Suggestions and Advice For Current Project Idea.

[Narish Do Urden]

Hey there

I'm just startin up a local thread here on some suggestions, and/or advice on a project I'm currently contemplating. From Omaha, Nebraska.

I own a 1995 Eagle Talon ESI, non turbo, no mods or anything. I just recently bought it from a guy down in Creston, IA for $400 (sweet deal right, it gets better as it runs and drives. Has a lil bit of problems here and there((cough like the paint as seen in the pic to the left)), but well worth it.)

Now what I was thinking on doing is Taking the Engine from this car out, doing an indepth rebuild etc... new valves, gaskets, crank, rods, cams and all that fun stuff, what I want to do is a 420a turbo conversion, but I'm thinking of trying to find a 2G Eclipse Spyder shell, that has or did have a 5-6speed manual transmission in it, or even converting that. Just going to leave this open ended so people can throw in their input of experiences, maybe throw some shop suggestions etc..

Thanks in advance

 

[82elcaminoguy]

Nice buy, have you decided on build plans yet?

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...ZhjlA1breKlIkTbQA&sig2=uRcCFSQYY3bhT8r8A0QPlg

 

[Narish Do Urden]

Damn, thanks for the link, the kits I was looking at from Andys Auto Sports were like 1.5k+ Might have to start savin up for that, any good cams, rods, injectors?

 

[eric72549]

or look around for a 6 bold motor on CL there was a guy right across the bridge in iowa selling a 96 gst engine it just needed rebuilt he only wanted like 300 bucks then drop in in your esi. and since you only paid 400 bucks u might as well clean up the body dents dings ect.. and go to macco and get a 300 dollar paint job.

 

[Anubis_4_99]

or look around for a 6 bold motor on CL there was a guy right across the bridge in iowa selling a 96 gst engine it just needed rebuilt he only wanted like 300 bucks then drop in in your esi. and since you only paid 400 bucks u might as well clean up the body dents dings ect.. and go to macco and get a 300 dollar paint job.

Except it would cost him 3 times the cost of the car or more to put a 6 bolt in his non turbo car.

The front frame rails need to be removed, and replaced with turbo ones, or modified, all of which consists of massive ammounts of labor and welding. Which is expensive. Wiring needs to be changed, etc.

Might wanna do some research on the non turbo's before you suggest motor swaps.

To the op: If you want a motor swap, the 2.4L block out of the stratus will swap into our cars with some minor modifications, our heads will bolt on, and you can put in SRT-4 internals and have a very boost capable 2.4L motor for fairly cheap. If that sounds interesting to you, head over to 2GNT and search for the 2.4L swap thread. Don't think there is alot of info on it here, but you can always search the 420A forums and see.

*edit*

Also a $300 maaco paintjob is crap, i could do, and have done better myself in my garage. And i can compare because i've done the maaco thing before, never again. Know what $300 buys you? Paint. There is no prep work, barely any masking off of windows etc. I had overspray on my windows, tires, chrome bumper, they sprayed right over a small patch of rust without doing anything to it, the list goes on.

 

[turboglenn]

Annubis... very good info and nice catch on the swap correction there... I'm not sure cause of screen names do we know each other? or what area you in?

Nice to see another intellegent DSM'er locally

 

[Anubis_4_99]

Annubis... very good info and nice catch on the swap correction there... I'm not sure cause of screen names do we know each other? or what area you in?

Nice to see another intellegent DSM'er locally

I live in north O, don't think we've really ever met, but seen you on the forums alot and have followed some of your threads.

Thanks by the way, i plan on doing the 2.4L swap here soon, i have about 30 threads bookmarked that I'm reading though . Only problem i'm running into is i want to retain my A/C after the swap, and i have yet to find anyone that has.

I just sorted out a big electrical issue with my engine harness and now need to repair some shoddy body work from the previous owner before i rip the motor out. Hoping to shave and repaint the bay and body and do a wire tuck as well while i have it apart.

 

[Narish Do Urden]

All good ideas, sorry haven't posted in a while been busy. I'm actually in the process of painting my current car, the blue and yellow is finally givin me a headache. That's probably the extent of what I am going to do to this one. I looked closer and theres a bit of rust on it, I have no idea how to weld or where I could get a tool to simply quick fix the rust holes underneath and in the trunk, let alone sand/grind down the welds to smoothen out the body..

I'm still considering a 95+ 6 bolt Body to work on, and actually over time build into it to where I can learn the things lacking.

~Edit~

Which by the way I am in need of a cheep hood and front bumper(no rust, no dents, color doesnt matter) for my 95 Esi, thought I might throw that in here just in case.

 

[Anubis_4_99]

All good ideas, sorry haven't posted in a while been busy. I'm actually in the process of painting my current car, the blue and yellow is finally givin me a headache. That's probably the extent of what I am going to do to this one. I looked closer and theres a bit of rust on it, I have no idea how to weld or where I could get a tool to simply quick fix the rust holes underneath and in the trunk, let alone sand/grind down the welds to smoothen out the body..

I'm still considering a 95+ 6 bolt Body to work on, and actually over time build into it to where I can learn the things lacking.

~Edit~

Which by the way I am in need of a cheep hood and front bumper(no rust, no dents, color doesnt matter) for my 95 Esi, thought I might throw that in here just in case.

Junkyards are your friend, the one on 13th tends to have more dsm's then the one on 60th usually does. Not too many part outs on craigslist lately.

 

[Narish Do Urden]

Just finished priming my blue and yellow monstrosity. Will upload some pics on it soon, but again as for this thats probably all I'm going to do, other than maintenance to keep it running. Just posted on Craigslist about buying a 95+ Eclipse shell, that's a car I'm going to work on for more "hobbyist" driving.

 

[keihs2geclipse]

You can try lakeside They usually have a few dsms. Or call bumper and auto new parts fairly cheap

 

[Narish Do Urden]

http://www.andysautosport.com/eagle...ody_kits/extreme dimensions/extr00067719.html

Extreme Dimensions Drifter Body Kit - FULL KIT for 95-99 Eagle Talon at Andy's Auto Sport

I'm gonna keep on restoring my Talon, I'm thinkin about one of these body kits. I like the blue one better

Also, I am planning on doing a Automatic to Manual transmission swap. Will a FWD Manual Transmission mount the same as the auto transmission((I mean the actual transmission mounts)) and any advice on the conversion would be appreciated. I've been researching it as of late not finding too much information on it for the 420A FWD, mainly a ton of stuff for JDM, which just my opinion I wouldn't buy a JDM for 10 cents....((over exaggeration)) To each their own.

 

[hoss1264]

im not fully sure but i have heard that the talons and the eclipses, that they had different computers. mught be something to look into. i personally wouldnt try to swap the motor out it would be worthless,probably cost more then the car is really worth, i would suggest just trying to build that motor up and leave it in the car.

 

[Narish Do Urden]

Well, I wrecked my N/A Talon, its totaled unless I completely rebuild the front end, looks like itd need a ton of frame welding. I did get a 1997 Eclipse Spyder, not a 98, but its all the same to me. Already has a 4g63t, also already runs and drives picked it up for a good $1,000. The overdrive doesn't work though, itll drive with over drive on until 4th gear then it slips, I'm thinkin Tsolenoid or Tranny filter. As of right now its suckin down gas like an alcoholic and jack daniels.

 

[jdub1992]

I would get a manny tranny model man that car would become a money pit based on the issues you have been having and than just fix that one up but that's up to you dude

 

[Narish Do Urden]

Sry haven't been around much, yeah I still got the car, this issue was the result of a bad End Clutch. I used IPT Performance, End Clutch Kit. Followed their video and it worked like a charm. The transmission is still eventually going to go out though, it shifts a little rough even with new solenoids, filters, and the use of lucas transmission restore and also tried transx.

This project is going to be a HUGE money bucket, but.....I'm still going to go through with it. Don't know why I love the car so much, but this is what I want to build into.
I have the car currently running decently except for the lil bit of rough shifting from the automatic transmission, but when I get the time and parts.

Step 1: Auto to Manual transmission Conversion.
Step 2: Complete Engine Restore, new pistons fuel injectors etc......
Step 3: Front Wheel to All Wheel Conversion
Just the first 3 steps..mechanically

This all being done during the same period of time mind you. I've been lookin around for shop spaces to rent to work on this and other cars, and I mean shop locations my garage isn't big enough.
Was thinkin of calling, texting, or emailing Chad in CB to see if maybe he has a space he could rent, maybe he'll end up reading the post, but if anyone else does let me know.

 

[jdub1992]

I had an old 95 GS and I just couldn't fork the money to convert that to anything. I just found a 96 awd talon and built on from there. I have almost $10,000 into it and its still in need of some work. It's a money pit but its "my" money pit. No matter what my car is worth it and I'm just going to keep putting the cash into it.