97 420A build. From the ground up.

[1g8420a]

Ok, so my wife wanted 2g Eclipse since her teens (so have I).. So we set out to find a GSX or GST. We looked for several months almost a year. I think we both got impatient after about 7 months. My wife didn't really care if it was N/T or Turbo she just liked it for its looks. We found a Eclipse about two miles from the house that was in ok shape. but it was the 420A. I hated the fact that my wife wanted it so bad. but, it did have low mileage (90K) They wanted like $3,900 after I drove it I talked him down to $2,200 (bad throwout bearing and clutch did not have much left and it had white smoke coming out of the Exhaust.)

I have never so much as have worked on a car besides the very basics (changing a battery, tire, and oil changes) I know about these cars due to the research I have done. SO TIPS ARE Great! I have a long history in Racing I have driven a NON-Wing sprint car and helped lots of crews work on the cars on race night. Working on this car is all new to me but, have Enjoyed all the time I have spent on it.

So we bought it and took it for a drive and I knew I had a long road Ahead. I got home and disconnected the battery and started by disconnecting all wiring and I have Labeled them all. removed the valve cover timing belt and,cams.
I have taken the cylinder head to a machine shop and had them do a cleaning and surface. I just ordered Manley Springs and, TI retainers. that is where I am currently at.

GOALS:
Turbo charge the car at 10:5:1 Compression. (at lower boost levels 7 psi) right now I am gonna take the block out and replace the rods and pistons eagle and JE 10:5:1. I wanted to find a LW crank but I have not found one just yet.

I have not heard of anyone boosting a 420A at 10:5 let me know if this is possible! Then again I am a NOOB. I hope you all enjoy my progress I will keep you posted.

 

[Slo2gen]

There have been quite a few people boosting these motors at 10.5:1, much less common than the standard 8.8 or even 9.6:1 builds and much more fun!

 

[genegoesfast]

Some e85 would be awesome with those compression levels/boost.

 

[Slo2gen]

Some e85 would be awesome with those compression levels/boost.

exactly!

 

[compression]

Thats quite an aggressive piston, it would work really well on e85 but i would not run it if you were looking to use like a 93 pump kind of gas.

A 9.6 would be awesome though, still quite high on compression ratio but not overkill.

What kind of engine management were you planning on using? i am going to assume not just the norm fmu or safc. as im sure you will need to be playing with the timing quite a bit on a 10.5 engine.

HOWEVER i do not deny a 10.5cr would be sick as hell, it just isnt as practical on the street and would probably be more prone to failure.

 

[1g8420a]

Thats quite an aggressive piston, it would work really well on e85 but i would not run it if you were looking to use like a 93 pump kind of gas.

A 9.6 would be awesome though, still quite high on compression ratio but not overkill.

What kind of engine management were you planning on using? i am going to assume not just the norm fmu or safc. as im sure you will need to be playing with the timing quite a bit on a 10.5 engine.

HOWEVER i do not deny a 10.5cr would be sick as hell, it just isnt as practical on the street and would probably be more prone to failure.

Stock RSX type S engine that has 11:1 cr. runs on 91.. It will run on pump gas. I have not made up my mind on the engine management side of things just yet but, leaning towards a MS system.

 

[Fotowntalon]

If memory serves me right, the RSX is also an NA application. Now it is proven that 10.5 can be done on pump gas, just think you should know there are a lot of factors determining what CR can be used on pump gas

 

[compression]

I would still lean towards 9.6:1 you could run 15 psi and have just as much fun , and the engine will be alot more forgiving as far as fuel type or tuning. why exactly are you looking for 10.5:1 is it for the off boost pep? or the just the overall more potential for power? because like i said you could just turn the boost up to 15 psi and be in the same ball park.

Have you considered the 2.4 stroker? that may be something of interest for you.

 

[1g8420a]

I would still lean towards 9.6:1 you could run 15 psi and have just as much fun , and the engine will be alot more forgiving as far as fuel type or tuning. why exactly are you looking for 10.5:1 is it for the off boost pep? or the just the overall more potential for power? because like i said you could just turn the boost up to 15 psi and be in the same ball park.

Have you considered the 2.4 stroker? that may be something of interest for you.

I basically Like 10:5 for it's potential, I definitely get that it may be touchy as far as fuel goes .. My overall goal is to make approx 400hp and still have a good street drive-ability. I don't like the thought of lowering my CR to achive higher boost numbers (in my opinion you're taking away power to gain power) I am a noob, I appreciate everyone's input and opinion of what works I have not made any decsion or bought anything just yet but looking to do so soon. and I will look into 9:6.

 

[1g8420a]

It's Been a while since I had posted any progress on the build of "curley" (the wife made me name the car) since my last post I have changed things up a bit. instead of forged internals I went with hypereutectic pistons and Re-manufactured rods. OEM rods are made of "powder metals" = not strong I did the reman's are made of cast iron. anyhow did this to save a few bucks for boost and amongst other mods I would like to make. I also ordered A Spec D tuning Cat back exhaust for $116.00<--very nice Cat back system for the price.) a new high flow cat. as well as Meagan Racing Headers (I know what you're thinking) I did this so I can start the car and drive it until I can have all of the turbo application parts installed. which I do not have. I was told that the Sealed power Piston is a 10:2 CR piston (i will see about that) will have a CR test done to see if this is true. I also ran into some trouble with DSM GY on shipping and wrong parts being shipped that was a major month of ClusterF***s. For those that are interested I will have the car running next week and will post a video of the first start stay tuned.

 

[1g8420a]

Getting close just a few more things to do right on schedule

 

[Fotowntalon]

instead of forged internals I went with hypereutectic pistons and Re-manufactured rods. OEM rods are made of "powder metals" = not strong I did the reman's are made of cast iron. anyhow did this to save a few bucks for boost and amongst other mods I would like to make.

Best of luck, but this right here is a recipe for disaster.... If anything at all, internals are the last thing you want to cheap out on... also, may just be the way that picture looks, but that one rod looks kind of bent.

 

[Josh97eclipse]

^^^ Agreed. Can you get pics of the exhaust on the car? im in the market for a new one and this one looks to be nice.

 

[1g8420a]

Yeah the old OEM Rod was bent. Hydrolock the previous owner of the car drove it into a fat puddle with cold air intake. The new rods are not bent. As far as the Exhaust goes if you type in Nitrokid98 on you tube, he reviewed the exhaust and his review helped me alot on the decsion. I hope the rods will hold up. I guess we will see... PM me if you want the info of where I got the exhaust from.

Hypereutectic Pistons are by far an upgrade over cast. and if you run forged where i live with out an engine heater that could be disastrous. the reason for going with a re manufactured rod is that the pistons are not full floating. so I had to run this rod otherwise I would have ran an eagle. I do Understand where you are coming from though.