If your not mechanically inclined it will definately be easier and more cost effective to just buy another used motor and put it in. Plus you can either have a whole parts motor or piece it out and make back some money.

 

it would be cheaper to fix the existing motor if not too much damage has been done. but if youve been driving it for awhile, your crankshaft is most likely toast in which case it would be cheaper to get a new motor.

 

well its rod knock. i pulled the motor apart and the piston with 160psi is the culprit. i found a new motor on car-part.com. i already started pulling mine so hopefully i can get it done soon. thanks for all of the help guys i really appreciate it.

 

Alright, so sounds like i am in the same boat, would i need a full motor, or just the block, i am not very knowledgeable about Mitzu motors, What year range would work with a 2002 Lancer LES?

 

i haven't really seen any blocks for sale but thats really all you would need. i'm going to pull apart my block and maybe rebuild it to save some money. i only drove the car about 7 miles on the rod so my crank should be in good enough shape. car-part.com has a lot of motors for a good price so i might just spend $400 on a whole new motor with only 18,000 miles on it.

 

Well i Found some Motors for the Lancer for sale and they range from $400- $570, Which years would be a direct swap for the 2002 lancer? i have found 2002, 2003 and 2005. obviously the 2002 will but what about the 2003 it has less milage!

 

2002 to 2007 are all the 4g94. Has to be a base model lancer though of course. As far as blocks go, blocks are not guaranteed to run when you buy them, only guaranteed rebuildable. Engines should be guaranteed to run. Take it from a guy who bought a block, had some serious miscommunication with the junk yard I bought it from, and now am stuck with a bad block. The only way I can use it is if A. I get oversize pistons and bore it out, B. Get it resleeved. Both of which are very expensive. Now Im just going to get a guaranteed running motor for 400 from a local junkyard and call it good. No more crap with all this. I need my car running so I can find a job fast. Oh and jimmhuth, and 03lances correct me if im wrong, but you have a very good chance of just replacing the bearings in your block and calling it good. If you havent rodded the crap out of your crankshaft and its still in good shape, I would probably just go the route of replacing the bearings.

 

Yes Lancerman this is very possible, as long as the finish on the journal surfaces on the crank and rod look good ( mirror finish just about) and either take a micrometer or use that plastic gauge stuff and get the clearances to compare to the standard value. Jimmhuth did you check for play side to side as well? That way you can be sure the thrust washers are fine. If the clearance is a little big you can get oversized bearings as well to compensate.

 

it has a lot more side to side than the others. they all actually feel a little different. i'm actually taking auto classes so i'm just going to use the old motor as a project anyway so i'm not to worried about it.

 

Well Im glad you have it all figured out. GL with everything.

 

Cool man, as lancerman already stated good luck with everything, anytime you have a question I am always open to help

 

okay, last question,

Do these motors have a common problem of eventually rod rocking down the road? or is something that can be prevented by proper maintenance? I only ask this cuz i can get a used motor and swap it, or get rid of the car all together. It would be more convienent to just swap it than hassel with finding another car, and perhaps running into the same thing or worse. Thank you for all your help!

 

Not a common problem that I know of. With proper maintence these engines should last quite awhile. The only thing I have with mitsu motors is the valve seals like to go bad so alot of mitsu motors will start to burn oil around 150k in my experience

 

Tru dat son. My last head only burned oil though when it started up first thing in the morning. And as far as the bearings go, they should last you quite a long time. Just make sure your getting proper lubrication (ie. keep up on your oil level) and you should be good to go for a long time. You can even go get yourself some acl bearings if your super worried about stress.

 

Okay so nothing to worry about then?
Its my sisters car so she just drives it around "normal", ha ha, no horse beating! I guess i am gonna look for a used motor to drop in for her then.
Thanks again for all your help!