2g n/t hp upgrades

[AirborneShark]

I came to own a 99 Eclipse GS (420a) pretty cheap, so I dont feel too bad, even though I have been doin a lot of research and have foun that my options are kinda limited with it, as far as upgrades, and the performance it will ever achieve. I have read the Tech guide Tech Guide: 2G 420A Power Upgrades - DSMtuners , as far as what to upgrade, now I would like some recomendations as far as the product combinations. I have talked to some members who have put in over 15k to yhe same car I have, and they say they arent satisfied at all, but then I have read on other forums, people are getting 450hp with a little mod.

 

[AirborneShark]

http://www.dsmtuners.com/tuning-guide/2gturbo/stage1power.php I also found this very helpful. But again just need product suggestions.

 

[LLs420a]

Be sure the car is in top running condition before you start adding even basic mods. There could be some major problems (depending on how much you bought the car for) that may need to be addressed before hand. I started with intake (HKS, however, even ebay intakes will provide decent amounts of airflow compared to your stock intake). Are you looking for massive power, or just a little more than what you have now? The turbo route seems to be the way to go, however, not everybody can deal with the budget.

 

[bagged420a]

In reality, I've spent like 5K(300ish whp) on my engine and I am more than satified. Of course if I would have known then what I know now I could have saved some cash and put more power down, but its a hobbie.

 

[rush2252]

In my honest opinion after owning a 99 GS and now a 95 Tsi awd is this. Clean up the car perform all the maintenance and DD it. Then shop around and find a good deal on a turbo car. If your lucky and bought the GS cheap enough you can turn it and be ahead with a factory turbo car. This discussion has been talked about over and over. Bullet is the fastest NA and hes running like 13s Ive seen a few mods lists on some other members who have spent upwards of 5k on a motor only to see mid 14s.


Kolby


If you still want to mod the 420a after researching its pretty much a waste of time. By now your not the first to try it and there have been alot of people dump money in them only to BOOST them and have decent numbers or sale them and go factory turbo. Either way its alot of money if you wanna go fast gotta pay the price

 

[bagged420a]

Bullet is the fastest NA and hes running like 13s Ive seen a few mods lists on some other members who have spent upwards of 5k on a motor only to see mid 14s.

If you still want to mod the 420a after researching its pretty much a waste of time.

Yea, because with a little under 5k in the engine the only thing holding my 420a from 400whp+ is the turbo...what a waste of time?

 

[rush2252]

I understand your new but please dont spread bad info on these boards.

The 420a sits backwards compared to a 4g63 so basically with the money that he would dump into swapping motors he could find a good 4g63 car from the start.

The 420a is a good engine. Just not a power house. But to each is its own.

but please do us all a favor and read up some more.

Not trying to put any ideas out there or hijack a thread, but I have noticed the EVO's engine sits oposite the regular DSM 4G63. Ive heard rumors of it being done somebody on here claimed they did it with a buddy. Anybody confirm this and is it more economical than aftermarket turbo kits and tuning?


Kolby

 

[bagged420a]

Not trying to put any ideas out there or hijack a thread, but I have noticed the EVO's engine sits oposite the regular DSM 4G63. Ive heard rumors of it being done somebody on here claimed they did it with a buddy. Anybody confirm this and is it more economical than aftermarket turbo kits and tuning?


Kolby

I've seen it in a 3g but not 2g...would be interesting, I use to think about it alot

 

[PIMking]

Not trying to put any ideas out there or hijack a thread, but I have noticed the EVO's engine sits oposite the regular DSM 4G63. Ive heard rumors of it being done somebody on here claimed they did it with a buddy. Anybody confirm this and is it more economical than aftermarket turbo kits and tuning?


Kolby

the later evo motors are kinda like a half brother to our motors. Same Father (design) different mother (placement) Evo 3 motors I belive can be swapped but who cares reall? JDM doesn't mean squat really to us other than having a JDM motor..

 

[dsmeclipsex]

In my honest opinion after owning a 99 GS and now a 95 Tsi awd is this. Clean up the car perform all the maintenance and DD it. Then shop around and find a good deal on a turbo car. If your lucky and bought the GS cheap enough you can turn it and be ahead with a factory turbo car. This discussion has been talked about over and over. Bullet is the fastest NA and hes running like 13s Ive seen a few mods lists on some other members who have spent upwards of 5k on a motor only to see mid 14s.


Kolby


If you still want to mod the 420a after researching its pretty much a waste of time. By now your not the first to try it and there have been alot of people dump money in them only to BOOST them and have decent numbers or sale them and go factory turbo. Either way its alot of money if you wanna go fast gotta pay the price

I pretty much agree. I drove a 1993 Integra LS Special Edition daily for about 2 years. I picked it up for around 1800. Cleaned it up a bit, new clutch, etc. Ended up about 2150 into it, drove it for 30k miles... Sold it for 2800. Bought my TSI for 2500, dumped the extra cash for registration and smog.

So, all in all, Baby the car and flip it when the economy gets worse and fuel prices go up. Basically it comes down to this: Can you afford the habitual breaking of parts that comes with a powerful DSM? Would you rather have reliability? Is this is a hobby? Is this something you're very serious about doing? Do you have a bunch of money to throw at the thousand problems you ARE going to have (Never a MAYBE with DSMs.) Ill be honest. My first DSM was a 1996 Eclipse GST, bought it with 65k miles, didn't start having problems until about 90k (Crankwalk). I was in too big of a hurry to dump parts into it. (Got my Cams, Big 16G, front mount IC, Evo III Manifold, KN FIPK, Magnecore wires, bigger injectors, etc) I was new... best way to describe it. No SAFC, no tuning software... well you get the point, the beat on my motor was the effect.

I guess with all my rambling, my point is, save yourself some cash and get a TSI, GSX, or GST as a SECOND car. That way you're not daily driving your toy. You'll break less parts =P

 

[rush2252]

the later evo motors are kinda like a half brother to our motors. Same Father (design) different mother (placement) Evo 3 motors I belive can be swapped but who cares reall? JDM doesn't mean squat really to us other than having a JDM motor..

Common sense if you read my post states I was referring to putting one (4G63T) under the hood of a 420a so im not sure what part of my statement your attacking. The point I made was the evo motors at least face the right direction and fabbing mounts isnt rocket science. It would be a far cry easier than hacking one up for a DSM 4G63

If im getting defensive for no reason disregard this
My point was there is that route if he really wanted to make this car go fast. What most people fail to realize is when people say I bought a GS cheap and wanna make it fast they usually want to keep that particular car because they dont have money to buy another and figure they have most of what they need in the car. Then after researching they realize its not as cut and dry as I have the car now lets make it fast....

Kolby

 

[doobycareful]

Heres a good starting point if you wanna strengthen your internals

http://www.2gnt.com/www/corbin/rebuild.html

 

[AirborneShark]

Wow, I really appreciate all the info. I am 100% new to DSM, tuners in general actually. So again, to my research, Isnt putting a new engine in my car (99 Eclipse gs 420a) going to be very pricey? Like 5k just in parts. But Bagged....You have almost 400 WHP, and are around that same 5k mark right? Or would it be all together better to take that money and buy a different car? This car I got cheap, and It will most likely be a daily driver. I am not looking for a 10 sec car, just something fast, and fun. And with some mods will easily dust the assholes in thier sports cars down here in south fl.

 

[bagged420a]

in a month or so after I switch out turbos I'll be around 400ish(hopefully). And the only reason I would consider another car is the awd platform{or anything other than fwd if your interested in a different car altogether}. Doesn't make since to me to spend extra money on the gst when you could just build yours and be about the same money spent wise.

 

[AirborneShark]

And your still around the 5k mark? Knowing all you know now, is there anything you would have changed, or maybe purchased this rather than that, went straight for the turbo your about to buy, rather than the one you did? Are you selling you old turbo?

 

[bagged420a]

If I knew everything I know now, I might have tried to piece a kit together instead of purchasing the kit. But the kit(hahn) is very nice, everything you need right there with step by step instructions. I more than likely would have not gotten the bigger turbo because I was building the car during my senior year in high school and my goals were much lower hp wise. But after 3 years its time to step it up again. And yes, I'll be selling my turbo when I get the new one.

EDIT: Price list, Rebuilt engine=1500; Hahn stage II turbo kit=3500; Portfueler(used and came with 550cc injectors)=650
Total=5650...All the work was done by me and my father, so if your planing on a shop doing it for you it
will obviously cost much more

 

[AirborneShark]

OK.... so after re-reading everything again. Should I just keep and upgrade the 420a, or buy a 4g63 and fabricate it to fit, then mod that? I am a regualr guy and dont have tons of money. But I am looking for the most bang for the buck.

 

[kergilman]

If I knew everything I know now, I might have tried to piece a kit together instead of purchasing the kit. But the kit(hahn) is very nice, everything you need right there with step by step instructions. I more than likely would have not gotten the bigger turbo because I was building the car during my senior year in high school and my goals were much lower hp wise. But after 3 years its time to step it up again. And yes, I'll be selling my turbo when I get the new one.

EDIT: Price list, Rebuilt engine=1500; Hahn stage II turbo kit=3500; Portfueler(used and came with 550cc injectors)=650
Total=5650...All the work was done by me and my father, so if your planing on a shop doing it for you it
will obviously cost much more

+1 The Hahn kit is very solid with years of research into it with the 420a engine (higher compression engine then the 4g63). I initially purchased the stage 1 kit ($1k less in price) and ran that for a while (this was a learning project for me) where afterwards I then purchased an ebay fmic and piping, 26lb injectors, and 9 psi w/g to take it to stage 2. I used to hate every ratty little honda/integra reving there little POS's next to me everywhere in town, I now welcome it. Doing the work yourself is well worth the heartache compared to what you learn in the process...

 

[AirborneShark]

What all does the hahn kit include? Is it like a entire package deal, with turbo, cai, ect.

Because I was looking at the AEM V2, for a CAI, AEM - V2 Air Induction System
It says in the descript NA, so does that mean I cant run bottle with this?

 

[mnr88talon]

If im getting defensive for no reason disregard this
My point was there is that route if he really wanted to make this car go fast. What most people fail to realize is when people say I bought a GS cheap and wanna make it fast they usually want to keep that particular car because they dont have money to buy another and figure they have most of what they need in the car. Then after researching they realize its not as cut and dry as I have the car now lets make it fast....

Kolby

wow, this sums up my whole life story.. i got my car for $1 so i cant complain but still i have givin up on n/t

if your really looking to make your 420a fast, the best way to go is turbo charging it. But would cost someone like me anywhere from $1000 to $3000.. I would prefer to have a 4g63 which would probably be more reliable than my 160xxx mile 420a so it would be pointless for me to blow that much money when i could put towards a GSX/TSX.. It was fun (and a little bit of a learning experience) to slap on intakes catbacks sparkplugs etc, but after that my car still wasnt that fast and there really wasnt much else i could do