gophishy10
10+ Year Contributor
- 350
- 7
- Apr 17, 2012
-
Boston,
Massachusetts
This build is about my GST that sat for 3 years and I am slowly bringing it back to life. My plans with it are not big. It is a daily driver in the summer months. My goals for now are to get around 350whp and still have money in my bank account. Like stated, the car is for daily driving and an occasional trip to the drag strip. I want to do a AWD conversion some day. Hope you enjoy and please give me your inputs on anything. Thanks!
Index:
Post #5 - Engine Swap and Front Bumper Repair
Post #6 - Prep for Paint Job and Spoiler Swap
Post #7 - Fresh Paint
Post #11 - Interior Work
Post #12 - Turbo Upgrade
Post #17, #20 - Winter 2012/2013
Post #21 - Few More Winter Updates
Post #22 - 1G Bov and Snow Pics
Post #25 - Spring Plans and Back up and Running
Post #31 - Interior Finished and Painting Parts
Ever since the very first Fast and Furious came out, I've wanted to get an Eclipse. When I was 16 and started driving, all I could afford was a POS Chevy Cavalier. I started working so I could eventually save up enough to get an Eclipse. Finally, when I was 20, I had enough money (so I thought) to get myself an Eclipse. I started browsing Craigslist and realized that there were turbos and non-turbos. I talked to a few friends that know cars and also started browsing the web for more info on these cars. I decided to wait it out for a GST or a GSX. Well, almost 8 months went by without me finding one that I could afford. So I decided to post a wanted ad on Craigslist. The very next day, I had an older guy call me and tell me he had a 96 GST sitting in his garage that he bought for his grandson. He said it had a blown turbo and his grandson didn't want to put the time into fixing it up. The car had sat for a two years before he had bought it and then a year in his garage. He said he would give it to me for $550 but he wasn't sure what else the car was going to need. So I decided to go take a look at this thing.
When I got there, I wasn't too impressed with the car. It looked a little beat up from sitting for so long. The front bumper was sitting inside the car along with a bunch of other parts. Half the engine bay was torn apart. The car only had a few minor dents and dings, but the spoiler and sideskirts were very sun faded. I thought this car was way too much work for me to do. I went home and did a little more research, found a t-25 turbo on ebay, and gave the guy a call back. I figured "what the hell!", I'll throw the turbo on and if it doesn't run I'll sell it for what I bought it for. So I had finally got myself a 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse GST with only 44,000 original miles for $550!!!
August 2011
So I towed the car to my house and slapped the used turbo on it. I couldn't wait to get it started. However, my lack of mechanical knowledge cost me. I didn't prime the turbo with oil before I tried starting the car, nor did I do any maintenance or a basic check-over of anything. After about 5 minutes, I finally got the car to start. It fired up and what do I do??? I floored it! Black smoke starts pouring out of the exhaust, the car starts bucking, and then a faint knocking starts. Gradually it gets louder and louder and louder. I thought it was a belt hitting on something so I tried adjusting the power steering belt. Still knocked. I ended up towing it to my mechanic and he told me I had a rod knock and the motor needed to be replaced. Whether the motor was already shot when I bought the car or if I did it myself I will never know, nor do I want to.
The dog loved helping me out.
T-25 turbo set in.
So now I had a decision to make: sell the car for $500 or buy an engine for it. I decided to find an engine. I ended up getting a fully rebuilt engine (all oem parts) from LKQ/Keystone for $1300. It pays to work at a body shop!
While I was waiting for the turbo to come in, I redid the cloth on the door panels.
Well, that's it for now. I'll post more throughout the next few days to catch up to where the car sits now.
Index:
Post #5 - Engine Swap and Front Bumper Repair
Post #6 - Prep for Paint Job and Spoiler Swap
Post #7 - Fresh Paint
Post #11 - Interior Work
Post #12 - Turbo Upgrade
Post #17, #20 - Winter 2012/2013
Post #21 - Few More Winter Updates
Post #22 - 1G Bov and Snow Pics
Post #25 - Spring Plans and Back up and Running
Post #31 - Interior Finished and Painting Parts
Ever since the very first Fast and Furious came out, I've wanted to get an Eclipse. When I was 16 and started driving, all I could afford was a POS Chevy Cavalier. I started working so I could eventually save up enough to get an Eclipse. Finally, when I was 20, I had enough money (so I thought) to get myself an Eclipse. I started browsing Craigslist and realized that there were turbos and non-turbos. I talked to a few friends that know cars and also started browsing the web for more info on these cars. I decided to wait it out for a GST or a GSX. Well, almost 8 months went by without me finding one that I could afford. So I decided to post a wanted ad on Craigslist. The very next day, I had an older guy call me and tell me he had a 96 GST sitting in his garage that he bought for his grandson. He said it had a blown turbo and his grandson didn't want to put the time into fixing it up. The car had sat for a two years before he had bought it and then a year in his garage. He said he would give it to me for $550 but he wasn't sure what else the car was going to need. So I decided to go take a look at this thing.
When I got there, I wasn't too impressed with the car. It looked a little beat up from sitting for so long. The front bumper was sitting inside the car along with a bunch of other parts. Half the engine bay was torn apart. The car only had a few minor dents and dings, but the spoiler and sideskirts were very sun faded. I thought this car was way too much work for me to do. I went home and did a little more research, found a t-25 turbo on ebay, and gave the guy a call back. I figured "what the hell!", I'll throw the turbo on and if it doesn't run I'll sell it for what I bought it for. So I had finally got myself a 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse GST with only 44,000 original miles for $550!!!
August 2011
So I towed the car to my house and slapped the used turbo on it. I couldn't wait to get it started. However, my lack of mechanical knowledge cost me. I didn't prime the turbo with oil before I tried starting the car, nor did I do any maintenance or a basic check-over of anything. After about 5 minutes, I finally got the car to start. It fired up and what do I do??? I floored it! Black smoke starts pouring out of the exhaust, the car starts bucking, and then a faint knocking starts. Gradually it gets louder and louder and louder. I thought it was a belt hitting on something so I tried adjusting the power steering belt. Still knocked. I ended up towing it to my mechanic and he told me I had a rod knock and the motor needed to be replaced. Whether the motor was already shot when I bought the car or if I did it myself I will never know, nor do I want to.
The dog loved helping me out.
T-25 turbo set in.
So now I had a decision to make: sell the car for $500 or buy an engine for it. I decided to find an engine. I ended up getting a fully rebuilt engine (all oem parts) from LKQ/Keystone for $1300. It pays to work at a body shop!
While I was waiting for the turbo to come in, I redid the cloth on the door panels.
Well, that's it for now. I'll post more throughout the next few days to catch up to where the car sits now.
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