nigelcraig74 said:

Im buying a 97 gs here soon. i was wondering because i want to boost it if i had to rebuild the motor at 156k miles. i have built a gen 1 with my dad but that was a gsx so we werent worried about boosting it. But im really worried on a motor this old. Any help would be appreciated.

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I know this is kind of late but I am wondering why you didn't just buy a Gst over the Gs? The reason I ask is it would have been a whole lot cheaper, since you want boost, to get the Gst over buying the gs and the cost associated with everything needed to boost it reliably. Gst's around here can be had for 1000-1500.00 dollars all day. Just curious. And to answer your question, It would be wise to go ahead and build the motor to accept the boost.

its all thats avalible in my area. gsts are just over priced. this gs is 1500. thank you for your help tho

nigelcraig74 said:

its all thats avalible in my area. gsts are just over priced. this gs is 1500. thank you for your help tho

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I see. Thanks for answering!

And now for the standard response: You're going to get a torrential downpour of responses telling you to hold out for a 4g63t. Even if it costs double, its worth it.
To answer your question, yes you must rebuild. If for no other reason than general maintenance and the tendency for the 420a head gasket to take a dump around that mileage. You have to remember that engine is basically a gas saving neon engine and isn't designed to handle boost without serious modification.
Trust me, there are many many many members on here who started out with the 420a, either stock or modded and will almost all agree to wait for a GST/GSX/Tsi/Tsi awd.
There is a plethora of knowledge, parts and advice for these cars. For a turboed 420a, not so much.
Good luck!

Agree. I had a 420a 2ga eclipse. I loved it as I was 16 and my step bro gave it to me. But not nearly the power I wanted. And to turbo it I was looking at alot of $$$ I didn't have.

But looking up what it takes to turbo it, your spending more then if u buy a gst or gsx out of state. Then you have extra $$$ for maintenance, a stock gst or gsx is good power for starters and easily make power that puts you in your seat.

Have you researched it to see how much time effort and $$$ it takes.

I am a guy that will say wait be patient and look away from your immediate area as that's when u typically find good deals on all kinda of stuff. But good luck to which ever you choose.

get a 4g63

I was in your situation here in UT, and it took waiting until the dead of winter to find a nice, cheap running GSX outside of Beaver. I owned a 99 GS and this GSX is so much better, and only slightly more money.

I decided to wait for a gsx. I need that 4g in my life xD

Way to go nice choice