It's been almost two years since I have driven my beloved dsm and I really need some imput from you guys.
Some quick background info: My stock motor blew two years ago after I had a boost spike. I then bought a built motor off a member and installed it but something in the motor seemed to be seized up cause I guess it had sat in his backyard for too long. My car has been on jackstands ever since. ;(

My dilemma: I just got my tax return and have about 1k left over. I have the seized up built motor still sitting in the car and my blown stock motor in the garage. I have never had any experience with machine shops and don't really know how to proceed. Should I pull the built motor from the car and take it to a machine shop to have it looked at or should I have the stock blown motor rebuilt, OR should I take both motors to a machine shop and tell them to use the parts from both motors to make me one good running motor?? Also will 1K be enough to get her up and running or am I looking at way more money? Any input from you guys that have been in similar situations would be appreciated. :)

Take out the built motor and take it apart. It's not that difficult, I think Corbin has a wiki write-up on this. Then get back to us with the results. We can then tell you what needs to be done, so if you decide to take the built motor to a machinist, you will have an idea of what you need to ask for.

if you have a built bottom end and a stock blown one, do this. take both apart. most likely the built motor has overbore pistons and the stock has stock bore. have a machinist verify this. if that proves to be true, assemble the stock block w/ the forged bottom end components from the other motor.

study corbin's wiki writeup. http://www.2gnt.com/?d=A_Proper_Rebuild

Originally posted by 420agreenvilleSC
if you have a built bottom end and a stock blown one, do this. take both apart. most likely the built motor has overbore pistons and the stock has stock bore. have a machinist verify this. if that proves to be true, assemble the stock block w/ the forged bottom end components from the other motor. study corbin's wiki writeup. http://www.2gnt.com/?d=A_Proper_Rebuild

Thanks for the reply Mike. The stock motor looked like it was in really good condition when I pulled the oil pan and valve cover. I'm going to probably just take both motors to the machine shop and have them do what you said. I would do the work myself but I just don't have the time anymore. How much do you think the machine shop would charge to transer the built parts over to the stock block and bore it out? I think the built motor was bored 20 over.

Thanks for the quick reply EZ. I would pull the motor and take it apart like you say but I don't really have time these days. I finally started working in what I went to school for and work long hours. Weekends are for the family now. I'm kind of stuck now having to pay to get stuff done. I was seriously contemplating just selling the car altogether but I miss driving it.

Yeah, I agree with Mikey. Worst case senario your stock motor can be machined to accomodate the pistons and what not that you have in the built motor. I have people almost everyday asking me, "why don't you just sell that car, you can make more power with blah blah?". I just look back at them and say, you don't understand, its a dsm thing :P anywho, good luck with what ever you decide to do. 1k should be more than enough to get you a built motor running since you have all the parts minus bearings,rings etc.

Originally posted by Slo2g
...you don't understand, its a dsm thing :P

this

Thanks for the motivating words Slo. I have been borrowing cars from family members ever since my car broke down and I agree with you that there's nothing like driving a dsm. :+ I'll keep everyone posted on how everything goes. I'll be pulling the built motor and taking both motors to the machine shop in the next few weeks.

Give me the stock engine, the built engine, the 1k and and I'll give you back a well built engine :P

Originally posted by bullettdsm
Give me the stock engine, the built engine, the 1k and and I'll give you back a well built engine :P

Depending where you live in NJ, should only be a 2~3hr drive... sounds like a nice little roadtrip to me ;)

- J

Originally posted by bullettdsm
Give me the stock engine, the built engine, the 1k and and I'll give you back a well built engine :P

For what you've managed to pull off with your cars, that's actually a pretty good deal.

I'd take him up on it if I could Dan.

Originally posted by RoninEclipse2G
I'd take him up on it if I could Dan.

I went to a machine shop that was recommended by some local guy with a turbo 420a. The shop said they will take apart both motors and tell me what work needs to be done for $80. I'm pulling the built motor as I type even though it's freezing in the backyard. I'm hoping to take both motors to the shop tomorrow and see what they say. If all else fails and the shop quotes me something crazy to build me a good motor than I might take bullet up on his offer. :)

I got about halfway into the motor removal today but I ran into problems removing a lightweight crank pulley that I had put on the built motor. Here's a pic of what I struggled with for 3 hours before I quit. Even hit it with a torch for several minutes and the damn thing wouldn't budge. Any suggestions? BTW, I think it's an obx udp.

Got a closer view of how the puller is hooked up? Looks like you may be using the puller on the actual pulley instead of the crank.

Originally posted by Slo2g
Got a closer view of how the puller is hooked up? Looks like you may be using the puller on the actual pulley instead of the crank.

Yeah, what's in the hole of the crank snout?

Originally posted by DarkOne

Originally posted by Slo2g Got a closer view of how the puller is hooked up? Looks like you may be using the puller on the actual pulley instead of the crank.

Yeah, what's in the hole of the crank snout?

Damn. You guys are right. The bolt that goes through the middle is not pushing off the crank but instead it was pushing off the crank and not doing crap. :wallbash I'm going to pick up a long bold to thread into the crank so I can push the pulley off of that.

You can use a long 1/4 drive extension inside the crank snout. :shrug

Originally posted by Slo2g
You can use a long 1/4 drive extension inside the crank snout. :shrug

or a push rod. sometimes those kits are supplied with one, but they can also sometimes come up short on the length