Upper Engine rebuild/mods looking for advice

[Bchiles]

I purchased my talon about a year ago since that time I have made many of the usual minor repairs. Which include tires, clutch, master and slave cylinders, plugs brakes, etc. it is a 92 with 203,000 miles recently my thermostat went and I think the engine got to hot because shortly after I replaced it my engine would overheat when I was stuck in traffic. Also there was an idle surge, and I would drop boost pressure around 3,200 RPM-4,500 RPM. I decided it was time to do the head gasket and or water pump to stop the engine temp problem. As I got into the engine some parts the head especially where very clean. I can even tell which parts had or hadn't been replaced. I already got the gasket kit, studs, both t-belts, all necessary pulleys, auto adjuster, and fuel filter so i can put her back together correctly. However, this is where I am getting hung up. Since I have already opened up this much of the engine I figure I should do some minor modifications to make things easier on me later on. One I was going to loop the steering rack because I have already lost one alternator to the Power Steering Pump. Two because the AC has not been run in years I am going to pull that especially because I never use it. Three is where I am drawing a blank there are several missing exhaust nuts which leads me to believe this could have been causing part of my boost problem because the boost leak test I did I could not find any vacuum lines that were leaking. My question is should I bring her up to original factory spec before I mod anything or save my self some cash and time to put into other areas of the engine and mod/upgrade those parts I need for example turbo manifold?

 

[Mrdocprofessor]

depending on the condition of your head its more than likely that you are ready to mod you do not need an after market exhaust manifold yet , there are other mods that will show better gains id start with turbo back exhaust, mild cams like hks 272s , if you have the time / money a light port and polish on the head since its off , i would put on the missing bolts ,your right its more than likely causing boost problems

 

[Palmetto_TSi]

I would put it back stock. Then, build a separate engine with all the performance mods. Chances are, with 203,000 miles on a turbocharged car, it will need a rebuild soon enough anyway. If you start building now, you can get ahead of the game and swap the engine before the old one starts to go.

 

[Bchiles]

I don't plan on building it to like a 350 machine right now, if that where the case I would be building a whole separate engine but yes I would like to have good parts on this engine that I could swap over when I find a good spare block to wrench on, but I also have another project so I am trying to balance them out. My goal for right now is to have a quick fun reasonably budgeted car(that in due time will be built), but put together correctly I have worked on stuff that people put half effort into the rebuild and made the car worse off. I am new to the DSMs but I like them so far and just want to get everything I can out of this car. A buddy of mine offered me a Evo3 turbo and manifold, if I installed that and an MBC and kept the boost low until I could upgrade more. would that be to hard on the engine? and Should I just start to do the springs and retainers with that turbo?

 

[Reefman]

You can rebuild the head without any real upgrades and still get good power. Even a complete stock rebuild you can make good power just because the engine is freshened back to spec. It sounds like that is what your goals are for now to have a good running motor. The 4g63t are fun motors to begin with stock. If you want to use the evo316g you could run it if you keep the boost down on the stock fuel system, but at least get a 190 pump to keep from getting too lean. HTH, good luck.

 

[Bchiles]

Yeah, I have just come to the realization that this is gonna be a little more than just a gasket replacement. As I broke down the intake and exhaust manifolds off the head I can see that my exhaust manifold was the cause of the boost leak since there is a crack almost all of the way around it! However, on a good note I think I am gonna spend some extra cash do the springs and retainers, I totally agree on the fuel pump I will be hunting for a good price on just the 190 for now, I have access to some heavy duty machine washing equipment so the head is gonna take a dip and I am just gonna take my time and replace the easy stuff while I am in there. I hate quick shortcuts when it comes to engine repair, from what I have seen it usually never leads to a good outcome. Hopefully pictures soon of the fun/long process.

* The first picture is the beginning of the extra parts I am accumulating.

* The second is one reason I have decided to just get a new turbo and manifold.

 

[pazsion]

yea, get some steel headers, it makes no sense to put oem cast iron or aluminum back on there...new headers will flow better and be lighter. I got headers, downpipe for $80 on ebay.

that radiator is clogged with crap, spray it down, or get a replacement if it's new and priced low. otherwise just pressure wash the oem, and leak and flow test it. that one looks kinda small? and there should be 2 fans. If the pump's bearings got worn, it could also restrict the engine, and not flow right.