1998 Eclipse Spyder GS

[Codystair]

This is the Build Thread for 1998 Eclipse Spyder GS. Reply below.

 

[Codystair]

Build thread for my new project car!

Just got a sweet deal on a 98 Eclipse Spyder (got down to $1800). The car was in a minor fender bender & has some front end damage. The hood & front bumper are off of it, as are all 4 tires and breaks (she’ll be on jack-stands for a while). I could definitely use advice on how to fix the radiator support. It’s completely stock except for a magnaflow exhaust that the previous owner installed.

I can’t find the source of it yet, but it has a coolant leak on the passenger side near the wheel, but only when it’s propped up on stands overnight. It runs and drives perfectly but I don’t want to drive it until I do all of the maintenance first. She’s an old lady.

Here’s a list of what I’m working on as we speak:

•Sand & paint entire body
•Paint calipers
•Full Breaks
•Break flush
•Fix rubbing/lippage @ drivers door & fender
•New Hood
•Front bumper (maybe a body kit?)
•Eagle Eye Headlights
•Tires
•Oil change

My eventual To-Do list:

•Transmission fluid flush
•Timing belt & everything involved in that system (pulleys/arms)
•Water pump and gasket/o-ring
•Replace all belts, pulleys and thingamabobs
•Cold air intake (eventually)
•Refurbish interior & interior lighting (it’s in decent shape just needs some love)
•Repaint motor cover

Any advice would be sick! I have a lot to learn and I bought the car specifically to learn. Thanks!

 

[DogWhistle]

Congratulations on your Spyder. Owning and working on this car will teach you a lot, without any one project being extremely difficult.

Glad you are going through the brakes now.

As hard as it is to look at damaged fenders and peeling paint, if it means you can afford the timing belt, tensioner, water pump and trans flush sooner, hold on the body work for a few weeks and get the maintenance done.

Having said that, we did our Spyder in the same order you mentioned to meet a timeline, but we also planned on pulling the engine and trans for a full rebuild right away. https://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/sun-burned-’99-spyder-gs-revived.483010/

There are plenty of articles and ideas and helpful members on this forum to help you be successful in your restoration and modification.

 

[Codystair]

Congratulations on your Spyder. Owning and working on this car will teach you a lot, without any one project being extremely difficult.

Glad you are going through the brakes now.

As hard as it is to look at damaged fenders and peeling paint, if it means you can afford the timing belt, tensioner, water pump and trans flush sooner, hold on the body work for a few weeks and get the maintenance done.

Having said that, we did our Spyder in the same order you mentioned to meet a timeline, but we also planned on pulling the engine and trans for a full rebuild right away. https://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/sun-burned-’99-spyder-gs-revived.483010/

There are plenty of articles and ideas and helpful members on this forum to help you be successful in your restoration and modification.

Okay will do! I have the car sitting on jack stands until I can afford to buy all of the maintenance parts & radiator support - once I get it to where I want it I’ll move onto the body. Finding a hood is going to be the hardest part

 

[Codystair]

Got the hood bent back into shape & a new front bumper. Wet sanded the headlights and they look brand f***ing new. Going to sand the entire body down and prep for paint now that im mostly done with pulling dents & body filler. Changed the oil today too

After that I need to find the source of a very slight tranny fluid leak and do the “new owner maintenance” nothing new under the hood just yet.

For some reason with every project car I buy, if I don’t start with the body work, I’ll never get it done

 

[Codystair]

since my last update, I did a full sand, body filler, primer, sand, paint job. Jesus Christ I hate sanding just painted her tonight, wet sand tomorrow to remove some orange peel & clear coat… wet sand & buff after that. Once that’s all done i plan on getting some new tires before moving onto the minimal “under the hood” work. I couldn’t be happier with how the paint is looking so far.