This is the Build Thread for 1997 Eclipse GSX. Reply below.

Yes, I bought a 3rd DSM before I could get a 420a headgasket reinstalled. But wait! There's a perfectly logical reason, I swear.

Funnily enough, this cars purchase is an IDENTICAL story as my 2nd car I posted here in terms of chain of events:

• I get approached in parking lot
• Price is too good to be true
• Turns out its a "deal"
• Wait weeks to go pick it up

Anyways, a very nice older Hispanic man approached me in the parking lot of a junkyard, and in the English that he knew told me that he had a 1997 Eclipse Turbo 4x4 that he wanted to get rid of. We exchanged contact information, and I sent him a text shortly after our encounter in English. He texted back saying he wanted to only talk in Spanish over text, so MAJOR props to Google Translate for helping me get this car. Actually wild that we had conversations for weeks and that the translator said everything correct enough to where he understood, I guess tech in that sector has come a very long way since I last used it to incorrectly learn naughty words in Russian in the early 2010s.
After some talking, he sent me the pics y'all see. He owned the car for 15 years and it only has just over 100,000 on the odometer which I fully believe is accurate. A basically stock car, bad paint, no visible rust, and with that on the odometer? I was honestly hooked, despite not even hearing the price yet.
He wanted $3,500. I... didn't pay that! But, it was a price that got my attention as not being astronomical considering I was under the impression that it would run and drive.
Well, the car doesn't start or run, but its really close! Its mostly narrowed down to running rich as f***, and probably having improper timing. I got a fully optioned out 1997 Eclipse GSX AWD Turbo with an automatic transmission for well under $3,500, and I'm absolutely over the moon.

I plan on making this my STOCK but fun daily car, and I mean its perfect for it. AC, cruise control, ABS, all things my other turbo Talon doesn't have. Unfortunately, it's a horrible time for me to own three cars, especially three DSMs. That being said, I'll be getting rid of my 420a car in the very near future. Between all the wrenching I did on it, my experiences of grabbing parts off of junked 420a cars, and learning about the N/A platform, I'm pretty satisfied with my short time on that car. I wish I got to see it to the end, but sadly it's time I move on from that project and give my parents some of their driveway back. That car will be listed for sale in the not too distant future.

Just wild to me how you can move to a country and refuse to speak the language, expecting others to learn your language to accommodate you instead. Wonder if that would work in China...or Japan...


Anyway, this is a SCORE. I adore the 2GB body and Auto AWD is my favorite.

If you get sick of this car...I want it.

It was definitely rough trying to communicate over text, but in person it was pretty easy to communicate to be honest. He was legal at the very least

I'm super stoked on this car. I hope that I'll never be in a spot that requires me to sell the thing, but I know that both this car and my 420a car would go to good homes since I've been on the forums. Can't wait to start working on it.

I've got a feeling this thing was optioned with every high level option possible.
Its got the garage control driver side visor, and an LSD alongside stuff like the sunroof, cruise, auto trans, electric driver seat adjustments, and A/C. I wonder if there's any other trim options this thing is missing.

Yall, have I got a story and video for you all today. If you're a fan of newbie mistakes, you're gonna love this post.

So, the car runs! A new battery basically solved all of the issues it had while dying at idle and fixed some of the starting issues. Lots more to discuss there, we're gonna shelve that for another time.

The main problem that we were trying to diagnose is that it wouldn't move at all. While the car was running, if you put it into reverse or drive, it would cut the engine out and refuse to move more than a tug. My dad and I were scratching our heads wondering what it could be. The transmission would move into the gears fine, and the engine could idle, it just wouldn't move once you let the brake off while it was in a gear. Legit had no idea what the fix was.
Well, another quirk about the car in its current state is that the brakes are super rusted over and are not in great shape overall. So, the car would roll when put into park. While we were rolling it around in our driveway, down from car trailers, etc, you just had to feather the parking brake to get it to stop or else the car would keep rolling in park, neutral, etc.

So... the parking brake was on while we were trying to put it in gear and move it...
I think my dad and I are too manual transmission oriented with project cars to remember that. I'm crying laughing writing this now and thinking of the look on our faces once we realized. You best believe that once the parking brake was down, it moved right out of its spot! Pretty proud of this little car.

Before you watch the video, know that it still doesn't run great. Its got a misfire for sure. I took out the Amazon brand MAF and put an OEM one in that was in the passenger floorboard and it helped but didn't solve it. Car also certainly has boost leaks, and doesn't have spectacular oil pressure. Also, the oil light comes on whenever you turn the steering wheel which is... super weird.
The goal today, though, was to get it running. All that diagnosis comes at a later date. Input would still be appreciated though.

Also took out the paint matched center piece and replaced it with a red one. What a change it made! It feels way more 3000GT inspired now than before.