An esi is going to have the 420A engine. The Tsi is going to have the 4g63t engine. The difference between the two is that the engines are completely different and rotated 180 degrees. The esi will have the timing belt on the passenger side and the tsi will have the timing belt on the driver's side. If you are looking to swap out your engine from your tsi to the esi, you'll need to do A LOT of fabrication for motor mounts. In other words, it's not worth it. Find a different shell.

i dont get what your trying to do put a auto tsi trans into a esi that was 5spd?

no I want to swap tsi motor and trans into esi. Wouldnt it be possible to just switch over subframes? and yes I know they are 180* difference thats why I asked what would be needed...I have some fabrication skills and finding new "clean" shells in sandusky ohio for around 500 is impossible...I happened across this one in somebody's back yard. thanks for the input so far

i mean if you had both cars and just wanted to swap everything you could do it it would be a lot of work though because all the parts from both cars are totaly different

I will hopefully have ESI in about 6 days and already have TSI. Did they make different mounting spots for the subframe or something? I've been entertaining the idea of cutting out the strut towers from ESI and having them welded in place of the rotted ones in the TSI(they are BAD btw). then I could use the rest of parts I want from the ESI.

*bump*

nobody can tell me whether or not there are different sub-frame mounting points from a 95 tsi to a 97 esi?

It sounds like you think the esi is a FWD Turbo model In the Talon Models both the FWD ans AWD models are TSI's if you want a FWD turbo drag car disconnect your driveshaft to the rear differential you now have a FWD Turbo car

This is just not coming through clearly. Here's a break down.

Esi = Non turbo, Completely different engine and setup.

Tsi= Turbo motor, again ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^.

Now what are you wanting to do? Use strut towers from the esi into the tsi? Probably wont work.

ok lets get this straight...

ESI = non turbo 420A FWD

TSI= Turbo 4g63t FWD I

I do know the difference between the two folks...and yes I know they are two totally different engines and set ups...BUT the BODIES and MOUNTING points should be the same correct? why would diamond star motors put different mounting holes to mount sub-frame and motor and tranny mounts if the bodies are IDENTICAL...I've worked as a mechanic for over 10 years now. this is just my first dsm and am trying not to spend $500 on a body if its gonna be too much work.

and WHY on earth wouldn't strut towers work from esi to tsi again ITS THE SAME BODY. if your not smart enough to figure that out how the h**l do you drive a car?

XtsiXguyX said:

ok lets get this straight...

ESI = non turbo 420A FWD

TSI= Turbo 4g63t FWD I

I do know the difference between the two folks...and yes I know they are two totally different engines and set ups...BUT the BODIES and MOUNTING points should be the same correct? why would diamond star motors put different mounting holes to mount sub-frame and motor and tranny mounts if the bodies are IDENTICAL...I've worked as a mechanic for over 10 years now. this is just my first dsm and am trying not to spend $500 on a body if its gonna be too much work.

and WHY on earth wouldn't strut towers work from esi to tsi again ITS THE SAME BODY. if your not smart enough to figure that out how the h**l do you drive a car?

Click to expand...

The points where the engine and transmission mount to the frame/ body are different. The 420a is a chrysler engine and the 4g63t is a Mitsubishi engine. DSM was a joint venture between the two which is why you have 2 different drivetrains. You'd have to fabricate mounts, do some cutting, welding (and make sure it's aligned properly), swap wiring harnesses, fuse boxes... As I said before, find a different shell. You'd be better off diving 8 hours away with a flatbed to go get a turbo shell. Get a different shell. This shell isn't worth the swap. Swapping a 4g63t into a 420a shell isn't worth it. It would be more work than it's worth. It would be 10 times harder to do the swap than it would to find a different shell even if you have to drive a few hours. There are clean shells out there. Check the local ads and craigslist. Clean shells exist. If you want the 420a because it's clean and you're a mechanic, fix whatever is wrong with the 420a and use it as a daily driver because it isn't worth it to swap a 4g63t into it. I don't know how else to put it. It seems like you are detemined to get this and try it. If you have a ton of free time, a lot of patience, all the fabrication tools and various other tools, and the know how then go ahead and try it. But it is the much much harder road.

They really are very different, don't try the swap, it's much easier to find a FWD turbo car like everyone else says. I understand what you're saying, but trust us on this one.

BUT BUT BUT...and it's a big butt...the 420a is a decent motor. AND AND AND, the 97 ESi is VERY HARD TO COME BY. They made 9,000 97 Talons total, so, they are very rare, and much more so if they are clean. I would personally just buy the ESi for 500 and build a turbo 420a. The 420a well built puts out some good power (I've been into turbo Neons for a while and have an N/A right now). I'd go that route because it's easier, cheaper, and unique.

Here's my old ESi for encouragement. I loved it and regret selling it to this day... It was slow as snot but it was sure beautiful..

thank you for that info and nice ESI by the way. I'm still entertaining idea of cutting esi up for patch panels for my tsi. I just hate looking thru to the ground in my strut towers and trunk...

Kellen I still wish I would have bought that talon

I do too, but I still know the guy who has it. Maybe he'd like me buy it back. I really miss that car, it was the best dd I've ever had, not joking.

To this day, I still haven't found a good clean ESi for any decent price...they are always riced out.

well I've got a line on a clean black esi for $500 in sandusky ohio...does not run. owner says bad gas but I dont go by what they say.

Is the rest of your car rotted out? If not, why not use the $500 to patch the strut tower instead of buying another shell?

the strut towers are GONE. there is a hole big enough to see the ground thru in my trunk. and I'm scared to pull carpet up to see how bad floor boards are. the car was VERY poorly maintained before I got it. I did get a good deal on the car though so I'm not complaining. And I didnt want AWD but I found a super clean TSI AWD for sale about 3 hrs away for a few hundred more and comes with magnaflow 3" turbo back exhuast and a injen CAI. no motor though which is fine as I got motor from my TSI.

You don't want awd?

You car sounds bad. I've never seen the rear towers rusted through. Good luck with whatever you decide on.

rear towers are fine...trunk floor is shot and front strut towers are shot. I've always drag raced FWD. AWD is awesome for launching but from what i have seen and read they run out of gearing in the top end on highway. I suppose its time to move to the next platform and go AWD. thanks I hope to have TSI AWD in about a week now. gotta get car hauler lined up to go get it and take a day off of work to go up there.

I'm pretty sure the fwd and the awd have the same or very similar gearing. If you run out of gear on the highway you are going way too fast anyways. . That sucks the trunk is gone too. Probably a leaking washer fluid reservoir or clogged hatch drains that led to that.

clogged hatch drain. found it after I got the car and washed it for the first time. also didnt have a muffler or pipe except right past piece for rear end. so had alot of condensation in that exact spot...also leaked exhaust fumes into cabin...EWWWW