My completed engine swap: Eagle Summit Minivan

[Leon R]

I mentioned it in my introduction thread, but since that is my current project, I thought I would start a thread it of its own. I wanted to do this project since the late 90's. But at first, these vans were too expensive. Then, as the price came down, all the local vans became very rusty, certainly not worth the effort. I have been looking for one for a while, when I got lucky. I found a van that spent most of its life in Arizona, but was recently brought up to Northeast.

I drove it for a couple of years, making it more and more fun to drive (upgrading wheels, tires and suspension). And eventually, when my clutch went bad, I did the motor swap to a build 4G63 Mitsu engine from 90-92 Eclipse/Talon. The actual swap project took about a year (including building a race motor), but the results were pretty awesome!

Going from a rated 145hp to ~400hhp (actually measured 350hp on AWD dyno), transformed this minivan into a real beast!

Here is me having some fun last summer, at DSM Shootout in Ohio:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9eJ4n5F75I

Plans for this year is to upgrade the turbo and make around 450hp at the wheels.

[EVO]

AWESOME!!!! Kool!! Another 4G enthusiast!! A true sleeper!! A 12 second minivan!!! LOL!!!

[Leon R]

Thanks! I have been into DSMs since '91

[JoFotoz]

That would be so much fun at the T/Lights alongside some of the
street race boys around here....

...they'd NEVER live it down!!



Jo

[EVO]

Got to love that look on their face when your minivan spanks them!!! Here's a ZR1 that I humiliated!! LOL! We lined up again and he refused to run against my little EVO. Same thing happened when the GTO Club showed up! Had to run by myself because they didn't want to run!!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mj3mjgjDW9k

[Pepino]

Got to love that look on their face when your minivan spanks them!!! Here's a ZR1 that I humiliated!! LOL! We lined up again and he refused to run against my little EVO. Same thing happened when the GTO Club showed up! Had to run by myself because they didn't want to run!!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mj3mjgjDW9k

hopefully you will find a way to make our VXs that fast! Im dreading how slow the VX feels after installing 33"s tires.

[H3_VX]

Love DSM's. Currently searching for a decent 2G.

[EVO]

Yeah! Those DSM motors can take a tremendous amount of horsepower, we stopped at approx. 497AWD Dyno Horsepower and 396 pounds of torque. on my 4G63 as they seem to vent the stock block pretty easy after that! They can go much higher but my budget and sanity kept me within reason. LOL!! Not bad for a little 2 liter motor. As far as the Isuzu V6 3.5 I have not seen them at the track so I can't comment on what they can be safely pushed to. I'm happy with my VX, a little more would be nice, but thats the rub at what cost and when do they go booom!! OUCH!!

[Leon R]

I will be selling this 2G, once I put in a new engine:





One owner car with 42k miles! You will NOT find a cleaner 2G

[Leon R]

I could turbocharge my VX, but I am not sure how much boost it can take. But ultimately, I am turned off by its tuning options (or I should say the lack of tuning options...).

LS4 seems like a very nice and cheap option!

[EVO]

I always do my research on the Tuners first as they are the ones that will tell you when a said plateform will go BOOOOM!! My Tuner is Sean Burgess of Full Function, he has a very long history with modding DSM's and now BMW's and Porsche's. I'll eventually grow a set and ask him what he thinks of the 3.5. But for now I'll just enjoy!!

[EVO]

I will be selling this 2G, once I put in a new engine:





One owner car with 42k miles! You will NOT find a cleaner 2G

WOW! That is one nice DSM!!!

[Leon R]

I always do my research on the Tuners first as they are the ones that will tell you when a said plateform will go BOOOOM!! My Tuner is Sean Burgess of Full Function, he has a very long history with modding DSM's and now BMW's and Porsche's. I'll eventually grow a set and ask him what he thinks of the 3.5. But for now I'll just enjoy!!

A small world, I am a moderator on Tuners and I run New England Club DSM

I do my own tuning, using AEM EMS and DSM link.

That Talon is in better shape than a typical 95 Talon was back in 97! It was only driven on nice day and was stored in a garage the rest of the time.

[EVO]

No kidding!! Really small world! You must really love the Talon, it is a wonderful plateform for tuners, I've seen crazy horsepower and super low et's a true sleeper of a street car!!