long post in advance, to those of you who take the time to read it, thanks.

Current Situation: Rear Main Seal leaking. Time for a Tbelt job also. Bad rings in#3.
Dealer Replacement of rear main=$800
Dealer T-belt job labor only=$520 (not including doing other important things like oil and water pumps.)
New Dealer Short block (won't do rings)=4800 parts and labor.

No signs of dsm cancer (crankwalk) yet.

I don't have the time, or desire to rebuild the engine myself

The options I see:

1)As I see it I can have the tbelt and rms done (dealer or elsewhere) call it good, and eventually let #3 destroy itself, at which point I'm looking at a new motor or rebuild anyway. (crankwalk and other routine maintenance still a possible issue and of course this doesn't include machining the head.)
short term cost $1320+ long term cost $4800 total cost $6100 plus


2)Pick up a jdm motor of unknown condition and swap it in. Still requires at least a timing belt job.
short term cost $2095 long term cost $unknown total cost $2095 plus

3)Attempt to replace the rms myself, call it good, eventually new motor time anyway.
short term cost $0 (assuming i don't totaly f it up and require a shop to fix it) long term cost 2095-4800 total cost 2095-4800

4)Get a stage 1 block and head from SBR, swap it in.
short term cost $3900 (6 bolt so very few cw worries) long term cost $routine maint. total cost $3900

5)rebuild jdm block and swap it in
Short term cost at least 6k long term cost routine maint.

I know we're comparing different beasts here, getting a jdm block rebuilt would mean different interals over the SBR or dealer blocks, but I never intend to push past the 350hp envelope. So far the SBR route seems to be the best bang for the buck, besides I can save up for it and just run the current motor into the ground, let the rms keep leaking and not worry about it. I'm asking you guys what your opinions are or other options that you think would be feasible. (NO vendor feedback. I DON'T want to hear about how great or bad sbr or another vendor like magnus is) I want opinions on the listed options and any other options that I've failed to think of.

Thanks folks.
Slip

 

[Jebus[tuning]]

Uh, skip the whole JDM thing and just find a 6 bolt in the states

I don't see what the big hub bub is about wasting 2500 dollars on a motor with 30k miles on it.

 

[Slipstream]

used 6 bolt in the states or jdm, it doesn't matter to me..they're likely to be about the same cost and will both be in an unknown condition. Thanks for the suggestion, I considered it earlier but found it to be similar enough to the jdm swap not to warrant it's own plan.

 

[4g63awdtalon]

or you could replace the rear main seal= easy

buy a bare 6 bolt block, and put clean used pistons, rods, bearings, rings, and arp hardware....maybe 1000 and do a timing belt while at it...if you pay dealer or shop prices for everything that breaks you will soon have a 50k dsm and no much to show for it but new mitsu parts

 

[Slipstream]

or you could replace the rear main seal= easy

Yeah I mentioned that.

buy a bare 6 bolt block, and put clean used pistons, rods, bearings, rings, and arp hardware....maybe 1000 and do a timing belt while at it

I don't have the time or desire or space to rebuild an engine myself, nor am I confident enough in my engine building skills to attempt it. I can fix just about anything broken, but rebuilding an engine is something I'd rather leave up to someone who does it every day.

...if you pay dealer or shop prices for everything that breaks you will soon have a 50k dsm and no much to show for it but new mitsu parts

This would be the first time I've taken to a shop or dealer for any work, and it's mostly becuase of not having the time to crawl under it and f* with it. I'm not made of money, but sometimes the time is more valuable than the greenbacks.

 

[Strm Trpr]

If you take it to a dealer, you're a retard....
Have you done a flywheel clutch job?
A RMS is 1 step further...... Get it done.......
T-Belt come on man, that's snap....
Cylinder 3 on the other hand well, that's that....
Check out the price on this Short Block..... I understand you're paying labor in that as well, but hell no for a short block install......
<a href = http://www.trademotion.com/partlocator/index.cfm?action=getLocator&siteid=213934&chapter=APP703&appSectionid=10&groupid=61675&make=24&model=Eclipse&year=1997&catalogid=1>Click It</a>

Where are you located....
For those prices, I'll take vacation from work and do you up proper in my own garage.....

 

[MrDee]

halla at me and i will do the job for you at a fraction of the price.