The Top DSM Community on the Web

For 1990-1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse, Eagle Talon, Plymouth Laser, and Galant VR-4 Owners. Log in to remove most ads.

Please Support Rix Racing
Please Support Fuel Injector Clinic

Rebuild or buy?

This site may earn a commission from merchant
affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

TK9er

Proven Member
168
16
Jun 1, 2014
lincoln, Nebraska
Hey, I bought a 1990 awd talon about a month ago. My plan is to fix it up and make it a quick daily, nothing too crazy. When I bought the car it had a bad engine (rod knock really bad!). I have a line on a stock rebuilt 6 bolt that I can get for 1500 (thats including core cost). Or, I could roll the dice and have it rebuilt. I still need to get the motor out so I can see the extent of the damage. As for power I'm looking for, not sure. I just bought a 1v 68hta. I don't want to push it as I would like to to be safe fun to drive car that is reasonably quick. The main think I need to focus on is getting a motor in it.

What do you guys thinkg? Could I get much done on a rebuild for 1500?
 
I mean I can buy a buy a new rebuilt 6 bolt long block for 1500. From the little looking around I have done that doesn't seem to be a bad price.
 
Who rebuilt it is what it comes down to.....
Do you trust that they know a 4g63 engine well enough not to screw anything up in the rebuild process?
 
Thanks 1990TSIAWDTalon, I don't know the guy. The little i did talk to him it seemed like he has been building 4g63s for a while. He is selling it on Craigslist. It's hard to trust anyone really.

And Pauleyman... really? The motor is a fresh rebuild. It has zero miles on it. I'm pretty sure you knew what I was trying to say.
 
Thanks 1990TSIAWDTalon, I don't know the guy. The little i did talk to him it seemed like he has been building 4g63s for a while. He is selling it on Craigslist. It's hard to trust anyone really.

And Pauleyman... really? The motor is a fresh rebuild. It has zero miles on it. I'm pretty sure you knew what I was trying to say.


You cant prove any of that.

And I call bull shit. No one buys a mitsubishi oem piston, or oem rod and puts it back in an engine block.

"Dsm people around you" isnt a valid excuse here, youre looking at a bunch of lone wolf guys on this board who have taken apart their car so many times they have the factory manual memorized.

So no, to me $1500 isnt a good deal. It sounds like a scam. Ask him how much he will buy your old motor for, if the seller is a dsm specialist he will make a valid offer and you should be able to use your motor to drastically reduce your cost.

But anyone selling a rebuilt motor throws a flag. It should specifically mention an itemized list of parts used and cost. Until that is provided I assume its a garbage motor that a back yard mechanic chucked some new bearings into that will start knocking after 200 miles

You must be logged in to view this image or video.


You must be logged in to view this image or video.


Even at $1500 for a brand new block and pistons seems pricey, but its the only way I could explain to myself spending that money on a stock motor


You must be logged in to view this image or video.







There are plenty more on eBay with free shipping
 
Last edited:
Thanks 1990TSIAWDTalon, I don't know the guy. The little i did talk to him it seemed like he has been building 4g63s for a while. He is selling it on Craigslist. It's hard to trust anyone really.

And Pauleyman... really? The motor is a fresh rebuild. It has zero miles on it. I'm pretty sure you knew what I was trying to say.
What I mean is rebuilt is rebuilt. Unless you need another block what you buy isn't any better than rebuilding what you already have. Now if the motor comes with many other things. New oil pump. Water pump. Timing components etc. But not just a shortblock.

He also wants 2000$ or your core and 1500. The last stock rebuild I did I had about 800 or 900 in it for just the shortblock. Gaskets and head
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Man chrysler kid, chill out! I'm not here to justify any of my actions. All I was asking is what would people do if they had to choose.

https://topeka.craigslist.org/pts/d/bolt-eclipse-talon-turbo-2g/6416655959.html
Lol

That is just a generic rebuilt engine. They are asking for a core. No cams, no accessories, its going to cost alot more to get it going. It doesnt sound like a specialist, just a company

There are jdm motors and trans on eBay that are cheaper than that.

I would pass on that.

https://m.ebay.com/itm/90-94-Mitsub...063106?hash=item1a3b5c6ec2:g:ahUAAOSw44BYRkHF

This looks like more fun

You must be logged in to view this image or video.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
The engine does come with cams. The engine I have now has HKS 272 in it. If the springs and cams are good, the guy said he would swap them in. I should be able to use my assessories. I'm not sure about the oil pump... but i was planning on doing all new water pump and timing stuff anyway. All that little stuff does add up though.

I was looking for a generic rebuild. I don't want anything crazy. I know they are asking for a core. That's why is said in my original post "1500 (that's including core cost)".

And I have yet to find a price less then 1500 (I am saying this because I am using the core).

Hey, Pauleyman. Did the price you quoted me include any machining?

I'm not sure about ebay either... I don't want an engine laying around in my garage (I know, how uncar guy of me). I would like to turn it in for a core fee.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
The engine does come with cams. The engine I have now has HKS 272 in it. If the springs and cams are good, the guy said he would swap them in. I should be able to use my assessories. I'm not sure about the oil pump... but i was planning on doing all new water pump and timing stuff anyway. All that little stuff does add up though.

I was looking for a generic rebuild. I don't want anything crazy. I know they are asking for a core. That's why is said in my original post "1500 (that's including core cost)".

And I have yet to find a price less then 1500 (I am saying this because I am using the core).

Hey, Pauleyman. Did the price you quoted me include any machining?
Yeah if I recall. It doesn' take much to research parts costs and then find a machine shop to build it. I also don't know why people fret so much about 4g63. Give the shop the specs. Make sure they understand what you want etc. A competent machine shop wont even blink
 
I feel like I'm leaning more towards having a machine shop do mine... That way I could through in a few upgrades.

I really need to get the motor out and take the oil pan off to see what exactly happened.

Do you see the cranks failing on the 6 bolts often? The engine had a big 16g, 2g maf, evo injectors, and maybe a few other things. So, probably not crazy power.
 
Are you even sure it's a rod knock? Other things can fail that mimic that. Honestly you need to go look at what you have first before you start making decisions on where to go
 
I honestly don't know... The guy said it was a rod knock. I followed him trying to sell it on Craigslist. First post "runs and drives, makes a funny sound, don't know what it is." Second post "Has rod knock, still runs and drives" last post "doesn't run, will need trailer". I swooped in and got it.

All I know is that it made a horrible noise when I turned it over. And I'm about positive that there isn't a hole in the block. Long story short... I need to get that engine out! I ordered a manual last week. I'm hoping it will be here this week!
 
Just food for thoughts. My current 1g when I bought it 3 1/2 years ago sometimes had really loud noise. The pitch of the sound changed with throuttle. I was mad because my 2g walked on me in the past and I swapped it with 500 dollar 6 bolt motor and it had no oil pressure but going back to the story, my 1g was a 6 bolt and making this horrible noise like only 6 month of ownership. When going around with stereoscope I found the noise to be in timing area. Turned out to be hydraulic tensioner arm was bottoming out and making the noise. Also been told that the motor was rebuild and found out that it was not. Sure did sound like light rod bearing noise but was not sure. It has been good for last 3 years. Knock on wood. The moral of the story is: don't assume the worst. Find out what is wrong first and then make educated decision. I also recommend buying an engine from some sort of business and not private. Maybe you can get some warranty. Maybe those jdm importers.

Oh and the 500 dollar engine was 12 years ago. To put it in perspective I paid $550 for brand new evo3 from awdmotorsports. I don't think they are around anymore. For me that was really expensive at that time. Broke student at the time.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I feel like I'm leaning more towards having a machine shop do mine... That way I could through in a few upgrades.

I really need to get the motor out and take the oil pan off to see what exactly happened.

Do you see the cranks failing on the 6 bolts often? The engine had a big 16g, 2g maf, evo injectors, and maybe a few other things. So, probably not crazy power.

The machine shop would probably charge for dis assembly, cleaning, etc. Making it more expensive.

If you just want to throw money at it to fix the problem you can buy that rebuilt motor. To me however it seems like a double negative, you go through all the trouble of pulling a motor and having unlimited access to it, just to drop it off and know nothing about the rebuild.

A machine shop isnt just going to take your old motor in and do a full rebuild for less than $1500. You would need to want to perform your own assembly and dis assembly to save money

So If your saying the options are
A. Buy a rebuilt motor assembled
B. Drop old motor at machine shop

Then you would want to chose option a.
 
Last edited:
I'm just going to throw this out there. Engines are much more intimidating than they ought to be to rebuild. If you can read a manual, use tools, and know when it's appropriate to drop parts off at the machine shop for some of the basics, like boring and/or honing, resurfacing, grinding valves, sonic cleaning, etc..., anyone with some amount of common sense can rebuild an engine. I've been doing it for quite a few years, so I'm going to be biased, but looking back on my first rebuild, I really shouldn't have been as frightened to give it a try as I was. Worst case scenario is that you screw something up, you're out some money, but you've learned how to do it and you can do it again in the future. I'd give the DIY option some serious consideration if, for no other reason, to boost your knowledge base and skillset.
 
I fully agree. I built my first motor 40 years ago. Knock on wood, and I had a retired Marine as a mechanic that taught it well, I haven't had a failure. Had a few auto trans that didn't work out but they didn't work to start with. It is simple bolts, nuts, proper clearances and mechanical timing events. The FSM has it all and probably over complicates the procedure, but it is just a gasoline engine, really pretty basic.
It is not beyond a person to do it themselves and do it right. Depends on your skill level and enthusiasm for it. Remember, it's a DSM, you should really know your car better than an average mechanic. :)
 
Support Vendors who Support the DSM Community
Boosted Fabrication ECM Tuning ExtremePSI Fuel Injector Clinic Innovation Products Jacks Transmissions JNZ Tuning Kiggly Racing Morrison Fabrications MyMitsubishiStore.com RixRacing RockAuto RTM Racing STM Tuned

Latest posts

Build Thread Updates

Vendor Updates

Latest Classifieds

Back
Top