97 Eclipse GST daily driven racecar

[Jaxness]

The entire time I've been on Tuners, I've avoided posting a build thread because I see the kind of trash that gets thrown around about the way someone chooses to build their car. Well, I've come to notice that Facebook isn't much better, so if anything, this will be an easier way to keep track of my progress.

The car is damn near done. The only things I want to add at this point is an AWD swap and some Brembo's, then I can say I'm 100% happy with it.

I bought the car December of 2009, and I've had the same plan for it the entire time. A 500hp daily driven car that will compete in auto-x, 1/4 mile, and road racing, all while staying pretty enough to outshine some show cars. So I pretty much wanted to build a DSM that does EVERYTHING, I don't think that's too much to ask, .

So to get started, here is the car as it sits:

Bolt-on Modifications:
● HY35 turbo
● T3 Turbonetics exhaust manifold
● Tial 38mm external wastegate
● Custom v-band o2 housing
● 3'' Punishment Racing downpipe (cat delete)
● 3'' GReddy TI-C catback exhaust
● VRSF FMIC
● 1g intake manifold
● 1g throttle body
● 1g Mishimoto radiator
● Dual 12" radiator slimfans
● Mishimoto radiator hoses
● PTE 1200cc injectors
● Walbro 255 fuel pump (STM rewire)
● Tial Q bov
● Unorthodox crank pulley
● 4" FP intake w/ K&N FIPK filter
● Fuelab fuel filter
● Fuelab AFPR
● RCI fuel rail
● -6an black nylon fuel lines

Engine Management:
● ECUFlash
● EvoScan
● '99 GST "Black box" ECU
● Hallman boost controller
● AEM digital wideband
● AEM digital boost gauge
● AEM digital 0-150psi oil pressure gauge
● AEM digital water temp gauge
● Speed density - OMNI 4 bar MAP sensor
● GM AIT

Engine Internals:
● 6 bolt block
● Stage 2 ported/polished 2g head
● ARP headstuds
● Kelford 272/272 cams
● Evo 8 valvetrain
● 3g revised lifters
● Balance shaft elimination

Drivetrain Modifications:
Automatic to 5-speed transmission swap
● SBC SS-series 2200# PP
● TZ/B-series kevlar/ceramic dual friction clutch disk
● SS full clutch line
● Symborski shift kit
● TWM Performance 440 gram Type R weighted shift knob

Suspension Modifications:
● 17x9 +35 5Zigen FN01R-C wheels
● 255/40/17 Bridgestone Potenza RE11a tires
● D2 Drag coilovers
● Cross drilled & slotted rotors
● Posi-quiet brake pads
● SS brake lines

She makes 438hp on 93 octane, and 492hp on 110 octane:

 

[GofaST4life]

Looks great! As always.

Get some pics up with the new wheel/tire combo though. Makes the car look really aggressive.


How has ECU Flash and EVO Scan been to use? I'll be doing some of the same this coming winter.

 

[Ghost_92TSi]

I like it! Unique and not over done. Eff the haters

 

[Jaxness]

I decided to break the car's track virginity at this year's Shootout. Not normally a big deal, but I was driving the car 1,000 miles from Florida, and I intended on driving it home.

Here are the slips from my very first pass, to my best pass of the weekend:

Not bad, considering I was on crappy street tires and I can't drive to save my life, haha.

I competed in the Max Effort class, which also included auto-x. Safe to say I'm addicted to dodging cones.

I obviously wasn't the best at it, but I did improve over my 4 passes. Starting at a 43 second run, I went to a 39, 38, and a final of 37. I had several people giving me great advice, and I'm excited to report I didn't hit a single cone or go off course

And of course, the important thing, she drove the 1000 mile trip home... though as you can tell, my turbo was starting to die on me by the end of the weekend, so I did have to take it off when I got back to Florida and send it to JusMX141 to be rebuilt,

As requested, a picture of the current wheel setup:

And then I took the car to Import Face-Off at the beginning of this month to just run some test & tune runs. I ran a 15.8 @ 106mph. It was almost 100*F outside, and my launches were all garbage. Car was spinning really bad, I was shifting early, all the typical newbie excuses,

Video of my best pass.

A week later, I went back to the same track for a midnight test & tune. I managed a 15.2 @ 109 and ended up getting frustrated enough to let my husband have a pass at it. He has some FWD racing experience from an SRT4 he had a couple years ago.

He pulled out a 13.6 @ 110mph

He learned the launching and shifting sweet spots of the car to avoid bogging at the line.

Yesterday, I took it to a local 1/8th mile track, and this time I brought slicks. The car just started to wake up at the end of the 1/8th, she loves the top end, but this track allowed me to practice my launches.

Before, my best 1/8 time was 9.8 @ 81mph and a 2.4 60 ft.
Yesterday, I ran an 8.6 @ 87mph and a 2.1 60 ft.

SO MUCH EASIER. The track is new, so the prep wasn't awesome. I spun through 1st gear, but after that, it was a lot easier to hear when to shift. My 60 fts aren't awesome yet, but they're improving, and my launches are more consistent.

Video of my best pass.

I was running 10psi on the slicks, car was on 26psi on pump gas.

 

[Jaxness]

Bought a Fuelab stainless steel fuel filter and a Walbro 450 fuel pump. Since I'm moving to California where e85 stations are plenty, I figured I'd go ahead and set up a tune for it while I lived near my tuner.

 

[Archer Fabrications]

Hummmmm i think it's time for an hx4
You should be able to shift at 8k no problem especially with the evo valve train.

I rev to 8k on stock 2g head with bc cams no issues to report yet.

Also I'm not to familier with the hy35, but if it's anything like the hx35 you have yet to hit the turbos sweet spot you make some awesome numbers on pumo gas, but I'd like to see what you run with your slicks, C16 (or e85 in your case) and 32psi.

 

[1995 brian]

Awesome car

 

[Jaxness]

Hummmmm i think it's time for an hx4
You should be able to shift at 8k no problem especially with the evo valve train.

I rev to 8k on stock 2g head with bc cams no issues to report yet.

Also I'm not to familier with the hy35, but if it's anything like the hx35 you have yet to hit the turbos sweet spot you make some awesome numbers on pumo gas, but I'd like to see what you run with your slicks, C16 (or e85 in your case) and 32psi.

Kelfords are a liiiittle bit bigger than BCs, . I'd be more comfortable taking it over 7500 once I put a Kiggly valvetrain in it, .

 

[Archer Fabrications]

Kelfords are a liiiittle bit bigger than BCs, . I'd be more comfortable taking it over 7500 once I put a Kiggly valvetrain in it, .

I know kelfords are the best 272 on the market, but still

 

[boost97gst]

Did you ever have this car Auto with any power or did you swap to MT right away? I understand you wanting MT for auto-x/road racing but for the strip??? Would have been nice to see what happened... i think you would have been really surprised what ETs you put down with just a restalled converter.

Bangin through gears IS the best though and no matter what, you have a damn fine looking ride. I suddenly LIKE pink mixed with DSM . Nice car!

I know kelfords are the best 272 on the market, but still

I was on the "hate wagon" too as far as BC cams where concerned til i read kels threads and looked at his dyno run. It really got me thinking: Im just gonna keep my Crower 272s for my next build. Theyre a tad bit higher reving than BC 272s, a little more "aggressive", not kelford crazy though.

 

[Archer Fabrications]

I'll be testing the new BC276/276 all new design should be comparable with the kelfords.

 

[Pipnorcali]

Where in cali you moving norcal has a nice dsm scene, cars looking good

 

[92AWDHX40]

Nice jax.

 

[NB4G63T]

Car looks great!!!

You'll like the awd swap when launching at the track and putting the power down in auto-x

 

[Jaxness]

So I know the tune needed a touch up on 93 octane, explaining the slower numbers in the 1/4 mile. Here's a before/after of my power levels after a touch up tune this weekend.

391hp tp 440hp on 28psi

Right after the 93 tune, my head gasket decided it didn't want to play anymore. So we quickly took it apart to find that my headstuds were only torqued between 30 ft/lbs and 50 ft/lbs. Looks like I need to buy a new torque wrench, , but I replace it with an MLS.

And then right before we put in a tank of e85, some retard decided he didn't want to pay attention while he was driving.

His car

Buuuut that didn't stop me. Her first e85 tank:

And back on the dyno she went:

479hp at 28psi. The car didn't like boost or timing, and I'm not 100% sure why, yet.

 

[Archer Fabrications]

Sad day today

 

[LaserRS92]

Get his insurance information!! No but seriously this car looks great and I'm liking the progress.

 

[Jdabishop]

VW guys are good at bumper cars since they cant keep up. Car looks amazing cant wait to see future posts and pictures.

 

[NWHTanK]

Ugh that sucks.

 

[spyderdrifter]

Chris sent me a pic of this today. Very sad indeed.

 

[Pipnorcali]

Bummers

 

[Jaxness]

So my car has been unable to race since being rear ended twice, but I finally got the opportunity to get back to an auto-x track.

I was prepared with MUCH better tires than I had at the Shootout, 255/40/17s Bridgestone Potenza RE11a's. We had a field of 100 drivers, so we each got 4 passes. I ran a 72, 69, 68 and a 67. Each pass faster than the last, and in the top % of my novice street class.

Most importantly, it was a BLAST. This is by far my favorite thing to do with my car. I need to invest in a GoPro next.

 

[NWHTanK]

Ah some day I will be doing that with my car.

 

[Pipnorcali]

Oo re11's..glad to see it out on the track...
Ya gotta get your man to get ya a gopro for Vday..hahaha

 

[Maxthepersonz]

This car is sick. Congrats.