New Motor, New Turbo

[95DSM]

Yes, really long I know!
here's the situation: My g/f owns a 95 Talon TSi. She's had it a little over 1 year and has put alot of money into the engine that has almost 150k miles on it now. Well to make matters worse the head gasket started leaking in 2 corners and is losing about 1.5 to 2 quarts every 2000-2500 miles. We have called all the shops around here and they all want atleast $700 to do the job. She has two things now she wants to do. (1) her dad wants her to get a newer Honda. (2) she wants to drop in a new engine in the Talon. She wants a reliable car (which is why she thinks maybe a Honda) but loves the power she gets from the Talon. I really want her to keep the Talon because it has a really healthy tranny in it and the body is in great condition and we've done alot of custom interior work on it. Anyways if she gets a new motor put in I plan on getting her a new turbo. She doesnt want anything huge, becuz she doesnt want the bad gas mileage and doesnt really want to mod the enigne too much, but wants something that has power. I am currently looking into the small 16g and big 16g turbo's. I want to get her something with a little more power than the stock, but something that doesnt require lots of additional modding like FMIC's and larger injectors & fuel pump etc. Im under the impression the 16g's use the stock manifold and such? If there are any other turbo's I should consider help me out. If you guys could help me out I'd really appreciate it!
Thanks

[Iwishiwascool]

so why replace the whole motor just cause the headgasket is leaking?

[MrBlunt]

they use the stock manifold but normally this is a mod that increases power by increasing the boost you run, in order to do this you need more fuel(depending on where you want to push the boost to). if she isnt looking into big power then i'd recommend switching that t-28 to a 14b. its usually one of the first mods that people do. it doesnt really need any crazy upgrades and with a boost controller she'd be happy w/ the added power. you could save a few hundred bucks by doing the hg yourself if you have 3-5 hrs to waste.

[EvolvedDSM]

I'd say a 14B or a small 16G. Both will give you a nice kick w/o worry of lag. You could always go 14 since it's cheap and then do the direct swap to a 16 down the road.

[95DSM]

she wants to replace the motor because she's had a lot of problems with this one and it's got a lot of miles on it. plus the one whole side is totally covered with oil now. :( anyway, I plan on installing the turbo myself if it just basically bolts up. Im sure there's probably a site that explains what all yu'll need to swap the stocker with a 14b, if so can ya send the link? and what kinda power/spooling would I expect with the 14b compared to stock?
EDIT: btw, she also has a greddy type S BOV if that matters.

[Iwishiwascool]

worst.reason.toreplace.motor.ever

[Gunner]

Somebody kidnap her and drop her off at the local Honda dealer.

[BlackEclipse]

I have a question:

Has the motor ever overheated? If no, then this could be a simple HG replacement. If yes, then the head is probably warped and will need to be taken to a machine shop and shaved flat.

You said she has had a lot of problems with this engine and has spent a ot of money in the past year on it. Please list the problems for us.

[talon guy]

watch her problems be simple ones like she got her acc. belts replaced and like a starter or alternator or something like that. spark plugs and wires..lol

[BlackEclipse]

or....loud ticking lifters and she had them taken out and cleaned only to have them start ticking again later.

[95DSM]

actually she's had all those things fixed plus more. I really dont understand why some of you guys thinks its such a horrible idea to replace a motor thats giving her problems and has a lot of miles on it and has been run hard. No I dont know if its ever been overheated, but I do know the kid that had it b4 her ran the piss out of it and thats why his parents sold it. Anyways, she had all the basics replaced like all acc. belts and timing belt, water pump, pulleys, oil pump. Also before she baught the car the turbo was replaced and so was the SMIC and they had to replace the valves and seals I believe. but add that to being run hard, having 150k miles and a blown head gasket now and possibly warped head and problems that keep coming and you can see why she is thinking about replacing it. IMO its not the 'worst.reason.ever' or however you put it. Thanks to all who actually gave opinions that helped.

[Iwishiwascool]

Yup. What do I know about replacing motors anyway.

:thumb

[Iwishiwascool]

some "helpfull" advice:

Replace the bearings, rings, front case, head gasket, get the head decked, cylinders honed, get a new oem head gasket. This refresh job will cost 1/4 the amount of a "new" motor and you wont fret if you "new" 2g block is crank walking or not.

[DQ Driver]

let the record reflect...

NOT MUCH

[95DSM]

I dont know about all that...its her money, its really upto her, just thought maybe I could get some advice, not smart ass remarks.

[Iwishiwascool]

ooh busted

[harry's94tsi]

ooo snap....

did ken just get owned?

[Iwishiwascool]

sure did....

But im not about to whine about it like many of the other noobs round here.

[BlackEclipse]

When you say "get a new motor", do you mean going to a dealership and ordering a brand new motor and having it installed? If this is what was in mind then you might as well just get rid of the car and go buy a brand new car that has a warranty.

[95DSM]

no, I didnt mean to buy a brand new motor from dealer. I meant a decent used motor with low miles. Im not too worried about crankwalk in a new motor because she has an auto tranny. The way things are going though she seems to want a new car.

[DQ Driver]

Replacing the current motor with a "decent used motor with low miles" is going to add more variables/possibliites for new problems to come.

The difficulies she has had are not uncommon and if they were addressed correctly, would drastically limit failures in the future (oil pump for example). Unless she is comfortable taking a huge loss on the car. it still needs to be fixed. Pin point the current problem at hand, and fix it accordingly.

[BlackEclipse]

If she wants to continue driving the same car then she is gonna have to develop some mechanic skills and get to know her car better so she is not constantly nickel'd and dime'd to death by professional auto mechanics. The world needs more women mechanics.

Another "used motor" of the same kind is a bad idea unless you are rebuilding it before you stick it in - then you might as well just rebuild the one that is in there. And we all have very little faith in the almighty 7-bolt 4G63.

She needs to get rid of those balance shafts and soon and get it checked for crankwalk (yes, I know it is an automatic).

[95DSM]

well right now she plans on fixing the head gasket so its atleast in decent running condition and then plans to trade it in or sell it in the spring/early summer.