One of the greatest four cylinder engines to ever leave Japanese shores, the 4G63 is a powerhouse of a performer. Capable of reaching well into the 400 horsepower range bone stock, the 4G63 elevated the Mitsubishi Evolution as one of the great Japanese sports cars. These engines were also found in USDM vehicles under the banner of Diamond Star Motors or DSM.
DSM’s enjoyed a brief run in the mid 90s as an affordable turbocharged all-wheel drive sports coupe. Before the Evolution and WRX arrived stateside, the Mitsubishi Eclipse, Eagle Talon and Plymouth Laser battled it out for turbo AWD glory.
Diamond Star Motors gave birth to the 1989-1994 first generation and 1995-1999 second generation of sports coupes, with several different versions of the 4G63. What most enthusiasts know as the 4G63 is actually called the 4G63T, which is the turbocharged 2.0 liter DOHC engine from Mitsubishi.
The 4G63 also came in normally aspirated trims, from the 2.0 liter non turbo 4G63, as well as the variant in the 1.8 liter 4G93. Mitsubishi Eclipse RS, GS models came with the non turbo 4G63 in the first generation, which was replaced with the 420A in the second generation Eclipse. This engine follows the same Mitsubishi nomenclature when it comes to the engine code.
- The first digit of the Mitsubishi engine code signifies the number of cylinders
- The second is the fuel type
- The third is engine family
- The fourth is model
The 4G63 then is a gasoline powered four cylinder engine that also came in the Evolution until the Evolution X. Sadly the 4G63 is also known for another remarkable trait, which is crankwalk. Crankwalk is when your crankshaft moves inside your engine block, whether from a failed thrust bearing or mis-machined engine girdles, the outcome is the same.
The first signs of crankwalk can occur when your DSM or Mitsubishi shuts off during left hand turns. At advanced stages, you can hear the crank actually turning and clipping your crank position sensor as you depress your clutch. Needless to say, if you have crankwalk, you need another complete engine to replace your old one.
Without a bit of hyperbole, crankwalk is probably the reason Mitsubishi pulled the plug on the Evolution. At a time when the Evolution, who should be enjoying similar success as the Subaru WRX and STI, is nearing it’s production run only underlies the huge reliability problems Mitsubishi had. Instead of standing up and taking accountability, Mitsubishi shirked away from crankwalk which led to a huge scandal that nearly toppled the Japanese automaker.
There’s two different variations of the 4G63T and you can tell them apart from how many holes are in their crank snout. Older six bolt engines had some differences over their seven bolt cousins, things like larger rods for pre-92 engines gave earlier six bolt engines the nod for most modders. Which is why engine swapping to a six bolt motor is so common and popular among the DSM crowd.
If you are planning a 1G six bolt 4G63 swap into your chassis, it’s always a good idea to look into 1G cam angle sensors. Certain cam angle sensors from the first generation Eclipse allow you to adjust base timing, a very handy tool for any turbocharged tuner.
Whatever the reason behind you learning what the 4G63 is, there’s no doubting it’s power and robust nature. Coupled with just a few fuel upgrades and a tuning computer that’s capable of manipulating KARMAN air flow signals to adjust fuel, the 4G63 is as good as any four cylinder engine.
This DOHC engine is certainly a powerful performer and easily one of the best bang for your buck engines out there. Upping the boost in your turbocharged engine is easy to do, and paired with the right amount of tuning can elevate horsepower and torque exponentially.
That’s it for our FAQ sheet, have any questions about the incredible 2.0 liter DOHC engine? Leave them for us below and let us know!
Want more DSM DIY articles and How To’s?
I got a 97 gst and my 7 bolt recently crankwalked. Should I bother swapping a 6 bolt motor in or just get another 7 bolt?
Hi witac, thanks for reading.
If your 7 bolt has walked, there’s no reason or purpose to stay 7 bolt. Switch to an early 92 6 bolt if possible, or build your own. You can even use 2g rods and pistons for a cheap and reliable build.
Make sure to check into the black cap CAS conversion, for a how to on that check here :
http://my.prostreetonline.com/2014/11/01/how-to-advance-4g63-timing/
Let us know how the build turns out, and thanks for commenting!
I have a gt eclipse 2000 v6 federal spec. going to install a SUPPER CHARGER FROM RIPP my
maf is a stock 1 bar ! thinking of changing to talon maf609 2bar …which wire diagram should I use.
give me your thought on this , i’m leading towards.
how to wire a 1g maf to a 2g maf is this correct or if im wrong..
let me know
thanks great help on your web site….
Hi Richard, thanks for reading!
The 2000 Eclipse V6 is quite a different beast, but it sounds like a great project and build you have on your hands! As far as your MAF question, you are using a 1G maf now? What is the part number for your MAF that you are using? are you using a piggyback management system to tune your Eclipse?
Let us know and we’ll be glad to help out!
Here’s some reading for you on the 2g maf / 1g maf and Mitsubishi Evolution MAF
http://my.prostreetonline.com/2015/02/23/how-to-wire-a-2g-maf-in-a-1g/
http://my.prostreetonline.com/2013/12/09/faq-how-to-modify-your-2g-4g63-maf/
http://my.prostreetonline.com/2016/01/26/how-to-test-a-mitsubishi-evolution-maf-sensor/
Hello, greetings from Germany. I have an 98 Eclipse GS that I plan doing a Motor Swap on. Interesting read, but I still dont quite seem to understand the difference between the 4g63 (as used in the Eclipse GS) and the 4g63t (as used in alot of Evos, also the Eclipse GST GSX). Is the 4g63t the exact same engine as the 4g63 in the Eclipse GS, with the only difference being that it has a turbo added to it? So all Id have to do in order to upgrade the Engine would be adding the turbo? Or does it in fact make sense to look for a 4g63t Engine as a whole and exchange it with the Stock 4g63 I have in the Eclipse, because the turboed one has stronger Pistons etc? I hope you could give me some advice there. Thank you in advance.
Hi Dee Jay, thanks for commenting.
Unfortunately the 98 GS non turbo Eclipse comes with a 420A engine, or the one found in the Dodge Neon of the same year range, and is VERY different than the 4G63. If you are serious about swapping, it may be more cost efficient to sell your GS and buy a GST. If not purchase a GST or GSX turbo engine, and look for engine mount combinations that will work.
Sounds like a cool project, let us know how it turns out!
I do have a 1998 d30 eclipse (facelift) with the 2 litre 2000 dohc motor as shown in the 3rd picture here . From what I saw the 420A looks quite different and looks like a dodge production (correct me if im wrong) whereas my Engine says mitsubishi on it. The thing about buying a GST is that they usually are alot more expensive in germany – say, mine cost me about 2,5k euros (~2,8k dollars) being a lucky grab since It was not very much driven, hidden in the garage during bad weather and looking really good on the interior as well as having little to no rust from underneath. But “okayish” GST start at around 8-9k euros in germany. And since my father is a car mechanic (just more knowledged on european cars 🙂 I could grab the GST engine for around a thousand, and whatever id still need and do an engine swap getting a swapped “gst” for maybe 5-6k in the end. The plan was asking around local scrapyards if anyone has got his hands on a gst engine lately and start from there. But now my question is what Id have to buy in addition to the engine + turbo, in order do do a proper swap. Would I also need the GST ECU, or gear box in order to have it function properly? Thanks in advance
Hi Dee Jay, I see, yeah lots of non turbo guys ask about this. In the end however I still think it’s better cost wise to just buy a GST, HOWEVER having said all that, you need :
GST engine harness
GST ECU (preferrably a 95)
GST engine
Engine mount kit
GST transmission
GST axles
exhaust bits
Best of luck to you!
ok thank you for the list!
Thank you for the kind words Dee Jay!
Hello guys! One question: I own 2003 Mitsubishi Airtrek turbo R with 4G63T engine and I’m interesting if this same engine is as engine from Evolution VII or are they different (cylinder block, internals)? I know that compression is here lower and Turbine is smaller. Thanks and sorry for my bad english))
Hi Giorgi, yes the 4G63T will be the same one from the VIII, please share some images if you could! Thanks for commenting!