By way of introduction, and about to buy my first dsm

[Antiqueford]

It's getting too expensive to drive a v8 everywhere, so I'm looking at a 1995 eclipse rs with a 420a and a 5-spd. It has some unknown engine issues and doesn't run, but the body and interior are clean.

I'm guessing that some timing problems are causing the issue, since spinning a cam sprocket or jumping teeth seem to be common in these engines. Also the craigslist posting says it didn't have any oil in it when they got it.

So I'm going to assume that we have a block with bad mains, scored cylinder walls, and rings made of slag, and a head with two free spinning cam gears, a broken timing belt, and 16 pretzel-shaped valves.

The price tag is $895

A friend of mine has a complete and good short block sitting around (uncovered, however) for the past few years, and a matching head with a bad exhaust cam. The casting itself is in good condition, as well as the intake side of things. These parts I can get for $50

Craigslist has plenty of postings with used cams in good condition around $50, valves are about $10 a piece, and the parts store has everything else I will need. what I'm trying to do is prepare for any and all surprises (as if that's possible).

What should I look for when I go look at this thing tomorrow? Are there any common pitfalls that a DSM noob like me is gonna fall into when I dig into this project?

Since its costing me about $2,000,000 a week to put gas in my truck, I wanna have this thing on the road asap, any suggestions and advice will be greatly appreciated.

 

[thatblondechik]

Engine is an engine is an engine when it come to building. You obviously aren't a mechanical n00b so the knowledge you have should be more than sufficient to dig into the project at hand.

For NT specific info, I'd recommend doing a couple quick searches. The majority of the well-knowledgeable guys on here are 4G63 whores, so it's a little more difficult to get abundant answers. But after a little research, PM one of the NT Wisemen with more questions.

Another option (not that I'm downplaying Tuners here at all), try lurking around some Dodge Neon forums. Might get a couple ideas we didn't know to think of.

 

[Diamondrev]

2GNT.com - home

 

[fastbike02]

I used to be a neon guy, make sure you get a new timming tensioner, they are bad to go out besides that the 2.0nt is a hell of a motor to kill. I ran one with a bad headgasket for 30k added 3 quarts of oil when the oil light would come on, finally got the hg changed and put another 100k on the motor before I sold it.

 

[Tanro]

I imagine all the standard things would apply.

New Oil Pump
New Water Pump
Timing Belt/Chain and Tensioner as well as guides if that applys.

Etc Etc. I dont really know crap about the 420a other than they come in neons and n/t eclipses and that I hate chrysler with a burning burning passion and refuse to own one.