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98 Eagle Talon - "Onyx"

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XiKeiyaZI

15+ Year Contributor
6,967
55
Dec 28, 2008
Goldsboro, North_Carolina
Hello boys and girls and welcome to the "Magical Build Journal of Onyx!" presented by Kei.


:: Details ::

Vehicle : Eagle Talon TSI AWD
Year : 1998
Drive Type : All Wheel Drive
Transmission : 5 Speed
Exterior Color : Pewter Blue
Interior Color : Grey Leather
Mileage : 120,000 (Body)
Resources : Talon Registry
Registry Source : Talon Registry (ECMLink Forums)

:: Information ::

So let us start with some history here: Back about a year ago before I picked up my last stock Talon TSI AWD for $1800, I was on the hunt for a project. A 2G Talon, to be exact. I really wanted a 2GB but I just knew that there was no way that I'd find one for the price range I had to spare at the moment. After my loss of Wrex and the disappointment that followed I was dying to get something new and start fresh. Well, I found 'it'. The car that I knew I'd instantly fall in love with. It was a Gunmetal 2GB talon about 2 hours away for no more than $2000. I could surely bargain and get it for less. The problem, you ask? Spun rod bearing and the engine was out. This wasn't a problem for me, however, as I was going to rebuild the engine as I wanted and go from there.

Sadly, by the time I was able to give him a call, the car was gone. I was saddened.. and this ultimately led to picking up a very stock, very sturdy car that needed a little assistance. Enter the $1800 Talon. Fast forward 3 months. I'm here on Tuners navigating through my regional forums where I stumble across a group of good spirited guys who need some help. I dip in, offer assistance, give one a car (1G AWD) practically for free. One individual starts talking about his Silver 2Gb that he's rebuilding and needs some insight. Long story short - He was the guy who beat me to the punch. Oooh I was excited, but upset at the same time. Skip a few months down the road - I have a modified VR4 that needs to be put together, the Silver 2gb is still apart. I have what he wants, he has what I want - Time to trade!

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Onyx, as I have so appropriately named her, is a true gem. Nearly flawless in paint. Minimal rust. Immaculate leather interior. AC. Power Steering. Completely functioning options. Not a crack or tear anywhere. She came with paperwork, receipts, and old runs from the days being tuned by Polk Performance. Everything, right down to the trim lettering, is still in near immaculate shape. It's as if it were driven for 3 years on the road and then stuck in a bubble and protected from the world.

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Anywho, first thing is first - The heart. The engine is a revised 7 bolt. The engine got a little hot in the past and has a little material on one of the cylinder walls that has been honed out - but I will be tearing it down and having it tanked and honed at a shop - Bored if absolutely needed but I hope to avoid that. It came with a Shep Stage 1 AWD Trans, a full APEXI exhaust, and a full range of tasteful mods. See the quote below for the full list.

Bolt-on Modifications:
MHi Evo III 16g - Fuel Labs AFPR - ARP Head Studs - ARP Rod Bolts - Ported Intake Manifold - Specter intake filter - Solid Intake Snorkel - 2G Exhaust Manifold - Braided turbo feed and return lines - HKS SSQV BOV - FIC 550cc Injectors - Custom Catch Can - B&M Short Shifter - ETS FMIC

Engine Management:
SAFC 2 - Innovate LC-1 Wideband - Oil Pressure Gauge - Autometer 30PSI Boost Gauge - Pyrometer - Fuel Pressure - Apexi Turbo Timer -

Engine Internals:
Head milled - Composite Head Gasket - Wiseco Pistons - Eagle H Beams - Balance Shaft Eliminator Kit - 272/272 BC's - Ported and Polished - Adjustable Cam Gears - ACL bearings - Titanium Retainers - Beehive Springs

Drivetrain Modifications:
Shep Stage 1 Trans - TMZ Southbend SS Series Clutch Assembly

Suspension Modifications:
Drilled/Slotted Rotors.

Note that some of these parts such as the Southbend Clutch Assemble, Pistons, and bearings are on standby. What the vehicle is missing are the bearings and rings for after the block is machined. A flywheel. Clutch Assembly. An AFPR, and the BSE. Otherwise if it's listed, it came with the listed parts or I had them in storage.

I plan to have this car assembled and ready within a month and broken in before the Shootout so it can make it and have a little fun. ;) For now, this is where I'll stop my immediate post and go ahead and post a couple of more teaser pictures. The only thing I have really done so far is repaint the engine bay black. It was scratched and grizzled looking before. Now it's shiny enough to reflect my image back at me.

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For reference, I am absolutely in love. This is my car. Onyx will be going absolutely nowhere as I have been prone to going through DSMs like underwear. I'm sure my pal Corey R. will have something to say about that. :p At the moment this Talon is in the perfect position - There are plenty of funds, free time, room, tools, and I have a daily to drive in the meantime. I can enjoy the tenacity of a 6Speed F-Body until this beast is ready to hit the streets at my goal of 400-500AWHP - Which I am well aware that a larger turbo will be needed. That's what JusMX is for, right?

Enjoy! This will be the first of many updates!

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At least the SAFC is mounted neatly.

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Gotta love 10/10 interior with trunk covers!​
 
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Looks good Kei!:thumb: Glad you were able to scoop it up and hopefully all will go well, so you can have it out to the Shootout this year. :D
 
!Super Hot! OMGOMG I love that color & it is a 2GB, I just feel in love! :sneaky: :D Enjoy the build and keep up with the updates!
 
I give it 2 months ;)
 
Looks good Kei!:thumb: Glad you were able to scoop it up and hopefully all will go well, so you can have it out to the Shootout this year. :D

I'm sure it'll be done by then. Work begins on the engine next Friday. Right now, for this week, I'm going to be reassembling the body save for the front bumper until the engine and trans goes in. Can't wait for that.

!Super Hot! OMGOMG I love that color & it is a 2GB, I just feel in love! :sneaky: :D Enjoy the build and keep up with the updates!

Why thank you! I fell in love the moment I saw it, and when it was dropped off, I couldn't have been happier.

I give it 2 months ;)

I give your starter 2 months. ;)

Have a little faith in me, will ya'? Haha. Haven't I already done enough to get that much?! ROFL
 

For reference, I am absolutely in love. This is my car. Onyx will be going absolutely nowhere as I have been prone to going through DSMs like underwear. I'm sure my pal Corey R. will have something to say about that. :p


Your darn right I have something to say about that. LOL It's about goddamn time! And what a nice car to settle down with. 2Gb Talon FTMFW!!

Looks like you have a good start on it. I'll be stalking this thread for updates. ;)
 
Update #2

This is a little premature, but I'm anxious. As long as I'm making updates I know I'm working and that's good enough for me.

Yesterday we cleaned and clayed the car. Now I won't be posting many body pictures until it's rolling and drivable so don't get your hopes up too much about that. :p Today I got out and repainted the calipers to extinguish the gotty red that they previously were. While I was down there I found something pretty nifty. A set of Tokico Struts wielding Eibach springs.

springst.jpg

Also discovered some other adjustment goodies. As well as a little rust, sadly, but the car has been here in the south for a while and I have to say that it doesn't scare me too bad. It'll need to be addressed before long, however.

eibach.jpg

Now while these aren't the best at all, I think they'll be an experience at least. We'll see how they work out. Otherwise I have plans of going to D2 or Megan. Haven't really decided on that just yet - but that's on down the road. These will work fine for now. Sadly I did find that there was some bad inner tire wear on the rear wheels. This will need to be addressed as soon as possible. For now I am more worried about getting the car in a running state.

Now, here is where things can get a little exciting. I am tearing the engine down to inspect some cylinder wall debris that was found by the individual that I picked the engine up from. We knew that it was previous running H-Beams, but when the built head was cracked off of the top, this is what was found. Piston sure doesn't look stock and.. the damage? ... Well you tell me. Hoping I don't need to bore it. I'd like to just give it a good hone and slap a set of rings in and go. This is where I'll be looking for input.

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There is obviously a little scraping going on here.

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Certainly doesn't seem stock to me. How about you? :p

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Now here you can see that sometime in the past there was a timing issue. I'll need to get rid of that one bad ridge there. Other than that, it's not bad at all. I don't see any cracks or further damage. Doesn't look like the timing of the old head skipped more than enough to simply kiss the pistons. The engine still rotates freely without any catches or hangs.

So this is where I am for the day~ Trying to determine if I need to plan on spending $500ish for a set of forged .020 pistons and rings, or if I can get away with honing these cylinder walls (this is the only cylinder with damage like this), and simply reuse these pistons.

Input?
 
Update # 2.1

The head was a bit better than I could have hoped for. These were my finds upon pulling the engine apart. Take note that the pictures in the above pictures in the previous post were from before I obtained the engine. The head came with the engine and was simply bolted on. Head was purchased built and simply slapped on.

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Look at those pretty retainers and springs.

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And these lovely valves. :p

Now here's the ugly. Apparently the engine has suffered.. some... The rods came with ARP rod bolts, crank is in perfect condition...however, these poor.. poor pistons.

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Ouch.

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Ick....

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Well, at least the rods are pretty.


Now I'm trying to decide whether I should spend an additional $500 for forged pistons, if I should bore it to .020 and leave it that way, or sleeve it back so I can use factory piston sizes.. and if I do sleeve it if I should just toss a perfect set of 2G stock pistons on these rods and call it a day and save $500ish.

It's been a long.. long day.
 
Ouch dude. That looks painful. I doubt you'll be able to get away with just a hone judging by those pics. :(

Lol, kind of funny, my GF just purchased a set of the exact suspension set up for her car. We have decided we are going to pull the engine from hers, swap her shell for yours, install her engine in what used to be your shell, and leave you none the wiser. :p
 
Ouch dude. That looks painful. I doubt you'll be able to get away with just a hone judging by those pics. :(

Lol, kind of funny, my GF just purchased a set of the exact suspension set up for her car. We have decided we are going to pull the engine from hers, swap her shell for yours, install her engine in what used to be your shell, and leave you none the wiser. :p

Rofl. Good luck. Just had someone break into my house yesterday, so security has been stepped up. :p I'd hate to use this M14 on your knee cap, Corey.

Bore and go forged. Might as well do it right while you're there now.

I've decided against using this engine at all. I pulled the head which is brand new, and found a full 6 bolt longblock + all of the accessories needed to perform the 6 bolt swap for less than $300 and it's semi-local. I'm going to drill out the holes in this head, drop it on, toss on some 6 bolt ARPs and call it a day with the stock 6 bolt bottom end. In the meantime I'll be picking up another running 6 bolt shortblock I found for $100 and turning that into my stroker.

My question is, why do the top of two of the rods discolored?
See Below

From the heat and more then likely no oil.

Close!

What happened was the P2W clearance was so tight that as Bryanwheat and BogusSVO on the forums here pointed out, the pistons would expand under the heat of the engine and rub the cylinder walls. This generated a lot of heat on the pistons which transferred from the top of the rods down.

I had the rods looked at - Their integrity was not damaged, surprisingly. I have let them go to a good friend here on the forums, though, for a very modest price. They can either be cleaned up and reused, or hung from the ceiling as ornaments at this point.
 
I've decided against using this engine at all. I pulled the head which is brand new, and found a full 6 bolt longblock + all of the accessories needed to perform the 6 bolt swap for less than $300 and it's semi-local. I'm going to drill out the holes in this head, drop it on, toss on some 6 bolt ARPs and call it a day with the stock 6 bolt bottom end. In the meantime I'll be picking up another running 6 bolt shortblock I found for $100 and turning that into my stroker.

Sounds like a plan and some great deals too. Nice score, now it's time to get hoppin. Good luck!:thumb:
 
Rofl. Good luck. Just had someone break into my house yesterday, so security has been stepped up. :p I'd hate to use this M14 on your knee cap, Corey.

mine too, sorry to hear that. best part about it though is insurance is reimbursing me (they took a bunch of old useless crap) for what they took which happens to be enough for my new S&W .44. i'd like to see them come back. :sneaky:
 
not always being a huge fan of the talon styling you have changed my mind! i love how the car looks, your plans and i CANNOT wait to see how your build goes. good luck and please dont shoot my knee caps LOL
 
Oh Corey. ;) don't be so sure. My engine bay will be much prettier!

Updates coming very soon.
 
I have a Kiggly Main. :p
 
Damm it! I got me into an Evo IX but when I see sexy dsm's like this one, it makes me want to buy one and continue suffering....
 
Updates needed! :D

Hopefully I'll have updates here in the next day or so. A few things came up and funding for the shortblock may or may not have been lost. Need to get rid of my e16g to continue on at the moment. Getting your house broken into kind of slows things down. Haha.

Sorry for the delay between updates so far, guys. ;) At most it slowed me down by a week.
 
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