Restoration - 95 Eclipse, 420A, N/A, Aut

[Wsio]

Hello,

A friend just gave me his 2G Eclipse. He was about to send it to the junk yard but I thought a restoration project might be fun.

Car Condition: Its in bad shape, it definitely needs a new alternator, rotors, brakes, all fluids, 120K tune up, head liner, door handles, axles, ball joints.... The windshield is ok, so its got that going for it! . 170K on the engine, minimum maintaince during its life. The coolant line has corrosion (White and bubbly - possibly contamination) on the outside, where the hose sits on metal inlet, which really concerns me about the internals.

So in short I am thinking about rebuilding the entire engine, ie, pistons, sleeves, valves, lifters, etc etc. I am not pressed for time and money isnt a giant factor but I wouldnt want to spend thousands.. So here is my delima.

1) Go with a new long block (or short) and do the rest of the work my self
2) Pull the engine and take the long block to be rebuilt (I cant do the hone or sleeves), finish the work myself
3) Buying a new engine (would be cheaper but less fun)

I am also following some other posts from here such as the DSM maintenance guide and so on.

Thank you all for reading this long post!

PS - I will be providing lots of pics!

 

[Dsmkauai]

Evo9 motor swap haha or just find another 420a they came in a bunch of Chrysler cars and should be easy and cheap to find. Sounds like a money pit to be honest, but all fixable with the right tools and $$

 

[Wsio]

Evo9 HA! This is going to be a DD for my GF as well as trips. All of the 420's I find have 100,000's of miles. Im trying to find one that has been rebuilt and isnt boosted, which seems to be few and far between. Yea, it is a money pit, but its mostly for the experience and fun of it.

 

[Dsmkauai]

Those motors are super easy to rebuild. You can get a full motor rebuild kit from Rockauto and just have the bottom end done at a machine shop. Really depends on how much work it needs. The rest if you have tools and alittle know how it's a piece of cake . I would do this if I had a 420a eclipse
http://www.dsmtalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=198729#/forumsite/20978/topics/198729

 

[Wsio]

I think im going to go with DNJ ENGINE COMPONENTS EK150M Includes Oil Pump & Timing Belt or Timing Kit from rockauto. Add a new alternator and water pump.

What do you think is best to have done at the machine shop?

My plan of attack is to take the engine out, inspect it, then go at it from the top down. While its out, inspect the engine bay (There is rust near the shock mounts) and start on lower end stuff likes axels, etc. Good plan?

 

[dsmcrzy]

Before I spent any money I would see how bad the strut tower rust is. If it has eaten away enough you a looking a decent sized repair job there and it might not be worth doing.

 

[Dsmkauai]

I've rebuilt tons of motors with the dnj kit and everyone is still on the road to this day! Even my wife's Vw golf and she drives the crap out of that thing haha For the machining you will need the head checked and freshened up. You need the cylinder walls either honed or atleast deglazed/fresh crosshairs. But you need to pull the head and see the condition First and measure. You will either be able to rering or need to get over sized Pistons. You also need to inspect the bearings rod and mains for condition. And I would get the crank micropolished. Strut towers are fixable, I have a write up on here when I did mine! Still look great and no more rust for those you can either swap donors or if it's not to crazy just cut the rust out to fresh weldable metal and make patches, that's what I did.

 

[Wsio]

Sounds good. Ill have some pics coming to this post on my first day off. Also going to order and engine hoist and mount.

 

[Dsmkauai]

Make sure to get a engine leveler for the hoist makes pulling the motor so much easier! Also take the hood off gives you so much more room just scribe around the brackets before you remove the hood. That way when you reinstall it's easier to get in the right spot. Also you might consider doing a clutch(Manual) or torque converter(auto) while it's all out, something to think about. And look at all the motor mounts while there out, if any are torn or just shot it's a good time to replace. Another thing if your new to engine removal. Take the time to take some pics of the way things where. Make sure to label all the wires on the wiring harness. Another smart thing is to get zip lock bags and label all the bolts and what not. Really helps keeping things organized and much easier for reinstalling. I always clean all my bolts I'm reusing on a wire wheel. Don't forget to get new headstuds if they don't come in the kit.

 

[Wsio]

Ive done lots of automotive work, but never as extensive as remove an engine. Ive removed heads, turbos, camshafts, etc.. but nothing internal really. Yep, leveler is on the list . Good idea about the hood, I once removed a hood and never got it to sit quite right again.... While the engine is out I will be doing the Torque coverter, maybe take the trans to be checked out, axels, tie rods, ball joins, hubs, rotors, brakes, calipers, radiator, prolly a few other things I can get my hands on that are old at 200k, struts too. I know I will be needing manifolds, evacuator, and a vaccum puller for the ac system. I think I will replace the motor mounts regardless of their condition.

 

[Wsio]

Going to need brake cleaner... Brake cleaner for days...

 

[Dsmkauai]

Cool man sounds like you got the right idea and a plan forming. Oh also grab a manual like chilton or find them on here, for the torque specs and make sure you have a good torque wrench. Should be a rewarding rebuild once your done bro. Just taking a worn out 200k eclipse and giving it life again Need anything bro just ask we are all here to help! For a really good parts cleaner go to Walmart and get this stuff called Berryman Chem-dip. That stuff works amazing for carbonized crusty parts haha. I leave my Pistons in over night and they come out brand new! Also a real fine wire wheel on a drill works great to and won't scratch things up. Just make sure it's the finest one you can get.

 

[Wsio]

I do have a plan coming together! Im checking out some of the manauls listed on this forum http://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/download-a-2g-service-manual.324090/
(A new memeber doing searches? What is this?!)
I have a good torque wrench and I will keep posting in here. Im sure I will need help from the comunity along the way, and once its done, I should be able to help
Thanks again for your insite

 

[Dsmkauai]

Start a build journal on here so we can follow along and no worries bro always glad to help! Another great replacement piston if you need them is npr.
http://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/420a-re-ringing-pistons-procedure.424199/

 

[Wsio]

Project Lazarus - Day 1 - Inspection

Day one Pictures: http://imgur.com/a/mPWQB

Team: Me, will, modest mechanical experience with plenty of tools.
Rachel, Fiance, she knows how to change oil and brakes.
Watson, friend, as much mechanic experience as a corgi.

Work: Today wasnt much work. Just took some pics and worked out a plan with the team. So far, the plain is to drop the alternator and test it. If it works, great, we can sell it for cheap and get a new one. Once we have a working alternator we are going to work on the engine removal. First thing we are going to do is drain the fluids. The oil will be send off to a lab to be tested for contaminates. They see what metals or chemicals are in the oil so you can get a picture about the inside of the engine. (http://www.blackstone-labs.com/) Test kit is free, sending is free, test is 20$

Goal: Buy almost everything new. Take the engine apart and have the block looked at. I want this car to last another 20 years. If it moves, it gets replaced. Im going to keep track of everything purchased and upload the data so other people can get an idea of the cost. Im also going to try to sell anything that is in working condition.

Thoughts: That rust has got to go.

 

[Vicecreed]

Honestly the rust on those strut towers look pretty bad.
I've never done any welding or major metal work but that looks like it'd be a pain to cut out and repair, if it can even be repaired.

I had rust, A LOT of rust on my 95' Eclipse RS.
I managed to find a new rust-free shell on craigslist for $200 and then swapped the motor/transmission and used the Eclipse as a parts car for the Talon as well as traded/sold parts off of it to get more parts for the Talon.

I'm not trying to take a crap on your project, I'm just thinking I'd look into the rust on those towers(anywhere else?) before I put too much time or money into that shell.
Maybe look around where you live and see if someone has a cheap 420a shell for sale.
You can then take the best parts between the two cars and make one good complete car, thats what I ended up doing.

In getting this shell I also gained Cruise Control, rear disc brakes, power mirrors and a few other factory upgrades over the base model I had.

If you need any help on pulling the motor let me know, I pulled the motor and transmission out of the car with only removing the intake manifold.

 

[91stocker]

Part it out and make a few bucks. Any investment will never be returned. The car in nice shape is worth like a grand max.

 

[Wsio]

The weld will be done by a professonal, assuming there isnt too much more. Going to check it out more on 10/6/15. I will also start some of the easy work if it looks like a workabout shell. Right now, shells in the omaha area (68124) are about $1,000...........
@91stocker, Im not looking to sell it or "make a return". Im looking to get it to last for another 10+ years.
Thanks for the info @Vicecreed . It is my first time pulling a whole engine, so after some yelling im sure I will post it up : D

 

[91stocker]

You could buy two or three 2g n/t's for just the cost of rebuilding that old motor.

Personally i'd toss a junk yard motor in there and it would probably outlast the body being you live in a cold state and it already has significant rust.

No sense in dumping all that money into an old dd.