What does all this mean?

[Jonnyktm]

I looking at a car recently and it had quite a bit of stuff done to it and was told that it is a really nice set up, but don't know what really any of it means. Its a 97 Eclipse GSX with a 6 bolt rebuilt engine with all new OEM parts, font mount intercooler, tokico performance shocks and springs all around, a 16G turbo, and a full 3" exhaust, E-Prom ECU, Transmission was built with parts from TRE icluding an upgraded double sychro for 1st-2nd gear hub, All new high grade bronze synchronizers, and brand new Exedy Stage 1 Clutch. The guy was telling me how rare the 6 bolt swap is... is it that great? The engine and transmission need to be put in the car, so it's not like i can drive the car. How much would it cost to get the engine and everything put in the car? how much would you pay for a car with all this in it, but without it installed yet? I know what the turbo and intercooler are its the stuff in the transmission and this 6 bolt swap idea that i dont really understand. the rest of the car is in decent shape with only 75000 on the body. Should i consider this car for $4500 or talk him down, or leave it because it isn't worth much.
Thanks

 

[FearlessNick]

Id take it for 4500 real quick but that's me and because my pops owns a shop and me and him could throw it back together in a couple of days. But I would say your maybe looking around a grand or 2 if you take it to a shop and have them put it together for you.

 

[akira235]

6 bolt swap is definitely important, the 6bolt engine is bulletproof. if he has receipts for everything that isn't a bad deal, although if you don't have the experience to install everything yourself it probably isn't something you should get involved in, buying a dsm in pieces may at first seem like a good idea, but I paid 600 for mine, took me close to 3grand to get it driving, then another 300 to have the wiring fixed.

if he has a 6bolt motor but it isn't in the car yet, it may not be a 6 bolt "swap" yet, meaning that you would have to do all the necessary wiring.

 

[wkmitsu]

That deal isn't going to be worth it for you if you need to take it to a shop and have it put together.

"6 bolt" refers to the number of bolts that hold the flywheel to the crankshaft. There was 6 bolt and 7 bolt motors built for DSMs, the 6 bolts only came in the 90-92 1G DSMs and are considered a stronger platform to build on. They are more resilient to crankwalk than the 2G 7 bolt motors and therefore are a desirable swap for a 2G. I think the word "rare" is a little strong to describe a 6 bolt swap but I guess you don't see it on every 2G, so maybe I guess.

The TRE tranny he's talking about is a built 2G transmission, it would be nice to have.

The "EPROM" ECU he's talking about is actually short for an "Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory" ECU. It is useful to have when it comes to tuning. It is easily compatible with DSMLink, which is a very powerful tuning device for DSMs.

It isn't exactly an elementary task to do a 6 bolt swap though, so unless you have someone who knows what they are doing, I wouldn't attempt it by yourself if you're a beginner and don't feel confident.

Since this guy doesn't have anything put together, unless you can convince him to put it together and make it run right, that is where you are at, and my advice is to look for a different car.

 

[Jonnyktm]

Well I know a guy that has swapped quite a few engines but I doubt a dsm.... Would general know how be able to get it in? Any specific tools I would need? I am a newbie and have no real clue currently on how to do all this stuff... Is there a write up on how to do a 6bolt swap? I hear the wiring is slightly different and something about trimming something..... You think if I had enough info an knew what needed to be changed and new how the wiring went that me and a guy who has swapped engines in the past could put it in?

If I could talk him down to maybe 3500, would that be a good deal if I had to take it to a shop and have everything put in?

 

[my98gsx]

sounds like a good base to start with if you dont mind doing the work to it... i would never call a 6 bolt swap quote "rare" though.

 

[donniekak]

If I could talk him down to maybe 3500, would that be a good deal if I had to take it to a shop and have everything put in?

No, buying a dsm in pieces is never a good idea, unless you know the platform front and back. Mechanics experienced with other cars still manage to mess up dsm's. You'll end up with $6000 wrapped up into a car that isn't right, and if it was right would still be worth less than you have in it.

These cars are getting older, and becoming pretty much an enthusiasts only platform, because of the previous hacks on them.

 

[Jonnyktm]

So... basically what you're saying is, Me and that guy have as good a chance as a mechanic in installing it, otherwise find a guy who knows DSM's. The guy selling the car has built DSM's for 8 years, but he doesn't have time to put the stuff in. Is there a place that knows DSM's well and would do the job right?

 

[McCanic]

to learn some basic on dsm go ahead and look throw these web sites:
Visual Frequently Answered Questions - Home Page
Virtual Tour of the DSM Engine Bay - Top index
I found these the most helpful, other then dsmtuners!
if you have motivation i say go for it!

 

[Absit]

Don't buy that car, don't buy any modified car, if you don't know exactly what everything is, and assume it's broken.

Never buy a car in pieces unless you're only paying for the shell, assume everything else is broken.

And no, a 6 bolt swap isn't that great, and it's not rare either. 7boltphobia runs rampant.

 

[JuGs]

sounds like a good base to start with if you dont mind doing the work to it... i would never call a 6 bolt swap quote "rare" though.

I agree 6 bolt swap is very common. IMO 4500 is a good price.

 

[Jonnyktm]

I am pretty sure about buying this car, from what I've seen, read, and heard it sounds like as good a place as any to start. Thanks for all your input and help guys, you all rock. Is there a thread or a couple of threads on the 6 bolt swap, WITH pictures? I found a few but none with pics and some most of them has broken links in part of the steps. If there are any videos that would be epic. I plan on buying a manual and between that, threads, my mechanic friend, and I we should be able to figure it out

 

[wkmitsu]

Can't find one with pictures right now, but this is pretty good material.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-engine-fuel/152329-how-do-6-bolt-swap-what-you-need.html

There's a lot of steps here that don't go into extensive detail, but it gives you the general process. Because of that, this site is about to become your new best friend. Good luck.

 

[Jonnyktm]

Yeah that's the one I found with the dead link on it. What is the business with modifying the Engine mount? That's part of what I want to see pics and stuff of, things I have to grind and alter to get things to work and fit.

 

[wkmitsu]

Yeah that's the one I found with the dead link on it. What is the business with modifying the Engine mount? That's part of what I want to see pics and stuff of, things I have to grind and alter to get things to work and fit.

6 Bolt Motor Install Into a 2G Eclipse

6 Bolt Motor Install Into a 2G Eclipse