OK, first off, I am not very familiur with DSM's or any import cars. I have a boatload of experiance with GM's (S-10's in particular) and have rebuilt several different flavors of GM v6's and V8's.

That being said, I have a 90 Eagle Talon with the 2.0L DOHC NT, FWD and it has been fairly problematic since I bought it in 2002. To date, the car has had 3 trannys, had the engine replaced (replaced with a salvage engine when the stock timing belt skipped) once and the A/C repaired. It also has a header installed from when the stock exhaust manifold cracked. It currently has a blown engine, the tranny is questionable and the A/C has a leak and doesn't work. <_< If this car were not my daily driver, while I'm customizing my 2001 S-10, I would have junked it long ago.

It began overheating on me about a month ago and ended up leaving me stranded with a coolant leak under the hood and an empty radiator. <_< I had it towed home and ended up replacing the timing belts, accessory belts, upper and lower rad hoses, thermostat and water pump and after several leak hunting/heater hose replacing episodes, managed to refill the car with coolent. Took it for a test drive and all seamed good. The car overheated again then left me stranded the next morning with an empty radiator on my way to work and I had it towed to a local dealer. They called and told me that the 4 cyls have minimal compression.

Anyway, I need to rebuild it, but first what block is it? I think it might be a 4G63 but my searchs on the web have not been real helpful thus far? Secondly, what upgrades should I do while I've got the engine out and is there any way to get more power on the bottom end?

It is the 4g63 block. If its your DD i don't recommend going turbo though you very easily could. If you want n/a power do a high comp build. 10.5:1 or so. You may have trouble finding those pistons.

Nah, just have Ross or Weisco custom make them. ;)

if he goes with that compression it almost fails as a daily driver because he will have to run 91 octane or higher.

basically, partsdinosaur.com will give you the best option for OEM rebuild parts. It really depends on what is wrong with the engine and what kind of power you want to make

go 12:1 ro 12:5:1 for n/t thats where your power will come from.... not including the power form camm'n your head if you can find performance n/t cams and with an upgraded valve set (spriings, lifters, rockers, retainers, valves) you'll rev it alld day.

It can't be a DD if you have to run 91? hell i run 93 or 94 daily...

well...let me rephrase that. it can't be an "economical" daily if you have to run 91.

and if you go with high comp, will you get worse mpg?

Yes.

you will get better mpg

Better? I was under the impression that the lower the comp the better the gas milage? O.o But I guess higher compression does make more sense. lol

What? better mpg or not?

lower comp with turbo apps so it doesn't detonate, pull timing and performance suffers.

higher comp with n/a apps, but you have to run higher octane so it doesn't detonate, pull timing and performance suffers.

if you don't change anything else in your engine but raise the compression you will get better gas mileage because your engine will build more power with the same fuel map. more power = better performance = better mpg because you don't have to step on the gas pedal as hard to get going.

sorry, what is apps? :blush-anim-cl:

apps = applications

Wouldn't higher compression also cause higher combustion tempratures causing your mixture to burn more completely?