The Top DSM Community on the Web

For 1990-1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse, Eagle Talon, Plymouth Laser, and Galant VR-4 Owners. Log in to remove most ads.

Please Support Rix Racing
Please Support STM Tuned

Street Build Eclipse GSX Rescue

Specs & Mods

Ownership Status
Currently Own
Year
1999
Model/Trim
Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX
Drivetrain
AWD
Transmission Type
Manual
Build Type
  1. Autocross
Mods-Bolt-on
Stock AF
Mods-Engine
No name BOV, that's it
Mods-EMS & Logging
None
Mods-Drivetrain
Stock
Mods-Handling
Stock
Parts Wishlist
Knowledge to guide me on this journey
Background
Trolling Craigslist over my lunch break last summer, I found a really basic and poorly-worded ad for a clean title 1999 eclipse, non-running, for $2500 at a local junkyard. The car was fresh in and had yet to hit the lot to be parted out. I noticed in the pictures they posted that it had a 4G63 and not the 420a a N/T eclipse would have. I opened the ad and lo and behold, a GSX decal donned the hatch in one of the pictures. Now I was interested and I went to go see the car. At the time the junkyard were getting a key cut at the dealer and told me what they knew about the car which wasn't much. The first thing I noticed upon looking it over was the interior, black leather in pretty nice shape, dirty but no huge tears or burns etc. Back seats looked mint and even the steering wheel was in good shape. The only things not stock inside were a head unit and and an A-pillar boost gauge and perhaps the gauge faces. The wing was detached from the car for some reason but was in the passenger seat. Next I popped the hood. The pics on craigslist weren't great but as soon as I opened the hood I saw the car was BONE stock. The only non stock component was a no name purple BOV replacement. This really caught my attention as most of these cars has either rusted away, been turned into drag cars, or have had too many owners modify them to be made right again. As is the norm, the passenger tower had a nice big hole in it but the drivers one looked perfect. Checked underneath and sure enough, rear diff and the works as well as the rusted remains of a stock exhaust. Where the rocker meets the rear wheel well was gone on both sides, unsurprisingly.

At this point I stood back an evaluated. What I had before me was a close to stock as I was ever going to find, 1999 Eclipse GSX, black/black with a 5-speed AND it wasn't totally boned with rust. For $2500 I was interested at the very least, but did it run?

Quickly, a little background. I currently own a 2006 WRX. I built a forged closed deck motor, GT3076, e85 (flex), swapped an 07 STi driveline/hubs/Brembos, full interior swap to limited leather, etc. The list goes on and on. Currently makes 450awhp. I love this car and having something that took so much time and effort to build come to fruition is very satisfying. Growing up, my older brother's first car was a black 97 GST. Some of the first real "mods" I ever did to a car were with him and on that car. I learned much at a young age and I would say that car was integral to me becoming the gear head I am today. He had to sell it a few years later as the front towers were on their last leg and he was tired of fixing it (lol).

Back to the story, a few days later the guy at the junkyard calls me and says they got a key, the car turns over but "sounds like it has no compression, like none at all" I found this strange as even badly hurt motors show at least a few psi if they still move. He proceeds to tell me that the rotating assembly looked and sounded good and he think's someone may have set the timing wrong as the belt looked brand new but with no compression he feared valves had been bent. He said since it was non-running I could have the car for $1500. I countered with $1000 citing the rust I had seen. We eventually settled on $1200 and delivery of the car. Paid for the car got a bill of sale and title, got it registered and ordered plates.

My plans for this car are first to assess what all it needs. For sure I'm looking at a full repaint and MANY things need refreshed. I am very mechanically inclined and have a long background in cars. I want to restore while also doing a mild build. I'm thinking a 16g on e85 on a refreshed motor. I have no real timeline and I'm not in a rush as I am someone who likes to learn and do things right, even it takes longer. These forum's have already helped me a ton in learning about the nuances of DSMs and the 4G63. Additionally, per many members recommendations I picked up the 4G63t book that written by Robert Bowen & Robert Garcia and I've pretty much read through most of it since first picking this car up. Can't wait to see where this build takes me.
  • 20190820_184920.jpg
    20190820_184920.jpg
    1.6 MB · Views: 42
  • 20190825_141918.jpg
    20190825_141918.jpg
    1.1 MB · Views: 41
  • 20190818_150533.jpg
    20190818_150533.jpg
    692.1 KB · Views: 40
  • Like
Reactions: ShowShine
Support Vendors who Support the DSM Community
Boosted Fabrication ECM Tuning ExtremePSI Fuel Injector Clinic Innovation Products Jacks Transmissions JNZ Tuning Kiggly Racing Morrison Fabrications MyMitsubishiStore.com RixRacing RockAuto RTM Racing STM Tuned

Vehicle information

Added by
Zmangsx23
Views
412
Last update

More in 2G DSM

Share this Vehicle

Latest posts

Vendor Updates

Back
Top