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What do you think? New motor, or just basic rebuild?

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xtascox

Hard-core CEG'er
Joined
Sep 13, 2007
Messages
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Location
Philadelphia, PA
Hey guys. I have a 98 Mystique LS, and I have decided to get a turbo kit from nautilus performance. But problem is my engine's got almost 160,000 on it and I don't want to spend the time and money installing a turbo only to have the engine crap out on me. Don't get me wrong, the motor runs amazing for the miles. Previous owner put all highway miles on it, and it had 142,000 when I got it. Anyway before I get the turbo, what do you think? Basic rebuild(just about everything I can replace without taking it out) or get a used motor with less miles. My plans either way definitely involve installing the SVT upper intake manifold and lower manifold from BAT. Other than that I am open to any suggestions as to what to replace, etc.

THANKS!

P.S. I am going to go with the 275hp to 300hp kit
P.P.S. I should mention I plan on adding a 50 shot nitrous system also
 
highway miles or not, that is a very tired motor. if you're going to spend the money for a turbo, you might as well get a very low mileage 3L for around $500
 
The best way to go is with the 3L since they have low k's. But they also have high compression so you might want to build up that. Your going to need a lsd also, personally id get a lsd, throw on the kit, and run the engine till it goes, while saving up for a newer engine.
 
xtascox said:
Hey guys. I have a 98 Mystique LS, and I have decided to get a turbo kit from nautilus performance. But problem is my engine's got almost 160,000 on it and I don't want to spend the time and money installing a turbo only to have the engine crap out on me. Don't get me wrong, the motor runs amazing for the miles. Previous owner put all highway miles on it, and it had 142,000 when I got it. Anyway before I get the turbo, what do you think? Basic rebuild(just about everything I can replace without taking it out) or get a used motor with less miles. My plans either way definitely involve installing the SVT upper intake manifold and lower manifold from BAT. Other than that I am open to any suggestions as to what to replace, etc.

THANKS!

P.S. I am going to go with the 275hp to 300hp kit
P.P.S. I should mention I plan on adding a 50 shot nitrous system also
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I'm surprised that you made this post considering if you'd searched even a little bit on this site, you would have found that the overwhelming consensus is to replace the 2.5 with a 3.0 regardless of what your plans are to modify the engine. In other words, this is a question that didn't need to be asked, especially since you don't have an SVT engine to worry about keeping original or original looking. Even then, if original look is important, guys will just do a hybrid engine. You'll find that rebuilding an engine without removing it from the car isn't going to be very easy if it's doable at all so you might as well do the 3.0 swap and be done with it.
Karl
 
I say run your current motor. If it craps out, pull the motor and put in a different motor like you were planning too. If it runs strong, then you saved yourself some money.
 
beyondloadedSE said:
I say run your current motor. If it craps out, pull the motor and put in a different motor like you were planning too. If it runs strong, then you saved yourself some money.
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I'm not really worthy to criticize you, but, in my opinion, that motor will likely not last long, and the OP would end up paying for similar labor TWICE instead of just doing the 3.0 NOW and only pay for the labor ONCE. It's just a thought. Not to mention we'd all love to see another such highly boosted 3L on the boards :cool:
 
zorrex said:
I'm not really worthy to criticize you, but, in my opinion, that motor will likely not last long, and the OP would end up paying for similar labor TWICE instead of just doing the 3.0 NOW and only pay for the labor ONCE. It's just a thought. Not to mention we'd all love to see another such highly boosted 3L on the boards :cool:
Click to expand...

There was a guy at Spring zing with a 98 Mystique 5 speed with 210K miles on it, He ran constantly around the track at gingerman, balls to the wall, and the next day dynoed and put down 156whp. BETTER numbers then stock, that motor ran beautifully.

I say go for it and dont worry about the motor, and it it blows then consider it something you were going to do anyway, if it doesnt blow then you saved some money.

I also HIGHLY recommend putting a Torsen or a quaife, and contrary to what everybody says "go LSD, Go LSD" Neighter the torsen or the quaife are traditional LSDs. LSDs have PLATES the Torsen and Quaife for the contour/Mystique has GEARS, its an Automatic Torque Biasing "LSD" Huge difference Between an ATB LSD and a traditional LSD. I do suggest you have on of these installed, I have seen and felt what the the Nautalis kit does with both the 2.5 and 3L, and it will destroy a differential first chance it gets.

Along with that Diff upgrade, you are going to need a better clutch, Spec Stage 3+ is the best way to go there.
 
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AliasJerk said:
There was a guy at Spring zing with a 98 Mystique 5 speed with 210K miles on it, He ran constantly around the track at gingerman, balls to the wall, and the next day dynoed and put down 156whp. BETTER numbers then stock, that motor ran beautifully.

I say go for it and dont worry about the motor, and it it blows then consider it something you were going to do anyway, if it doesnt blow then you saved some money.

I also HIGHLY recommend putting a Torsen or a quaife, and contrary to what everybody says "go LSD, Go LSD" Neighter the torsen or the quaife are traditional LSDs. LSDs have PLATES the Torsen and Quaife for the contour/Mystique has GEARS, its an Automatic Torque Biasing "LSD" Huge difference Between an ATB LSD and a traditional LSD. I do suggest you have on of these installed, I have seen and felt what the the Nautalis kit does with both the 2.5 and 3L, and it will destroy a differential first chance it gets.

Along with that Diff upgrade, you are going to need a better clutch, Spec Stage 3+ is the best way to go there.
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Was it the dark blue one? That was me!
Just sold it with over 200k a few months ago. Traded "up" for my '98 CSVT.
 
Thanks for the suggestions guys and fyi, I did search the forums extensively but it didn't answer my question. A friend of mine is going to help me put together a kit after I go through and put new gaskets all around the motor along with new timing belt. He thinks he can do it for $900-$1200 so I'll let you all know how it goes. It will probably be after winter when I get it done.
 
Unless someone here knows of somebody in the north east PA region that knows a lot about the 3 liter. I wouldn't mind spending the money to buy the motor but I know nothing about the mods that need to be done to it to make it drop in. A highly boosted 3 liter is my end goal, but I just don't know enough about it and I would need to have someone helping me along.
 
xtascox said:
Unless someone here knows of somebody in the north east PA region that knows a lot about the 3 liter. I wouldn't mind spending the money to buy the motor but I know nothing about the mods that need to be done to it to make it drop in. A highly boosted 3 liter is my end goal, but I just don't know enough about it and I would need to have someone helping me along.
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You have a PM
 
zorrex said:
I'm not really worthy to criticize you, but, in my opinion, that motor will likely not last long, and the OP would end up paying for similar labor TWICE instead of just doing the 3.0 NOW and only pay for the labor ONCE. It's just a thought. Not to mention we'd all love to see another such highly boosted 3L on the boards :cool:
Click to expand...

Why would he have to pay for labor twice? Motor only gets pulled once either way.
 
beyondloadedSE said:
Why would he have to pay for labor twice? Motor only gets pulled once either way.
Click to expand...

Well, not really twice. But he's have to pay more. First the "rebuild," But if that fails because of the age of the engine, then he needs to pay for a swap...That's what I meant by "twice."
 
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