What’s your opinion stay 420a or swap a 4g63 Evo with manual transmission!???! 🤔

[WOLV3RINE]

I have acquired a 1997 Eclipse GS there’s no trunk leak full grey leather interior all electronic 420a ( blown ) auto with 16” OZ wheels it’s literally clean and bone stock besides the radio removed and the air filter. The sunroof is not sealed so it was leaking inside for months though but it’s a easy fix has some age obviously . I literally drove it with a rod knock around my house twice ( 200 feet max ) and when I parked it I slung the rod out behind the starter. Now I have another window … my question is what’s the best affordable engine swap or replacement I can do and gain some horsepower with out a shit ton of mods. I picked the clean an clear titled car up for $300.00 and literally had it run for 2-3 min tops I have no clue about the rest of the car besides the young guy who bought it in perfect condition from a military guy from California raced it here in Florida and now I have it. It does have sweet slotted rotors all the way around too and new rubbers . Ps can’t find engines around here unless crate long blocks or eBay so I’m limited hence why I’m asking opinion on the route I should go. Thanks y’all !!!

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[BLACK'98DSM]

You say you want more power without a shit ton of mods, but swapping in any engine besides another 420a requires a shit ton of mods. New engine mounts, trans mounts, ecu, wiring, etc. The easiest and cheapest option is to swap another 420a in it, and if you're not satisfied with the car at that point, sell it and use the money towards a turbo model. They respond to mods much better than the 420a models. Or hell if you wanted to build the 420a we'll help you with that too. But like you said, you don't want a shit ton of mods.

 

[pauleyman]

Part it out, get your 300$ back and buy a car that's fast already or easily modded.

 

[BLACK'98DSM]

Also not sure about where you live, but Pull-A-Part will give $250 for any car in any condition over here. I'd say pull the tires off, pull the tail lights, and any other parts of the car in good shape, then send it off.

It hurts to tell someone to trash a DSM. But there's only so much you can do and I get that.

 

[WOLV3RINE]

You say you want more power without a shit ton of mods, but swapping in any engine besides another 420a requires a shit ton of mods. New engine mounts, trans mounts, ecu, wiring, etc. The easiest and cheapest option is to swap another 420a in it, and if you're not satisfied with the car at that point, sell it and use the money towards a turbo model. They respond to mods much better than the 420a models. Or hell if you wanted to build the 420a we'll help you with that too. But like you said, you don't want a shit ton of mods.

Meant fabrication mods my bad Lol I don’t mind the performance mods and looks much simpler to do a 420a performance set up but it’s like 2500-3k$ for just a Orielys long block 420a figured with that much already maybe the Evo fwd swap would be a good choice to steer away from the Chrysler design but my main worry on the 420a is the block strength itself I’m a Chevy V8 dude with a heavy right foot that aluminum block looks weak compared to the iron block.

 

[BLACK'98DSM]

The block is actually the strongest part of the 420a. The only reason yours broke is because the rod hit it.

 

[WOLV3RINE]

I’ve legit spent a month watching YouTube Evo swaps and seeing everything about the 4g63t can’t be swapped without ridiculous waste of money an time and Ik the cars not perfect and although it’s not a camaro it is one of two imports I always wanted so I wanna keep it but I’m not looking to run 10s maybe 14s just quick enough to punch her down on the highway an look good doing it legit will be a gas savor daily for me more then not but I do want a manual swap at the time of the motor replacement.

The block is actually the strongest part of the 420a. The only reason yours broke is because the rod hit it.

Yeah not to mention that the previous guy seriously thought the rod knock was just a pulley or suspension part an didn’t believe the mechanic that he slung a rod … i bought it not able to crank an cranked it at the house 2xs 2nd time I got it started an moved it boom window installed.

You say you want more power without a shit ton of mods, but swapping in any engine besides another 420a requires a shit ton of mods. New engine mounts, trans mounts, ecu, wiring, etc. The easiest and cheapest option is to swap another 420a in it, and if you're not satisfied with the car at that point, sell it and use the money towards a turbo model. They respond to mods much better than the 420a models. Or hell if you wanted to build the 420a we'll help you with that too. But like you said, you don't want a shit ton of mods.

Meant fabrication mods my bad Lol I don’t mind the performance mods and looks much simpler to do a 420a performance set up but it’s like

Part it out, get your 300$ back and buy a car that's fast already or easily modded.

I’d like to keep it I flip vehicles here n there an already made all my money back on like 7-8 vehicles I bought with selling just the one so cars basically free now just engine issue until I get it going to see what else is issue but preferably want it manual if I get rid of it it’ll be to replace the motor and sell it for a gst blacked out 405whp I found for 5k.

 

[BLACK'98DSM]

If you're running 14's it won't be a gas saver. You'll either need boost or stage 3 cams and high compression. Which will consume quite a bit of fuel if it's running healthy.

 

[Mech Addict]

Unless you’ve alway wished to try an engine swap, stick with the stock mill. You might find a very usable low-ish milage used short block for only hundreds, not thousands. And if you do that, then don’t plan for high performance( although some folks Turbo them). It will be a sweet looking modest driver. Plus it came with that free socket on the manifold! There is always nitrous, if you want better 1/4 times...

 

[WOLV3RINE]

Unless you’ve alway wished to try an engine swap, stick with the stock mill. You might find a very usable low-ish milage used short block for only hundreds, not thousands. And if you do that, then don’t plan for high performance( although some folks Turbo them). It will be a sweet looking modest driver. Plus it came with that free socket on the manifold! There is always nitrous, if you want better 1/4 times...

Dude this thing came with lights tools and speeding tickets from the other guy in it he only had it couple months from it being kept up by a military guy in the marine corp. and there’s court date paper work in there too hahaha

If you're running 14's it won't be a gas saver. You'll either need boost or stage 3 cams and high compression. Which will consume quite a bit of fuel if it's running healthy.

As much as I’d love to run performance on it I wanna a gas saver too now let me point out most I get is 11.8 mpg combined 13 hwy in my 4.3ltr V6 Silverado so yeah 15mpg and up is a gas savor … I’m thinking my best option now ( with y’all’s opinions verifying my gut feeling ) would be a 420a block an since it’s either find cheap n rebuild it myself or buy a long block I will attempt to find a block make sure it’s built to hold a stage 1 or 2 turbo and leave it at that besides body kit and stereo … what’s y’all’s thought on the manual swap though ? I’d prefer stick and the fluids black in this auto.

 

[dustyboner]

i've driven 300hp and 400hp cars that will get hella good gas milage if you drive it like an old lady. But when your doing pulls trying to tune it, you can see the gas gauge drop if you watch it closely.

i have a couple extra blocks, a few sets of stock pistons and rods and 1 crank that i am unsure of its condition cause i haven't pulled it and another one that was turned but i don't know how much was taken off. i had a friend working at a machine shop, he stopped by on his lunch and was complaining he was bored at work so i told him to take the crank and turn it so he had something to do.
i just put it on the shelf when he brought it back and didn't think to ask about it.
anyways, if you can't find what you need locally, im pretty sure i will have it. Shipping cost will suck but i will give you a good deal on my end.
Back in the day you could just put a bare 420a block in a cardboard box and ship it for $40.
2 years ago it cost more than that just to ship an aluminum acura intake manifold and i know its gotten more expensive since then.

 

[Nic_Di_Censo]

Part it out, get your 300$ back and buy a car that's fast already or easily modded.

sadly this guy is right, speaking of that ill buy it as a parts car

 

[WOLV3RINE]

You say you want more power without a shit ton of mods, but swapping in any engine besides another 420a requires a shit ton of mods. New engine mounts, trans mounts, ecu, wiring, etc. The easiest and cheapest option is to swap another 420a in it, and if you're not satisfied with the car at that point, sell it and use the money towards a turbo model. They respond to mods much better than the 420a models. Or hell if you wanted to build the 420a we'll help you with that too. But like you said, you don't want a shit ton of mods.

I decided to take your advice and replace the 420a with another 420a. I got lucky n found two cars a 96 talon and an 98 eclipse for parts on my 97 they both have a running 420a matched with the 5 spd I wanted so tearing out the running already had timing belt replaced 420a with matching miles 5spd out and swapping it with the blown 420a n auto trans I have it’ll take me a year to get all this dine for the car to be completely finished I think but I’m gonna use the good eclipse motor an sell the body I picked it all up for 480$ with talon a bill of sale an 98 with a clear title with low mileage in my opinion. I will run the stock drive train besides a upgraded clutch and do the body mods I want done first then in a few years set up the block for a turbo set up after my house is built.

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[BLACK'98DSM]

You got 2 DSM's for $480? That's a steal. Nice find.

 

[WOLV3RINE]

You got 2 DSM's for $480? That's a steal. Nice find.

Yes I have $780 in all of them minus fuel to pick them up so ima swap the 98 drive train into (97)mine save the talon as a parts car and piece together the 98 and sell it to recoop dbl my money so it covers the body mods and routine maintenance needed. I’ll keep y’all updated on it as it goes. I’d like a body kit n make it look similar to the F&F eclipse looks wise but I’m still wanting my own look too I like the OZ wheels I’m aiming to make it flow more then look like a ricer but haven’t figured out if I should run fiberglass or polyurethane and I’d prefer the side skirts to clip n like the factory ones but until I’m for sure it’s only getting it running and all properly functional as factory would before mods ( besides minor motor n clutch stuff while drive trains out ).