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]

I don't want to be discouraging, but I think you need to take this car to a trans shop and have someone install it. Clutch needs to be aligned before installing trans, and if there is no locating dowel the problem wont go away for long.

This car will need a new crank if this problem isnt fixed

I know how to align it? I’ve done it before. And it’s easy to see where the down should be when you tighten down the flywheel. I also can see where the dowels on the flywheel line up themselves with the clutch.

 

[pauleyman]

I don't want to be discouraging, but I think you need to take this car to a trans shop and have someone install it. Clutch needs to be aligned before installing trans, and if there is no locating dowel the problem wont go away for long.

This car will need a new crank if this problem isnt fixed

I dont know why he would need a shop. He already stated he's getting a clutch alignment tool if he hasn't already. Replace the crank dowel and that's it.

 

[RubyEclipse]

I dont know why he would need a shop. He already stated he's getting a clutch alignment tool if he hasn't already. Replace the crank dowel and that's it.

I should replace it? How do I do that? I have the flywheel in with blue loctite. I saw more threads saying use it over the arp lube. The only thing is I don’t want to over tighten the pressure disc, im afraid I’m going too.

 

[pauleyman]

We already gave you torque specs. 14 ft/lbs

 

[RubyEclipse]

We already gave you torque specs. 14 ft/lbs

I just don’t have a way to measure that. I am going to have to buy a smaller torque wrench or something. How would you guys go about installing this transmission? My engine is not level. So the suspension brackets are kind of pushing into my transmission when I go to install it. It is impossibly hard to get the rod or thing in the middle of the transmission to line with the flywheel. That’s the real trouble im getting, it seems like there’s no room!

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[Bigbeanbird]

I don't want to be discouraging, but I think you need to take this car to a trans shop and have someone install it. Clutch needs to be aligned before installing trans, and if there is no locating dowel the problem wont go away for long.

This car will need a new crank if this problem isnt fixed

Right

 

[RubyEclipse]

Well, I just had this piece come off. Is it important? And what’s it called.

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I did find where the dowel should be so I know I lined it up correctly. I found where it was supposed to be, but even if I had it, how do I make it stay in there?

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[pauleyman]

Its probably more equipment than you have. I like to support the motor with a jack and lift the trans with a cherry picker. Ive done it with just one jack but on a 2g it sucks because there are no motor mounts. You can also use an engine fender support but not many people have those either. I think that's what they show in the factory manual.

 

[RubyEclipse]

Its probably more equipment than you have. I like to support the motor with a jack and lift the trans with a cherry picker. Ive done it with just one jack but on a 2g it sucks because there are no motor mounts. You can also use an engine fender support but not many people have those either. I think that's what they show in the factory manual.

I can definitely try that if you think it will work better! I have a cherry picker right here that I purchased to take the engine out. So I can definitely use it if you think it’ll work better.

 

[pauleyman]

I did find where the dowel should be so I know I lined it up correctly. I found where it was supposed to be, but even if I had it, how do I make it stay in there?

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I dont understand the question. Make what stay in there?

 

[Bigbeanbird]

We already gave you torque specs. 14 ft/lbs

You do have a torque wrench, right

 

[pauleyman]

Trans hanging from a single point on a chain is nearly level. One of the two trans mount holes works great.

 

[RubyEclipse]

You do have a torque wrench, right

Yes, but it does not go low enough for 14. I tried and it just doesn’t even kind of click.

I dont understand the question. Make what stay in there?

If I replace the crank dowel, how am I sure it doesn’t come out? And isn’t it too late since I have everything on?

 

[CrackedDSM]

Tap the crank dowel in with a plastic mallet or some kind of softer metal than the dowel or the crank. It fits in there with force/tight tolerances. I doubt it just came out the first time, and if its in there super loose that's a problem. It was probably removed for whatever reason crackhead former owners do the things they do, and just never replaced.

Buy a small 1/4 or 3/8ths torque wrench from Amazon. FT/LBS or even one in in/lbs would be fine, just use a converter for in/lbs to ft/lbs. I've got a small eBay digital 3/8ths torque wrench I use that goes down really low. Mechanical one would also be fine. 14 ft/lbs is basically like barely past hand tight with a 1/4" ratchet.


Edit - I meant to add, brother make a build thread. It's a better way to have a record of your build/journey/problems.

 

[Bigbeanbird]

Tap the crank dowel in with a plastic mallet or some kind of softer metal than the dowel or the crank. It fits in there with force/tight tolerances. I doubt it just came out the first time, and if its in there super loose that's a problem. It was probably removed for whatever reason crackhead former owners do the things they do, and just never replaced.

Buy a small 1/4 or 3/8ths torque wrench from Amazon. FT/LBS or even one in in/lbs would be fine, just use a converter for in/lbs to ft/lbs. I've got a small eBay digital 3/8ths torque wrench I use that goes down really low. Mechanical one would also be fine. 14 ft/lbs is basically like barely past hand tight with a 1/4" ratchet.


Edit - I meant to add, brother make a build thread. It's a better way to have a record of your build/journey/problems.

yeah, usually a dowel will be a very close tolerance and for one to be dangling around is a problem.. i would suggest that however you put the dowel back in, make sure its all clean..!! and i think im gonna buy myself an inch lb 1/4 in torque wrench, just to have.. man Ruby, seems like the car came with plenty of issues.. ive been watching this thread since day one and its looks challenging for sure.. dont lose track of common sense either, start overthinking things(like i do allot..!!)
press on grasshopper, the rewards will be plentiful..!!

 

[RubyEclipse]

yeah, usually a dowel will be a very close tolerance and for one to be dangling around is a problem.. i would suggest that however you put the dowel back in, make sure its all clean..!! and i think im gonna buy myself an inch lb 1/4 in torque wrench, just to have.. man Ruby, seems like the car came with plenty of issues.. ive been watching this thread since day one and its looks challenging for sure.. dont lose track of common sense either, start overthinking things(like i do allot..!!)
press on grasshopper, the rewards will be plentiful..!!

I pray they will!! I have really really been trying to keep it together and not sell this car.

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Well, I will put this out there. On half of my builds (anything with an aftermarket crank), I DON'T use the dowel for the crank. Its an alignment dowel. My ARP bolts and orange locktite work just fine and I've never ever worried about that dowel. If it's there, cool, if it's not, that's fine with me. When i take the parts to my balancing shop, they never ask about it either.
On your clutch plate bolts, tighten them down with a rachet TITE, don't try to break them off, but 14 ft/lbs (168 in/lbs) isn't very tite. I over tighten mine. I don't want that SOB coming loose and making new holes and I use Orange locktite on them also.
This is just MY way, take it or leave it.
Pops

 

[RubyEclipse]

Well, I will put this out there. On half of my builds (anything with an aftermarket crank), I DON'T use the dowel for the crank. Its an alignment dowel. My ARP bolts and orange locktite work just find and I've never ever worried about that dowel. If it's there, cool, if it's not, that's fine with me. When i take the parts to my balancing shop, they never ask about it either.
On your clutch plate bolts, tighten them down with a rachet TITE, don't try to break them off, but 14 ft/lbs (168 in/lbs) isn't very tite. I over tighten mine. I don't want that SOB coming loose and making new holes and I use Orange locktite on them also.
This is just MY way, take it or leave it.
Pops

I like the orange loctite idea. I think that’s a great way of doing things, just to be sure it doesn’t come loose. I think I will do that too not going to lie.

 

[Bigbeanbird]

I think talon is right on the money, it’s the bolts that hold things, not the dowel.. that’s purely for location like a cam or a crank sensor.. and 14 lbs torque?? I’d just run em down till snug with the thread goo.. the only worry there is pulling threads from aluminum.. that’s common sense kinda stuff

 

[pauleyman]

I think talon is right on the money, it’s the bolts that hold things, not the dowel.. that’s purely for location like a cam or a crank sensor.. and 14 lbs torque?? I’d just run em down till snug with the thread goo.. the only worry there is pulling threads from aluminum.. that’s common sense kinda stuff

Aluminum??

 

[Bigbeanbird]

Aluminum??

Well yeah Paul, like aluminum vs steel.. I can pull kinda hard on aluminum and pull the threads out, in steel it’s quite a bit tougher to do

 

[pauleyman]

Well yeah Paul, like aluminum vs steel.. I can pull kinda hard on aluminum and pull the threads out, in steel it’s quite a bit tougher to do

What i meant was there is no aluminum there. Its all steel.

 

[Bigbeanbird]

What i meant was there is no aluminum there. Its all steel.

‘‘twas a general term, kinda aimed at Ruby as a ‘rule of thumb’.. I’ve pulled some threads in my days and it ain’t fun, so be careful grasshopper…

 

[pauleyman]

‘‘twas a general term, kinda aimed at Ruby as a ‘rule of thumb’.. I’ve pulled some threads in my days and it ain’t fun, so be careful grasshopper…

Thank you for your wisdom Master Po.

 

[Justin DuBois]

Thank you for your wisdom Master Po.

Teach Kung Fu? I couldn't teach paulyman Kung Fu - and he already knows Kung Fu!!

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