Brand New GST owner Need Help Building

[NathanCarlK]

Hey guys, 2 days ago I got a 1998 Eclipse GS-T Spyder. Everything is stock, and it has 62,000 original miles. Everything runs amazing and its spotless everywhere. Some grandmaw owned it! Woot! I'm going to start going to work on it here and what I need to know is what would be best. I don't want to cut corners but its hard to get straight answers. Some say cold air intake, or exhaust system, others say to take the heavy hood off and put a light carbon fiber one on, others say put a chip in it. Where would be the best to start off? It is FWD so i'm not looking to get above 400 hp. But I would love to be pretty close. Let me know what you guys think. Thanks!

[liquidsilver]

Do exactly what you want man

DSM 4G63 Maintenance Guide - DSMtuners

Tech Guide: 2G 4G63t Upgrades - DSMtuners

Welcome.

[idkiliketurbos]

No, the only awd spyders are ones that have been converted. Mitsubishi only offered them fwd.

[gs59_20]

Originally Posted by idkiliketurbos

No, the only awd spyders are ones that have been converted. Mitsubishi only offered them fwd.

So what is the difference between a spyder and a regular gst? I can simply search it,but since we're here. Also,what step you should take next depends on your overall goal for the car. You don't wanna jump into one thing and realize hundreds of dollars and hours down the road that it's not what you want

[96' Eclipse GS]

Photos anyone? I don't see any.

[WES_393]

^ A convertible top.

OP- Start with maintenance. At 60k your well due for a timing belt and a good tune up. Look into free mods before purchasing anything as well.

[gs59_20]

Originally Posted by WES_393

^ A convertible top. .

I always thought so. I just didn't know it was that obvious.lol

OP- You sure this was off a grandma? I can only imagine it was either a grandson "selling" it for his "grandma" or this belonged to a cougar.

No way I see Ms. Daisy driving this

[dudeX]

Just like what everyone else is saying, I would agree with maintenance. Timing belt is a good start along with the balance shaft eliminator. When i got my DSM I went and swapped the timing belt straight away. When i pulled off the timing covers I saw the balance shaft belt broken and frayed. It was about to get sucked into my timing belt and ruin my motor! Could have been way worse if I had started upgrading only to have something simple destroy the motor.

[NathanCarlK]

Here are some pictures of the car. It just got fully surviced(I bought it from a dealer). I'm going to change the belt next weekend I hope.

Here's some more

[Jesse2012]

Wow that looks like its in amazing shape. First thing I would do after all maintenance is taken care of is get a 1g bov

[NathanCarlK]

Thanks man, I bearly paid anything for it too. Haha! But do you have a recomendations for what kind

Also my turbo wistles at me, I never have ridden in one that has done that before, is that normal?

[Pipnorcali]

Read up on the stages of building your dsm , how much money do you have to put into it right now?

300hp fwd dsm are pretty fun hold on tight..lol

RRE 2nd Generation Eclipse Upgrade Path

[zcoh2gdsm]

when the turbo whistles that means it's doing its job. sounds nice huh?

[NathanCarlK]

The sound is amazing, I love the feeling. Right now I've got $500 but thats after putting $400 into a new cd player/ speakers. The previous ones were pretty bad. : / How much would a car like this be worth? I think I got a good deal on it, but you guys are the experts!

[slayer450]

I'd be thinking somewhere around 5 to 6k

[AngelOfPassion]

It really is worth what you think it is worth man... these cars don't really have a set price. It's all about how the buyer FEELS...

I'd pay 4500 max... but I don't like convertables or FWD... So it wouldnt be what I was looking for...

[NathanCarlK]

Alright, Well so for starts a blow off valve? Where would be the best place to pick one up. I live in the middle of no where, the closest walmart is an hour away. Is there a perticular one that has a good reputation. Also can I trusted used? Thanks!

[DreamDSM]

Originally Posted by NathanCarlK

Alright, Well so for starts a blow off valve? Where would be the best place to pick one up. I live in the middle of no where, the closest walmart is an hour away. Is there a perticular one that has a good reputation. Also can I trusted used? Thanks!

Hmm, I dont think Walmart is the place to go for a BoV. I would suggest a 1g BoV. tested and true, and cheap. ~40-60$ here on tuners for a used one. Do a Boost Leak test as well. Good find on the car, low miles, it would go for ~5-6k here in Cali

[gusu]

Originally Posted by NathanCarlK

Alright, Well so for starts a blow off valve? Where would be the best place to pick one up. I live in the middle of no where, the closest walmart is an hour away. Is there a perticular one that has a good reputation. Also can I trusted used? Thanks!

Buy a uncrushed 1g blow off valve from the classifieds here for around 30 bucks. Once you get to a point where you need it to hold more boost you can crush it, which you can ask about later.

A great first upgrade would be a 14b which can get you to 300hp with fuel mods and a upgraded exhaust. You will need a install kit which isn't horribly expensive.

Next I'd buy a ebay intake and put on a K&N filter.

If you want a exhaust I'd get a after market O2 as well. Which may come in handy later if you decide to go with a 16g... because they will creep bad with out one.

A CF hood is beneficial but is a waste of money unless you are really really needing/wanting to save weight. Sure the stock hood is something around 55 pounds and most CF hoods are slightly under 10 but you will also need hood pins, some people never have problems with the latch they come with but honestly it is not worth the risk. Some people have them fly up at just 45mph.

If you do plan on getting more fuel some evo injectors, a wally 190 (since you won't need a FPR and you seem to be fine with around 300hp) will be fine for your goals. You could even get a evo fuel pump if you can find one cheap.

Since you are a 98, you can get your ECU flashed for a tune. If you ever do fuel mods you MUST tune your car.

Don't forget before turning up the boost with a manual boost controller you should ALWAYS have a boost gauge and a wideband. Being able to monitor what is going on is a MUST.

[NathanCarlK]

Now where can I find places to help me with this. I'm new to cars and there dont seem to be any shops around here that will do anything but body work with a "tuner" the walmart thing was a refrence to how far in the middle of no where I live. I wasnt planning on going to wally to tune my car for me..

Is a greedy Type s good? My friend reccomended it to me. Said is sounds real mean.

[slayer450]

I prefer hks bov. If you get a real one they will handle all the boost you can throw at them without leaking. And they sound good to. YouTube bov sounds and see what you like.

[NHerron]

Do a boost leak test (BLT) to see if your'e BOV is even leaking in the first place, it's also part of preventative maintenance
2G Turbo DSM Boost Leaks -How to test and fix

By the cool BOV whooshing sound I assume your'e talking about venting to atmosphere with an aftermarket BOV. Unless cool sounds over performance is your thing... Research that idea first, it's not the best for a stock setup

It's a nicely taken care of car, good find
Welcome to the site

[KrazyRob]

Very cool car! Im fairly new to the site as well and scored a 99 GSX with 51,000k original miles.. Kinda have the opposite problem as you tho.. The guy that sold me the car modded the heck out of it lol.. But good thing is, all the work was done at a shop. Im starting to put stuff back to stock and then start over with some different mods that are not so wild here in Cali where smog is not your friend hahaha.. But with all these quality aftermarket parts he still never got a Boost controller, or gauge... would any one recommend a good boost controller and gauge that do what they are supposed to, and don't cost a grip$$?? Nathan could probably use the info as well if he plans on adjusting and measuring boost in the future...

[NHerron]

Try not to get the cheapo eBay MBC which is the bleeder design. Just keep it simple with the ball and seat design. Or go DIY (you own a DSM right?) and make a ball and spring MBC from the hardware store $10. Awesome.

Homemade MBC in the works... - Turbobricks Forums
^Favorite link shows great pictures and most importantly the hole to drill which a lot of DIY guides miss

what is better bleed of or ball and spring MBC? - DSM Forums: Mitsubishi Eclipse, Plymouth Laser, and Eagle Talon Forum: DSMtalk.com

I have a Greddy boost gauge. I dig it.
Sorry I can't comment on any others, but there is plenty info on boost gauges around here. It's like the first mod anyone should do...

[dalesmitsu]

I like bulletdsm hood mod, he shave inner structure still holds.

[NHerron]

Originally Posted by dalesmitsu

I like bulletdsm hood mod, he shave inner structure still holds.

Haha what? You lost or am I?

[empie1]

Your missing the battery tie down. Real clean though. I vote maintain it and leave it stock and unmolested. Those are MUCH more rare than a abused modded dsm. Go buy a $1500 gsx and mod it.

[Marceldsm]

Originally Posted by NathanCarlK

Here are some pictures of the car. It just got fully surviced(I bought it from a dealer). I'm going to change the belt next weekend I hope.

Here's some more

NICE DSM

STAGE 1 MAINTENANCE

TIMING BELT
FUEL FILTER
CHANGE ALL THE BELTS
CHANGE THE WATER PUMP
TERMOSTAT
FRESH OIL CHANGE
VERIFY SUSPENSION ( BALL JOINTS) 2G ARE FAIMOUS FOR THAT

GET A 1G BOV
TO GET 400 HP AT THE CRANK YOU NEED A EVO3 16G OR 20G TURBO
WALBRO 255 HP
AFPR
750CC INJECTORS
DSM LINK

MAKE SURE YOU GET ARP HEADSTUDS AND A NEW HEADGASKET

AFTER THAT ITS MAINTENANCE MAINTENACE MAINTENACE

[NathanCarlK]

Does anyone live close to me and could help me with this project. I'm norther PA? It would be awsome to have someone work on it with me.

[NathanCarlK]

Thank you guys for all the help, Ive been doing research for almost 2 months and i'm going to get started here soon. :]