My 97gs has about 88,000 miles on it right now, and I'm looking to turbo it. I bought the car about a year ago with 68,000 on it, so I have no idea what it has been through with the previous owner.

As of right now i guess i have a couple of choices.

1. Compression test
2. 4g63 swap
3. 420a swap

Im not sure if the 4g63 with go in as easy as a 420a, but that would be my first choice from the list.

As I plan to keep the car for a while, I want it to be able to stand a lot of abuse. I plan to street race it so I need it to be quick yet reliable, since it is my only car.

You can't put a 4G63 in it.

Yes, it has been done, so it's not impossible. There is one known case of someone doing it. Never could get it right, ran like crap, later caught on fire and burned to the ground. Spend an bunch of money on it, too, all for stock GST performance.

Anyway. off of that subject..

Do the compression test. If the numbers come back okay (180ish is good), don't worry about it. Even if they're not that great(170ish), there's no need to swap another motor in it, rebuild the one you've got and turbo it anyway.

compression test, yes.
4G63 swap, only if you want to spend way too much money and time.
420a swap, only if your block is damaged.

It is much cheaper and less complicated if you just rebuild your current engine with new internals rather than getting a whole new engine.

Yup you can forget about the 4g63, if you want one that bad it would be cheaper to go and just buy a GS-T. And I agree with everyone else, no need for a new 420A if it's not broken. I would suggest the bottom end rebuild though.

So go with a rebuild huh?

Alright then, what parts should I replace to make the engine like new??

see the stroker kit post for what to switch

http://howell.mountain.net/Talon/DSMEngineKits.html

everything you need right there.

Go to this link here :http://howell.mountain.net/Talon/DSMEngineKits.html

Thats what you want. Bottom end and top end kits. Bottem would be fine, unless you got the money to spend on both and a Turbo kit.

Jeff beat me to it.

dood compression check it and leak down test. if all is well 190+ in each cylinder den dont even worry about it... turbo da bitch til it blows den rebuild

96RS ~ full 99GS special body conversion, aem cai, greddy header, greddy sp exhaust, afx pulley, b&m sS, magecores & NGKs, S-AFC, Sparco Torino, illuminas, prokits, ingalls camber, gunmetal GS rims, ST Sways, STBs, lower rear tie bar, sound system, a shit load more.

97 ~ GSX stock for cock for now but smokes 420a :)

Alright so if I put the bottom end on even if my compression is bad it will still work fine???

Compression Test:

1. Run car till normal temp

2. shut car off

3. remove spark plugs and wires

4. remove relays on drive side (just two wires right)?

5. put compression tool in

6. wait for it to stop moving and tadaa

Is that everyting??

while the compression checker is in..you have to crank the car over a few times to build compression....can't just plug it in and wait