Engine swap opinions (95 eclipse gs)

[95Mitsu_Eclipse]

Hello everyone

My 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS has given me trouble since day one, mostly in the suspension and engine faults. The engine is a 420a and im looking to upgrade instead of wasting more money fixing it. I have been looking around this forum, among many other websites and every topic i find is about how to swap engines or similar but i cant find an opinion on what kind of engine i should be looking for.

I have been looking for a potential V6 to put under my hood for a while now and any informed opinion is appreciated. My car is currently stock except for an exaust system the last owner installed, but is going to be replaced anyway due to rot. The kind of result im looking for isnt to break any records but i need more power in the high gears, its a day-to-day, rev-at-red kind of car.

Obviously the cheaper and less work the better, but i am willing to invest if need be.

Thanks everyone!

 

[crusada]

Wouldnt you have to convert to AWD then? I have heard of this as well but on the 3Gs

 

[95Mitsu_Eclipse]

Well i have been looking at the mitsubishi 6g7x line, 6g72 DOHC 24 valve spacifically. Any opinion there?

 

[DSMboostin15]

Making one of those fit is doable - a few people have done it but the time,money,and effort involved is quite a bit.

 

[2GbTalonGuy]

All of the work and custom fab involved would not be worth it.

 

[cano86]

Your best choice for a 6cyl is the 6A12 or 6A13tt which are lightly smaller the 6G7* require a lot of modification to the firewall, I was researching this a while ago for my 5g mirage. Also if you go with the evo motor you can go with the 2.4l eclipse transmission and there is also a modification to the evo tranny to use it as FWD.

 

[RogueTalonTSI]

..........and there is also a modification to the evo tranny to use it as FWD.

Welded center diff.

 

[95Mitsu_Eclipse]

I know sell it and start over with a better car is the obvious call, but i have already put a lot of money in this car. My best case selling it would lose me around $2000. Like i said, i am willing to invest quite a bit and i know a lot of mechanics/welders/etc who will help me in the labor department. As for that evo engine, im currently running 2.0l not 2.4l, would that matter?

 

[etay89]

I know sell it and start over with a better car is the obvious call, but i have already put a lot of money in this car. My best case selling it would lose me around $2000. Like i said, i am willing to invest quite a bit and i know a lot of mechanics/welders/etc who will help me in the labor department. As for that evo engine, im currently running 2.0l not 2.4l, would that matter?

I believe he meant the 2.4L Eclipse (aka 4g64) transmission. An Evo 8/9 engine is a 2.0. Also hard for me to comment, since I haven't researched nor done this project, and rather than be a jerk and say "search" (because you should ), here's a thread for you to do some good readin'

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/newbie-forum/350946-evo-8-engine-swap.html

 

[TSI from Hell]

Where was the money spent on your car OP??? (Audio system, body, paint, performance..?)

There's no easy swaps with those cars, nor is there any worth it ones... and honestly, unless you can prove it's something you can accomplish (showing pictures, vids etc..) I'm almost 100% sure that you wont go through with any kind of swap, sorry but it's just how it is... too many people have asked the question which leads me to also think you haven't really searched, because I remember about at least 2-3 thread just this year (2011) asking the same thing, and they haven't got anywhere either.

People who actually did swap the 6G7* models in these cars usually don't ask for help and just put their time and money into it, those people are resourceful and knowledgeable, and even them usually never goes through with those projects.

 

[cano86]

All I have to say is, everyone is different if you want to do the swap by all means do it. Nobody can't tell you what you can or can't do. I personally have own all 3 platforms (N/T, FWD TURBO, AWD TURBO) and love them all.

Just make sure you do it right and take your time, because it can be done but will take you time. Good luck.

And yes you can use the 3g 2.4 tranny with the evo engine.

 

[95Mitsu_Eclipse]

Thanks cano, finally someone open to something other then the easy answer. If i get a turboed eclipse then my insurance goes up and its already high, if they dont know whats under my hood its their fault for not looking. The money i spent is between suspension, audio, wiring, hoses, fixing leaks and generally bringing this car back from the grave its last owner dug. And tsi, all i asked for was opinions on what i had in mind, i am a car noob, i love THIS car, and if your opinion is that you dont have your own opinion and no answers then dont post. If you paid attention to the helpful posts you would know i have been suggested a better motor (thanks again cano) the 6a13tt which i have been researching.

 

[Absit]

If you're concerned with your insurance rates going up the last thing you want to undertake is a custom engine swap..

 

[95Mitsu_Eclipse]

They cant charge for something they are not aware of haha

 

[Absit]

I'm talking about the cost of the swap, it'll be a LOT more than your increased insurance rates will be for years of driving.

 

[Below Ambient]

Thanks cano, finally someone open to something other then the easy answer. If i get a turboed eclipse then my insurance goes up and its already high, if they dont know whats under my hood its their fault for not looking. The money i spent is between suspension, audio, wiring, hoses, fixing leaks and generally bringing this car back from the grave its last owner dug. And tsi, all i asked for was opinions on what i had in mind, i am a car noob, i love THIS car, and if your opinion is that you dont have your own opinion and no answers then dont post. If you paid attention to the helpful posts you would know i have been suggested a better motor (thanks again cano) the 6a13tt which i have been researching.

are looking to bolt an engine in or make the mounts yourself? what do you plan on running for engine management? what transmission?

these are the questions I would be coming up with on a plan such as yours... WTF

 

[rlacasse1]

I say find a trashed 3000GT VR4 and put the drivetrain in it. Of course it would be hard and expensive, but cool when finished.

 

[TSI from Hell]

Thanks cano, finally someone open to something other then the easy answer. If i get a turboed eclipse then my insurance goes up and its already high, if they dont know whats under my hood its their fault for not looking. The money i spent is between suspension, audio, wiring, hoses, fixing leaks and generally bringing this car back from the grave its last owner dug. And tsi, all i asked for was opinions on what i had in mind, i am a car noob, i love THIS car, and if your opinion is that you dont have your own opinion <- what? and no answers then dont post. If you paid attention to the helpful posts you would know i have been suggested a better motor (thanks again cano) the 6a13tt which i have been researching.

Then buy all means, go for the swap!

You'll learn pretty quick why I said the things I said.

By the way, man reason why people usually just junk the project is because the weight distribution is so bad with a V6 in a DSM... So there's another thing for you to think about.

 

[cano86]

are looking to bolt an engine in or make the mounts yourself? what do you plan on running for engine management? what transmission?

these are the questions I would be coming up with on a plan such as yours... WTF

As for transmission the 5g mirage 1.8 bellhousing bolts up to the 3g eclipse 2.4 transmission, and if going with the 6A13TT he can use the 1.8 bellhousing with it. The only limit is to aftermarket support for that engine as parts are a bit hard to find but engine comes stock with 280hp maybe 230-240 at the wheel.

As I mentioned to him earlier is possible but will take him time. As for mounts go not a lot of modification required.

And yes curb weight will be a bit of an issue on the 6cyl.

 

[91stocker]

Maybe a 6g75 out of the new eclipses? Its a 3.8L 265hp stock. Ive seen a few 3g guys swapped over, also a few stratus's.

 

[crusada]

I can comment on the insurance comment I own a talon TSI awd and ive owned an eclipse GST insurance isnt that bad its fairly cheap actually I have to have an SR22 and my insurance is only 58 a month on the TSI and my GST was only 125 a month but thats because i went through a local agent that used progressive so he had a markup on it.

 

[95Mitsu_Eclipse]

Etay, i went through the link you showed me or the 4g63 swap, but went to the original post and found 20 pages of people explaining how he is wrong. Thanks, i like the idea and am still researchin but that guys forum is junk. Im thinking if i go that route i should just buy an evo 8 out of a junk yard that has its motor and tranny in shape, then i should just be able to salvage parts as needed. If i rip out the entire motor, tranny and ecu, upgrade my fuel pump, radiator and redo my exuast i should be ablw to install it once i have customs mounts put in and piping custom bent/shaped.. or am i way off base?

 

[Below Ambient]

Etay, i went through the link you showed me or the 4g63 swap, but went to the original post and found 20 pages of people explaining how he is wrong. Thanks, i like the idea and am still researchin but that guys forum is junk. Im thinking if i go that route i should just buy an evo 8 out of a junk yard that has its motor and tranny in shape, then i should just be able to salvage parts as needed. If i rip out the entire motor, tranny and ecu, upgrade my fuel pump, radiator and redo my exuast i should be ablw to install it once i have customs mounts put in and piping custom bent/shaped.. or am i way off base?

you are going to need a donor turbo car to get the frame parts off of, then you need to weld up and box the frame not only so the engine will go in easily (think front suspension mounting points and ease of alignment when its done), but also to maintain proper alignment geometry so your car doesnt suddenly vear to any direction causing a horrible accident...

you also need to find a frame shop that will do this correctly, so you also need a DD that is reliable enough to get you through the 1-2 yrs its gonna take to undergo such a project...

i think i've discouraged myself enough not to really care about this thread anymore... i certainly don't have the 10k budget this would cost...

GOOD LUCK

found this link in case you need a bit more ambition http://www.highaltitudeimports.com/threads/58041-EVO-7-8-Motor-into-97-Eclipse-GS pay close attention to the timeline and where the project goes, because i have three other links just like it

 

[95Mitsu_Eclipse]

Oh and i found mention that the axles will needto be taken from the evo 8 and put on my eclipse

The answer is probably no cause they are different shapes, but i cant take any frame parts off the evo for that? Also, the engine adding weight to the front end coud screw me up, but if i beef up the frame, add proper mounts and move some weight into the back, that would help counter balance it, right?

And great link by the way ambiant, i havent reached the end but it looks very promising

 

[necrotopsy]

somone is doing a 3.8 gallant swap into an avenger currently. avenger and eclipse engine bays are exactly the same. you can read about it here: Avenger 3.8L SWAP - ASEClub

also on the same forum a guy is doing a 3.5 swap into an avenger and you can read about that here: CMC&#39;s Avenger - ASEClub

also a 3.0 from a 3g eclipse is a popular choice.
for these swaps finding a 2.5L avenger would be really helpful for parts.

you're on the right track with the 6g7x engines. stay away from DOHC though.