So, I should be buying my first DSM this weekend. I found a 96 GST on Craigslist for 3k. It has 134,xxx mls, all stock, straight body. The guy bought it and has not had time to do anything with it. It has sat for about 2months wiaiting to throw on a new clutch and resurfaced flywheel. I got the guy down to 2k since I helped him put it back together. We just have a few minor things left. It needs a new motor for the sunroof. Of course has some clearcoat fade. Brand new tires. I really wanted an AWD 5sp but, I have not been able to find one in my area. So, I should get this GST.

My goal is about 300whp and daily driver. I do plan on an AWD 1g in the future but, that will be more wild. I also have a 02 Mustang GT Vert project that will be my weekend cruiser with a goal of 450-500rwhp.

Kind of a poll I guess, when you all bought yours were you looking as stock as possible or something already modded. Also, list why you wanted stock or modded.

I wanted a clean slate personally. That way I know the work that went in and where the parts came from. Not an Ebay special.

I bought my 95 gst with straight body and stuff.The only mods the guy had was an injen short ram air intake, stage 3 ACT clutch(with receipt), apex'i bov, black speedy racing rims, and a magnaflow exhaust which is pretty easy to tell. So,i mean it wasn't bone stock but nothing crazy has been done to it.

I bought my 95 GST from a dealership for 2600 with 60k miles on it.

300hp should be easy to make, but youll want more. I wouldnt be surprised if you could max out a 14b and come close. You could definitely do it with a 16g.

As long as the car is solid, engine has good compression, no end play in the crank, no shaft play in the turbo... I'd say 2 grand for a 2g gst that needs a clutch isn't too bad. A clutch can be done is less than a day.

He got a new clutch and the flywheel resurfaced. We got the tranny bolted up, axles in, wheels on. It is just some of the minor lines that were removed to make it easier. I.E. just tedious stuff left. He was draining and refilling all fluids this week. This weekend we are just going to reconnect some lines. I do not have the ability to do a compression test. I did grab the flywheel and yank a little with no movement at all. It is said to be a 98 spec motor because of crankwalk at 30xxx miles. It was the OE clutch that was removed. Newer timing belt. If it needs a new turbo, no big deal. I just want it to run good. It will get go fast goodies. It will be a daily driver like I said. Just a fun one. Besides 28mpg in that at 93 octane is better than my Mustangs 22mpg at 93 octane. I think it was a great find.

Spend 30 dollars and get yourself a compression tester. But if the compression test is good, I think you found a nice little DD car.

DeceptivePerfor said:

He got a new clutch and the flywheel resurfaced. We got the tranny bolted up, axles in, wheels on. It is just some of the minor lines that were removed to make it easier. I.E. just tedious stuff left. He was draining and refilling all fluids this week. This weekend we are just going to reconnect some lines. I do not have the ability to do a compression test. I did grab the flywheel and yank a little with no movement at all. It is said to be a 98 spec motor because of crankwalk at 30xxx miles. It was the OE clutch that was removed. Newer timing belt. If it needs a new turbo, no big deal. I just want it to run good. It will get go fast goodies. It will be a daily driver like I said. Just a fun one. Besides 28mpg in that at 93 octane is better than my Mustangs 22mpg at 93 octane. I think it was a great find.

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it is not good to resurface a flywheel it will slip on these cars plus i dont think u can do them the clutch kinda fits inside the fw

I have never heard of not being able to resurface a flywheel. I have been around cars and never heard that. Now, if your too far outta spec or done too much damage yes. Just like rotors, but, We got everything on and lined up properly. Granted we have not fired her up yet. We ran out of daylight but, I honestly do not see a problem. It was a speedshop that did the resurfacing so, of there was a problem I would imagine that they would have said something. Even if there is a problem it is still only 2k for the car. I can get a new flywheel no problem.

DeceptivePerfor said:

I have never heard of not being able to resurface a flywheel. I have been around cars and never heard that. Now, if your too far outta spec or done too much damage yes. Just like rotors, but, We got everything on and lined up properly. Granted we have not fired her up yet. We ran out of daylight but, I honestly do not see a problem. It was a speedshop that did the resurfacing so, of there was a problem I would imagine that they would have said something. Even if there is a problem it is still only 2k for the car. I can get a new flywheel no problem.

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you are right but on dsm eclipse and talons u should not do that ...call ## mits dealer and ask thay will tell u the same .notis this is a dsm site everything we talk about is dsm

I do not trust what dealers ay all the time understand that they are a business. If you can goto Joe's Speedshop and resurface a flywheel for $75 and it works, Mitsu just lost $250+labor on your buying their flywheel and having them install it. RRE says that you can resurface a DSM flywheel but, there are some things to make sure of. But, you should do your research before anything is done by you or a garage to your vehicle. Subaru will sell you an exhaust from SPT, their inhouse shop. After you put it on a dealer, your warranty is void. Dealers are crooks, not all but, alot. Do more research, you would be astonished at how much dealers lie. That is why I love Ford. While all these manufacturers are denying warranties for bolt ons, I fried my ECU in my Mustang and they replaced it free even with it retuned by me thru a handheld.

DeceptivePerfor said:

I do not trust what dealers ay all the time understand that they are a business. If you can goto Joe's Speedshop and resurface a flywheel for $75 and it works, Mitsu just lost $250+labor on your buying their flywheel and having them install it. RRE says that you can resurface a DSM flywheel but, there are some things to make sure of. But, you should do your research before anything is done by you or a garage to your vehicle. Subaru will sell you an exhaust from SPT, their inhouse shop. After you put it on a dealer, your warranty is void. Dealers are crooks, not all but, alot. Do more research, you would be astonished at how much dealers lie. That is why I love Ford. While all these manufacturers are denying warranties for bolt ons, I fried my ECU in my Mustang and they replaced it free even with it retuned by me thru a handheld.

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i agree on some stuff. when i did my clutch all my dsm buddy told me not to.but i do want to say good luck on ## build

When I got my car it was bone stock. In my opinion it is the only way to go, but it is getting harder and harder to find them like that. I just like to have a clean slate to start with.

wkmitsu said:

When I got my car it was bone stock. In my opinion it is the only way to go, but it is getting harder and harder to find them like that. I just like to have a clean slate to start with.

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I AGREE WITH U WKMITSU

Same with me. I wanted mine stock and I basically got it. It only has some no name exhaust on it but that's not a major mod or anything. I think getting a stock car is the best way to go. That way when you're done with you're project, if you can ever be done, it'll give you a sense of pride and satisfaction knowing that you did all of the work and everything that was done was the way you envisioned it. Just my opinion anyways

Ignore the flywheel resurfacing BS above.

Stock can be resurfaced to a .610 step, and aftermarkets may have inserts (or similar) to get to the proper step.

Well, just wanted to post an update. She is sitting out front. Got her registered and tagged today. Slowly start going thru the issues it does have. Nothing major, maily problems with my keyless entry, door locks, moonroof, and idle likes to start vary. It does not vary wildly. It will be 800-900 when first started after you drive around it will seem to want to stay between 1200-1500 then back to 800-900 sometime later. Maybe stuck TB.

Grats on the purchase. You'll get used to the little "problems", its nothing more than the car showing affection towards you.

LandoAWD said:

Ignore the flywheel resurfacing BS above.

Stock can be resurfaced to a .610 step, and aftermarkets may have inserts (or similar) to get to the proper step.

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oh no you say BS y dont you SPELL IT!!!!!!!!

97dsmtsi said:

oh no you say BS y dont you SPELL IT!!!!!!!!

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Too bad he's right and you are completely wrong. What? DSMs are super-special cars that have ultra-wicked flywheels that can't be stepped? Where's your mass amounts of DSM know-how come from? Your ass? I think so.

RRE's Clutch And Flywheel Tech Info

Argue with RRE and tell us the results. RRE has been modding & racing DSMs since you were still sucking on your mommies tits. Stop with your mindless misinformation on our site. People stepping their flywheels is very common.

The only flywheels you can't really resurface are dual-mass flywheels. C4 Corvettes and BMWs have them. No reason you can't resurface and step a DSM flywheel.

Red97Eclipseboy said:

Too bad he's right and you are completely wrong. What? DSMs are super-special cars that have ultra-wicked flywheels that can't be stepped? Where's your mass amounts of DSM know-how come from? Your ass? I think so.

RRE's Clutch And Flywheel Tech Info

Argue with RRE and tell us the results. RRE has been modding & racing DSMs since you were still sucking on your mommies tits. Stop with your mindless misinformation on our site. People stepping their flywheels is very common.

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wow i wasnt even talking about that its between me and him. he ban me from the site for useing words like that ..............dum ass

97dsmtsi said:

wow i wasnt even talking about that its between me and him. he ban me from the site for useing words like that ..............dum ass

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I'm sure he didn't ban you for saying "BS". What's not between you and him is you spreading some stupid-shit information around.

Apparently the attitude adjustment didn't work . There's a difference in "BS" and "y". Just as there is also a difference in typing coherently; vs. creating one sentence out of a paragraph, instead of taking the time to use punctuation that translates across all the tongues using the latin based Alphabet.

The above is also a good illustration for the subject to where this thread has wandered: there's a clear difference in "BS" internet advice vs. what works. After all even MY dealership DOES say that the FW (yea not typed out) must be stepped. Yes, you run a risk of poor engagement or worse. Yes, a step is cheap. Yes, the stock dsm FW for all generations and engines can be done with ease.

Well here is an update. I have driven this car about 700 miles so far. I just had a check engine light come on. I know that this is not because of the flywheel. Possibly because I was trying to clean up the throttle body as I have been having some idle surge. I sprayed down the inside and did not get to finish drying it out completely because it started to rain and had to hurry up and bolt things back up.

As far as the tranny, some issues I am working through. On engagement, the car vibrates if I ease off at low RPMs. If I come off at say 2250rpms instead of 1500, the car is fine. I am also getting a clunk from the drivetrain, possibly the clip for the axle where it goes into the gearbox broke or fell off. Any ideas would be accepted. This is my first DSM, use to Fords. I have had good luck with cars so, this is my first real "Project" fixer-upper. If I have to eventually get a new flywheel, I have to. Right now, it is running good so, I have more important things to worry about in regargds to maintenance as apposed to the flywheel being quirky.

Used to Fords? As in not making it out of the driveway? Muahahaha. And you need to break down and drive that thing up here on the weekend so we can run over it with a wide-toothed comb for an hour or two. Sheesh.