Resolved 2G Engine Rebuild

[RubyEclipse]

Hello everyone! I just purchased my 1996 Eclipse GST a few months ago, had some issues with a few different things. Most recent was car was smoking and running very uneasy, so I decided to pull the engine. I am going to do a full engine rebuild-ish, I bought new wisco heads, still looking at the rods I want, if there’s anything anyone thinks I should buy and upgrade I would love help! Trying to push more power but not an insane amount seeing how I want this to be more of a daily but not quite. Thank you guys!

 

[RubyEclipse]

Dude, just be careful and very sure of the work you have done and it will be fine.. certain things you MUST do, others you can fudge a little.. I paid 1000 bucks for my 97 and put in more than that to get it back in shape to run.. it’s only money.. Of course mine is not a DD so if it sits for a spell, we both take a break.. I think it’s gonna be a fast little car when yer done..

Oh I hope so. I cannot freaking wait too see how it is.

 

[pauleyman]

Yeah, that’s exactly what I’m worried of. I think im going to just get it resurfaced and call it. I am estimated to spend about 800-900 bucks right now on the total rebuild. This is with some additional suspension parts I wanted. Like bushings, tie rod end that’s stripped, thrust washers, sway bar links, and ball joints. I also have the clutch kit, crank seals, front and rear, CV axles, left and right. Tell me if im missing anything guys, this pricing is including all these parts, the full rebuild gasket kit (rings, bearings all of it.) plus the engine resurfacing.

You're biting off a lot. You sure you're up for this?

 

[RubyEclipse]

You're biting off a lot. You sure you're up for this?

Umm… im all honesty I don’t know. I think so, I have no idea what I’d do if I said no? I think I can do it, im just worried. I do not want to mess anything up.

 

[pauleyman]

Ask questions before you take stuff apart. As you've learned some stuff has to be documented. The stuff yiu mentioned like.bushings,balljoint . Those require a press and/ or specialized equipment.

 

[RubyEclipse]

Ask questions before you take stuff apart. As you've learned some stuff has to be documented. The stuff yiu mentioned like.bushings,balljoint . Those require a press and/ or specialized equipment.

Yes, I did know that one. I thought you could sometimes punch them out with a hammer.

 

[pauleyman]

Yes, I did know that one. I thought you could sometimes punch them out with a hammer.

Ehh....I've not had much success that way. Damage stuff is more likely. We will discuss when the time comes.

 

[RubyEclipse]

Ehh....I've not had much success that way. Damage stuff is more likely. We will discuss when the time comes.

Sounds good to me. I’ll let you guys all know when I get the block back and start ordering parts.

 

[Bigbeanbird]

Ehh....I've not had much success that way. Damage stuff is more likely. We will discuss when the time comes.

I’m with ya… I don’t have a hydraulic press but I do have a decent arbor press and lots of times it will work with long bar on handle, but hammer, ?? nah.. no containment

 

[pauleyman]

I’m with ya… I don’t have a hydraulic press but I do have a decent arbor press and lots of times it will work with long bar on handle, but hammer, ?? nah.. no containment

The two items I own that have paid for themselves 10 times over are a 20 ton press and a 30 gal compressor (want bigger). had both of them about 30 years.

 

[RubyEclipse]

The two items I own that have paid for themselves 10 times over are a 20 ton press and a 30 gal compressor (want bigger). had both of them about 30 years.

I’m definitely going to have to get a bigger compressor, I just know my dad doesn’t want a huge compressor layin around our house. He already doesn’t like how much room the car takes up.

 

[Bigbeanbird]

The two items I own that have paid for themselves 10 times over are a 20 ton press and a 30 gal compressor (want bigger). had both of them about 30 years.

Omg.. that 20 ton press would look SWEET in MY GARAGE.. you know, just saying

I’m definitely going to have to get a bigger compressor, I just know my dad doesn’t want a huge compressor layin around our house. He already doesn’t like how much room the car takes up.

During assembly, kindness wins the battle every time grasshopper.. sounds like my dad

 

[SixBolt_16G]

I’m definitely going to have to get a bigger compressor, I just know my dad doesn’t want a huge compressor layin around our house. He already doesn’t like how much room the car takes up.

Reminds me of Eclipse #2 when I was living at my moms and initiated ....a full and hostile garage takeover against the rest of the family.

 

[CKOPOCT]

Yep. We got a house with a garage.

Wife said "yay! Now I won't get into a freezing car in the winter, or get soaked unloading groceries."

Son said, "yay! It'll be nice to have a place to put my bike and work on stuff."

Got the 2G Spyder. Began working on it.

Wife and son both looked at me and said, "We thought this was a 3br house with a garage. We didn't realize this was a 4br house with your car living in one of the bedrooms."

 

[Bigbeanbird]

Yep. We got a house with a garage.

Wife said "yay! Now I won't get into a freezing car in the winter, or get soaked unloading groceries."

Son said, "yay! It'll be nice to have a place to put my bike and work on stuff."

Got the 2G Spyder. Began working on it.

Wife and son both looked at me and said, "We thought this was a 3br house with a garage. We didn't realize this was a 4br house with your car living in one of the bedrooms."

Well, the 2G has to have a warm place to rest, and stay warm.. DSM’s don’t like the cold..I applaud you for the love that you show her and the wife will get over it, mine did.. of course I now have to sleep in the garage with my 2G, but man is she comfy..!!!

 

[RubyEclipse]

Reminds me of Eclipse #2 when I was living at my moms and initiated ....a full and hostile garage takeover against the rest of the family.

Yep that is my exact case. But I don’t have a garage, it’s sitting under an awning, barely get engine cover. The garage stores all of the police dogs.

Yep. We got a house with a garage.

Wife said "yay! Now I won't get into a freezing car in the winter, or get soaked unloading groceries."

Son said, "yay! It'll be nice to have a place to put my bike and work on stuff."

Got the 2G Spyder. Began working on it.

Wife and son both looked at me and said, "We thought this was a 3br house with a garage. We didn't realize this was a 4br house with your car living in one of the bedrooms."

That’s hilarious

So it turns out on a different note, that my engine is ready. I am going to go pick it up today, kinda cool, but also really wish I had parts shipping in. Anyways, I will let you all know how she looks. : )

 

[Bigbeanbird]

So it turns out on a different note, that my engine is ready. I am going to go pick it up today, kinda cool, but also really wish I had parts shipping in. Anyways, I will let you all know how she looks. : )

Right on.. that’s cool as can be.. be careful putting it back together cause ya want it to run..!! Sometimes I get in a hurry and it always bites me in the ass

 

[RubyEclipse]

Right on.. that’s cool as can be.. be careful putting it back together cause ya want it to run..!! Sometimes I get in a hurry and it always bites me in the ass

Yeah no kidding!! I’ve been learning that with this car. im waiting on rings to get here, so I’m gonna bag the block and store it for a second.

Just curious, can I remove my old rings, put them into the cylinders, and measure the gap? To recreate the perfect gap? Because I don’t know the exact measurements and those are already perfectly measured.

And one more thing, how do I make sure my bearings are standard? There are no markings on them besides, D5I, D5J, and 5I

And another thing, I think they honed it for me. : ) which is awesome, these guys were just great. They got out a broken bolt, honed it, crack checked, and polished it. Great guys, plus they gave me an entire journal on all the stock specs of every single thing that goes back on that engine.

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[99dsmer4g63]

Make sure you take proper care of that block until it’s done. That thing will start rusting quicker than shit.

Even if it’s sitting outside on a humid day. Use a rag and wd 40 or something like it on the cleaned up surfaces.

-Daniel

 

[RubyEclipse]

Make sure you take proper care of that block until it’s done. That thing will start rusting quicker than shit.

Even if it’s sitting outside on a humid day. Use a rag and wd 40 or something like it on the cleaned up surfaces.

-Daniel

Oh no, what should I do then? I’ve been told ATF works? Should I oil the block down a bit?

 

[pauleyman]

Oh no, what should I do then? I’ve been told ATF works? Should I oil the block down a bit?

you can spray it with wd 40 while you wait. ATF will clean it up when you're ready and some brakeclean. wd stands for water dispersant. Even if you get a tiny bit of flash rust it won't hurt it. Liberal WD40 will stop it. You just have to clean it all up when you assemble. It will be tedious.
Just for refererence what all did the machine shop do as far as machining? Just a surface? I assume they did not bore the cylinders, just a hone. Did you notice your head dowels are likely now gone and need to be replaced? By the way when you cleaned it you should have removed those.
Since you're now an official car guy and will likely rebuild many motors over the decades I can recommend do not resuface a block with a die grinder, roloc etc. It can be cleaned but not with anything powered. A discussion for another time.

 

[RubyEclipse]

you can spray it with wd 40 while you wait. ATF will clean it up when you're ready and some brakeclean. wd stands for water dispersant. Even if you get a tiny bit of flash rust it won't hurt it. Liberal WD40 will stop it. You just have to clean it all up when you assemble. It will be tedious.
Just for refererence what all did the machine shop do as far as machining? Just a surface? I assume they did not bore the cylinders, just a hone. Did you notice your head dowels are likely now gone and need to be replaced? By the way when you cleaned it you should have removed those.
Since you're now an official car guy and will likely rebuild many motors over the decades I can recommend do not resuface a block with a die grinder, roloc etc. It can be cleaned but not with anything powered. A discussion for another time.

I will use WD40 i didn’t know that’s what it stood for, that’s cool. Yes they did just hone and surface it. And I told them to put the dowels back and they did. They look good, nothing broken or anything. Thank you, I’ve always wanted to earn the title of a car guy. I won’t ever use a powered tool again on the block too. It really set me up for failure.

 

[CKOPOCT]

I will use WD40 i didn’t know that’s what it stood for, that’s cool. Yes they did just hone and surface it. And I told them to put the dowels back and they did. They look good, nothing broken or anything. Thank you, I’ve always wanted to earn the title of a car guy. I won’t ever use a powered tool again on the block too. It really set me up for failure.

I've got a machined and honed block from an incomplete build (long and frustrating story). Anyway, I put the block inside a large industrial trash bag and liberally painted the block inside and out with WD-40. Sprayed the oil galleys, water jackets, cylinders, bearing surfaces, sides - the works. Emptied the can into and all over the block. Then I closed the trash bag over the block and sealed it up tight. Took another bag and put it over the first. Block should keep rust-free until I get around to building it...which will probably mean my kids will have to deal with it as part of my estate.

 

[pauleyman]

I will use WD40 i didn’t know that’s what it stood for, that’s cool. Yes they did just hone and surface it. And I told them to put the dowels back and they did. They look good, nothing broken or anything. Thank you, I’ve always wanted to earn the title of a car guy. I won’t ever use a powered tool again on the block too. It really set me up for failure.

If it helps any I dropped a socket in a bellhousing a month ago and didn't see it. First start up....BOOM. Giant hole in the transmission. All the work I did ruined and I start over. Happens to everybody.

 

[Bigbeanbird]

I will use WD40 i didn’t know that’s what it stood for, that’s cool. Yes they did just hone and surface it. And I told them to put the dowels back and they did. They look good, nothing broken or anything. Thank you, I’ve always wanted to earn the title of a car guy. I won’t ever use a powered tool again on the block too. It really set me up for failure.

Good advice from Pauleyman, as far as the rings and measurements, I guess you could use the old rings to measure a gap, but I’m sure there is a call out for new rings.. since they honed it out already, the diameter is gonna be a bit bigger mind you, not allot but still bigger.. if it were me, I’d look high and low for new ring end gap specs and trash the old ones.. the brains in here would know better than I.. peace..!! (Looks real good by the way)..

If it helps any I dropped a socket in a bellhousing a month ago and didn't see it. First start up....BOOM. Giant hole in the transmission. All the work I did ruined and I start over. Happens to everybody.

Omg.. !!!! .. I know these cars swallow tools and nuts and bolts..

 

[RubyEclipse]

If it helps any I dropped a socket in a bellhousing a month ago and didn't see it. First start up....BOOM. Giant hole in the transmission. All the work I did ruined and I start over. Happens to everybody.

Oh no! Man im terribly sorry, that really does suck.

Hoping no one is gonna say im an idiot and messed up big time, but i cleaned my transmission. I used purple power, sprayed the whole entire thing down, including the bell housing. Then i used a brass, or soft wire brush. Then I power washed the entire thing, it looks really really good. I’m like very happy and proud. The thing was black, all the way around. Now it’s silver and looking good. plus don’t tell me I really messed up…