Ive been reasearching this swap for the better part of a year and a half now and have read through this website more times than id like to remind myself (haha)
After a restoration and about a year of daily driving, I'm ready to tackle something a little more challenging. I'm really looking forward to some fabrication work and doing something even more unique.
I have a 2.4 6bolt wideblock and a 1g head that I picked up from the junkyard for about 150bucks. It came with all the 2.4 accessories which was a killer deal.
So heres a quick mental image of what I want to accomplish with the build:
In sticking with my original build(restoration) Id like to keep the car appearing to the "untrained eye" as stock appearing. That is I want to keep the factory gauges do a clean install, with a mild wire tuck. AND keep all the accessories, (cruise, A/C, etc)
So this leads me to a few unanswered questions:
first: Id like to get a 2g head and use an evo 7-8 style intake manifold. AMS reccomends the 2g head for anything under 800 wheel horsepower, and with the 2.4 liter the redline wont be as high anyways, (meaning I can probably benefit from the velocity over volume). Is there any way to use the 2g head with the 1g ECU? And if i have to use the 2g ecu (im planning on using DSM link with either ecu) is there any way to still use the factory starquest guages?
Also, How strong is the crank (6 bolt) that came in this engine? Would it be able to handle my performance goals?
A few other things:
-Im planning on CADing up and designing/cutting my own main bearing girdle with the water jet here at school (similar to the kiggley unit).
-Id like to be able to utilize the water flow head mods to move the thermostat to the front of the engine as well as use the 95 style sensor at the front of the motor (Like DJ did with Craigs swap)
Goals: 350-400 wheel hp daily
I currently have 2 89 transmissions, so im going to keep the stock 89 transmissions until i go through both of those (which should be fine up to that power anyways under daily driving conditions)
Hey everyone!
Moderators: DJpowerHaus, mattmartindrift
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Frenchi934
- Knowlege Seeker
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Thu Nov 17, 2011 12:59 pm
Hey everyone!
My 89 Quest:
http://www.starquestclub.com/forum/inde ... pic=108118
My Starquest Club Feedback link:
http://www.starquestclub.com/forum/inde ... pic=117478
http://www.starquestclub.com/forum/inde ... pic=108118
My Starquest Club Feedback link:
http://www.starquestclub.com/forum/inde ... pic=117478
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DJpowerHaus
- Sir Post A Lot
- Posts: 1779
- Joined: Wed Apr 07, 2004 3:24 pm
- Location: Baltimore, MD
- Contact:
DSM guys seem to think that using 2G hall effect sensors will lead to misfires when using a 1G ECU. Since I have only used aftermarket computers on my last 3 swaps, which dont seem to differentiate between 1G optical and 2G hall effect sensors, I have not gotten to prove this wrong.
The 2.4L 6 bolt wideblock crank should be forged and pretty strong.
The 2.4L 6 bolt wideblock crank should be forged and pretty strong.

Getting the engine bolted in is about 10% of the way there.
The next 80% can go quickly with help and skill.
That last 10% takes about as long as the 90% that came before it.
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Frenchi934
- Knowlege Seeker
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Thu Nov 17, 2011 12:59 pm
awesome to know. (i only asked because it looks pretty puny next to my spare g54 crank haha). Also the rods. Are the ones that came in this motor strong like the "stronger" 6bolt dsm rods? or will I need to get some of those rods?
Im also guessing that the 2g ecu is not compatable with SQ guages?
thanks for the info guys. This really is a great place for knowledge
Im also guessing that the 2g ecu is not compatable with SQ guages?
thanks for the info guys. This really is a great place for knowledge
My 89 Quest:
http://www.starquestclub.com/forum/inde ... pic=108118
My Starquest Club Feedback link:
http://www.starquestclub.com/forum/inde ... pic=117478
http://www.starquestclub.com/forum/inde ... pic=108118
My Starquest Club Feedback link:
http://www.starquestclub.com/forum/inde ... pic=117478
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DJpowerHaus
- Sir Post A Lot
- Posts: 1779
- Joined: Wed Apr 07, 2004 3:24 pm
- Location: Baltimore, MD
- Contact:
The gauges on a SQ are pretty dumb. The only engine parameter that the ECU supplies to the dash is the boost gauge which you will likely replace with a mechanical gauge.
The tach signal comes from the coils, the temperature comes from its own temp sender, the oil pressure comes from its own oil pressure sender, fuel level comes from the sender in the tank, speedometer comes mechanically from the transmission and voltage comes from the gauge wiring itself.
The tach signal comes from the coils, the temperature comes from its own temp sender, the oil pressure comes from its own oil pressure sender, fuel level comes from the sender in the tank, speedometer comes mechanically from the transmission and voltage comes from the gauge wiring itself.

Getting the engine bolted in is about 10% of the way there.
The next 80% can go quickly with help and skill.
That last 10% takes about as long as the 90% that came before it.
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Frenchi934
- Knowlege Seeker
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Thu Nov 17, 2011 12:59 pm
ah i feel pretty dumb now...if i had really sat down and thought about that...i would have already known the answer >.< haha I've had all that apart and put back together at one time or another.
And yes I've got an older HKS mechanical guage in the factory location, so i guess my ecu does nothing for the guages. LOL
Thanks DJ. Sometimes I guess I just need someone else to tell me what I already know. LOL
So here are my plans currently.
2G head and ECU w/ link, 2G maf (maybe gm later), evo 8 intake manifold, (Unless I can find an evo 3 manifold and flip the TB on it, as the runners are perfect for the 2g head AND the intake is much cleaner looking. Going to try to reuse all the 4g64 accesories (A/C compressor, alternator etc)
any other reccomendations?
and does anyone know whether the stock 4g64 rods will be able to meet my goals? (I know i'll have to get different pistons)
And yes I've got an older HKS mechanical guage in the factory location, so i guess my ecu does nothing for the guages. LOL
Thanks DJ. Sometimes I guess I just need someone else to tell me what I already know. LOL
So here are my plans currently.
2G head and ECU w/ link, 2G maf (maybe gm later), evo 8 intake manifold, (Unless I can find an evo 3 manifold and flip the TB on it, as the runners are perfect for the 2g head AND the intake is much cleaner looking. Going to try to reuse all the 4g64 accesories (A/C compressor, alternator etc)
any other reccomendations?
and does anyone know whether the stock 4g64 rods will be able to meet my goals? (I know i'll have to get different pistons)
My 89 Quest:
http://www.starquestclub.com/forum/inde ... pic=108118
My Starquest Club Feedback link:
http://www.starquestclub.com/forum/inde ... pic=117478
http://www.starquestclub.com/forum/inde ... pic=108118
My Starquest Club Feedback link:
http://www.starquestclub.com/forum/inde ... pic=117478
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screemin eagle
- Too Much Time on His Hands
- Posts: 355
- Joined: Thu Feb 03, 2005 1:50 am