hello, first off yes i searched, for...hours actually. and im on this site...about 8 hours on average a day..lol, anyways if i could get this question answered it be great. I asked a similar quesiton a while back but never really got a sure answer. I have a 95 talon esi with basic bolt ons. Its pushing 115K now and im just entering college so i hope to keep this car running for a very long time still. I have been looking at rebuild kits for a very long time now. Basically my plans are after more bolt ons is a HRC stage 1 or 2, more then likely the stage 2 with the 16G and either front or side intercooler but i would like to get my engine a little stronger first. I was looking at the basic 350$ bottom end kit from howell to rebuild it to stock condition. My car has always ran VERY strong, only problem so far is i had to replace the clutch and water pump at 100K, im doing the timing belt again in a few weeks. I was wondering if the basic stock rebuild kit from howell will give extra life to my car while being able to support a Stage 1 or 2 in the future with no problem. im looking for 5-7psi. I dont really have the money for the 1100$ performance kit thats why i like the stock rebuild kit. Thanks for your help guys!

ok, yes the stock rebuild kit will make your motor last a lot longer, but there is no telling how long it will last on boost. its kind of a game with a stock bottom end on boost. ever hit 9 psi and your pretty much screwed. just put in the extra money and get the low compression rebuild kit.

If your engine is running fine, and you have even halfway decent compression, there's absolutely no reason to rebuild.

Just save your money for the day if/when your engine does blow. THEN rebuild.

Oh, and I found this by searching... (you just have to try a few different search phrases):
http://forums.2gnt.com/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=8&topic_id=76182&mesg_id=76182&listing_type=search
http://forums.2gnt.com/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=8&topic_id=16291&mesg_id=16291&listing_type=search

Deff rebuild if you said that your in college and you want to boost it, imagen blowing 3000 on a turbo and a week later you throw a rod or warp a piston, now you have a problem and no money to fix it. Spend the extra cash money and do it right, I am getting a guy who works on my friends lightning to rebuild mine, full bottem end rebuild, and its only going to cost 1,700 labor included.

Originally posted by youkickedmydog
Deff rebuild if you said that your in college and you want to boost it, imagen blowing 3000 on a turbo and a week later you throw a rod or warp a piston, now you have a problem and no money to fix it. Spend the extra cash money and do it right, I am getting a guy who works on my friends lightning to rebuild mine, full bottem end rebuild, and its only going to cost 1,700 labor included.

Good deal

Originally posted by youkickedmydog
Deff rebuild - imagen blowing a week later
now you have a problem and no money to fix it.
Spend the extra cash money and do it right

This is the EXACT thought process that I disagree completely with.

If you have the "extra cash money" then put it in a savings account and don't spend it until your engine blows and you need it. If you have "no money" then you definitely shouldn't be going turbo yet.

Save up until you have enough money for a turbo AND a rebuild, buy the turbo, boost until if/when you blow up, then rebuild. Your money sits in a savings account earning interest until you need it.

"Doing it right" has never included rebuilding your engine just to put a turbokit on. In fact, if the turbosystem is done well enough, you may never have to rebuild at all.

Which would you rather blow if you screw something up on the turbokit? A $100 shortblock or a $2000 shortblock?

Do a compression test and if it turns out good just keep the bottom end you have. I don't think you would have any problems with the stock bottem end only boostin 5-7psi with good compression. Although boost is very addictive...keep that in mind.
If it turns out bad, then save your money and get forged internals at the same time you do your turbo kit.
Good luck!