I'm going to be purchasing a JDM motor in about a month and need to know how other people faired with their motors i.e. did they work were there parts missing etc. Any help would be appreciated.

 

its a crap shoot with JDM motors. If you buy one, be prepared to rebuild it. If it runs, you lucked out.

 

jdm motors suck, id advise that as soon as you get it, take it apart and rebuild it before an apex seal breaks and you mess up the housings. Mine ran good for about a summer stock boost and blew.

 

I bought one... I received it with the starter broken, some hoses cut, some wires cut, and no compression whatsoever on the rear rotor. I don't think the cost is worth the chance of getting a bad engine.

 

thats weird because I know a few people that had got jdm motors and theirs are running fine no rebuild. and the company I'm getting it from is also on ebay and has alot of good feedback saying the motor runs great.

 

Well... then good luck!

 

I bought one too. Low compression in the front rotor...

 

Dead rear rotor on mine. The intercooler was smashed too.

 

meh i bought my car with a JDM motor put in it by the last owner, so far ive put about 20k since i bought it from the guy, still runs strong..

 

if you have the money to buy a jdm swap and rebuild it, you should just buy a jdm rx 7. they go for about $4500 in toronto.

 

I made the mistake of not reading this board before my JDM engine adventure. The first one I got ( and I insisted on an S5T2) had 2 60 LB pulses on one rotor .... NG! boy was I pissed. I had to pay the freight all the way back to canada but they did refund my 1500. That one came with a good uncut harness, ecu, although the AFM was cut off.
Second one, (after grilling the guy on ebay about the compression before I paid him) has a totally mauled wiring harness and no ecu, but excellent compression. Who knows how it will run, gonna take till spring to make my 88 vert into a runner.
Long story short, deal with a company thats located here in the US, with someone that speaks english as their first language, and make sure it has everything you need attatched, or you will be scrambling good luck and check back later this spring.
JDM engines are RH drive and will need custom wiring and DONT mix S4-5 wiring.

 

i've not really heard anything about www.jspecauto.com

has anyone dealt with them before? any horror storys?

 

its really a roll the dice, sometimes u get a great motor sometimes ug et a shity one....

Either way i would look to buy one locally that way u can take it back easily. Where as if the company is like 2000 mi away they will just tell u sorry! and your fucked.

ussually u get a 30 day warentee, so get it installed fast,then do a compression test. If the numbers are not so great then it needs a rebuild

 

The general rule is that, buy a JDM engine, and rebuild it.

Typically they're driven to death, so they need to be rebuilt, but the mileage is usually low, so the housings are usually in good condition. In other words, crap as they are, but great to rebuild (don't skimp on checking tolerances, though...and get the side housings lapped).

Don't forget the turbo's oil seals, bearings, clutch/flywheel, etc...