zachakagoat
20+ Year Contributor
- 1,154
- 6
- Feb 7, 2003
-
Prairie Grove,
Arkansas
I figured since I am an avid photo taker during my builds that it would be prudent for me to try and document everything for everyone else that may be interested to read. This build will focus on my travels from a utterly COMPLETELY VIRGIN 1996 Eagle Talon TSi AWD that I just purchased as a toy. I have owned 3 prior DSMs as well as ventured through various other imports such as a Datsun 280z restoration. This project will take a slightly different route as I am still deciding if I want to go full blown street monster or a fun, stock LOOKING autocross machine -- this will evolve over the next few months.
Just to give you guys an idea of what my prior cars were:
1996 Eclipse GS Auto - got backed into twice, still drove and made enough insurance money off of it to buy my following GST .
1992 Eclipse GS Manual - bought as a backup and car to practice driving a 5 speed. Still in operating condition and my Father's current DD for the past 5 years.
1997 Eclipse GST Manual - was my drag car for 3 years while serving dual purpose as a DD....bad decision. Constant breakdowns and timing belt snaps led to a very disappointing time. Rebuilt and sold to a highschool friend which still owns it (although he broke the tranny and it sits around for now). The GST was the car that I used to do a write-up for the first lambo doors install tutorial on here (I know, I know, silly teenage years ).
2003 Firebird Auto v6 - Wife's old car that replaced the GST for awhile. Sold to Car*Mart for way toooooo little.
2005 Ford Escape - Wife's daily driver, over 100k miles since we bought it and NOTHING has broken (knock on wood).
2003 Chevy Impala - current daily driver I inherented from the wife's grandmother (pristine condition with very little miles).
So to get things started here is a little background on this purchase. I picked up the talon for $2400 with a few issues but definitely without a PO's project mess. When I say virgin on this car I mean it, there is ofcourse a K&N airfilter (in-box) and an upgraded FP Big T28 (cheaper than stock replacement at the time) and a recent timing belt replacement (dealership installed) but other than that it is STOCK. It even has an uncut intake BOV tube, restricter in the BCS, and not a single aftermarket gauge in sight. This was EXACTLY what I was looking for to start off a new project, especially since this is purely a project and can sit stripped down in the garage for long periods of time without me stressing over transportation.
Interestingly, it came with a TON of paperwork, all the way back to the original sales worksheet created at the dealership. I'm the 5th owner in total but the car has only been driven 20,000 miles the past 5 years and been garaged for the past 7 years.
The car has a few issues, primarily to do with the clutch. They couldn't get it started (due to the clutch safety switch missing the rubber bump stop to press the switch) and I was able to talk the owners down another 400$ from their previous offer (this was before I did any diagnosis and was anticipating a clutch job). Simple disconnect of the safety switch and she started right up and purrsssssss.
Now, I had hoped that this would maybe solve some provlems as I had driven it back in the Spring and found no serious clutch issues. However, now the clutch didn't want to fully disengage even with the clutch pedal adjusted. After tracking down any possible leaks (and finding none clutch line related) I decided to go ahead a switch the master cylinder, slave cylinder, and put in a SS clutch line before I decide if I want to drop the tranny to check for issues. Considering that this build would require a new clutch line and cylinders eventually the fix early on in attempts to get the car mobile was the best option.
Now that you have an idea of the raw status of the car I'll get to the potential plans as of now. I am thinking that considering the stock look of the car a sleeper build would be interesting. I have done the looks build with the GST and the speed build with the 280z so something streetable and secretly devious would be interesting. When I speak of sleeper I want to go all out on the engine, obviously a true DSMer would notice some changes but something that would fool others and make track techs take a second look would be nice. Ofcourse these goals may evolve as all do but for now this is how it will initially roll out.
Phase 1: Maintenance and Cheap Power
Step 1.1: Free Mods and Maintenance
Step 1.2: Clutch Line and Cylinder Install
Step 1.3: Boost and EGT Gauge
Phase 2: Bolt-ons and Tuning
Step 2.1: Front Mounter Intercooler
Step 2.2: Downpipe and Cutout
Step 2.3: Clutch, Pressure Plate, and Flywheel
Step 2.4: ECMLink v3 install
Phase 3: Suspension and Handling
Phase 4: .....
Step 1.1: Day 1 Mods and Examination
Well the first things that I wanted to knock out of the way this weekend while I wait for my clutch components to come in was the free mods.
First up was the stock air which began as this:
And after some hacking and speedholes:
That should open up some of the initial airflow until I can get the FMIC installed and route some ducting to the current location.
Next thing to tackle was the intake pipe dump tube which was stock and uncut:
And got some nice hacking to reduce a completely idiotic excuse for engineering....
As of now I am going to wait on the BCS restrictor until I can get the Boost gauge installed as the turbo is upgraded to a T28 and want to see what it performs at in its current state.
Now to move a little further down the intake system it was time for the infamous intercooler resonator. This thing again, not necessarily a restriction but a waste of airspace and engine bay space.
So, not a bad way to spend an afternoon tinkering on the car while I look over to see EXACTLY what the POs may have messed with. So far it is obvious that they were NEVER under the hood of the car unless it was at the dealership.
Just to give you guys an idea of what my prior cars were:
1996 Eclipse GS Auto - got backed into twice, still drove and made enough insurance money off of it to buy my following GST .
1992 Eclipse GS Manual - bought as a backup and car to practice driving a 5 speed. Still in operating condition and my Father's current DD for the past 5 years.
1997 Eclipse GST Manual - was my drag car for 3 years while serving dual purpose as a DD....bad decision. Constant breakdowns and timing belt snaps led to a very disappointing time. Rebuilt and sold to a highschool friend which still owns it (although he broke the tranny and it sits around for now). The GST was the car that I used to do a write-up for the first lambo doors install tutorial on here (I know, I know, silly teenage years ).
2003 Firebird Auto v6 - Wife's old car that replaced the GST for awhile. Sold to Car*Mart for way toooooo little.
2005 Ford Escape - Wife's daily driver, over 100k miles since we bought it and NOTHING has broken (knock on wood).
2003 Chevy Impala - current daily driver I inherented from the wife's grandmother (pristine condition with very little miles).
So to get things started here is a little background on this purchase. I picked up the talon for $2400 with a few issues but definitely without a PO's project mess. When I say virgin on this car I mean it, there is ofcourse a K&N airfilter (in-box) and an upgraded FP Big T28 (cheaper than stock replacement at the time) and a recent timing belt replacement (dealership installed) but other than that it is STOCK. It even has an uncut intake BOV tube, restricter in the BCS, and not a single aftermarket gauge in sight. This was EXACTLY what I was looking for to start off a new project, especially since this is purely a project and can sit stripped down in the garage for long periods of time without me stressing over transportation.
Interestingly, it came with a TON of paperwork, all the way back to the original sales worksheet created at the dealership. I'm the 5th owner in total but the car has only been driven 20,000 miles the past 5 years and been garaged for the past 7 years.
The car has a few issues, primarily to do with the clutch. They couldn't get it started (due to the clutch safety switch missing the rubber bump stop to press the switch) and I was able to talk the owners down another 400$ from their previous offer (this was before I did any diagnosis and was anticipating a clutch job). Simple disconnect of the safety switch and she started right up and purrsssssss.
Now, I had hoped that this would maybe solve some provlems as I had driven it back in the Spring and found no serious clutch issues. However, now the clutch didn't want to fully disengage even with the clutch pedal adjusted. After tracking down any possible leaks (and finding none clutch line related) I decided to go ahead a switch the master cylinder, slave cylinder, and put in a SS clutch line before I decide if I want to drop the tranny to check for issues. Considering that this build would require a new clutch line and cylinders eventually the fix early on in attempts to get the car mobile was the best option.
Now that you have an idea of the raw status of the car I'll get to the potential plans as of now. I am thinking that considering the stock look of the car a sleeper build would be interesting. I have done the looks build with the GST and the speed build with the 280z so something streetable and secretly devious would be interesting. When I speak of sleeper I want to go all out on the engine, obviously a true DSMer would notice some changes but something that would fool others and make track techs take a second look would be nice. Ofcourse these goals may evolve as all do but for now this is how it will initially roll out.
Phase 1: Maintenance and Cheap Power
Step 1.1: Free Mods and Maintenance
Step 1.2: Clutch Line and Cylinder Install
Step 1.3: Boost and EGT Gauge
Phase 2: Bolt-ons and Tuning
Step 2.1: Front Mounter Intercooler
Step 2.2: Downpipe and Cutout
Step 2.3: Clutch, Pressure Plate, and Flywheel
Step 2.4: ECMLink v3 install
Phase 3: Suspension and Handling
Phase 4: .....
Step 1.1: Day 1 Mods and Examination
Well the first things that I wanted to knock out of the way this weekend while I wait for my clutch components to come in was the free mods.
First up was the stock air which began as this:
And after some hacking and speedholes:
That should open up some of the initial airflow until I can get the FMIC installed and route some ducting to the current location.
Next thing to tackle was the intake pipe dump tube which was stock and uncut:
And got some nice hacking to reduce a completely idiotic excuse for engineering....
As of now I am going to wait on the BCS restrictor until I can get the Boost gauge installed as the turbo is upgraded to a T28 and want to see what it performs at in its current state.
Now to move a little further down the intake system it was time for the infamous intercooler resonator. This thing again, not necessarily a restriction but a waste of airspace and engine bay space.
So, not a bad way to spend an afternoon tinkering on the car while I look over to see EXACTLY what the POs may have messed with. So far it is obvious that they were NEVER under the hood of the car unless it was at the dealership.
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