Drag Race Build: 9 second 1g auto drag build

11secDSM · 01-14-2012, 07:06 PM

I picked this rust free '91 Eclipse GSX auto up earlier this year and it's pretty much been on the back burner until October due to a different build I was doing. I finally got my ass in gear and got the car back together. When I bought it, I didn't trust what the previous owner did so I tore the motor apart completely and did an OEM rebuild....all gaskets, timing components, water pump, etc, etc. I also installed an Evo III 16g, Walbro 400lph fuel pump, FIC Blue Max 1550cc injectors, and DSM Link V3 running speed density. I also found a good deal on some light 15" mesh wheels w/ MT ET Street drag radials as well as a single port wet nitrous kit (yet to be installed). The previous owner took care of the auto trans by installing an IPT modified valve body w/ Trans Lab shift kit as well as IPT end clutch.

With all said and done (including the car), I have $3970 into this build so far including the nitrous that I have yet to install.

So far the car has 2 track days under it's belt...Black Friday it got 2 passes and ran 12.3 @110 w/ 1.74 60' both runs. This was after a dyno session and tuning by Karl Pritz at KP Tuning...made 293whp through the auto.

We went back to Atco looking to hit some 11s on the setup a week later. I made a few tweaks trying to get it to hold more boost through the internal gate on the 16g, ramped in timing quicker at the line, installed a better FMIC core, as well as a few other things. 2nd pass out it ran 11.88 @ 113 with a 1.62 60'. This was the quickest and fastest run of the day...I did however see a 1.59 60'. Remember, this thing has a stock block, head, cams, and intake manifold. I later found out that this entire time I had a collapsed flex section in my downpipe...down to about 2" diameter. Damn chinese garbage! That's one of the only things I didn't take off from the previous owner.

This winter I'm going to throw in a Eagle rod / Ross piston block that I have at the shop, a Curt Brown built race head, Precision 6262 JB turbo, ERL T3 manifold, JM Fab drag SMIM, Tial wastegate and BOV as well as a few other things.

Dyno video from a few months ago...

Video from Atco on 12/5/11

As of now the car is torn down completely. Working on getting all the weight I can out of it as well doing a lot of rewiring. I have most of the parts i'll need for this season, just waiting on a last couple of pieces and trying to decide if I want to stick with the stock rear or do the 8.8 swap now.

Stock pile of parts waiting to go in...

Thanks to Vassil for the auto front cross member!

Balls deep in harnesses...

Spent about half the day tearing into the chassis harness in the car. Took out what I wasn't using, rerouted, and shorted the harness as well as relocated the underhood fuse box. Once I finish the engine harness and interior harness, i'll loom everything up in expandable mesh loom.

Starting to pull the harness...

New fuse box location...

Still have a bit more work in the engine compartment including a tubular K-member and then the new motor goes in...

So that's where i'm at as of today. Will update as things get done!

11secDSM · 02-21-2012, 06:23 PM

Some more progress...

Got the head back from Curt Brown yesterday, so I spent part of the day today assembling the motor. Previously, I said I was using a built block that I purchased from a customer...I started last night by going through the block....what a disaster. Supposedly had 600 miles on it...bearings were crap, one w/ a nice groove in it. Crank was ok though. Oil pump was a POS Topline piece and already showing signs of side loading. So, I had the crank polished over night and put new ACL rod and main bearings in. Problem solved, luckily.

Old junk...

Should have the motor done tomorrow morning. Hoping to have the car done w/in the next week or so.

kp116 · 02-21-2012, 07:27 PM

Looks good! Got to love the auto! That side loading from the oil pump might also be caused by the timing belt tensioner being set to tight. I know a lot of people have had bad luck with the top line pumps but just from my experiences my cars pretty much always had one and handled 9krpm all day long. What are you doing to do for a converter?

talont3t4 · 02-26-2012, 01:49 PM

Welcome to the dark side

turbotalon1g · 02-27-2012, 09:28 AM

I have a 16G setup now and I want to go to the same built motor, turbo, head setup as you.

Get it together and let me know what i'm in for!

newalonguy · 02-28-2012, 03:29 PM

once you tackle the front k member let me know i'd be interested in one (if you want to build more than one)

NyTrackstar · 03-04-2012, 05:50 PM

looking good, any updates?

11secDSM · 03-29-2012, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newalonguy

once you tackle the front k member let me know i'd be interested in one (if you want to build more than one)

I'm having my chassis/cage guy start a k-member on Monday and he's going to make a jig off of it so it'll be available to anyone that wants it.

Now for some long overdue updates...

Trans was completely redone w/ everything IPT recommended.

Everything back in...

Once I hit the track on the 16g a few times, i'll throw the JMF manifold and 6262 on.

Last week I dropped the car off for a 10pt chromoly cage.

And it's done...

And the all important 8.50 cert.

Got it back home today. Have a long list of little things to do over the next few days and i'll hopefully hit the track next week.

zcoh2gdsm · 03-29-2012, 06:40 PM

that last pic makes me wish i had all those cars

11secDSM · 03-30-2012, 08:22 AM

Wouldn't that be great? The reality of it is that they're not all mine either. Luckily, I have access to them all.

11secDSM · 04-06-2012, 04:04 PM

First start up. Still need to set base timing and finish a few odds and ends. Hopefully hitting the track next week.

First start up- '91 Eclipse GSX - YouTube

turbotalon1g · 04-07-2012, 06:30 AM

Nice work man.

11secDSM · 04-18-2012, 01:50 PM

Had to send the ECU to Tom at ECM Link for some repair. Talk about quick service....back in my hands 2 days after I shipped it!! I'm back on track now.

A quick walk around before we hit the track tomorrow. 10s or bust!

91 GSX auto- startup - YouTube

chadillac2820 · 04-18-2012, 02:35 PM

Wow it sounds great man! What cams are you using?

chadillac2820 · 04-18-2012, 02:37 PM

Nevermind I just watched the other video.

11secDSM · 05-27-2012, 05:17 PM

Time to strap on the new turbo. Been sitting around too long. Sadly, no 16g numbers. I've also got a new converter coming next week that i'm going to be Beta testing. Should spool the 62mm quick w/ no nitrous. Can't wait!

6262 // Tial MVR // JMF Tubular T3 manifold

Almost ready! Few more things to finish on the new turbo setup and need to relocate the alternator. Then some tuning....

11secDSM · 06-08-2012, 06:15 PM

Finished up the side exit exhaust which was the last piece to the puzzle before hitting the track. Updates coming soon...

'91 GSX startup and walk around - YouTube

lillev23 · 07-09-2012, 01:02 AM

badass car man any updates?

11secDSM · 07-25-2012, 10:36 AM

I guess I should get this back up to date.

Since I last posted in here, i've switched from a single Wally 400 to dual Wally 255s and from E85 to Klotz 118. Mainly because I didn't want to completely redo the fuel system just yet and I was out of pump/injector.

On 33psi the car made 578/416 and after a few issues w/ my fuel pumps ran 10.55 @ 133.

1g auto Eclipse dyno and drag pass- 578whp - 10.55 @ 133 - YouTube

This last trip out to the track, the car ran into some charging system problems which I will be working out this week assuming I have some time and hopefully heading back to the track very soon. I'm looking to work out all the bugs before we head out to Ohio for the Shootout in a few weeks!

turbotalon1g · 07-26-2012, 04:58 PM

Nice, my friend went 131 on his 5858 without launching. (stock stall no nitrous), I'm hoping to see u break 140 with no issues!

11secDSM · 07-30-2012, 06:07 PM

Going back out to the track tomorrow and looking to turn the boost up. Hopefully we get a bunch of clean passes!

slow91 · 07-30-2012, 06:40 PM

hey man ive been wondering if u took this back out yet??? u going to the shootout? maybe we can get some runs in lol panda 1g vs panda 1g

11secDSM · 07-31-2012, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slow91

hey man ive been wondering if u took this back out yet??? u going to the shootout? maybe we can get some runs in lol panda 1g vs panda 1g

I took it last week and went 10.55@133. Should be going again tonight if the weather holds out.

We're going to the shootout barring anything unforeseen!

11secDSM · 08-01-2012, 10:55 AM

Went to the track last night and a rear 3 bolt axle gave out on the first pass.

I'm swapping the ring and pinion into a spare 4 bolt I have and will be putting that in.

slow91 · 08-01-2012, 03:44 PM

Dude mine did the exact same thing with my 3 bolt!!! Congrats on the time!

11secDSM · 08-01-2012, 04:42 PM

Thanks! Waiting on a few parts to do the ring & pinion swap correctly and it'll be back at the track. Might take this opportunity to pick up a Frontline Fab machined rear diff cover while i'm at it.

Kreez · 08-05-2012, 04:14 PM

You make it all look so easy

Nice time and good luck with the build!

Mitsubishiown · 08-05-2012, 08:01 PM

Nice cars man! Your 1g looks super clean!

11secDSM · 10-04-2012, 04:22 PM

I guess it's time for some updates...

Had a bitter sweet time at the shoot out. I hit up Friday night's test and tune session and first pass out the car threw a rod right after the 60' mark. While loading up the car on the trailer, a buddy of mine took a look at the log and noticed the 4 bar map sensor was maxed out at 45 psi. (wonder how much boost it was really making) I immediately checked the boost controller and it was turned all the way in. Needless to say, the previous week at the track the car was seeing 33 psi and I had not touched anything since (w/ the boost controller all the way out I was seeing 28 psi).

What would possess someone to setup someone up for a failure like this? My thoughts is that this happened at my local track (Atco) the prior week when I broke an axle. I had the hood up and walked away for a few minutes.

Well, only good news is I'm building my aluminum rod, high compression motor a little sooner....and using ECU controlled boost. Hoping to get the motor done within the next month and hit the track a few more times this season. This winter I plan on putting a bigger turbo on the car...

After pulling the head to see the extent of the damage I was glad to the see the head had not been damaged. Some carnage pics...

With the damage being done, I got a head start on building my aluminum rod motor. I picked up a set of R&R aluminum rods w/ 22mm wrist pins and some 7 bolt 10.5:1 Wiseco HDs. Got the block back from the machine shop earlier this week and I finished assembling it today.

Also decided to swap out the JB 6262 for a BB 6766. Should be fun.

Should have the car tuned next week on the new setup and then hitting the track after that.

11secDSM · 10-10-2012, 05:28 PM

Buttoned the car up yesterday and fired her up. So far so good....fired right up, no leaks, sounds great, throttle response is fantastic. Tuning tomorrow and then hopefully hitting the track Friday night if all goes to plan.

Quick start up video...

DSM Aluminum rod race motor first start up - YouTube