What all is involved in "rebuilding" an M20?

[Jand3rson]

My M20 has quite a few miles on it, over 250k. I'd like to start a rebuild on it, and while I'm at it, fit a higher performance cam, maybe port the head, some other engine mods.

What would lie ahead to do a full rebuild of an M20? About how much bling am I looking at to do this job?

[mikeedler]

It all depends how deep you want to go. What are you looking for, performance, reliability, or just a new engine? you can possibly get away with just changing gaskets, bearings, valve seats, and maybe rings on the pistons, or you can go the full route and replace everything. depends what you want.

[Spaz]

well a full rebuild is expensive man, but i got all the parts for the head rebuild...minus valves and springs, but here is a list of what you replace in a complete rebuild.

piston rings
main bearings
road bearings
oil pump
cam bearings
rocker arms, shafts
cam possibly
all the gaskets and seals
most likely all the hoses
timing belt
timing belt tensionor
water pump
thermostat
thermostat housing (normally corridoed)
disitributor cap/rotor
spark plugs and wires
all v-belts
clucth
throw out bearing
pilot bearing
pivot pin
clutch slave
and most likely trans seals.

as for machine work your looking at a minium of (no performace add ons)

hot tanking head and block
cam bearings pressed in
bore line check
head and block magnafuxed
valve guides/seals
valve lapping (possible grind)
cylinder honing
crank polish


thats all i can think of now, contact me if you want more deatils as i was going to do this but them i backed out due to low funds and the thought of saving for an m3.

i have a lot of m20 head (rocker arms, shafts, head set) parts for sale contact me on those also



good luck on the rebuild

[Jand3rson]

It all depends how deep you want to go. What are you looking for, performance, reliability, or just a new engine? you can possibly get away with just changing gaskets, bearings, valve seats, and maybe rings on the pistons, or you can go the full route and replace everything. depends what you want.

I would like to go performance, within reason. I don't want to end up spending an outrageous amount of money, but I am willing to spend a fairly decent amount. Most of this will probably take place over the remaining 8 months of my suspension, during which I won't be burdened by the downtime, and I can also do each thing as I have the money. I would ideally like to replace most everything, and give it a new life. This car has to be my full on daily driver, and I want to make it so I can get from point a to point b, with some fun in between. I know the M20 is pretty fast already, but I'd like to sqeeze as many hp out of it as I can, while like I said, staying within a reasonable amount of money.

[Spaz]

It all depends how deep you want to go. What are you looking for, performance, reliability, or just a new engine? you can possibly get away with just changing gaskets, bearings, valve seats, and maybe rings on the pistons, or you can go the full route and replace everything. depends what you want.

I would like to go performance, within reason. I don't want to end up spending an outrageous amount of money, but I am willing to spend a fairly decent amount. Most of this will probably take place over the remaining 8 months of my suspension, during which I won't be burdened by the downtime, and I can also do each thing as I have the money. I would ideally like to replace most everything, and give it a new life. This car has to be my full on daily driver, and I want to make it so I can get from point a to point b, with some fun in between. I know the M20 is pretty fast already, but I'd like to sqeeze as many hp out of it as I can, while like I said, staying within a reasonable amount of money.

in that case, wait unitll jordan gets his car up and running, look at doing a stock bottom end rebuild and focus on the headwork and intake, cam, exhaust, maybe maf converison, lighten up the drive train...and you would have a damn quick m20, that is the only way to get power other then stroker...where your looking 700+ alone for pistons.
and turbos....which are well expensive none the least.

hmm give me some good details on what you want to spend, and what you want out of it and i'll get you a good price list going for you.

i do this for a living, so i ca help u out.

[Jand3rson]

That sounds like a great plan, Cam. Thanks a lot for the advice. Jordan and I will probably end up building my engine fairly similar to his.

I don't really want to go the stroker route, so what you've suggested sounds pretty good.

[Erick]

Get a eta bottom end and some super eta pistons while you're at it 8)