Cost of a new engine swap?

[Corbic]

I'm seriously thinking about buying a particular 2G DSM.

1995 Talon turbo, 145k miles. Second owner for 9 years, older lady, just used it to commute back and forth about an hour and half a day.
Car is clean, one of the cleanest I've seen in real life. Only has some surface rust in the engine bay and in the trunk floor (common spot). Rides good, perfect interior.

Car however is only as peppy as a V6 Sedan (like a Taurus). I've never had the chance to drive a GS-T out here, they are actualy rather rare. The GS and RS are fairly common. The car is faster then a RS but its no "2003 330ic", "SRT-4" or "WRX".

I'm going to have it inspected, I doubt anything will come back, its not blowing smoke, overheating, roughing or anything.

Car also has had a waterpump replacement, and a starter replacement, it may have had a timing belt swaped at 80k.

If I buy the car and in a few months or whatever the engine dies, what can I expect to pay to get a new engine, (the body is great). Also what should I have fixed right now and what can I expect to pay for it?.

I'm guessing the fallowing. Wires and plugs, hoses, head-gasket, belts and maybe swap out the old gears and pullies for new modern light weight ones. What about the turbo? Does it need replaced? Is that a DIY or a shop job? I'm an idiot on car repairs so assume I dont even know what a turbo looks like. Saddly I realy am not connected to anyone who knows more about cars then I do already.

 

[spades_gsx]

I am currently getting a motor swap. (just a replacement, not a 6 bolt or built motor.)
the replacment motor has roughly 30,000 or so miles. I don't have the resources to do the swap my self and it has put me $3000 in the hole. It can be done ALOT cheaper if you rebuild yourself and also do the labor.

 

[evolvingGS-t]

All depends on YOU! If you want internals done or stay stock internals. If you upgrade your turbo then you'll want to check into built motors.

 

[Corbic]

3,000 isn't bad.
I simply dont have the tools or knowleged. I have basic hand tools, no lift, or anything. This will be a second car, so "speed" isnt a problem. When you say "rebuilt" what does that entitle?

 

[spades_gsx]

3,000 isn't bad.
I simply dont have the tools or knowleged. I have basic hand tools, no lift, or anything. This will be a second car, so "speed" isnt a problem. When you say "rebuilt" what does that entitle?

rebuilt to the factory specs. pretty much the way it came from the factory. well the long block atleast.

 

[Corbic]

All depends on YOU! If you want internals done or stay stock internals. If you upgrade your turbo then you'll want to check into built motors.

My Goal is 235whp on a RELIEABLE car. That’s about it. GS-Ts don't seem common around here and at this price they normally have problems, blowing smoke, faint knock et al. They also have been threw 4-5 owners and have been covered in cheap crappy mods, 40$ cans, lowered on crummy springs and cheap stereo decks.

I would be jumping for joy if the car in question had less then 100k miles. Sadly it’s at 145k and regardless of care and what not I'm concerned.

 

[Corbic]

rebuilt to the factory specs. pretty much the way it came from the factory. well the long block atleast.

Any idea on a rebuild cost? Would this be more or lest desirable then a swap? I'd also be worried about the new egines history and potential errors in installing or what not.

 

[spades_gsx]

your block has 145k you could wait and let it go on its own ich would probably cost you more money to fix. thats if you don't tear up the block. I f have the money and the patience. pul the block now and just get a rebuild with machining and parts it should cost you around about $2000-$3000. if you want about 230 or so hp. then the rebuild and stage one mods the will get you close to that number. your stock fuel system will handle that amount of hp.

 

[Jeff_Jeske]

Since you have a 2g with high miles.....you probably have a good motor that is not going to crankwalk on you. If you rebuild or replace a known good motor all you get is a motor with unknown history or more possible problems.

The only thing I would do to that car is replace the timing belt. 145k on a stock 4g63 it all that many. You may need to get a replacement turbo though.

I have 130k on my 98 GSX and it has great compression....I doubt it will take a dump anytime soon.

 

[spades_gsx]

Since you have a 2g with high miles.....you probably have a good motor that is not going to crankwalk on you. If you rebuild or replace a known good motor all you get is a motor with unknown history or more possible problems.

The only thing I would do to that car is replace the timing belt. 145k on a stock 4g63 it all that many. You may need to get a replacement turbo though.

I have 130k on my 98 GSX and it has great compression....I doubt it will take a dump anytime soon.

thats what I thought about my motor, great compression, ran great, then one day out of the blue it got rod knock on the highway. lucky me!

 

[spades_gsx]

Since you have a 2g with high miles.....you probably have a good motor that is not going to crankwalk on you. If you rebuild or replace a known good motor all you get is a motor with unknown history or more possible problems.

The only thing I would do to that car is replace the timing belt. 145k on a stock 4g63 it all that many. You may need to get a replacement turbo though.

I have 130k on my 98 GSX and it has great compression....I doubt it will take a dump anytime soon.

thats what I thought about my motor,97k miles, great compression, ran great, then one day out of the blue it got rod knock on the highway. lucky me!

 

[spades_gsx]

I have no idea how i just did that.

 

[Corbic]

ewww rod-knock. Happens to the best of us it seems, regardless of miles. I had a 97 Golf with 70k miles, religous oil changes and I started to hear a tapping. Traded that sucker in, judge ye not, for they told it me it was one owner when I got it, I latter found out the one owner was Hertz.

 

[95GSXBLUR]

I have a 95 GSX with 94500 miles on it... and i also just recently got rod knock. it sucks.

So i'm pulling the motor for a JDM 6 Bolt... i'm leaving all the interals stock and just replacing all the gaskets i can without tearing into the block. do this conversion if you read you have to have a few different parts and some time.. I'm doing all the labor myself and so far it's cost me: $1200 for the motor (that's with a turbo, injectors, manifolds, fuel rail, etc.. most of which i'm replacing) and another $800 for misc parts that i need for the swap. I'm in about $2000 right now and i don't see it going much higher, but this is the swap you'd want to do if you decide to get a new motor.. I'm sure you've heard about the 6 bolt vs. 7 bolt stories.

either rebuild that one you have with stock parts... because it seems like your 7 bolt is just fine, or get a six bolt swap. it'd be more reliable that way.

 

[95GSXBLUR]

they told it me it was one owner when I got it, I latter found out the one owner was Hertz.

wow, the worst pre-owner to have! that sucks man. but engines break.. they all do. regardless

 

[Corbic]

wow, the worst pre-owner to have! that sucks man. but engines break.. they all do. regardless

Yes, it explained a large amount of the problems the car had.

Also can a local shop or dealer do a six-bolt or is that something I would have to do myself? As for the difference I've just heard six-bolt do not have the crank-walk problem and not as prone to rod-knock or bearing problems. Other wise they are the same right?

Any credible DSM shops in the midwest, Chicago is real close (2 hours).

 

[spades_gsx]

check my profile or profiles of other chicago dsmers for shops of choice.

 

[95GSXBLUR]

6 bolts aren't hard to swap. there are places to find out how to do them, a local shop could do them.. provided they knew what they were doing. the driver side engine mount has to modified, the knock sensor and cam angle sensor have to be reqired. and the plug wires have to be swapped around... nothing very difficult.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=152329

there are many more.. check out

www.roadraceengineering.com
www.magnusmotorsports.com

they'll help you with the swap. it's exactly what i'm going through right now.. 'cept i'm not really that stock mods are in the profile. lemme know if you have more questions.. FWD is a little easier than AWD too.. so you'll be fine.