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 Fuel Injector Clinic
Please Support Fuel Injector Clinic

420A 420A engine swap

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.

Karma

15+ Year Contributor
142
2
Mar 12, 2006
Sherwood Park, Alberta_Canada
No, this is not a 420A to 4363 swap thread.

As a TSi owner, a friend of mine has asked if I want to do an engine swap on his girlfriends car. The car is a 1996 Talon ES, A/T with a blown motor. He has bought a complete engine from a local seller from a 1999(or 1997 he doesn't know) Eclipse equiped with a 5 speed.

My question to you fellows is:
If I switch over the flywheel from the 1996 blown engine to the donor engine to accept the automatic tranny, will everything else bolt up with no hickups?
Is there any wiring / sizing differences between a 1996 420A and a 1997 or 1999 420A that would be of concern in this swap.

Basicly, is this swap feasable and worth my time?

-Sean
 
We swapped my 1998 420a motor a/t onto a 1995 5 speed, put in a new clutch and flywheel, and everything bolted right up. Working after school and with limited help from friends it really only took about two days.
 
I would say the only real issue you might run into, is weather or not the 96 model eclipse had an early style fuel system (FPR located in the engine bay, with a returnline system) Or the late style (fpr located by the fuel filter in the back of the car, with the returnless style sytem)

I don't think that will change too many things with the swap, but it might be something worth looking into further.
 
Good to know.
Thanks for the heads up
 
So has this gone well? Im throwing a 20K miles 99 auto GS motor into my 97 talon 5speed. Just wondering what to look for.
 
Nice, I just wanst sure what problems I would see going from the 97 to a 99 motor. I hope it goes good since I have to do it twice haha. If I have any questions comming up Ill post em here. Thanks in advance guys.
 
Alright I yanked the tranny today ( A bi*** ) with no hoist or a decent jack but I did it.

My question is are the flywheels the same? and should I have it resurfaced? Im wondering if a clutch should be bought since mine has 112K miles. Anythoughts guys.

and one more thing are the subframes the same from 97-99 and auto to 5 speed? Thanks fellas.

EDIT- Im staying stock so the clutch is fine, but where can I pick up a new Throw out bearing. I just want to get that for preventative maintenance.
 
Yes, the clutches and flex-plates are the same throughout years. Unless you are working with a vehicle that has had a non-modular conversion, the flywheel will be part of the clutch pack - unserviceable. Since you can't really check the condition of a modular clutch, it would be a good time to throw another one in there while you have the transmission out already.

The subframes are also the same throughout the years. ATX and MTX swaps are pretty straightforward.

You should get a new TOB from the dealer or SouthBend Clutch. (800-988-4345)
 
Yes, the clutches and flex-plates are the same throughout years. Unless you are working with a vehicle that has had a non-modular conversion, the flywheel will be part of the clutch pack - unserviceable. Since you can't really check the condition of a modular clutch, it would be a good time to throw another one in there while you have the transmission out already.

The subframes are also the same throughout the years. ATX and MTX swaps are pretty straightforward.

You should get a new TOB from the dealer or SouthBend Clutch. (800-988-4345)

Hey My clutch never slips or anything and Im also just keeping this car/motor stock. I have the bike and that takes care of my speed addiction haha so ill only be getting a TOB.

So what your saying is all I have to do is remove the whole assemble from my 97 motor and just bolt it right up to my 99 motor, no resurfacing? Im going to rent a torque wrench from "the zone" for that, but its pouring out now so Ill go grab this engine hoist while I can too. Thanks for the help thus far guys.
 
Thats right, you can't resurface the flywheel. You will unbolt the clutch-pack (pressureplate-disc-flywheel combo) as an assembly from the flexplate and just bolt it back up to the new engine whole.

It is a little weird.
 
YES, try not to get your flexplate confused with your flywheel. The flywheel as you can see is riveted to the clutch. Its not removable and cannot be resurfaced.
 
Ok So I dont have to remove anything from the 99 motor I just have to bolt up the modular system to the "flexplate" thats now bolted to the motor. Thanks for the help guys Im sure theres more to come once I yank this motor the rest of the way tomorrow.

Suprisingly this is not as hard as I though it was going to be, also Im thinking of ditching the power steering...Thoughts on that, experience?
 
Ok the only differance i know of from the motors is that the 95 96 ecu is differant so dont know about all the plugs but should be the same and use your original sensors as mentioned above.

As far as wanting to ditch the power steering, why the hell would you wanna do that just a question,IMO i wouldnt steering is nice
 
also Im thinking of ditching the power steering...Thoughts on that, experience?

I've no experience on the 2gnt, but I haven't had power steering on the 1g for years. I connected each side of the rack together with some tubing and removed the pump and plumbing. Difficult when not moving, easy while moving.

As far as wanting to ditch the power steering, why the hell would you wanna do that just a question,IMO i wouldnt steering is nice

It removes a source of drag from the motor. The vehicle will steer just fine without power steering, it is just very difficult to use at a stand-still. In my opinion, feedback is improved when the power steering is removed.

edit: Though I do currently enjoy power steering on my 2gnt, and have no plans to remove it.
 
Im going to keep it, I just didnt want all that damn clutter in the engine bay. I know the cars not that quick well, not at all after owning my GSX, so Im just going for all handling and looks. I got the 99 motor cleaned up real nice, hit all the things I could with a nice coat of gloss black after degreasing.

I also got the engine bay on the other one stripped and laid down the first coat of paint, that looks 1 million times better as well. Finally I got mine up in the air today too, and began taking that all apart.

Everything is going well and I cant wait untill the finished products are on the road. That will be rewarding.

Ill post if I have any more q's
 
I broke my damn upper tranny mount. You guys think if I threw it on with 2 of the 3 mount to tranny bolts in it, it will be safe in my dads auto...he drives normally slow. Heres a pic...the red is what broke off.
 

Attachments

  • untitled.JPG
    untitled.JPG
    11.1 KB · Views: 1,548
Yea I found one for 10 bucks. Im pickin it up tonight.

Im about sick of DSMs...and my hands hurt. Thanks for the help guys. There will possibly be more questions to come


and I orderd a new TOB from the dealer...can anyone tell me if the Clutch Fork and Pivot ball typically go bad? Im not racing this car its just a DD and they were fine when I started this escapade. Reason im asking is because the dealership said they were on back order till God knows when. So I just want to know if I should be pulling my hair out trying to get these or if Ill be alright. Thanks
 
The fork and ball don't typically go bad when driven normally - that I have noticed - but a visual inspection of the parts should readily reveal a bent fork or damaged/worn pivot ball. If you do order a new release fork from the dealer, it will come with a new pivot ball. The pivot ball is also available separately. If your pivot ball is worn, you could try shimming it out a bit with a washer before ordering a new one.
 
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