2gnt rebuild questions

[talonation777]

I'm planning on rebuilding my 2gnt, I was going to rebuild my current engine, but have decided to buy a spare engine to build instead. I have thought about turboing the car, but I think I'm going to leave it NA.

I've made a list of things to replace on the top and bottom end;

Top End:
-Lifters
-Rockers
-Timing Belt
-Head gasket
-Cams
-Cam gears
-Valve springs/retainers

Bottom End:
-Rod bearing
-Main bearing
-Oil pump
-Oil pan gasket
-Rear main seal
-Rods
-Pistons
-Piston Rings
-Head studs/main studs

After reviewing my list and doing research, I have a couple questions..

1. What kind of cams and cam gears will work well together?
2. Can I use stock lifters, rockers, springs and retainers?
3. I'm not going to lower the compression because I don't think I'm turboing the car, but what compression ratio should I get, 10:5:1 or 12:1?

Those are the questions I have now, but I am also wondering what things I will need to buy at the dealership, and what parts are going to be aftermarket?

I'm not trying to build a race car or anything like that, I just want a solid NA that'll give some cars a good run for there money.

Any help or advice would be great for me at this point, I've never rebuilt an engine, and am excited to get this project started.

 

[KnightHawk434th]

I don't know much but I will try to help as much as I can...

1)Basically any type of adjustable cam gears (AEM Tru-Time, unorthodox, ebay...your choice and is only limited to how much you want to spend) will work with any cams. If you had a choice, go with a Crower 2 or 3s. You idle will suffer, but you will get a better gain than Crower 1s. In order to unleash the true power of your cams, you will want to get adjustable gears and have them dyno tuned.

2)Lifters/rockers you should be able to reuse, but it is advised to go with PT Cruiser Lifters and I'm not sure about rockers. Do some searching on them for that answer. As for valve springs and retainers, ONLY if you upgrade no more than Crower 1s will you be able to reuse these, but it's advised to get new anyway. Crower 2 and 3s require stronger springs/retainers (most likely titanium) or you risk valve float.

3)Go with a 10.5. Eventually up aroudn there you run into the point of deminishing returns. I don't think the gain is all that much over 10.5. Ask bulletdsm for more information on that. He has a 2 cars...1 with 10.5 and 1 with 12.1. Besides, if you go with 10.5 it leaves you room to turbo your car without having to change your CR. 10.5 is the max you should go if you are turbo though, much higher and you might break something. Also do some searching on that, but I think 10.5 would be your best bet.

Rebuilding can be tough and is indeed very time consuming. Make sure you follow EVERYTHING to proper torque specs and make sure you do EVERYTHING by the book the first time and do it right. It sucks to take on the project and realize you forgot something and have to tear into it again, or decide to go cheap and reuse a couple gaskets and have to replace them all over again shortly down the road (I've been in that boat a few times...currently am right now). Incase you don't have one, here is the link to the factory serive manual. Good bible to follow during a rebuild and it's free. 2gnt_420a_overhaul.pdf I'm no expert, but I hope that helps.

 

[RSTeclipse97]

If your gonna keep it n/a than the more compression the better IMO. Most aftermarket cams require stronger springs and retainers, etc. Depending on your goal of performance should determine how to build. It will cost you more money to make an N/A produce the power of a turboed car. I just turboed mine recently and all i can say is bring on the 4g63's, Im not scared. You can buy all the internalls gaskets,bearings, pistons, rods, etc for under 1200 and you can buy a used kit or piece one together for 1500 or less depending how good you want it. My OP is go turbo you wont be disapointed. My buddy with the 4g63 said my car will probably out run his and i'm not even close to having the fuel system i want. You have to do nothing to the head at all but working it a bit will help.

 

[Shadow98]

If you're going to put that much money into your car, you might as well go turbo. So far I think bulletdsm is the only one who has made >200whp n/a. Just something to think about...

 

[diamond_rev]

first off your going to run into detionation problems if you run 12.1 and pump gas.. so go with 10.5... and also 10.5 is way to high to turbo your car, unless your going to fine tune it.

just keep it nt, rebuild the motor, high cr, pt lifter/rockers, eagle rods, crower stage 2, aem cams ect.. then instead of going turbo(more Money) get a 75 shot of spray..