New member, Not new to 2g eclipse

[Slpknt88]

Hello all. My name is Kevin. New to DSMtuners, but not new to the culture. I'm used to the hate from 4g63t guys/gals, and there views on 420a owners. That and were 2g isn't considered a true dsm. So I don't value the single sided option of such. I've owned a 95 RS auto, 99 GS oz edition 5 speed, and my current car is a 99 RS 5speed. Unfortunately I bought the car from a prior owner so allot of stuff was half assed. I'm looking for info on building up a 420a. Not simple ebay junk which is my go to on exhaust and intakes. But more asking on internals. Like block and head mods to make some hp (I know I can't get allot without a turbo. But I have a spare 420a motor I'm looking to build up some. I mainly drive street but would like to see some good numbers on a drag strip.

I have a
short ram intake (original owner)
Cf hood
Megan strut tower braces
Megan short throw shifter
EBay header/cat back (original owner)
Drilled and slotted front rotors
Aftermarket c.f. spoiler

 

[AlmightySo]

I like the wheels
& Welcome

 

[Slpknt88]

Thanks man, got these rotas (17x9) and c.f. hood for 500

 

[AlmightySo]

Lower that thing

 

[Slpknt88]

I plan on it, it's a dd so might just do sprimgs

 

[FallenKing]

Internals on 420a are easy, you just swap it for a 4g63 engine and your'e done! It's so cool, mustangs are doing it!

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[PlanZero]

^ If you could just drop a 4g63 motor in a 420a there wouldn't be any 420as left. Too bad it's not that simple. To the OP, unless you plan on turboing your car, anything you do will not produce any noticeable gains as I'm sure you know by now. There's no need for forged internals in your motor unless you're slapping a turbo on. And as of 2017 it's a sh*t ton cheaper to buy a used 4g63 than to convert a non turbo car. As you know you basically have a neon engine and it was designed as economical, not for performance. To squeeze out an extra few HP won't be noticeable and certainly not worth the cost.
So if you want to learn for the sake of learning (nothing wrong with that) I would just rebuild your stock 420a motor and keep it as a backup for when your current motor fails (as you also know 420s also get knocked because of their inherently bad HG), and lose the cf. Weight is not the problem.

 

[spyderdrifter]

I've never personally been a fan of the 420, but now I own one again. It's a big change after owning 4g63 DSMs for the past 11 years. Putting a turbo system on a 420 while not ideal for most, is still an option if you'd rather not sell off your car like most would tell you to do. It's ultimately your car, and choice. I've seen some decently built ones, so it can be done well, and what most 4g63 owners probably fail to realize, is yeah, it takes a lot of money to turbo a 420, but it takes the same or even more to build up a 4g63, so it's not much different. Good luck.

 

[PlanZero]

^ I agree to a point, it all depends on the original condition of the car. I've noticed a shift in the last couple years, now 4gs can be found around me for about $2-4k in decent shape, 420as can be found for $1k or less. If we compare two cars of the same year and mileage, say a 97 with 150k, I know for a fact that 420a is a ticking time bomb. Assume it doesn't have a head gasket failure from later design or recent replacement, that motor's internals were never meant to hold boost, so if you were to just slap a turbo on a la Honda dont expect it to last (hell even slapping a turbo on a n/t 4g can only hold low boost) A stock 4g motor, even at 20yrs old can still have solid internals, especially if it was never beat on (another reason to always find bone stock if possible), and you can either run the 14b/t25 or upgrade with no ramifications. This spyder i picked up recently was $1600 bone stock. I put about $1k worth of new and used maintenance and bolt on parts and she runs amazingly well even with the t2small. Theres no way for the 420a. If you're local market is still like mine was a few years ago, the 420a may still be a realistic option but as my local market now dictates, you can't even give a 420a away. I'm so glad my old GS committed suicide, I was at a point of already dumping too much money into her and she needed a rebuild. I already had my first Tsi at that point, but the sentimental attachment to the old gs clouded my judgment and I probably would've rebuilt the stock motor. It really sucks when you have both and can feel the difference in power, because it tends to make you even less motivated to fix or "upgrade" the 420a.
I never noticed a difference with a CAI on a 420a, it's just a nuisance (esp the big CAI for these cars) and a way for more debris to get sucked into your intake.
No difference with headers. I put some to replace a cracked manifold, and I swear it ran worse.
Keep the cat. Removing the cat on a n/a is not beneficial, if anything it's detrimental.
Drilled and slotted rotors are garbage 99% of the time, esp the cheap ebay brands. They're more prone to cracking and warpage and provide no performance benefit. Stay with blanks, or either slotted or dimpled /drilled. Not both.
Strut tower braces are useless unless they're solid, like DC. not sure if Megan are adjustable, if so twist them out with the front end off the ground.
Add a rear sway bar to that RS, and adjustable front.

 

[Slpknt88]

Sorry haven't been keeping track of the posts. I want to do the turbo 420a to be different. I agree with all you guys on the dsm market these days. 420a are cheap cars vs the 4g but I still deal with those tuner kiddies that throw $400 of ebay bolt ons and think there rotted strut tower eclipses are work 2500 and up.

I'm not looking to make 300hp just build that one car no one near me has (420a turbo) I've tried doing research on budget builds. Since funds just don't fall in my lap. If I run stock internals and ecu I can run an estimated 8psi, which a guy quoted you might achieve 220hp. Again HP isn't a big concern. I love my eclipse rs previous owner might have jacked up headlight and audio wiring and welded the exhaust at the flanges but it's pretty clean and solid other wise.

So to sorta stay on a topic I want some input on doing a turbo on a 420a. To start of like to try the stock build where I can get away with stock ecu and internals.

Obviously I'll need a good street turbo
Manifold
Oil lines/tap the oil pan for the feed and return
Front mount and piping
Bov

But not sure what else I'd need