Ok, so heres the deal. I purchased a 92' Talon TSi AWD Turbo from a buddy at work. I know its not an Evo, but its the same (almost) motor.I tried signing up on the DSM forums, but they require you to have a paid for email address, and I have a free email like the rest of the world. The timing belt snapped at roughly 70mph on the freeway, and I can guarantee the motor is shot.

My question is this, should I pull the head, have it reworked, throw-in new pistons & rods, or just throw in a new long-block? Please, before you respond think about it this way. I purchased the enitre car for 300 bucks! The entire car! Its in great shape, my buddy isn't mechanically inclined and didn't want to deal with it. So, I offered him some cash, and that was that. I sourced a long-block with 30k miles on it for 750 bucks from a local japanese engine company.

I was thinking about purchasing the long-block, using an Evo III turbo mani with a Buschur Big 16G, FMIC, O2 Housing, & 3" catted DP. Then, HKS Hi-Power catback, Apexi SAFC, Turbo Timer, Ground kit, Walbro 255, Injen intake, Centerforce clutch and flywheel, UR crank pulley, and doing a full maintenace on the car (ie- fuel filter, timing belt, water pump, balancer, plugs, wire, cap, rotor, differential fluid, cv axles, and flushing the coolant.

What do you guys think? I know that the car isn't worth a whole lot, but, I figure I paid so little for it that one or two grand worth of parts to make it a streetable yet powerful car isn't bad... Please let me know your opinions... Thanks!

 

I say go for the new long-block. Just have it checked out before you buy.

 

I would buy a used core and send it out to get fully build you dont have to go crazy some wisco pistons eagle rods stage one head port. Bore the block out and hottub it and go with oem belts maybe some 272's and all this shouldnt cost you more then 3 grand installed it would be much better then trying to rebuild the one you got then with the used one you rebuild it yourself take your time with it and when ready sell it off and get some of the money back.

good luck

 

When my timing belt went on my 94 Talon, it bent 8 of the 16 valves. One of the valves just kissed the piston top, but no damage was done to the piston. I just had the damaged valves replaced, had a valve job done, and I was good to go. So just pull the head off and take a look, hopefully the damage was not that severe.

 

Yeah, if all you have to do is replace the valve train, then that $750 on a used long block could go towards something else, I would say pull the head off and assess the damage first, see what you have to work with, if the pistons are fine... do a stage 3 head (whatever that means) and you'll be good to go.

 

if u can get the engine for $750 your good. just make sure u get compression and leak test numbers. i got screwed once by those jdm companies. they had actually rebuilt the engine, and used 2 non-turbo pistons on #3 and #4 cylinder.

i sold my older short block for $400 and the head, with bent valves, for $75.

 

Thanks for all of the relys, guys! I figured I'd get a better response here than anywhere else. I am going to pull the head and asses the damage b4 I make anything set in stone. If the head and the valves are all that are bad, I am going to have a mild street-port done on it, add a good set of valves (ferrea or similar), dual-springs and ti-retainers, and a set of HKS cams and gears. I think the block will be fine, especially after I do the general tune-up and maintenance. I just got a reply from Nick at Buschur, and were going with a Big 16G GT off of an Evo III. I can't wait! Thanks for the help guys. If you know of any good DSM sights, please post them!