Street Build: 98 Eclipse RS-Project Alice

[Slo2gen]

To start off with, my name is Zac and this is my Project Alice. I'll try and update as much as possible and post back what photo's I still have of the car and the stages its progressed through. My laptop got stolen about 2 years ago so I lost a LOT of old photos but we'll make do. This will more than likely be updated slowly but updated none the less. My plans for the car is to have something fun to drive that's different, fast and street legal. So......lets start.....

My junior year in high school(2003) I started looking for a car to drive, I had an 1991 Explorer at the time, and came across the Eclipse. I loved it and at the time had no concern for going fast.....that didn't last long.

Meet Alice, a 1998 Eclipse RS/MT
<img src="http://www.dsmtuners.com/gallery/files/5/0/1/3/9/tunerspic4.jpg" alt="Gallery Pics for Slo2gen" />The car was stock except for some welded on APC exhaust tip and had 75k on it.
Seeing as I wasn't into going fast at the time I spent most of the money that I had on ICE for the car, ended up going with a Pioneer AVIC-N2, Alpine Type R 6.5 components in the front, Type R 6.5 coax in the back, some American Pro 12" DVC subs in a bandpass box, driven by a Sony 1200 watt amp and running a 1.2 Farad cap(don't remember the name) in it. I was satisfied for what kind of music I was into at the time and thought I had a pretty decent system.

Well...."It starts...."
It was at this point that I realized that I wanted to go fast and in order to do that I would need a turbo, and after seeing what the Hahn Racecraft RS did, I knew what I wanted, but being in high school and not having a whole lot of money I decided on going with budget parts until I could get enough money together to buy a Hahn Stage 2 turbo kit...

My first mod for the car other than sound was a AEM V2 cold air intake and an SSAutochrome 4-1 header...
<img src="http://www.dsmtuners.com/gallery/files/5/0/1/3/9/tunerspic3.jpg" alt="Gallery Pics for Slo2gen" />
After this I got tired to looking/hearing the stupid weld on tip exhaust and decided to order an Ebay N1 style exhaust, and Howell Automotive AFX underdrive pulley. I don't think I have any pictures of this....

So fast forward from when I first got the car a couple of years and its 2006 and I still don't have that Hahn turbo kit, but a friend of mine opened up a shop and had a helluva good deal on a nitrous kit put together by a company called NitroDave/NitrousOutlet. So I bought one from him installed it that night/next day and went back up to his shop the next night....
<img src="http://www.dsmtuners.com/gallery/files/5/0/1/3/9/DynoPic.jpg" alt="On Dyno" />
Car ended up making 168whp on a 50 shot. I ended up upping the jets to a 75 shot but never got it back on the dyno.

Now at this point I'm starting to see that I want to go fast but its a lot of money to make a non turbo turbo so I go out and buy myself a 1991 Talon TSI AWD(thats another thread I'll get to one day :P), and start buying parts for that.
<img src="http://www.dsmtuners.com/gallery/files/5/0/1/3/9/tunerspic5.jpg" alt="Gallery Pics for Slo2gen" />

Well slowly but surely I still like tinkering with the Eclipse and end up buying a 8.8 bottom end for it off a member in FLA. So I go get that bottom end and get it home, I'll never make the drive there and back in one day again, and tear it apart! The motor had a spun main bearing, but luckily he only had idled the motor so damage wasn't bad and I was able to polish out the crank what little bit it did mar it and get some new bearings. TBC......

[michael102691]

I have a 95 talon tsi awd that i bought off craigslist for $1000 with crank walk, I am currently building a 6 bolt engine for it, 20. over j.e pistons, eagle rods evo 3 16g turbo, and so on, glad to see you got a 4g63 power plant!!! keep us updated with pics of the builds.

[blueskittle]

Awesome looks like your making steps into the right direction!

[Josh97eclipse]

Ahaha Zac you need to update alot to get the build to its current status

[Slo2gen]

I know right :P As far as making steps in the "right" direction well, I feel I have done that....

So, I don't have any pics of the next few setups but I'll at least note them in this documentation. I got the 8.8 bottom end in and also got a head rebuild kit from howell automotive that consisted of Crane 12
s, Crower Ti retainers, Crower valve springs, and PEP +1mm stainless valves.

EDIT: I found some pics...
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/atta...1&d=1283290800

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/atta...1&d=1283290800

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/atta...1&d=1283290800

and the head...

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/atta...1&d=1283291926

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/atta...1&d=1283291926

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/atta...1&d=1283291926

I got it all together and ran the car for a few thousand miles and said to hell with it, I'm installing a Zeitronix WB/EGT/Boost system and MS

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/atta...1&d=1283293704

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/atta...1&d=1283293704

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/atta...1&d=1283293704

here you can see my fuel solenoid as well and new GM IAT gauge for MS
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/atta...1&d=1283293704

And a Megatune screen shot...
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/atta...1&d=1283293704

So about 15k miles after this I finally got a turbo kit(second hand) and installed it with a Hahn upgraded SMIC. Started it up and ran great for about 1k then I started getting a oil light flicker at idle when hot. Turns out the guy sold me a bad turbo and crap from the turbo got into the oil and then into the bearings....

http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/8...7082056sr3.jpg

http://img393.imageshack.us/img393/3...9080904ww9.jpg

http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/1...4080052wn3.jpg

So the car sat for about a year while I stacked up parts for the rebuild...

So I hated the way the 8.8 compression drove outside of boost, it just sucked. So I decided to go back with something a bit higher...10.5:1
http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/9...0081933oi7.jpg

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/6843/1000005ym6.jpg

http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/9982/1000008uh6.jpg

http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/4246/0000016ef1.jpg

http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/6108/0000018vy2.jpg

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/4484/0000019mh6.jpg

I ended up taking the bad turbo S16g off and went with a S20g
http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/7991/0000022nv3.jpg

So I drove around for a while staying out of boost to break the new motor in and finally when I swap in some 1000cc injectors and get ready to tune We'll My MS breaks

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/393...1004062214.jpg

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/3...1004062214.jpg

So I get a new MSnS and install it and finally I'm ready to go, but during all this down time I decided to remove my stock ecu and go complete stand alone with MS...








And upgrade to a S25g





And do a 2gb Eclipse RS to 2gb Talon with 2ga Talon side skirts



http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5658928/2g%2...rear%20quarter

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5658928/2g%2...%20swap%20side

And get some Evo 8 Enkies and Tokico Blues and Prokits, and add a little Eagle touch to the Enkies

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5658928/Enki...0center%20caps

[Slo2gen]

THEN I FINALLY GET ON THE DYNO!!!!!!!

http://i672.photobucket.com/albums/v...er/9-30-10.jpg

Video:
TDCauto.com - 420a Eclipse - 25g Turbo - E85 Dyno Tune - YouTube

Chart:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5658928/Dyno...psi%20wafr.jpg

The dip in the chart is from the internal gate and "homemade" boost controller.

Then after that pull on the video I start the car to up the boost some more and I notice the oil pressure gauge didn't move

Ends up being a cracked oil pump ring gear in three spots...!







So now its getting close to where I'm at currently!

I took the motor out and was going to throw some bearings in it...


But sold it to a friend and went with something a little bit bigger :P


Took the dash out and started relocating my fuse box to where the passenger airbag used to be






Also picked up a head that was just like mine as far as hardware but had been ported by Eddie Fierro!


And another turbo manifold and wastegate...

But have decided not to use it....I'll elaborate more on this on Thursday!

I got a little helper as well :P




I got the motor sitting in the car but am going to have to remove it, its just in for mock up purposes



Bought MS3 3X board as well...

[Slo2gen]

Got the dash back in the car!




And thats where I'm at now...planning on something a bit differnt and hopefully make over 700whp. What I lack is some injectors, my MS3X assy, some custom piping, pistons, rods, clutch, half radiator, a turbo rebuilt, buy a bigger turbo and an oil cooler.

[Josh97eclipse]

Awesome work. Your bay is about to be hella clean. I need ms :/

[Slo2gen]

Its a work in progress, work on it has slowed due to me buying a house and all but it shall continue slowly but surely. That very reason though is one why I thought about shaving my engine bay but at this point I want to have function over form and I'm trying to get it all together by the 20th DSM SO. I don't think I'll make the SO with the built motor but IF I put that on hold I might can drive the car to the SO again. So far I'm 1/3 on taking the DSM to the SO. Some days its 100% I'm gonna shave it and then other days I'm iffy on it because I still need to paint the cars exterior as well.

Well I got a bit of an update, I finally have the manifold I'm gonna stick with....

[vtrevor0221]

Nice build!

As soon as I get back from Germany here in a few weeks I am going to start my 420A build. I have a 97 RS that I got for $600 I also have a 98 GST that I got for $350 but it was in a really bad car crash (front end damage). All the interior is looking sweet so I will save me some trips to the junk yard. I plan on swapping out what I can, dash, power doors, windows, rear hatch. I am looking to have a hybrid of RS and GST lol it should be fun... I want to put a turbo on the 420A but I am still gathering all the info I can prior to diving on this project.

[jacklitman]

Originally Posted by vtrevor0221

Nice build!

As soon as I get back from Germany here in a few weeks I am going to start my 420A build. I have a 97 RS that I got for $600 I also have a 98 GST that I got for $350 but it was in a really bad car crash (front end damage). All the interior is looking sweet so I will save me some trips to the junk yard. I plan on swapping out what I can, dash, power doors, windows, rear hatch. I am looking to have a hybrid of RS and GST lol it should be fun... I want to put a turbo on the 420A but I am still gathering all the info I can prior to diving on this project.

just an fyi, the 420a engine in your eclipse is totally different and faces the opposite way of the one in your gst, they dont swap, but everything else non drivetrain related should, accept cluster.

[Slo2gen]

Finally got the wastegate flange changed on the manifold....
<a href="http://s1011.photobucket.com/albums/af232/slo2g/Eclipse%20Pictures/?action=view&amp;current=manifoldwastegate2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af232/slo2g/Eclipse%20Pictures/manifoldwastegate2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><a href="http://s1011.photobucket.com/albums/af232/slo2g/Eclipse%20Pictures/?action=view&amp;current=GetAttachmentaspx.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af232/slo2g/Eclipse%20Pictures/GetAttachmentaspx.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[Slo2gen]

Update:

Test fit the 3kgt brakes, still need to get the RRE lines since they are a 1g style caliper


Routed my clutch line since the master to slave line is so LOOONG, figured I'd try to hide some of the line... still need to get a gromet and wrap the line so it won't chaff...


Cleaned up the casting on my turbine housing, want to get a carbide bit and port match it still...


Got some new injectors, THANKS SIM for the hook up on the price


And pulled the motor to clean the bay and do the timing belt and what not(2.4 makes it near impossible to do a timing belt inside the car...


And thats where I'm at today...almost there!

[codym]

Impressive build ! Nice to see people still aiming big with 420s.

[Slo2gen]

Car has moved, getting ready for a big engine bay transformation.

[Slo2gen]

Still have a LOT more holes to fill, but its a start!

[Slo2gen]

I think we counted 17 more holes to fill...

[teklein]

The black Eclipse is now all motor with the remnants of the S25G setup in it

Wont be long, and Zac's bay will look amazing.

[Slo2gen]

Ok, not much of an update but I've had some big life changes and now I'm ready to move forward with it...



and an 8an fuel rail...

[safirenside]

Originally Posted by Slo2gen

Ok, not much of an update but I've had some big life changes and now I'm ready to move forward with it...



and an 8an fuel rail...

What brand fuel rail is that and where did you get it?

[Slo2gen]

It isn't a brand, its custom. I can ask if you want if he will do another but I kind of doubt it. He isn't in the scene much anymore.

[safirenside]

O ok I was just curious on what it was thanks.

[GSTurbo1]

lets see some more work man.

[Slo2gen]

Honestly been doing other things with my time lately but after coming home from the SO I think I need to get my ass in gear!

We did a little work tonight, still need to touch up a few places and then start on the other side!
I'm actually tired of doing this crap and I'm ready to get the motor and what not in but I'm kind of in it too far at this point, it needs a hole rewelded up and then TONS more sanding. Then hopefully some paint!

[Slo2gen]

So this project is officially over, I have procured another 2gnt with the plans of swapping all my parts into. So there will be updates again as I have just sent my MS3x out to be built and ordered the 2.4 headstuds, it won't be long till I have a running 2g again!

[Slo2gen]

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5658928/Onli...20Towed%20Away

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...62165714_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...29734391_n.jpg

Getting there, still waiting on the ECU to get back and a few more bolts....

And for some of you the new chassis may look familiar...
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto..._7739248_n.jpg

[jayson427]

so what are you expecting to see hp wise?

[Slo2gen]

Current bottom end should be good to 550ish reliably. I'm probably going to run 450ish to 500 which is PLENTY on the street, but want to get another block to build a aluminum long rod motor, with a static compression around 12:1.

[Number1dad]

My build will no where near that much HP. Lol it's going to have my baby to carry

[Slo2gen]