total noob needs advise blown engine (420a)

DakotaSmith50 · Jan 24, 2015

So I will begin by stating the most work I've ever done under my hood before is changing oil/O2 sensors. In all honesty I barely know what I'm looking at when I pop the hood. So please treat me as if I know as much about engines as the average 15-year-old girl. I realize most people seeking help on here already have a modest amount of experience, but that's not me. I'm just having trouble finding reliable & coherent information from other sources.

Long story short: I have very limited time and money & a blown engine. I took in plenty of water driving through a foot-deep puddle with my aftermarket intake that rides about 8 inches above the ground. I've had it towed to a shop. I'm at school or work at almost all times that this shop is open, so my grandmother has been dealing with the mechanic. The diagnosis she got was that it needs a whole new engine which will cost approximately $2500 (I'm not sure if that's just parts or also labor), which is a decent amount more than the whole vehicle will be worth after the replacement is complete. I plan to call as soon as they open on tuesday morning to get a more detailed description of the problem.
If the damage for such a situation is predictable I would like to know specifically what some of you fellows here think it is. I assume its beyond the help of an engine rebuild kit?? Might it be likely I could get away with buying less than a complete engine??

I can't afford $2500. I'm considering searching pick-n-pulls/craigslist/etc for cheaper swap options. I understand it should be possible to find alternative engine models that should fit with minimal custom fabrication. I have a friend who believes her professional mechanic father might be willing to hold my hand through such a process for relatively cheap, and hopefully I could learn a little too.

What I would like is a comprehensive list of options for such a swap including the year range, make, model, trim level, engine size, & engine model of any engines that would work. I hope that list isn't too demanding; I've learned that few people, even working at pick-n-pulls full of 2G Eclipses, realize that a 4G63 can't easily fit in place of a 420a. I would like as much identifying information as I can get to make sure I'm looking for engines that will work.

I honestly care not for power or fun or whatever else have you. As fun as those would be, right now I just want a functional, reliable engine for as cheap as possible.

Thanks, guys.

Terrancep7 · Jan 24, 2015

In my opinion I think you should go to the junkyard to get an Engine make sure it's a 420a engine. an easy way to tell is the valve cover 2.0 DOHC 16 VALVE and the transmission is on the drivers side if you have 1995 try to find that year 96-99 reason being a couple of the sensor plugs don't match 95 has round pin and 96+ has flat pin.

So get the motor from junkyard buy timing belt kit, oil pump water pump, change of oil, new fluids and you should be good to go

Terrancep7 · Jan 24, 2015

You can also go on 2gnt.com there's a write up on the complete rebuild there

Christoph · Jan 28, 2015

You say you don't know anything about working on cars yet you want to swap an engine? That's insane and you are asking for trouble.

What you need to do is sell you car to a junk yard and buy another one on craigslist for extremely cheap. I see them in my area for less than a grand sometimes to around $2000. Anything more and you are getting ripped off.

Calculate it for your self. A new engine is 400 bucks from a junkyard. You say you don't work on cars so I doubt you have a engine lift or tools. You are going to have to rent them. Then factor in the time needed. Then you may break parts. A 420a car is so cheap that with the money spent repairing one you could just buy another perfectly functioning one.

In fact I saw you live in Sacramento and I searched the craigslist there and found literally dozens of running 2g Eclipses under 1500 bucks.

curt-s · Jan 28, 2015

Don't let the above post discourage you from doing it yourself, everybody learns somewhere. Sometimes the best way to learn is to dive in. At least you're doing the N/A bit, which is a lot more forgiving than turbo.

However, also do not fool yourself into thinking even an engine swap can be done cheaply. Know that any engine you throw in from an unknown source could have the same or different problems and the only way to be certain is to tear it apart and get everything checked. Again, not cheap. As above, factor in tools, rentals, down time, and you'll be looking at a good sized price tag. However, it depends on how attached you are to throw away an otherwise functioning (and possibly sentimental) vehicle. That's your call.

Perseverance will pay off, as long as you're willing to part with more green than you'll ever have expected if you do the swap yourself.

Christoph · Jan 28, 2015

Please don't mistake any of what I said as trying to tell you to not work on your car! In fact if that specific car has sentimental value I recommend you go through the process of fixing it and learning everything you can about it.

The only reason I suggested what I did is because it seems like your car is a point-a to point-b kind of deal and is just transportation and more importantly because of your budget.

synthetek · Jan 28, 2015

Terrancep7 said:
if you have 1995 try to find that year 96-99 reason being a couple of the sensor plugs don't match 95 has round pin and 96+ has flat pin.

If you find a good motor and its not the same year as your just swap any sensors that are different from your old motor. Don't pass up a good motor because a couple of sensors are different, that's easy to fix.

DSM Dreamer · Jan 28, 2015

If ya do get another motor keep your old one to rebuild/learn on! Don't let it go as a "core" if ya can help it. Welcome to DSM's They're a blast while they run! :hellyeah:

DakotaSmith50 · Jan 31, 2015

Thanks for all the input guys. Y'all are awesome. But I've got some sad news: sold her off to a pick-n-pull.

Christoph said:
You say you don't know anything about working on cars yet you want to swap an engine? That's insane and you are asking for trouble.

Heh, I know. The plan was more-or-less to have my friends dad do most of it & instruct me on anything I were to do.

Christoph said:
In fact I saw you live in Sacramento and I searched the craigslist there and found literally dozens of running 2g Eclipses under 1500 bucks.

Unfortunately, even $1500 is a bit out of my price range. Plus, I was quite a bit attached to this one particular car. I promise I would've saved her if I could've come up with a way. I normally have less than a few hundred to my name at any given time. I don't have room to save. Something like this really screws me. Luckily, I've got a car I can burrow for the rest of the semester. If I manage to brake this one I'm SOL.

sordid said:
Sometimes the best way to learn is to dive in.

Yep. That's just my style. Definitely would've liked to.

sordid said:
However, also do not fool yourself into thinking even an engine swap can be done cheaply. Know that any engine you throw in from an unknown source could have the same or different problems and the only way to be certain is to tear it apart and get everything checked. Again, not cheap. As above, factor in tools, rentals, down time, and you'll be looking at a good sized price tag. However, it depends on how attached you are to throw away an otherwise functioning (and possibly sentimental) vehicle. That's your call.

All this became painfully obvious the more I looked into it & ultimately contributed to my decision.
I hope I've not disappointed you fellows too much.

curt-s · Feb 3, 2015

Shit happens. Consistently. That's life. You're still young, don't get discouraged.
At your age, I was just discovering the dream of having a DSM, which never included the actual cost of ownership.

rough · Feb 3, 2015

I let my buddy barrow my 1st 2g nt, he did the same thing, it wouldn't start or crank, so I emptied the oil which looked like frappachino, cleaned the plugs, added new oil And filter, it started, ran rough for a seconds, steadied out, I changed the oil again an hour later, never had a problem after. So. Your motor might not be blown, your engine suffocates pretty quick.

rough · Feb 3, 2015

And FYI there are a ton of motors on here for sale, a shop will charge around 300-500 to install a motor. I went through 3 motors in my first car

before I knew car knowledge.

RallyEclipse98 · Feb 3, 2015

rough said:
And FYI there are a ton of motors on here for sale, a shop will charge around 300-500 to install a motor. I went through 3 motors in my first car before I knew car knowledge.

What kind of shop would only charge $300-$500 to install a motor? Not saying your estimate is off but shops around me would charge at least $2k.

rough · Feb 4, 2015

this was on a 91 grand am in the late 90's, 4 cyl, First motor I put in cost me 300$ and I supplied the motor, had it shipped to their door.
Every time after was an additional 100$ until the 3rd and final time they told me they would not do it again! So I sold the car.
It was a small shop, and they charged 50$ an hour labor, which everywhere else was 75/100$
If you can find a family owned shop, that will save you some change as they go off word of mouth recommendations, then advertising.

Those shops charge 2k because people will pay it thinking they will get better service, go to the poor mans part of town, where the owner appreciates every dollar, and you will find yourself the deal!

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