I own a 98 eclipse GS with 151000 miles on it and I have been experiencing some rough starting, and some smoke out of the tail pipe. I had the car checked out and was told that the valves were leaking oil. I have some oil loss, but only maybe a quart every month or so. There is a decent amount of smoke, especially around startup and its white with a bluish tint, once I've been driving for a little while, the amount decreases quite abit, there is still some, but not much. The car runs fine other than right at start up, has pretty good pick up, and handles a decent amount of speed (I've gotten it over a hundred easy) and the only problem then is if the car has been sitting, I have to crank it a few times. I'm just wondering if anyone else has experience with a similar problem, and if that diagnosis (from my mechanic) is accurate, what are my best options?

I have a little experience with my car, I have done some very minor repairs, but nothing major, but am willing to put in some serious work, just lack experience. My mechanic said that a repair would cost me about 2500, and suggested I might want to consider a swap.
I would appreciate any advice, also, I would like to keep in mind that I would like to tune well past stock, so I need to consider whats gonna give me good options for the future as well, but I am a college student, so I'm gonna have to do it over time.

not as far as turbo or nitrous or anything yet, don't have the time or money, just looking for something reasonable now that I could upgrade in the future. I know that you can get a 420a pretty high as far as power, just don't know what kinda difficulty I'd be facing with a rebuild. Just looking for a reasonable fix now with future possibilities when I have the chance. But I would definelty consider serious upgrade in a few years.

If I were you then I'd just buy a basic rebuild kit. Everything you need and should be no more then $700

Note: this will be all stock suff

Ok, thanks, any suggestions where I could find a good one that would have what I need?

http://Slowboyracing.com has a good one

If it's just the seals or guides it shouldn't be to hard to fix. If it's rings or something else it'll be more expensive. If you have access to a compression tester and a leak down tester do those before taking anything apart to find the exact cause of the smoke. If your confident enough to tear the head off yourself it will save you a lot of cash. Any decent machine shop should be able to rebuild the head for you you for a reasonable price. The less work they have to do the cheaper it'll be so tear the head down as far as you can before taking it in. You can also get a basic top end gasket set from just about any auto parts store. Since your not going turbo or doing anything crazy power wise this would also be a cheaper alternative.

I have some brand new Seals/guides. And I have two new valves. Valves at Autozone are 7 a peice... And you have to order for a 4cylinder Dodge Avenger. If you order for a NT Eclipse, they will give you Turbo Eclipse valves.

My machine shop charges $100 to tear down the head and replace all the valve stem seals. Your mechanic is overcharging.

And if it is just the valve stem seal you don't truly have to take the take the head off

Oh you have to remove the head. That is not that difficult ( I have ARP head studs), it would probably take me about an hour to remove my head, and my machinist would probably keep the head for a few days to put the seals in and I would have a nice head back by the end of the week. I think $2500 is a bit excessive, as you can buy a nice shiny new engine for that amount.

im getting my head rebuilt now its only costing me 300 you are deff getting ripped off in that department i would proably try to get my hands on a 4g63 if your going to do some major mods then it would be good to swap 4g63s can handle alot more power than the 420a

15 sec gs said:

im getting my head rebuilt now its only costing me 300 you are deff getting ripped off in that department i would proably try to get my hands on a 4g63 if your going to do some major mods then it would be good to swap 4g63s can handle alot more power than the 420a

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You sir need to find the search feature on this site.

Right above where you typed that there are a list of 6 rules you just broke rule #3 "Don't try to help if you don't know the answer - bad advice can be worse than no advice (no "I think" or "I guess" or "I've heard"). "

The 4g63 will require alot of modification to fit into the GS or RS engine bay. The swap is not cost effective or practical.

OP: Find a nice reputable machine shop with competitive prices, and get a quote on minor head work (replacing valve stem seals).

After that, search on here for parts you would like to upgrade to/replace. ARP headstuds are always nice, they make head pulls so much easier.

While you have the engine apart, or before you take it apart, ask your self if you plan on going turbo. You could possibly rebuild the engine from the bottom up with forged internals to support a turbo more effectively.

Hope this helps.

15 sec gs said:

im getting my head rebuilt now its only costing me 300 you are deff getting ripped off in that department i would proably try to get my hands on a 4g63 if your going to do some major mods then it would be good to swap 4g63s can handle alot more power than the 420a

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I now know why your name is 15 sec gs.

Anyway I just priced out minor head work and it is not 100 bucs and I work in the wholesale auto field and have connects. It may be 100 to just swap but that's not incluning milling or cleaning which should both be done as long as head is within spec to ensure propper hg sealing. That will put the job in the 250 price range easy. You can get a reman head off ebay for 400 shipped with cams valves seals ect and just slap on and not have to worry about downtime. I know because untill I find my head which was a steal that's the way I was gonna go. The only reason they said 2500 is because your pretty muching doing a hg job plus machine work and a hg job is usualy around 1500 bucs but 2500 is still high. trust me if you know how to use a torque wrench and can remember where stuff came from just take the head off yourself you will thank yourself in the end big time.

Slippi84 said:

I now know why your name is 15 sec gs.

Anyway I just priced out minor head work and it is not 100 bucs and I work in the wholesale auto field and have connects. It may be 100 to just swap but that's not incluning milling or cleaning which should both be done as long as head is within spec to ensure propper hg sealing. That will put the job in the 250 price range easy. You can get a reman head off ebay for 400 shipped with cams valves seals ect and just slap on and not have to worry about downtime. I know because untill I find my head which was a steal that's the way I was gonna go. The only reason they said 2500 is because your pretty muching doing a hg job plus machine work and a hg job is usualy around 1500 bucs but 2500 is still high. trust me if you know how to use a torque wrench and can remember where stuff came from just take the head off yourself you will thank yourself in the end big time.

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My machinist is nice I guess. I also have done a lot of buisness with him.

It is safe to say that machine shop's prices will vary.

thats alot to consider, thanks all around. On another note, anyone know any good DSM mechanics in georgia? I live to the southwest of atlanta, in Carroltton and Fayetteville, I would like to definetly get a second opinion.
Thanks

Diablosangelis said:

thats alot to consider, thanks all around. On another note, anyone know any good DSM mechanics in georgia? I live to the southwest of atlanta, in Carroltton and Fayetteville, I would like to definetly get a second opinion.
Thanks

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Just wait about a day someone else will chime in on a wiseman level and that's better than 90% of the mecahnics you'll find around you. Well are all dsm specialist just some of us know more then others but we all focus mainly on dsm's that's why we're here. If you don't want to wait PM somelike dsmjim if he's still around oldman knows his shit too he's out my way or call a shop that's a national dsm shop.

To find local DSM shops to you, I would reccomend looking in your regional forums.

Slippi84 said:

Just wait about a day someone else will chime in on a wiseman level and that's better than 90% of the mecahnics you'll find around you. Well are all dsm specialist just some of us know more then others but we all focus mainly on dsm's that's why we're here. If you don't want to wait PM somelike dsmjim if he's still around oldman knows his shit too he's out my way or call a shop that's a national dsm shop.

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Wasn't implying you guys didn't know, I just wanted to get another opinion other than my mechanic from someone who can actually take a look at it, like I said, I don't have a whole lot of experience, so my diagnosis isn't that good and I would like to be sure, thats all.

Diablosangelis said:

Wasn't implying you guys didn't know, I just wanted to get another opinion other than my mechanic from someone who can actually take a look at it, like I said, I don't have a whole lot of experience, so my diagnosis isn't that good and I would like to be sure, thats all.

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I understand. This is why you need a digital camera j/k

link16 said:

My machine shop charges $100 to tear down the head and replace all the valve stem seals. Your mechanic is overcharging.

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Is it a corporation or a small shop?