coverting is easy.. .thinkabout it a ford f-150 2x4 for example has the same mounts as a 4x4 f-150 its cheaper to do it this way same with the eclipse... you drop in a new tank rearend bolts practicaly rigth up and your good to go same under the hood... personaly i have a 98 eclipse spyder gs/coverted to a turbo i stuck with the 2.4 bottom end and put a 4g63 2.0 head on if it was me i would have done the same in your buddys car im make well over 500 and the block alone is good for 600+... post up pics id like to see it