New member Needing help with Powering my 420a but keeping it N/A

[DSM Weazel]

Hello my name is Chris and I'm from SoCal. I got a 98 eclipse rs after years of wanting a DSM.
I had a couple of questions. First off,
Will this kit suffice for a rear drum to disc brake conversion? I have already searched and know the procedure but I just want to make sure I am not missing anything apart from the rotors and calipers/pads:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mitsubishi-...Rear-Hub-Wheel-Bearing-Pair-Set-/110741178511

Second, these are the mods I had in mind for my car. I want to stay away from porting and motor building if possible because it is hard to find anyone in South Cali who can help me with that.

Short Shifter
Brakes
Cold air Intake
Front and Rear Sway bars
Exhaust header
Catback
Intake manifold
&Flywheel upgrade

It already has a stage 2 clutch.
My question is, will I be able to just install all of these parts and will my 420a be able to handle them or will I also need fuel management upgrades, porting/bore-ing, or dyno tuning. My goal for this car is to simply have a fast Daily driver that I can have fun with yet still take her up north to race with some of my honda buddies. My target hp is 200.

I would like to stay away from turboing and I already know the old "sell it and get a gst/x" advice many of you like to give but I would not like to do so, therefore suggestions other than that are greatly appreciated. I plan on purchasing a GSX in about 5 years but for now I want the most out of my RS.

Also, how much hp and tq gains will I be looking at? I did as much research as I can but I am using the forun from a phone therefore my resources are a bit limited.
Again thanks to anyone who can help and I am looking forward to growing as a DSMer!

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[Jthedoc]

You just jumped up 50HP from your last car and you already want to upgrade- and you're not HP Junkie? Well, you don't need a 500hp car then I guess but a GST is looking better and better for your situation. A 420a turbo that you just slapped on isnt really the best daily in my opinion if the motor isnt built, especially with those pistons that are going to make it knock all over the place. If you want a fast daily driver, get a stock fast car. An H22 prelude comes to mind, or a v6 3g, or a GST.

I just looked at SD craigslist and the gst you are referring to is coming from a dealer so its going to be expensive. Patience is a Virtue and is the key to finding a cheap Turbo DSM (Or just going to LA)

I recommend doing all the available NA mods and accepting that your car is not fast and buying a fast one. This is the best option if you like driving your car or need to drive your car for a job, school, ect.

 

[FearlessNick]

And im pretty sure these 420a's come with knock sensors. My memory isnt so good. Im about half n half if they do or dont. But yes. You need forged stuff in the engine of your wanting to do high compression. For the mean time bro. Get a built head and get that computer. Also get a MLS gasket for sure.

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[DSM Weazel]

It is kind of hard to judge compression ratio from doing a compression test. It should read higher with a compression tester than from the factory. Did you have these pistons put in it, or is this what someone told you was done to it? Typically when you change pistons you have to pull the engine, hone the cylinders, clean the block afterwards, clean everything else and re assemble with all new parts. Pretty much a full rebuild.

Yea I bought the car from a mechanic so I'm not sure if he got new pistons or not but I doubt he bored out anything. Maybe just bigger pistons or something. I can ask him tomorrow. He seened to be a tweakster as he mentioned the compression as well as the fact that he shortened the clutch engagement. But I know he did rebuild everything.

 

[DSM Weazel]

You just jumped up 50HP from your last car and you already want to upgrade- and you're not HP Junkie? Well, you don't need a 500hp car then I guess but a GST is looking better and better for your situation. A 420a turbo that you just slapped on isnt really the best daily in my opinion if the motor isnt built, especially with those pistons that are going to make it knock all over the place. If you want a fast daily driver, get a stock fast car. An H22 prelude comes to mind, or a v6 3g, or a GST.

I just looked at SD craigslist and the gst you are referring to is coming from a dealer so its going to be expensive. Patience is a Virtue and is the key to finding a cheap Turbo DSM (Or just going to LA)

I recommend doing all the available NA mods and accepting that your car is not fast and buying a fast one. This is the best option if you like driving your car or need to drive your car for a job, school, ect.

Yea I want to get my 200 and be satisfied with the 100hp gain for a long long time. I bought this car because it was easily available and inexpensive. I can't really afford a different car because I would just be losing money buy turning and selling this one. At least if I dropped 3k on this one I would be inclined to stay with this car for a long time and It would be more meaningful to me instead of selling and buying like crazy and losing more money that way.

 

[Jthedoc]

And im pretty sure these 420a's come with knock sensors. My memory isnt so good. Im about half n half if they do or dont.

They do not. 4g64's in dsm's have the sockets, and 3g 4g64's have them installed. But the 420a is an econobox engine without balance shafts, a knock sensor, or quality craftsmanship.

 

[FearlessNick]

Yea I bought the car from a mechanic so I'm not sure if he got new pistons or not but I doubt he bored out anything. Maybe just bigger pistons or something. I can ask him tomorrow. He seened to be a tweakster as he mentioned the compression as well as the fact that he shortened the clutch engagement. But I know he did rebuild everything.

You always cant trust people with what they say. Especially about cars. Thats why i bought my car. First thing i did when i got back into town is took it to my shop. Change oil and take the oil pan off. Boy was i bummed. This guy ran that motor threw a lot. Hardly changed oil you could tell. And it was reading 40 psi on cylinder 3. And like 150 psi i think all else. Once again i cant temember. My memory sucks. But i bought a uses engine took it all apart. saw it jumped timing. So i had to rebuild the head. Just did all oem stuff. Took out the pistons. Boy was those things covered in carbon. Took out rods in all that jaz and glass beat em. New napa oil pump and new napa water pump. But so far shes running like a champ!

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[FearlessNick]

or quality craftsmanship.

I agree with this statement. I dont like the way these engines are built and how you have a engine that has nothing for it. And of course if your getting in the HP game with the 420. Your looking at blowin motors. These RS and GS are basically the show car for the eclipse string.

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[DSM Weazel]

You always cant trust people with what they say. Especially about cars. Thats why i bought my car. First thing i did when i got back into town is took it to my shop. Change oil and take the oil pan off. Boy was i bummed. This guy ran that motor threw a lot. Hardly changed oil you could tell. And it was reading 40 psi on cylinder 3. And like 150 psi i think all else. Once again i cant temember. My memory sucks. But i bought a uses engine took it all apart. saw it jumped timing. So i had to rebuild the head. Just did all oem stuff. Took out the pistons. Boy was those things covered in carbon. Took out rods in all that jaz and glass beat em. New napa oil pump and new napa water pump. But so far shes running like a champ!

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I know you can't but I had been in contact with this guy months before I even bought it, he let me drive it, turned down higher offers for the car because he already agreed to sell to me, showed me a recorded video he made while he was doing the head/valve job,
He was very genuine and seemed prideful of his work and he had a sense of integrity to him haha. We pretty much became friends .
Unfortunately I'm not as mechanically inclined as you tho so I can't be as in control of things as you folks

Edit: he let me drive it almost daily for months before I bought it*

 

[FearlessNick]

Unfortunately I'm not as mechanically inclined as you tho so I can't be as in control of things as you folks

Thats why you have us! And your new friend. Lol

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[DSM Weazel]

Thats why you have us! And your new friend. Lol

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But he can't really help me performancewise so I'm trying to see what's best to do for my engine. 200 would hold me for a long time

 

[Jthedoc]

Yea I want to get my 200 and be satisfied with the 100hp gain for a long long time. I bought this car because it was easily available and inexpensive. I can't really afford a different car because I would just be losing money buy turning and selling this one. At least if I dropped 3k on this one I would be inclined to stay with this car for a long time and It would be more meaningful to me instead of selling and buying like crazy and losing more money that way.

I'm not sure that you would be satisfied with the gain for a long time. A friend of mine had a turbo kit on his 420a and blew it. With higher compression pistons, boost would be even more of a problem because the fuel is going to want to explode way too soon and you will need racing fuel or ethanol to make it stable. With your apparent budget of 5 grand, you really can get something that really will hold up and produces 200hp all day long.

I understand your attachment to the car, especially considering what ive put into my dsm. But you can reach your goals much better and reliably with a turbo dsm, 3g or evo. If you really have to keep the dsm, do all the basic upgrades otherwise get something that you can have some serious fun in that wont break down because it cant handle what you threw on it.

Also: You shouldn't lose money at all. You should be able to sell that nt for at least 2 grand assuming its not salvage and the mileage is ok- even more if you find the right person. Then you can look around for something a bit more appropriate.

 

[FearlessNick]

But he can't really help me performancewise so I'm trying to see what's best to do for my engine. 200 would hold me for a long time

Yea. Im really not leaning on the turbo the 420a idea. From what has been said tonight and thinking i have done. But i will be for sure building up a head and getting that computer. Maybe even throw a walley in it with a rewire kit.

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[DSM Weazel]

I'm not sure that you would be satisfied with the gain for a long time. A friend of mine had a turbo kit on his 420a and blew it. With higher compression pistons, boost would be even more of a problem because the fuel is going to want to explode way too soon and you will need racing fuel or ethanol to make it stable. With your apparent budget of 5 grand, you really can get something that really will hold up and produces 200hp all day long.

I understand your attachment to the car, especially considering what ive put into my dsm. But you can reach your goals much better and reliably with a turbo dsm, 3g or evo. If you really have to keep the dsm, do all the basic upgrades otherwise get something that you can have some serious fun in that wont break down because it cant handle what you threw on it.

Also: You shouldn't lose money at all. You should be able to sell that nt for at least 2 grand assuming its not salvage and the mileage is ok- even more if you find the right person. Then you can look around for something a bit more appropriate.

I wouldn't run it at 200 horses all day. It'd be my dd and I would drive it totally civil and I just want it gutsy when I wanna show off to my buddies . In all honesty I never even pass the speed limit anywhere around town. I'm too tame a driver. Just want a bit of kick once in a blue moon. I've never even been in a real race. Just once every now and then against riced out hondas and that was with my mirage. I'm a for fun guy. Not so much a prideful guy who puts all my heart into my car. Although I do find myself attached to her. Anyways, my car is mainly for school, work, and the parking lot for a few powerslides. It seems now I've realized that its stupid to want 200hp so badly now anyways.

What can I do to get the most out of her for around 3-5k?

 

[DSM1G90]

The 420A came out to replace the 2.2LSOHC that the "K" cars of the Dodge Shadows/Plymouth Acclaims and the 1.8L that the Laser had when the Laser was replaced by the NEON in 1994 for the 1995 year. Motor is built in Mexico at the Hermisio Plant under Chrysler supervision and management.

First 420A's were SOHC in the initial year of 1994, then bumped up to the present DOHC configuration. Interesting thing on the 420A is no balance shafts were imposed on the design, thus were not needed.

When Mitsu took over the DSM plant in Ill in late 1994 when the 2G's came out, along with the agreement between Mitsu and Chrysler to use the Dodge 420A in the NT versions while the GST line ran the 7bolt, 4G63 Turbo for the AWD market.

Tthe 420A had enough power to pull around the almost 3000LB chassis that the 2G weighed in at...the 1.8L was just too underpowered to handle the heavier weight of the 2G chassis.

With the right amount of cash and the professional know how, the 420A modded for turbo usage has been pretty successful, for taking a motor that wasn't designed for turbo use, takes a lot of special work.

 

[DSM Weazel]

I agree with this statement. I dont like the way these engines are built and how you have a engine that has nothing for it. And of course if your getting in the HP game with the 420. Your looking at blowin motors. These RS and GS are basically the show car for the eclipse string.

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Agreed ima keep it simple until I buy a gsx or probably a wrx

 

[DSM1G90]

gsx or probably a wrx

Just finda WRX-STi that doesn't have burnt valves, for that motor loves to do that...along with fouling plugs.

 

[FearlessNick]

Just finda WRX-STi that doesn't have burnt valves, for that motor loves to do that...along with fouling plugs.

I had a bad experience with a sti that came from NY. Needed a wheel hub. I mean bad. And that rust made me mad. Maybe because i dont have to deal with it in AZ. Haha

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