This is the Build Thread for Old Man Tan. Reply below.

Got it home! Did a little looking at it, and I believe it has a blown head gasket that the previous owner was trying to diagnose. No coolant, and a lot of gunk under the rad cap.

Looks really clean! Congratulations.

DogWhistle said:

Looks really clean! Congratulations.

Click to expand...

As clean as a 160k mile 34 year old car can get! It was garage kept its whole life, and sat for 15 years since 2010. Needs some love, but it’ll be on the road again.

ist dwa said:

View attachment 773787View attachment 773788

Click to expand...

I used to think the champagne cars were ugly, but it’s growing on me!

pulled the valve cover to find what looks like re-ground cams, ARP head studs, and what looks like BC springs/retainers not sure about that though. Drained the gas to find it absolutely awful looking… not sure what i should do about that. Should i pull the sending unit? One stud is already broke.

Turbski91 said:

pulled the valve cover to find what looks like re-ground cams, ARP head studs, and what looks like BC springs/retainers not sure about that though. Drained the gas to find it absolutely awful looking… not sure what i should do about that. Should i pull the sending unit? One stud is already broke.

View attachment 773809

View attachment 773810

View attachment 773811

Click to expand...

Does the car run? If I does i say drainnit, add fresh and run it. Change the filter

pauleyman said:

Does the car run? If I does i say drainnit, add fresh and run it. Change the filter

Click to expand...

Not sure yet. It’s missing an ECU. It was originally controlled with a SAFC. I’m going to take that out, and use my other cars link ecu to see if it starts, but i need to do a timing belt/water pump first. The coolant in the T-stat housing looks gelled up. I was going to throw fresh gas in it once i get those things situated. Not too sure what to do with the coolant issue.

Here are some of the pretty neat goodies the car came with. Look at those visors!!!

Just now got around to spinning the engine over… that didn’t go well at all, because the bottom end is seized. Never bothered to spin the engine over until now. The price was worth it either way. Found a blown head gasket between 1 and 2. Going to have to start looking for a long block. Also it looks like a 2g head? Not sure.

Turbski91 said:

Also it looks like a 2g head? Not sure.

Click to expand...

Looks like a 1G to me.

19Eclipse90 said:

Looks like a 1G to me.

Click to expand...

What’s up with the oil control valve at the top? Doesn’t look like a 6 bolt design to me? Or is that after market? Also the most outer bolts on the exhaust manifold are bigger. I thought 6 bolt heads have all the same size.

Turbski91 said:

What’s up with the oil control valve at the top? Doesn’t look like a 6 bolt design to me? Or is that after market? Also the most outer bolts on the exhaust manifold are bigger. I thought 6 bolt heads have all the same size.

Click to expand...

Why couldn't it be a 1gb head? That would have the larger outer studs.

7-bolt heads have larger outer exhaust studs, even 1G 7-bolt heads.

There’s no way to mount a 2G thermostat housing to it.

Couldn’t say about the HLA regulator - never looked at that as an indicator. Theoretically, someone could swap one from any DSM 4G63 onto any 4G63 DSM head.

Went ahead and pulled the engine after finding out how bad the cylinders were rusted. To my surprise the engine actually has forged pistons, and eagle forged rods! Not sure if any of it is salvageable, but that’ll go on the back burner. Picked up a stock 6 bolt N/A long block to convert to turbo.

Unfortunately when I tore the non turbo long block down I found severe scoring in one of the cylinders. Luckily a local dsmer has a spare 85mm stock bore bare block he is willing to sell me. I got all of the OEM parts to rebuild the engine as well. Looking for an OEM AWD flywheel if anyone knows a guy. Lol

Take all the water out of the 1st block and leave some transmission fluid sitting on top of the pistons. Give it a day or two and try again to break it free, but go back and forth motion. Don't just go one way and with force. It will break free.

Don't put those pistons and rods on the backbone. Get them out and clean them up. They could be salvageable. You'd be surprised. My 1g was flooded under water(submerged) for over 5 years and I brought back from the dead. Just replaced bearings.
Im not sure how familiar you are with these type of situations because you're 3 blocks in now .

Bring a borescope, remove plugs and rotate the assembly. Check cylinder walls when you meet this local dsmer

pieceofcloth said:

Take all the water out of the 1st block and leave some transmission fluid sitting on top of the pistons. Give it a day or two and try again to break it free, but go back and forth motion. Don't just go one way and with force. It will break free.

Don't put those pistons and rods on the backbone. Get them out and clean them up. They could be salvageable. You'd be surprised. My 1g was flooded under water(submerged) for over 5 years and I brought back from the dead. Just replaced bearings.
Im not sure how familiar you are with these type of situations because you're 3 blocks in now .

Bring a borescope, remove plugs and rotate the assembly. Check cylinder walls when you meet this local dsmer

Click to expand...

Yeah i was planning to try and save the pistons and rods. That block is cooked. Too much rust.

Picked up a 6 bolt 85mm bore block from a local legend (original 14b record holder) for a very reasonable price. Honed it, and finally got to use a tool Iv been dying to try on some balance shaft bearings. This was the smoothest Iv ever installed the inner bearing. Highly recommend for anyone trying to do this themselves.

Got some engine build goodies

Traded some intercooler piping for a nice condition cargo cover, and a great condition OEM sunroof wind deflector.

Slapped the bottom end together over the weekend. Was trying to get the head on, and timing done, but got caught up in other plans.

Got my hands on more hard to find parts. Got a full OEM exhaust, and a sunroof shade cover. Have never seen either of these in person before.

It turns out when your friend texts you “i need the hoist this weekend” you all the sudden get motivation you didn’t have before