Is this project car for me?

[Viper588]

Hey guys I own 2 Eclipses currently, one i drive the other my father uses. Both are non turbo and I have been considering turboing my 4g64 (have purchased everything already). Ive been thinking lately that it might be better in the long run to just purchase a GST instead instead of dealing with whatever issues will pop up during and after installing the turbo etc. I found a "project car" which ive been thinking about since i wouldn't be in any rush to finish as i have my other eclipse for daily use. Its inexpensive($600) and aside from having a body kit and no front bumper the only issue is the engine spun a bearing. Ive done most everything to the 420a and 4g64 but never had to do anything with the bottom end so im not sure exactly what im getting into. Is repairing the spun bearing something that I can do at home in a garage with minimal help from a machine shop? Im not so much trying to avoid costs but if i was to do a "project" id more or less want to do the vast majority of the work myself rather than just buy the car, pay someone to fix the problem, then use the car. Im more looking to something that i would enjoy doing in spare time ect.. Can i just replace the bearing and go? Does the block need to be removed and cleaned? Is there more machine work that needs to be done other than cleaning? Any advise/guidance on what the process to replace the bearing would entail would be appreciated! Thank you!

 

[gieri002]

A spun bearing is not an easy repair. You would need to remove the entire bottom end, disassemble it, and have the crank cut by a machine shop. There is also a very good chance that there are metal shavings from the spun bearing all throughout your entire engine. A very thorough and time intensive cleaning would be mandatory.

If this is not something you would be comfortable doing yourself, a junkyard motor would probably be the easiest route to take with this car.

 

[Joethefallen23]

Spun bearings are a bit of work. Normally, there can be damage to the crank journals. Best case it just needs a good polish at the machine shop. Worst case is it needs to be cut. Frankly, I personally wouldn't use a cut crank. There's likely to be bearing material distributed throughout the block, head and turbo accelerating wear and tear. Even hot tanking can have trouble cleaning it all up.



In my opinion, for someone such as yourself looking to avoid a lot of machine work, I would buy a junkyard long block along with the car. It's not just a simple change of bearings and go. But I guess it doesn't make it much of a project then huh?


*Edit* Gieri, I'm not sure if it's cool or creepy that we posted literally the exact same thing at the exact same time.

 

[Viper588]

A spun bearing is not an easy repair. You would need to remove the entire bottom end, disassemble it, and have the crank cut by a machine shop. There is also a very good chance that there are metal shavings from the spun bearing all throughout your entire engine. A very thorough and time intensive cleaning would be mandatory.

If this is not something you would be comfortable doing yourself, a junkyard motor would probably be the easiest route to take with this car.

Spun bearings are a bit of work. Normally, there can be damage to the crank journals. Best case it just needs a good polish at the machine shop. Worst case is it needs to be cut. Frankly, I personally wouldn't use a cut crank. There's likely to be bearing material distributed throughout the block, head and turbo accelerating wear and tear. Even hot tanking can have trouble cleaning it all up.



In my opinion, for someone such as yourself looking to avoid a lot of machine work, I would buy a junkyard long block along with the car. It's not just a simple change of bearings and go. But I guess it doesn't make it much of a project then huh?


*Edit* Gieri, I'm not sure if it's cool or creepy that we posted literally the exact same thing at the exact same time.

Thank you both haha this was exactly the type of answer i was looking for! It sounds like i could get a used bottom end and crank to repair the damage but the metal shavings could still be an issue. Not sure if id want to do the work just to have it all ruined again from the metal, seen those posts on these forums a few times. Thanks again for the responses!

 

[boost97gst]

Just take the block in, have it hot tanked,cleaned, check bore, head decked, align honed(if you're going to use arp mains, which you should).... Would help to bring in the old crank too so the machinist can tell you what it needs. MAYBE just a polish. If not, sell it. I ran a cut crank and it started knocking ~300 miles later. Some dont have problems with them, i believe those people had their cranks cut and polished by people who actually know what theyre doing. I was not so fortunate apparently.

I think someone already said this but very important: Make SURE the turbo is free of contaminants. This will kill a new engine so fast if you have old metal debris in there.

 

[Viper588]

Just take the block in, have it hot tanked,cleaned, check bore, head decked, align honed(if you're going to use arp mains, which you should).... Would help to bring in the old crank too so the machinist can tell you what it needs. MAYBE just a polish. If not, sell it. I ran a cut crank and it started knocking ~300 miles later. Some dont have problems with them, i believe those people had their cranks cut and polished by people who actually know what theyre doing. I was not so fortunate apparently.

I think someone already said this but very important: Make SURE the turbo is free of contaminants. This will kill a new engine so fast if you have old metal debris in there.

Im not sure which turbo he has on there currently but if i was to buy the project i have a freshly rebuilt 14b waiting that i was going to use on my 4g64 so the turbo wouldnt be an issue, thank you for the warning/advise though. I am considering buying it but it depends if hes willing to move on the price at all. Its cheap already but I think id want it for 500 or less to convince me to go for it. Im not worried about the work but the metal shavings ruining it after the repair.

 

[gieri002]

Spun bearings are a bit of work. Normally, there can be damage to the crank journals. Best case it just needs a good polish at the machine shop. Worst case is it needs to be cut. Frankly, I personally wouldn't use a cut crank. There's likely to be bearing material distributed throughout the block, head and turbo accelerating wear and tear. Even hot tanking can have trouble cleaning it all up.



In my opinion, for someone such as yourself looking to avoid a lot of machine work, I would buy a junkyard long block along with the car. It's not just a simple change of bearings and go. But I guess it doesn't make it much of a project then huh?


*Edit* Gieri, I'm not sure if it's cool or creepy that we posted literally the exact same thing at the exact same time.

I've never seen anything like this, that's hilarious. We literally posted almost the exact same thing at the same time. Can we get a moderator in here? I think we deserve some sort of prize.