Blown Eclipse 98 non-turbo engine, what to do next?

I googled and googled, searched and search, but I'm still confused. I have a '98 Mits' Eclipse with a blown engine. I had the car for about 3 weeks til the engine blew. Not sure where to procceed from here. Is it possible to put a turbo'd version of the engine I have in it now or do I have to fine a matching engine? Any idea's/suggestions welcome

It really isnt worth putting a turbo egine in your car. there is so many things that needs to be changed that its not worth it.. the thime and money involved.. you might as well fix yoru car and then go buy a turbo car.. or buy another engine put it in your car and turbo it. or fix it then sell it.. at least that way youll get more for it than sellign a car with a blown motor. 420a's go for pretty cheap nowdays anyways..

Wow what a coincidence... I bought my eclipse then 3 weeks later it started overheating and had to be completely rebuilt. Cost me $2000, wish I would've spent 5-6k off the bat and bought a turbo'd :(

All you can do it rebuilt the motor. A stock rebuild should be pretty cheap. Just make sure you replace all the major parts including timing belt tensioner and the timing belt pulleys.

Wow what a coincidence... I bought my eclipse then 3 weeks later it started overheating and had to be completely rebuilt. Cost me $2000, wish I would've spent 5-6k off the bat and bought a turbo'd :(

The same exact thing happened to me. 2 weeks or so after I bought the car I went to Philly to visit some freinds. It was about 80 degrees the entire time. My cars temp gauge would be near the top when we were about to get to where we were going.

I was poking around my engine bay and I don't believe the piston closest to the timing belt is there.. I am able to stick a straightened out clothes hanger into the spark plug hole and it goes down about 2 feet :confused:

My plan is to get a new engine installed that has a warrenty. I was estimated at roughly 3K to get a new engine installed. I guess it will be better to put a turbo on an engine thats new instead of all the ones I can find in my area's craigslist with 100K+ miles

You would have to drop a new ECU into it if you want to turbo it. Not to mention routing oil lines and such. Jay, can a 4G63 and ecu be installed in a NT?

You would have to drop a new ECU into it if you want to turbo it. Not to mention routing oil lines and such. Jay, can a 4G63 and ecu be installed in a NT?

Joe we went over this... no new ECU in 420a turbos. 420a ecus in 420a motors only. You need something to tune the car with, but stock ECU still works. True to the oil lines though.

So you're going to replace the blown motor with a stock OEM rebuild is that correct? And then you're going to turbo it? That still not a good idea. The 420a motor stock is not built to handle a turbo too well. Ya it's a fresh rebuild or whatnot, but you're still pushing the limits of the block. Do you know what kind of turbo, how much boost, and what supporting mods you're going to do to it? What's your goals?

Also, correct me if I'm wrong but the warranty may expire if you add a turbo to it and make it a modded engine. Most warranties on motors are for straight drop ins. They're not going to warranty a motor that's turboed when it wasn't made to handle a turbo.

Dave, I meant like droppiung a 4G63 ECU

I wish I would have known what was going on when it happened to me, but I was late 16, early 17 and had no idea about anything, just thought because I had an eclipse I could go fast. I wish I would have told my parents to just park it and let me make some money and swap in a 4g63t. I only drive it in the spring-early fall for about 5-10k miles so it wouldnt have been that bad without it. I have only put 12k on since I bought it 2 years ago.


Now with 2,000 into having the 420a rebuilt it's not worth it. Since I've got so much into the rebuild I may just convert it this or next summer.

Joe: I know that's what you meant and that's still a negative. 4g63 ECU is not compatible with the 420a. The only other ECUs that will work are aftermarket standalone units like MegaSquirt, EManage and AEM EMS. That's a whole nother ball game though.

JScharF: If you're talking about swapping in a 4g63 to your 420a is going to cost a lot more than building up a 420a motor. Everything is different and will take a lot more money to custom fab, rewire and redo the entire car. There are no similarities in the motor and drivetrain. Would be cheaper to buy a turbo model off the bat than do that swap, especially if you're don't know what you're doing.

Build it back to stock, sell it, buy a turbo model...IF you want a turbo model.

Also, correct me if I'm wrong but the warranty may expire if you add a turbo to it and make it a modded engine. Most warranties on motors are for straight drop ins. They're not going to warranty a motor that's turboed when it wasn't made to handle a turbo.


Yes it would void the warrenty if you install a turbo on the car. So make sure you remove it before you get any warrenty work done if the motor fails again.

simply get certified low mileage engine for it from japan. they are guaranteed to be low miles(up to 35-40K), come perfectly COMPLETE, even with all the hoses simply cut in the middle, and are not expensive. here in the pacific northwest we pay anywhere between 300 to 500 for those engines for regular cars, might be slightly more for eclipse. day job to drop it in.

what exactly is blown? coolant plugs are replaceable. if you toasted pushrod bearings, remove engine head, drop oil pan, pull bearings out from the bottom, maybe replace piston rings and hone cylinder bores same time. around 2 day job for 1 guy. no bull, have done 3 times, including 1 94 eclipse and 96 galant. but honestly, for the cost of parts/gaskets/time, i'd simply shoot for the engine. btw, maybe don't look for "eclipse" engine, just find one for say galant, i know they share same engines for sure.

http://www.trustmymechanic.com/japanmotor.html