Need advice on a wise decision

[JeanDSM]

This is my problem…
I have a 97 GST with 147K miles with an 80K mile old timing belt and 147K mile old water and oil pump head gasket etc... Last time I changed my clutch, 2100 pressure plate with stock disk my flywheel wasn’t looking good so I also need to change my clutch and flywheel now and I am going to buy fidanza flywheel and ACT 2600 kit for my future setup.

I also have a 1G 6 bolt block on my garage, that I want to rebuilt with some wiseco pistons and eagle rods arp studs cometic head gasket, remove balance shafts and also need a 6 bolt flywheel all timing betls components, water and oil pump. To finish this thing I will have to wait another year maybe even more.

Right now I have a
60-1 turbo
Turbonetics manifold
External w/g
880cc
fmic
dsmlink
and all the supporting mods

These parts are in my closet waiting for my 7 bolt old engine.

I have two choices. Install them now on the 7 bolt. Or wait another year to built the 6 bolt and then install them.

I am tired of 180whp, I want those parts under my hood now and 400whp, but I don’t want to have a 7 bolt broke engine and a 6 bolt waiting to be rebuilt. Then throw an almost new 7 bolt fidanza and buy a new 6 bolt one.

I am an unemployed student, so I don’t want to throw money to the garbage.

Again sorry about the grammar, im english is my second lenguage

 

[4BangR-x]

Well, given your current status, I would wait. If you have no income, and destroy your car, what are you going to do?

 

[droppinbottom]

Save the parts for the motor you are wanting to build. A dsm is not a car you want to have while in college and no money. They are money hungry cars.

 

[diablos991]

I am in college and feel your pain. I hate my DSM being my DD and I am currently in the market for a more reliable DD. I would say get yourself a DD and have fun with the DSM.

 

[JeanDSM]

I was also thinking on selling the 6 bolt block and get extra money and rebuilt the 7 bolt block,

I know, I know, 6 bolt is better because of the crank walk issue but... 147K miles and no CW? is there a chance i still can get CW on my 7 bolt? Can i get CW on a 2.3L 7 bolt?

 

[diablos991]

If you are past the 100k mark then chances of crank walk are highly unlikely. If it was going to walk it would have by now.

 

[JeanDSM]

I almost forgot

I have:
4 spare (2G piston and rods)
4 spare (1G piston and rods)
1 (1G block with 4 1G pistons and rods)

thats a total of 12 spare piston and rods.

My car is DD but if I break something i can use my other mother's car or my girlfriend can take me to college.

I did some compression test on my car (185psi on all 4 cylinders) but what else can i do to check my engine conditions.

 

[GSTBlack95]

If I was in your shoes, build the 6 bolt up. That way you keep your car going with little downtime, just think tho, the fruits of greatness will be hand before you even realize time flew by. Its giving you a chance to get to know your motor better too, by giving you time to get everything put together right the first time.

 

[1993eclipseGS]

We run a hx 40 with every bolt out on there, At 25psi on pump gas daily driven, And have done many high rpm 4 wheel squeal all the way through first gear , Launches, On a bone stock tranny and complete stock 2g 7bolt motor. The car NEVER broke down. This was a 65 year old teacher owned car, The stock headgasket and everything are still on the car.

I guess you need to ask yourself, Are you willing to gamble? You don't know exactly what will happen I guess. I suggest getting the car tuned by a professional, Or someone highly expereienced in the tuning world of dsm's.. Or you would be posting another thread asking what happen to your motor.. And that build will be coming alot sooner then expected.

 

[JeanDSM]

thanks for the advice.
I know 4G63 are capable of 450+whp with stock internals. It will be nice to see a 450whp 4G63 with 150,000+ mile old bone stock engine. Im going to start buying parts for my 6 bolt. Its going to be rebuilt by the best 4G63 engine builder in Puerto Rico. Maybe i sound like a kid but i took some EMS classes and i have work on some Subaru WRX with Hydras stand alone systems and a RB26 skyline engine with Sakura EMS Turbo hondas with Hondata and rotary powered microtec cars So i dont think that tuning is going to be a problem for me in the 400hp sight.

 

[1993eclipseGS]

Goodluck with everything, You shoulden't have any problems since ou have experience in tuning. If I remember correctly, My buddies car has 140,000-148,000 miles on it, Bone stock motor. Some people are just afraid to take the chance, Because you'll have people who have never tried before, Come online and post how it is not safe because they know someone that knows someone that talks to someone online that knows someone who had a problem.....

 

[JeanDSM]

Im decided.
Just found out a great deal on extremepsi.com Arp head studs and cometic head gasket for $180 and save some emergency money for rod and main bearings and a set of new piston rings.

For now, lets see how far i can get with this engine.

 

[jreese86]

I definately feel your pain about the college thing. I'm currently working full-time and trying to pay my way through college. Thank god I have a DD Sentra that gets me from point A to B. I thought I'd never be able to afford a DSM, but I finally found a cheap 1g FWD Turbo laser.

I'd be leary about building up a daily driver my friend. You really oughta look to change your timing belt and any other maintenance before buying more performance parts. A maintained engine is a happy engine, reardless of how many bolts it has =)

 

[steve]

No matter what your other plans are, as a broke student you can't afford to let the timing belt break on the running engine. Replace it and the water pump ASAP and then you can decide what to do with the rest

Steve

 

[Splitpi]

I agree with Steve, the timing belt is far past due for a replacement. It could break tomorrow or it could last you another 30K. But I don't think its worth the risk. Replace the belts, tensioner, pulleys and water pump. It will be one less thing you will have to replace at a later date if you update the 7-bolt. And it is adding security to Daily Driver.

 

[JeanDSM]

What about oil pump?

 

[Splitpi]

What about oil pump?

Is it leaking at all? Are you having weird oil pressures?

 

[LaN-]

1.) drive your car
2.) find a job
3.) rebuild the 6 bolt
4.) buy a DD
5.) throw the parts on the 7 bolt untill it blows up
6.) swap the 2 engines
7.) beat the shit out of some hondas (sad thing is you could do that at step 1 )

Smartest way to do it.

 

[AVC-R]

No don't do that. why tear up a good engine if you don't have to. If your ultimate goal is to have a good 6 bolt then wait save the good parts for a good engine and just take care of your 7 bolt for now. If that means a new timing belt and water pump to keep it running then do it. There is no reason to waste a motor and then have to have all that down time to get your next one fixed if you don't have to. Just my .02

 

[Splitpi]

No don't do that. why tear up a good engine if you don't have to. If your ultimate goal is to have a good 6 bolt then wait save the good parts for a good engine and just take care of your 7 bolt for now. If that means a new timing belt and water pump to keep it running then do it. There is no reason to waste a motor and then have to have all that down time to get your next one fixed if you don't have to. Just my .02

I agree with AVC-R. Do the maintance work. Save up for your 6-bolt rebuild and spend the big bucks on that.