so have had a 1.6l na in the garage for a few months bought it for a grand with 190k miles, drivetrain is really sloppy on downshifts, leaks oil from front and rear seal. right rear axle seal is leaking, exhaust leak as well lol man i have my hands full.

now i have a diy turbo kit a garrett t25,intercooler,piping,fm manifold,supra injectors 305cc, few other goodies. should i just slap this **** on and go or should i pull the motor, replace the rings and put in low comp pistons...and put a megasquirt in? im worried about the short nose crankshaft issue and reliability in general. any input that can be given will be appreciated.

 

I think it depends on your goals, personally I would go buy a JDM low mile engine and transmission combo, fix the axle seal and you are going to need to upgrade the exhaust for the turbo. The stock low mile engine can handle more power than the turbo kit and 305cc injectors can put out with a good tune. You can but a JDM 1.6 with trans for $650 plus shipping and this is complete with a starter, clutch, power steering pump, alternator, etc and these are low miles. I have used these engines in civics, toyota supras and a 1.8 swapped into a 1990 miata, all have worked perfect. You could also swap to a JDM 1.8 for a little more money.

Check out EBAY item #330623657187
#170710658264

 

If you aren't in a hurry, why not pull the motor and do it right first time? If you have to daily drive the car, buy and rebuild a cheap 1.6l and have it ready to go before you break the first one.

And the short-nose crank generally doesn't just break itself. You, or someone else, have to screw up a timing belt change. If the pulley isn't wobbling now and hasn't been tampered with recently, it's probably fine.

 

IMO smartest option would be to buy a used lower-mileage motor. Anything with under 100k basically.

 

unless you are going to build for power, buy a low mile JDM engine, you wont be sorry.

 

Mine is at 187K with a locktite fix on the short-nose crank. Doing just fine. If it goes, JDM sounds like a great option.

 

If you got a 350z to DD, I'd say slap the turbo on and blow it up. Why not?

 

Just turbo it and enjoy the car. It'll be fine. And if it breaks, so what? Most people here are suggesting you put a stock replacement motor in it first, so why not totally bag the one that's in it first? It's not like taking the turbo parts on and off is that big of a deal. "Doing it right the first time" is such an easy thing to say, but the idea of "right" changes.

 

After building a motor in my last car, I wouldn't do it again unless I was going for big power again. If you turbo the existing motor you can iron out the bugs for the swapped motor.

JDM is the answer IMO. I'm running one right now and it looked like new when I got it. It's extremely cheap and you get a 90 day warranty. There is no warranty on a rebuilt motor and you don't get all the accessories.

 

Fix the oil leaks and turbo it.

 

i put nitrous on mine at just over 200k, then took it off and turboed it. i beat the **** out of it everytime i drive it. it was still running fine when i pulled it last year to re-build it and put h-beams in.