95 Durango Copper Pearl GSX Build

[BadAss4Bangers]

Hello guys,

I picked up a 1995 Durango Copper Pearl GSX about a week ago back from a buddy of mines friend. I previously owned a 2006 Subaru STI Stage 2 but with the money I put into it, it just didn't have enough power. SO I decided to sell it and buy something a bit cheaper to mod which led me to DSM's.

When I looked at the car it was in decent shape with the exception of a dent on the passenger door and pretty bad infamous strut tower rust. Car came with about every mod that I would have bought if I were to have buy a stock 2G DSM.

Engine and Drivetrain:

• 1991 Turbo Cams (slightly more lift and duration compared to the 95+)
  
• ARP head studs
  
• OEM 3g lifters
  
• EvoIII16G ported by FP w/ new OEM 1g waterlines FP Blue Oil Drain tube
  
• Hallman Pro Manual Boost Controller
  
• Walbro 255HP Fuel Pump
  
• Aeromotive AFPR
  
• FIC 850cc Injectors
  
• GReddy Type-S BOV (Recirculated). Might switch to Tial recirculated BOV since I don't like the sound of the Greddy.
  
• INJEN polished intake with K&N open air filter
  
• Home made catch can
  
• ETS (Extreme Turbo Systems) Custom FMIC Hot pipes are ETS powder coated Black. Cold side is Dejon Tool stock route
  
• ExtremePSI J-Pipe for FMIC
  
• Megan Racing true 3" Turbo Back exhaust
  
• Punishment Racing o2 Dump
  
• Rebuilt Transmission with double syncros
  
• XTD Stage 4 Un-sprung clutch kit
  
• ACT street lite flywheel
  
• Stainless Steel braided clutch line
  
• B&M short shifter
  
• OEM Mitsubishi Heavy Weight shift knob
  
• Symbroski Shifter Kit
  
• MachV Skate Bearing Bushings
  
• A/C condenser and pulley removed

Suspension/Handling/Brakes

• Ground Control Coilovers on Koni 8 way adjustable shocks
  
• RMDSM Front and Rear Sway bars with new endlinks
  
• PowerSlot Front Rotors w/OEM pads (Rear brakes are OEM 1995 Vented)
  
• Goodridge SS Brake Lines
  
• RBF 600 Racing Fluid
  
  
• Gauges/Tuning
  
  
• Defi-D Mechanical Boost Gauge and EGT Gauge (amber display matches
• factory gauges perfectly)
  
• AEM UEGO Wide Band
  
• Original OEM EPROM ECU socketed by ECMlink w/V3
  
• HKS turbo timer

For Show Additions

• OEM Black leather seats (Front and Back)
  
• OEM Black center console
  
• JDM Galant VR-4 3 Diamond Valve Cover Polished/Jet Coated
  
• 1997 OEM Front bumper
  
• 1997 OEM headlights w/ 4500K HID's
  
• 1997 OEM fog lights
  
• RX7 FD Wheels with Black Muteki Extended lugs
  

Mods to come:

• Hoosier Drag Slicks (I will be using the FD RX-7 Wheels for this and be buying another set for DD.
  
  
  Engine bay is a little bare looking and I need to spruce things up a bit by cleaning ect. Rust will be repaired by a friend of mine who does fabrication work and he is a great welder so we will be cutting out the cancerous area, welding plates, then painting. Probably wont look perfect but I plan on Swapping over to a 6bolt motor next fall/winter and I will paint the entire engine bay then.
  
  Previous Owner installed the fuel regulator but it is just sitting on top of hoses (not mounted) inside the engine bay. Not a big deal for it just to sit there but I like things to look purty. I will have to disconnect the fuel lines and move it to the other side of the engine bay where there is a spot to mount on the firewall.
  
  Next Friday (Good Friday) I will be getting tuned at 'The Shop' in Norwalk CT So I am hoping for some decent numbers on their Mustang Dyno.
  
  Ultimate goal for this year is to be running Mid 12's or better but I think Mid 12's is a decent goal.
  
  Thats all I have to say for now. Here are some pics:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Like I said engine need a cleaning. The 171k miles really show in this pic
  
  
  

 

[dragonov_elite]

damn. nice clean build so far. hope this car goes well for you.

 

[liquidsilver]

Looks like you will be well set up for 12s. Are you running stock internals?

I have an 02 Dump I think it's by Victory Performance. It's brand new PM me if you're interested.

 

[BadAss4Bangers]

Looks like you will be well set up for 12s. Are you running stock internals?

I have an 02 Dump I think it's by Victory Performance. It's brand new PM me if you're interested.

Yes stock bottom end.

I already bought a dump from punishment racing, just waiting for delivery.

Alright, so like I said in the OP. the origninal owner had put in an AFPR and its just hanging out unmounted as seen in the picture. Since I have the stock manifold there is just not a whole lot of space to mount this thing on the firewall.

My only option seems to be the firewall on left side of the intake manifold. Now the issue I have with this is that I will need all new lines since the ones attached to it now are not long enough. Any suggestions?

 

[BadAss4Bangers]

Today I did a boost leak test and found a crap load of leaks but luckily all of them were couplers except the fuel inj seals are leaking :/. Getting tuned Friday so I gotta get this done fast! Can I get a set of oem type injector seals from napa or do I need to buy them from FIC?

This also came in and will be installed today Punishment Racing 02 dump.

 

[hereitcomes]

The seals are just rubber grommets, on the fuel rail end and head end. Napa should supply them for the stock injectors. If they are out of THAT part, look at the EVO 8/9 injector o-rings as they are the exact same.

 

[BadAss4Bangers]

The seals are just rubber grommets, on the fuel rail end and head end. Napa should supply them for the stock injectors. If they are out of THAT part, look at the EVO 8/9 injector o-rings as they are the exact same.

Cool thanks, that is what I thought. I picked some up at napa for 5 bucks.

 

[dsmpat95]

Its a good color.

 

[Doubleot]

Great color, Looks like a great start as well.

Nice pickup!

 

[BadAss4Bangers]

Thanks guys.

Yesterday I pulled off the o2 housing and put a punishment racing o2 dump in. Fairly easy install and the bolts were thankfully not seized. Only hard part was getting at one of the bolts closest to the engine block. But, after 20 minutes I finally got the socket on it and it came right off.

Only problem I see is that it dumps out in front of the radiator which I would imagine to cause the coolant temps to rise. I browsed around and found the diy for a heat shield to replace the stocker. I will buy a 12x24 piece of sheet metal, cut it in half and fold it to meet my needs.

Something else I saw in the DIY states to make a pipe extender. Only problem is my IC hose would be in the way so I think it should be alright with just the heat shield.

 

[BadAss4Bangers]

Well just my luck. Today, the shop called that is tuning my car and gave me bad news. Their dyno broke and the piece that they need to fix it will be in on Tuesday

Looks like I wont be getting tuned for a few more days.

 

[BadAss4Bangers]

Over the weekend I installed a brand new set of injector seals from FIC. Install was easy, put everything back together, did a boost leak test, and everything look great. Went to fire up the car and now it is running on 3 cylinders . I checked every connection possible and made sure everything was tight. I replaced the plugs which were black but still running like a Subaru. With the car running I pulled the number 1 plug and the car didn't change idle at all so I put it back, then I pulled #2 and it died. I am assuming it is the plug wires so I ordered a set of magnecor 8.5 mm plugs to see if that fixes the issue but, they won't be in until Wednesday.

Is there anything else I could check? I saw something about the injector resistor pack being bad but idk if that would make it run on 3 cylinders. I rescheduled my tune for Friday so I am really hoping to get the car working by then. Also does someone have a picture of the injector resistor pack? I heard its underneath the intake manifold but I have no clue what it looks like.


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EDIT: New Spark Plug Wires fixed the issue

 

[BadAss4Bangers]

Today I had a little time to work on the car while I wait for the Spark Plug Wires to come in so I decided to re-locate my AFPR to the front of my strut tower. I also had to extend the fuel line (kind of a pita) and also the Vac Line. I just bent the existing bracket connected to the AFPR and attached it using a bolt holding down a clamp for the AC hose. Fit perfect! Hood barely clears but it doesn't hit.

 

[BadAss4Bangers]

Only a few more days till my tune next Wednesday . I had bought an ETS stencil to paint onto my FMIC, I also painted the fog light surrounds Black since they were all faded. Came out good!!

Also fixed my issue with the car not running right. I installed the Magnecore 8.5mm plug wires which fixed the issue.

 

[ka24debt]

I love that color! build looks good so far. Any idea what numbers you'll lay down?

 

[perks563]

Hey I know that car!! Well, never met the original owner but saw him post a lot and was always jealous of the color. I couldn't believe he sold it, but glad it was kept local. Good luck!!

 

[shredwin]

Looks really nice! I cant wait to get mine done someday, I have a Durango Copper as well. Everyone likes the durango copper color because you dont see too many eclipses that color, well at least around here you dont.

 

[BadAss4Bangers]

I love that color! build looks good so far. Any idea what numbers you'll lay down?

Previous owner laid down 284 with a T28 and 450cc injectors maxed out at 21psi. So with the EVO III 16G and bigger injectors I am hoping for around 320-350 on the same exact dyno at around 25psi. We will see come time Wednesday

Hey I know that car!! Well, never met the original owner but saw him post a lot and was always jealous of the color. I couldn't believe he sold it, but glad it was kept local. Good luck!!

Yeah the guy Mike who was the previous owner was a friend of a friend and the car pretty much just sat around since he has an EVO that he DD's.

Looks really nice! I cant wait to get mine done someday, I have a Durango Copper as well. Everyone likes the durango copper color because you dont see too many eclipses that color, well at least around here you dont.

Yeah I have never seen another Durango Copper in person before. I want your High rise wing

 

[BadAss4Bangers]

Well today I was suppose to get tuned but the dyno at "The Shop CT" still isnt fixed so I have to wait another weak . I'm getting really damn impatient!

With that said, I picked up some EVO 9 wheels today for an absolute steal! Now I can get some slicks for the FD wheels!! They were rattle canned black from the previous owner so they will be getting powder coated before install. I was thinking Black with copper metallic? What color would you guys pick?

 

[BadAss4Bangers]

Bumper is off so I can fit onto my trailer and everything is ready for the tune Wednesday .

 

[Anthony95TSiAWD]

Looks great man, good luck with the tune!

 

[BadAss4Bangers]

Today I got tuned but it did not go over so well. First few pulls sounded great and I was putting down 352whp at 26psi but that's when stuff started to break. My ACT2600 clutch completely shit the bed (most likely due to age) and the 255 Wallbro was acting like a 190 and it wasn't supplying enough fuel (also failed due to it being 6-7 yrs old). With that said they turned down the boost for now and I ended up putting down 302whp until it gets fixed.

Luckily The Shop had a walbro 255 hp laying around so I picked that up from them and took the car home. I popped open the seat to look at the fuel pump and the fuel lines are pretty rusty . I have heard of people breaking their fuel lines and that is NOT what I need right now so I am going to tackle the job this weekend. If anyone has any pointers, please tell.

I ended up buying an XTD stage 4 clutch to see how these things hold up. If it fails it was only 170$ so Im not worried. If it works then I got a great clutch for a great price.

Here is a quick vid of the car on the dyno. You can really hear that the clutch
was slipping BAD. We all thought the tires were spinning until it was out on the road then it was obvious, it was the clutch slipping.

2G GSX EVOIII 16G - YouTube

Well here is what my sending unit looks like . I will be breaking out a ton of PB Blaster and the wire brush wheel on the dremel.

 

[BadAss4Bangers]

After investigating my clutch issues, I have come to the conclusion that I will need a Tranny rebuild. Looks like a couple of the synchos are toast which explains why 1st, rev, and 4 grind. The car will get a fully rebuilt tranny and new clutch at the end of the week. I guess when it rains it pours.

 

[danielsl1999gsx]

i hate when problems just come back one after the other. But hey man your 16g was putting down some nice numbers, i hope you get this thing back and running in no time.

 

[BadAss4Bangers]

i hate when problems just come back one after the other. But hey man your 16g was putting down some nice numbers, i hope you get this thing back and running in no time.

Yeah I was real pissed but, that is what happens when buying a used car with mods. I got the car for a good price and I made 350whp with a stock block that has 170k miles, guess I shouldn't complain. I think once I get the tranny and fuel pump figured out, I should be in the clear for a little while. I should have it 100% by the end of the month.