So After 148,000 miles of pure bliss since 2002, on January 28, 2010 my motor decided to run crappy. Took it to LIC and they determined cylinder 4 mis-fire and could be possible valves. Low compression and 3 and 4 also. 1-2 were good.

After about a week of contemplating what to do, I am unemployed and pretty broke. I decide to pull the motor and see what I could do myself. I pulled the heads and saw there was oil in cylinder 4 and sent the heads off to be cleaned and inspected. 3 days later he told me that cylinder 4, 2 of the valve ports had crack in them by the spark plug. So instead of sourcing and rebuilding my 2.0 L EJ20 I decide to source a JDM motor. I came up on a JDM Spec C motor with ecu and all accessories for a really good deal. So now I am continuing my bugeye's life with a fresh motor with more power and fun! hopefully I have another 8 years and 150,000 miles of bliss.

Pulling the Blown Motor







Bad Head



Dead Cylinder 4, oil in it no bueno!!!



Puuuurrrttty



Installed:




Ok Sorry I didn't get finished pictures, but I got too impatient and I am in the middle of tuning for 91 octane and trying to go get a test smog.

I bought the AVCS wiring kit from IA Performance, great guys and it was a breeze to install. This thing pulls like a monster and spools like no other. Can't wait to a get a full turbo back, I am looking to source a Cusco Downpipe and Amuse R1 Titan Exhaust system! Now I also want a full black Spec C Interior and Spec C Rims!!!!

Thanks for looking guys I will update with further stuff later!!

The install took no more than 8 hours total, I ran into no snags, and I plugged in the ecu and it started right up. I am surprised how easy this install was and glad I didn't run into any problems!

Like to thank LIC for the initial help diagnosing the issue. And Wali at JDMRacingMotors, sorry guys had to cross over to the Nasioc Side for a bit for information and sourcing. And IA Performance for the info and AVCS wiring kit.

And huge thanks to my Uncle Sam, no really my Uncle Sam at Sam's Automotive in Concord off of Monument for letting me borrow his tools and one of his bays. If you guys ever need anything please stop by and he will take care of you, tell him Brandon sent you! It is amazing how mechanics have tools for every situation!

 

Saved for more

 

nice project. wanna swap mine when it goes out? lol

 

If you pay me

 

hmmmm. i'll be getting in touch with you in the near future then.

 

I am down to help.

 

where did you get the motor from if you don't mind me asking?

 

I had to cross over to the `dark side (nasioc) and source one. It came from Canada. Wali from JDMRacingmotor. Great guys over there

 

Dang very nice DIY, always good to see. I'd like to do the same, I just crested 110k on my EJ20 :O How do you like the Spec-C and is it smoggable?

 

I like the Sepc C motor a lot, it has a huge torque and power band. I almost wish I had taller gears. According to most it is smoggable, since V7 and V8 engine came OBDII ready, my tuner Clark Turner says he has yet one to fail yet, so I will cross my fingers. I am still dealing with a vacuum leak issue which is causing a fuel cut. It runs fine as long as I am not WOT.

 

Are you still running on the stock 5sp trans? I looked at the JDM packages they have at JDMmotors.com and they offer a 6sp swap as well, just curious as to how long the standard bugeye 5sp would take to explode.

 

Yes I am running the stock trans. I already had a 140XXX on it. Hopefully it lasts a little while. If you can get a nice trans and pretty complete, it is a pretty straight forward swap.

 

damn.

 

So my A/C is crapping it, do A/C systems work on a clutch system of some sort?

 

Very nice project! I just did a hybrid STi swap into my bugeye