JDM Used Engine, or Rebuild???

[krazywhitboy]

just wanted to get you guys opinions here.....should i just rebuild my exsisting motor, or buy a used japanese one? i found a rebuild kit for $419 (includes complete gasket set, pistons and rings, main bearings, rod bearings,thrust washers, timing belt, balance shaft bearings, and oil pump.) i can upgrade the main and rod bearings to TOGA high perf bearings for another $40. rebuilding the engine won't be a problem, i know what im doing (mostly....). oh, and i found a website that sells 4G63T 6 bolt motors with 40-50k on them for $960 (yes i made sure that price was for the turbo motor....)...should i go for the japanese motor, or just rebuild mine????

 

[paranoidTSi]

rebuild, you can't be sure what you could get with those JDM motors.

 

[Mo-Bo0st]

If I had it to do over again I would buy a JDM motor. Everyone is going to tell you to do a rebuild, but it will be cheaper in the long run to get a JDM motor. If you dont ever plan to make your car a full race car then the JDM will probably me just fine for quite some time.

Just my $.02

Let the flames begin...

 

[Defiant]

Not with DSMs, but twice I've done the "used" motor route- once with a Datsun 1200 (with dual 1¼" SU carburettors, that little thing was a screamer) and once in an '82 Supra. Both of those motors were just fine. The 1200 went over 100K, and the Supra had at least 70K on it before the car was stolen.

I'd have no reservations about the "JDM" motors.

 

[bastarddsm]

Whatever you do don't go with the $419 rebuild kit if you plan on making anykind of serious power that stuff is topline and it's basically junk. fine for stock power levels but not much else.

 

[midnght]

If money is not the problem, I would rebuild and peice together the engine of my choice.


Up to you, but I am skeptic about buying a motor that "might" have this or that. You never know how it was treated before it was removed.

 

[Groomz]

Originally posted by Mo-Bo0st
If I had it to do over again I would buy a JDM motor. Everyone is going to tell you to do a rebuild, but it will be cheaper in the long run to get a JDM motor. If you dont ever plan to make your car a full race car then the JDM will probably me just fine for quite some time.

Just my $.02

Let the flames begin...

Ur wrowng man! RACE MOTOR all the shiggity way.>!>!.1>!



j/k

JDM is a great way to go, either on a budget or looking for a strong motor. For the price they are usually the best deal around, and being a turn-key motor, alot of hassle is taken away. No finding parts or getting machine work done. And the Cyclone manifold is actually useful contrary to internet lies. Check the Tech Articles for how to make it work.

-Groomz

 

[krazywhitboy]

well i'm looking to be around 350awhp hopefully mid 12's.....but still a decent daily driver....and if i go with the JDM motor, will i have problems with smog? (im in cali, they are very strict on emissions...) thanks for the replies guys!!!!

 

[roadtalontsi]

i did a swapped a bad 2l n/a motor with a good jdm one and the car works great. As for how it was treated before you get it. As long as the oil was changed and they used 87+ octane which im sure they all do this really isn't an issue. You could get lucky and get a 16g or 510cc injectors. Technically if the previous owner beat on the car the more the better as long as it was to stock specs. When an engine or tranny is broken into it will run that way for the rest of its life. So if you got one that someone who was scared of power drove it, it wont ever be as fast as an abused one. As far as topline rebuild kits... id pass on it.

Since you said you can rebuild your own. If you have the ability to have a good while of downtime, id do that instead. Jet keep your stock rods, get a set of wiseco or ross pistons, some clevite bearings, machine everything. Get a balance shaft elimination kit, consider buying a good head, or atleast replace the valve springs, retainers and stems. Get a cometic head gasket and some 264/272 cams and whoop some ass. You'd probably want to replace alot of gaskets and hoses in the process, and itd probably come out to be 2000-2500 but itd be worth it, if your looking to make 350awhp.

hope this helps.