eBay engine re-build kits

[timuh60]

Hey Guys. I bought a 95' Eagle Talon Tsi to fix up for my son since he will be turning 16 soon. The engine needs a little freshening up to be a bit more reliable so i thought I would try my hand at overhauling it. Since this is for my 16 year old, I want to keep it pretty much stock. That said, there is a huge difference in price from one kit to the other and I am sure it is based on the quality to handle the high number of modifications and upgrades done for more power. I see eBay has some very inexpensive kits for a stock rebuild. Anyone have experience with these kits and do you think they would be fine for stock rebuild?

 

[Tre3zy]

there fine but i wouldnt use the front case, oil filter housing and some of the important gasket from it though.... a buddy of mine used the NIPPON RACING one for his front case and that thing leaked and its a bi*** to do it in the car so if i were you id buy the OEM front case and oil filter housing.... and trust me you can see the difference on the materials they use....

 

[tenn-gsx]

Another VERY good option that is reasonable for a stock rebuild is partsdionsaur.

 

[Junfan]

I hate to sound this way but this is the way that a DSM gets the reputation as being unreliable. Please order OEM parts from places like Extreme PSI, MAP etc... get a set of real shop manuals and do the small things like replace old dry rotted hoses, clamps and whatnot. You will not regret it when your son is not stranded someplace calling you to come get him.

 

[96_killer]

there fine but i wouldnt use the front case, oil filter housing and some of the important gasket from it though.

WTF = its a 420a

in reality most Dsm parts suppliers for the 4g63 like the places u turbo guys go to don't have or have very little parts for us N/A guys, and parts are mostly if u are going turbo. places like CI,Howell,Parts D,ect, really use the same manufacture as do the cheaper ebay listings (aka,Top Line). i learned this first hand

 

[Junfan]

Good point and most of the people I know rebuilding 420a will use CI. I have heard good things about them. I am just saying that most times you get what you pay for and many times the ebay stuff for the 4g63 is sub par quality wise and that is some of the reason people think a DSM is unreliable.

That and lack of maintenance period. I met a kid yesterday at MOD and he was talking about all the stuff he thought was wrong with our cars like not recirculating the BOV etc... I then asked him about his car and he explained he had just gotten it a month ago and it had set for like seven years. I asked him what he had done. Nothing but drain fluids. It was a 1gb talon.

How long before that dry rotted timing belt causes a catastrophic meltdown is a guess. Maintenance is so critical in cars and people just flat out ignore it.

 

[bmwtuning]

Id do oem.

 

[Red97Eclipseboy]

Please, use OEM. Tell us why you think the motor needs a rebuild. Bad compression? Failed leak-down test? Rod-knock?

WTF = its a 420a

in reality most Dsm parts suppliers for the 4g63 like the places u turbo guys go to don't have or have very little parts for us N/A guys, and parts are mostly if u are going turbo. places like CI,Howell,Parts D,ect, really use the same manufacture as do the cheaper ebay listings (aka,Top Line). i learned this first hand

How's your lack of parts from Extreme and MAP important to the O.P.? His son as a TSi, not an ESi. So what's you point?

 

[LiquidX]

Here you go
DSM Graveyard - Your #1 Source for DSM Parts!

Front case for sure should be OEM along with all timing components minus water pump.

Felpro gaskets are fine to use as well.

Consider doing a balance shaft elimation as well. Loose a small amount of weight, 1 less belt to worry about, 1 less belt to break and get tangled in the timing belt.

 

[timuh60]

Thanks guys. It looks like going with eBay may or may not be a good idea depending on the supplier the seller uses. I gather that most would not risk it and go with OEM gaskets for peace of mind. I tend to agree.
I just bought the car from a guy on eBay that said he replaced the timing belt and didn't align it properly and smacked a valve. I haven't opened it up yet to see the damage but once I do I guess I will know the extent of repair needed. Even if it just needing replacement of a valve, I figured it wouldn't hurt to do a simple overhaul since I am in the engine anyway.

 

[96_killer]

How's your lack of parts from Extreme and MAP important to the O.P.? His son as a TSi, not an ESi. So what's you point?

dammit i got to stop responding to multiple threads at once!!!! haha my bad....