1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS-T Spyder AWD Conversion

[TedBrosby]

This is the Build Thread for 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS-T Spyder AWD Conversion. Reply below.

 

[IHeartMyHonda]

Good luck man! I have the same car. 97 auto GST that is AWD manual swapped with a 16g.

 

[Culon1997GS]

Good luck man! I have the same car. 97 auto GST that is AWD manual swapped with a 16g.

how much was it?

 

[IHeartMyHonda]

how much was it?

I'm assuming you're asking about the cost of the swap. I was lucky enough to find a complete, non-running AWD talon the day it showed up at a junkyard and was able to purchase the whole car for $1700. After scavenging the AWD swap and parting out the rest of the car, I netted about $2k in profit. That profit more than covered the extras I needed for the conversion, eg VMC swap bushings, fluids, aftermarket exhaust, etc.

 

[TedBrosby]

I'm assuming you're asking about the cost of the swap. I was lucky enough to find a complete, non-running AWD talon the day it showed up at a junkyard and was able to purchase the whole car for $1700. After scavenging the AWD swap and parting out the rest of the car, I netted about $2k in profit. That profit more than covered the extras I needed for the conversion, eg VMC swap bushings, fluids, aftermarket exhaust, etc.

Guessing this happened like 10 years ago? All they have at my junk yard is mangled Kia’s.

 

[IHeartMyHonda]

Guessing this happened like 10 years ago? All they have at my junk yard is mangled Kia’s.

It happened 2 years ago. Someone had the car sitting in their yard for years and couldn't get it running. Turned out to be a bad ECU, but they didn't know that and just sent the whole car to a junkyard. I lucked out and saw it there the day it showed up and bought it right out of their intake lot.

 

[Justin DuBois]

Curious what the AWD swap street cars do when it comes to emissions tests. What do they say when you tell them they can't use the Dyno?

 

[TedBrosby]

Curious what the AWD swap street cars do when it comes to emissions tests. What do they say when you tell them they can't use the Dyno?

I don’t imagine they’ll flag the drivetrain. Just tell them it’s AWD when you pay for the test? Or you can disconnect the differential before getting it tested. Or even just remove the rear axles.

 

[Justin DuBois]

I don’t imagine they’ll flag the drivetrain. Just tell them it’s AWD when you pay for the test? Or you can disconnect the differential before getting it tested. Or even just remove the rear axles.

In CA - They look up the car by vin, and that determines the test. 2WD cars typically have to use the dyno. When the VIN configuration does not match the chassis, I wonder what they would do.

 

[TedBrosby]

In CA - They look up the car by vin, and that determines the test. 2WD cars typically have to use the dyno. When the VIN configuration does not match the chassis, I wonder what they would do.

I mean they didn’t look underneath my car when they tested it so I can probably just pull the rear axles. It’s once every two years.

 

[Justin DuBois]

I mean they didn’t look underneath my car when they tested it so I can probably just pull the rear axles. It’s once every two years.

Pull the rear axles? Won't the center diff free spin?

 

[jdxnc]

Shameless plug, you've probably seen my AWD swap videos on YouTube I assume?

 

[IHeartMyHonda]

Curious what the AWD swap street cars do when it comes to emissions tests. What do they say when you tell them they can't use the Dyno?

Solid question. My state doesn't have inspections, so it doesn't apply to me

 

[TedBrosby]

Pull the rear axles? Won't the center diff free spin?

My new plan is I’m going to try to get the AWD swap BAR stamped. I will keep stock turbo, manifold, injectors, ECU and emissions equipment and get it referee inspected with stock GSX LSD rear end and transmission/transfer case. I MIGHT go 3k LSD rear since people are asking too much for the LSD Eclipse rear end and no one has axles.

 

[TedBrosby]

Shameless plug, you've probably seen my AWD swap videos on YouTube I assume?

I have yes, yours and Miguel DSM.

 

[Doubleot]

Check out my thread and if you have any questions feel free to ask good luck man

 

[TedBrosby]

Check out my thread and if you have any questions feel free to ask good luck man

That’s a gorgeous build. I’ll be asking both of you questions and might invite you to San Diego to help with my build!
So did you get photos about welding that x-frame back in? I definitely want the car to maintain rigidity.

 

[IHeartMyHonda]

That’s a gorgeous build. I’ll be asking both of you questions and might invite you to San Diego to help with my build!
So did you get photos about welding that x-frame back in? I definitely want the car to maintain rigidity.

If you use the VMC swap bushings, you don't have to mess with the X in the back at all. That's what I did.

 

[TedBrosby]

If you use the VMC swap bushings, you don't have to mess with the X in the back at all. That's what I did.

Where can I buy these?

 

[IHeartMyHonda]

Where can I buy these?

2G DSM AWD-swap bushing kit - Volk Metal Craft

This kit is designed to assist in the 2G DSM all-wheel-drive swap. These solid aluminum bushings install into your AWD rear subframe and the design allows you to NOT need the longer AWD subframe bolts. So, no more hacking into the frame rails on the AWD donor car to retrieve the bolts and no...

volkmetalcraft.com

Looks like they're currently out of stock.
@99gst_racer any idea when they'll be back?

 

[TedBrosby]

Parts update!

So thanks to the salvage work of people like @jersygsx and @dacowgod I was able to source a considerable amount of parts as I prepare for my restoration/AWD swap.

Keep in mind, the goal is CARB legal AWD swap with a small turbo upgrade, E85 conversion, a "stealth" tuned black-box ECU.

What I've purchased/received:
AWD fuel hanger and fuel sending unit
1000cc injectors
Some interior parts
A shift boot
Manual clutch and brake pedals
A 5-speed GS-T transmission (temporary)
5-speed GS-T OEM clutch and flywheel (temporary)
GSX front and rear brakes
Shift cables
Motor and transmission mounts
BFH manual rear differential

My next priority is a manual 97-99 GSX manual transmission, transfer case, driveshaft, front and rear axles, subframe and gas tank. I also sent Volk Metal an email about the AWD conversion kit.

After the AWD conversion parts are complete, I’ll buy a replacement convertible top. I’m a bit on the fence on color. My wife says if I keep the interior tan, I should get the top tan. Something about a completely original look is appealing. But converting the interior to black, with a black top would kind of pave the way for a more sleek look.

As far as what color to go with, my brother in law says that since I got the car because of my love for Brian’s Eclipse, I should do something loud and early 2000’s tuner style. But I could always wait until I get a GSX for that.

Barcelona red pearl with bronze wheels is a sleek look to me. I have to be careful about wheel choice. The plan is to do a CTSV and Evo brake upgrade so the wheels will need to support that. I don’t want to spend $5,000 on them so maybe some Evo 8 wheels powder coated bronze.

Also, discovered my heater isn’t working. So likely there’s an issue with my heater core.

 

[IHeartMyHonda]

Nice progress!

I put a black top on mine even though I had a tan interior. It doesn't clash at all and made the decision easy when I decided to swap to black/grey interior.

As for the brakes. If you're looking for a budget upgrade, Cobalt SS brembo calipers bolt to stock spindles with very little modification and can be used with outlander rotors. They're pretty low profile, so you could even run a 16" wheel if you wanted.

 

[TedBrosby]

Nice progress!

I put a black top on mine even though I had a tan interior. It doesn't clash at all and made the decision easy when I decided to swap to black/grey interior.

As for the brakes. If you're looking for a budget upgrade, Cobalt SS brembo calipers bolt to stock spindles with very little modification and can be used with outlander rotors. They're pretty low profile, so you could even run a 16" wheel if you wanted.

How do you like the KSport coilovers? I'd like something more sporty than stock that can be good for occasional track day but won't be so stiff that it feels like a race car as a daily. I don't plan on daily driving the car but I do take my wife for a cruise occasionally.

 

[Doubleot]

That’s a gorgeous build. I’ll be asking both of you questions and might invite you to San Diego to help with my build!
So did you get photos about welding that x-frame back in? I definitely want the car to maintain rigidity.

I don't remember if I took any pictures of the xbrace piece being welded back in, I only had to cut out one corner piece to gain access to the rear driver side subframe bolt. The rest was completely left in tact and the corner was tig welded back in using a piece of pipe to connect the section I removed.

 

[IHeartMyHonda]

How do you like the KSport coilovers? I'd like something more sporty than stock that can be good for occasional track day but won't be so stiff that it feels like a race car as a daily. I don't plan on daily driving the car but I do take my wife for a cruise occasionally.

Their definitely a budget option. They're definitely better than the lowering springs and blown struts that I had before. The more money you spend, the more adjustability you're going to have to get a smoother ride. Something like BC or Fortune is going to have a broad lineup of different products for different purposes. In my situation, KSport was 25% the cost of those other brands so it was an easy choice for me