92 ES engine seized

[foreveralone]

Hey all,
I found a '92 Stealth ES DOHC / automatic, and the engine is supposedly seized.
The Montero 3.5 swap looks good, fabricating alt & PS brackets is well within my skill set, as well as fabricating intake manifold spacers if the Debonair manifold proves unobtainable. But would that clear the hood?
And there's no guarantee of finding any 3.5 on half-price day at the salvage yard, so I'm also asking for input on swapping a less-powerful version of the 3.0, even if I also need the matching computer and harness.

[IPD]

you don't want to swap SOHC; it'd be a wiring nightmare. just search for a used dohc engine or do the 3.5L swap. just know that there's a bit of work to make it all go together. i don't think you'll have hood clearance problems--if you stick to stock parts.

[foreveralone]

I was wondering about the SOHC versions, so thanks for warning me away.
Here's my "new" ride:

[Alex3000gt]

Ebay DOHC NA for $800. Been there, done that.

Also, what makes you think the engine is "seized"? Crank the starter.

[foreveralone]

Thanks, but I haven't even got it home yet. Lemme get that done before trying any diagnosis. Still mostly just wanting to know if anyone else had to fabricate spacers instead of getting a rare Debonair lower intake manifold, and if the upper intake manifold still clears the hood with those spacers.

[Alex3000gt]

Search the 6G74 swap.

Unless you are overseas you will not be finding a Debonair 6G74 in a junk yard in the US.

[foreveralone]

Search the 6G74 swap.

Unless you are overseas you will not be finding a Debonair 6G74 in a junk yard in the US.

Exactly. But finding the Montero 3.5 seems very likely. I'm fine with swapping heads, oil pans, cam covers, whatever, but since my research shows the 3.5 swap requiring a rare lower intake, the alternative is to fabricate some spacers to go under the intake manifold I already have. I don't yet have any clue if anyone else has done this, and if so, how much height it added.
Your replies are leading me to think everyone else has either scored a Debonair lower, or abandoned the swap. I'm not one to abandon a cheap upgrade just because of this. Manifold spacers are old tech, well proven, and very easy. This is my definition of hot rodding; making it work.
Thanks again for trying to save me some grief!

[JGreenwood238]

Your best bet is finding another DOHC 6G72 at a local junkyard if money is tight but look on ebay. JDM Engine Depot had JDM DOHC 6G74 3.5l engines listed for $1200 last I checked. That engine should be a pretty straightforward swap, I believe it comes with everything you need. SOHC 3.0 and 3.5 engines are set up with the transmission on the wrong side for our cars. On a side note, I've wondered how hard it would be to do this as well, only because I like the transmission found in the 3rd gen eclipse GT much better than the fwd 3S transmission. I wonder if the lower frame rails from the eclipse could be modified to fit in the 3000GT? This would make the lower engine mounts bolt right up but you'd still have to figure out what to do about the axles and probably a million other headaches.

[stealthee]

you don't want to swap SOHC; it'd be a wiring nightmare. just search for a used dohc engine or do the 3.5L swap. just know that there's a bit of work to make it all go together. i don't think you'll have hood clearance problems--if you stick to stock parts.

Actually swapping DOHC to SOHC is quite simple. All you need is the SOHC ECU, engine harness, and obviously engine. Swapping DOHC to SOHC is actaully easier that SOHC to DOHC.

That being said do I necessarily recommend it? Not really. Keep it simple and find another DOHC engine. Being 92 you can really use any year DOHC because of the CAS. You might have to swap a few things out if you get a later model engine.

[foreveralone]

I closed the deal, $300 including a spare engine, which I haven't seen. The one in the car supposedly had a case of overheating until it quit running.