90 dsm the best year?

[1cleangsx]

Just wanted everyone’s opinion. I’m a biased proud owner of a 90 gsx. I know every year had it’s pros/cons. What’s your favorite? Things about the 90’ model I like are the straight cut oil pump gears, factory oil cooler and apparently the strongest/thickest 5 speed gear set from the factory, my trans is almost 30 years old! I haven’t dyno’d my car yet or achieved an impressive time slip yet on the fp red but it’s still not grinding any gears with 50+ lb/per min airflow on the fp red! I know some people hate on the 90 models but I think mitsubishi went the extra mile on the dsm’s debut model year, what do you guys think?

 

[Marchev]

90-91.5 also had a stronger steel housing transfer case, but came with the weaker 3 bolt rear diff

 

[JusMX141]

Pros: The external air-cooled oil cooler.
Cons: Most other things are incompatible with all other 1G's. The throttle body, coil, power transistor, throttle body, transmission, the lighter but weaker all-aluminum transfer case, intercooler piping and blow off valve location, etc.

It doesn't necessarily mean the 90 is a "bad" car, it's just harder to find parts for on a platform that will be turning 30 next year. So if you break something and you're stranded along the road somewhere, the chances of finding the right part are much slimmer.

 

[1cleangsx]

I happened to score an awesome rebuilt90 throttle body from another member on here witch fixed an idle surge issue, I guess that’s the biggest drawback of the 90 model is the lack of interchangeability with the 91-92’s. I just think the 90’s are kind of unique but most intriguing being the trans gearset.

 

[Kryndon]

I'm curious, is there a way to determine whether a particular '90 model DSM will definitely have the stronger gearset in its transmission? Does it necessarily have to be on a turbo model? And additionally, are those gearsets interchangeable with other 1G/2G FWD/AWD trans?

 

[Vegas Smith]

It's not that the 90 cars are bad cars, it's that the people who own the 90 car are losers/deadbeats. Kidding, also keep in mind there is a difference in the ecu.

 

[ErikTande]

It's not that the 90 cars are bad cars, it's that the people who own the 90 car are losers/deadbeats.

Hey, I resemble that remark!

 

[pauleyman]

90-91.5 also had a stronger steel housing transfer case, but came with the weaker 3 bolt rear diff

The early transfer cases were aluminum not steel. Only the front housing. AFter 90 The front case on tcase was steel. 90-92 had 3 bolt rear ends

 

[pauleyman]

Just wanted everyone’s opinion. I’m a biased proud owner of a 90 gsx. I know every year had it’s pros/cons. What’s your favorite? Things about the 90’ model I like are the straight cut oil pump gears, factory oil cooler and apparently the strongest/thickest 5 speed gear set from the factory, my trans is almost 30 years old! I haven’t dyno’d my car yet or achieved an impressive time slip yet on the fp red but it’s still not grinding any gears with 50+ lb/per min airflow on the fp red! I know some people hate on the 90 models but I think mitsubishi went the extra mile on the dsm’s debut model year, what do you guys think?

I had a 90 as my first dsm and I always hated that so many things were 90 only. Personally I preferred something a little newer and adding things that were improved. For instance a 91 or 92 car but add 93 up brakes and rear end. Transmission I don't care about as every car I've owned I've had to rebuild and when I do I just select the parts I want. 90 trans is easily not the best unit. 91 also for that matter. Differences are numerous inside the case. Intermediate shaft, center diff, 3rd gear pitch, 1/2 gears and hub/synchros. I scrapped half the inside of my 90 trans and upgraded it but kept the 90 shift levers and 22 spline output.

 

[1cleangsx]

I’ve ditched a couple of 1990 factory things that bugged me such as the goofy cruise control box, upgraded to a new non cruise cable and a pair of 1gb dual piston calipers, those single piston brakes were horrible . Those were an easy swap tho. I guess there really are a lot of reasons not to get a 90 model . I just started this thread because despite all of its year specific quirks I still love my car

 

[ThunderChild]

Personally I like the 1gb style, and 92 versions with 6 bolt/4 bolt combos would he up there on my list (like mine ). Only thing I would have asked for now is an auto, but I'll stick with a 5 speed till it blows!

 

[007jimmy]

90 was a bastard child but it was the inaugural year and it’s where all the madness began! Almost 30 years now

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Lets see, I have 5 I think.
1990 Red Talon (profile car)
1990 Red Laser (sister to Talon)
1990 Black GSX donor
1990 Maroon Talon donor, running
1990 Blue GSX
I have converted a few things with adaptor wiring to work with 91+ stuff.
I grabbed up 3 of those for $300 or less each and see the value in PARTS since they are bastard children. I also have the 92 6/4 Auto car so I can see first hand the differences. I love my 90's!

 

[1cleangsx]

I remember back in 06 my buddy had a 92 6bolt/4bolt talon. It had a big 16g and was the fastest car I had ever been in at the time, I think it ran like low 14’s at bandimere but it still beat up on some cars in town that car is what got me into turbo cars and eventually the adoption of my bastard child in 2013 , been a dsm junkie ever since

 

[pauleyman]

I remember back in 06 my buddy had a 92 6bolt/4bolt talon. It had a big 16g and was the fastest car I had ever been in at the time, I think it ran like low 14’s at bandimere but it still beat up on some cars in town that car is what got me into turbo cars and eventually the adoption of my bastard child in 2013 , been a dsm junkie ever since

It's easy to get hooked. My first one was a 90 in 1992. I killed a ton of cars at the stoplights bone stock in 1992. My first shootout in 96. Hooked ever since.

 

[steve]

I hated the 1Gb headlights. So I picked one of the 91's when I bought my GSX off the lot in Aug 91. IIRC there were about half a dozen to pick from when the 92's started rolling onto the dealership.

 

[motomattx]

Lets not forget the horsecock shifter and the tach that works with the 90'.

 

[steve]

Lets not forget the horsecock shifter and the tach that works with the 90'.

IIRC, The shifter changed with the intro of the 2G's. Not sure what about the tach your calling out?

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

I bet its the stupid tach adaptor.....but if you wire it right all still works.

 

[motomattx]

Its the stupid tach adaptor yep. And the shifter changed after 90' or 91' dont remember, but I know people still want my 90' stock shifter because its very different.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/1990-gauge-cluster-in-a-92.337971/

http://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/1g-oem-shift-knob.403370/

 

[mitsubishikid]

The "90 is actually a good year to start with because you get the 6 bolt and the air oil cooler and you can change most all the electrical nonsense to 91-94 sensors and harness, then get the 92.5-94 4 bolt rear, 2g exhaust manifold or go with an fp unit, i like stainless brake lines, and the outlander rotors, and caliper brackets, with the dual piston calipers mod, along with the evo brake booster and master cylinder a 7th gen or auto dsm 90 amp alternator with 100amp fuse too is also nice mod, along with the fuel pump rewire, and evo fuel pump or go walbro 190lph at the least.