2G couple questions on this eclipse for sale

[Awekiller]

Been looking online for a bit now looking for a 2g eclipse when i came across this one. Looks like a solid rust free car but i have a couple questions. The car has a big evo 3 turbo put in but thats about it. Is it bad to just put that turbo in without changing other parts or is it close enough to the stock one. Also he says the bottom part of the engine is newer with 41k miles. Is it bad if he just does a part of an engine and not replace all of it. Still looking out for others just wanted to know a couple things about this one. http://flint.craigslist.org/cto/5270710909.html

 

[Pacey]

I live about 20 mins south of lapeer. I wpuld never claim to know everything about DSM's but I am knowleadge about most stuff. As far as the turbo goes, there is nothing wrong with that. If he didnt change the wastegate at all, the turbo just isnt producing the max amount of boost which is good because more boost would equal the need for more fuel which if not controlled with a tune could cause the engine to run lean potentially causing catastorphic failure. So thats good. The turbo timer is a good thing beause that allows the turbo to cool down after tunning the car. Prevents burnt oil buildup in the turbo. If I were you, I would be curious about the bottom end build. Why was it done first of all? Maybe he had plans of buidling more power down the road or maybe the car was taken care of and then engine required a rebuild. Price seems to be decent if the car runs and drives good. Make sure you go three all the gears to check for warn tranny/synchros. I will PM you my contact info if you have any other questions. I would be happy to help as much as possible but I am more familiar with the 1st gen/6 bolt engine. Most other things should translate though. Talk to you soon!

 

[2gmitsueclipse]

Couple of thoughts/suggestions:

• Run a Carfax before you check out the car. It will give you good information about the vehicle's past.
• The larger turbo of that size is OK as long as the owner is running stock boost levels without fuel mods. Check the compressor housing serial number area to verify that it is not just a Chinese knock-off 16g.
• The turbo timer is absolutely unnecessary on a water and oil-cooled turbo. The ONLY time this would be helpful was if you drove the car really hard, and just turning it off without giving it some cool off time (normal driving). Turbo timers do however work well on oil only cooled turbo vehicles.
• I would check to see if the XS bypass valve is recirculated back to the intake as it should be. It should not be vented to atmosphere.
• Check under the front wheel wheels to access the condition of the strut towers. along with checking the frame rails and rear end for rust.
• Being a 95, the original block could have failed. It is alright if it has been replaced/rebuilt. I would highly recommend completing a compression test. If the owner objects, there is a red flag.
• Check oil and coolant for debris and smell.
• Ask about the last timing belt service. You can easily get a visual of the belt by removing the bolt small bolts of the upper timing cover.
• Check for play in suspension components.
• Check trans axle for signs of leaks.
• When taking it for a test drive, see how the car handles boost (hopefully stock levels). Also check brakes, how it shifts, and how the steering feels.
• When you return from the drive, let the car run while you take another look under the hood. Check for leaks and keep an eye on the temp gauge.
• Take a look at the mileage as the owner only states the replaced block mileage. The price seems a little high to me based on what I see and what is said in the ad.

 

[Awekiller]

I asked the guy how many miles was on the rest of the car and its about 160k is that too much for the car. Itll be a daily but ill probably put between 6-8k miles a year

 

[2gmitsueclipse]

Yes. less than $2,000 is a more reasonable number. Additionally, that car has been up for sale for a while. This particular ad is only a few hours old.