I second that^ Read the turbo swap bible, all of it. I read that thing start to finish 3 times before and during, with numerous glances throughout the job.

While 700$ isn't bad for a parts car I drove home, I feel like it wasnt worth it. The motor was junk so I rebuilt my truck one with turbo pistons. The head had a crossthreaded spark plug... So I'm still running n/a head with valves waiting to burn up. Everything leaked on that car. Wiring harness was hacked and some. Things like tps had to get replaced, aka over 100$. Spent over 1200$ when it could have been done for 500$. Only good thing was I could visually see where it came off and how it goes back on. But for $500 I could have paid a forum member to come out and do that.

Mine only needed rebuilding for things one would expect, with the one exception of the TB gasket. He said car ran before pulling the head. (I put a new one on just because.) When I put it all together, it was dumping coolant into the cylinders. Turned our to be that silicone lined TB gasket. No way it ran before, aI never took the TB off the intake. Not a huge deal in the end, but boy was I freaked on first start-up when it started pumping all that white smoke out the exhaust... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />

Sounds eerily similar to my purchasing experience with the PO's statement of..."electrical problems" yea right. But what do I expect, really, for $650.00 I probably would have bought it anyway! >_< I've been searching the last couple of nights for donors and I came to the conclusion that I should spend more for one that's in better shape, possibly one that's been recently rebuilt. I do like the idea of having the whole car available right there to be able to look at and cross reference. Does anyone know anyone who has done this swap in the So Cal area? (another good Idea you had! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />)

The motor should turn a fraction even if the crank bearings are shot or the chain broken, unless the rings are stuck to the bore. I'd mix some acetone and dexron and squirt it in the plug holes and let it soak overnight, and repeat the next day, then try to break it loose at the crank bolt, CW rotation only. Also try with the starter and wrench at the same time (ratchet ONLY for this one for obvious reasons). Try with starter and wrench and smack the wrench with a BFH. If all this fails, pull the head off and use a fat stick on top of the piston and a BFH to break the rings loose.

I remember that. You you were, indeed, "freaked."



To the OP, Turbo is the most beautiful thing that ever happened to a 2.6L Mitsu engine.

Follow Eddy's suggestions and if they don't break something loose, seriously consider it. If my dumb ass can do it, anybody can.

Tried all that Eddy. Now onto the head removal. (the wife says I should have mine removed while I'm at it!)
Can you imagine that <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Dadrab, I'm on the lookout for a Starion just in case <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />