CrackedDSM's boring new project (420a)

[BLACK'98DSM]

There are multiple different spring rates available, but the Ground Control springs I ran were way too stiff and also lacked travel. I really liked the ride quality of the Megan Racing lowering springs. They sat lower and were stiffer than stock, but didn't kill my back on a short drive.

 

[CrackedDSM]

Got a question for you guys...what color should I paint the valvecover? The car is gonna be white, it's got blue accents in the interior. I don't want the VC to be black...what should I do?

 

[opn0]

Got a question for you guys...what color should I paint the valvecover? The car is gonna be white, it's got blue accents in the interior. I don't want the VC to be black...what should I do?

I feel like blue could fit really well if it's done right. Since the car is gonna be white, almost any color would fit, but the blue trim on the interior might set the tone, y'know?

 

[MindBlowin03]

I would go with a nice red and polished letters.

 

[CrackedDSM]

This came today and I could not be more stoked. One in this good of shape with the line is worth its weight in GOLD right now, man. Jeebus.

Yay! I am so stoked to have this. The awesome member who provided this to me gets the biggest shoutout. No scalper got any money this way either!

 

[BLACK'98DSM]

That bolt is larger than the original, and originally it had one split washer not 2 flat washers. I wonder what the hell happened there.

 

[CrackedDSM]

That bolt is larger than the original, and originally it had one split washer not 2 flat washers. I wonder what the hell happened there.

View attachment 788568

Who knows. The valuable piece is the line, the fitting, and the pulley. I can get a brand new pump sans pulley if I need one.

 

[kyler021]

The awesome member who provided this to me gets the biggest shoutout.

Glad to help man! It's good to see parts get used rather than going to the scrapper and being crushed with the car. Stoked to be a part of the build!

 

[CrackedDSM]

I have obtained unobtanium!!

I am so stoked about this. It was really affordable too and not scalper price at all. Freakin woot!!

Now I have no more excuses. Gotta clean and paint the trans and the VC, then I can slap it all in.

Can’t believe I’m excited for some stock 420a. Lol. But I am.

 

[opn0]

Dude let's go!!

And hey, a DSM is a DSM. Sirius motor or Chrysler motor, it's still a DSM. And I think your hard work is also something to be excited for.

Sooooo turbo when?

 

[CrackedDSM]

Dude let's go!!

And hey, a DSM is a DSM. Sirius motor or Chrysler motor, it's still a DSM. And I think your hard work is also something to be excited for.

Sooooo turbo when?

Probably immediately after I get sick of being dog-walked by soccer moms in mini-vans. I have admittedly been looking into it...

 

[opn0]

Probably immediately after I get sick of being dog-walked by soccer moms in mini-vans. I have admittedly been looking into it...

I see, I see...

I'll have to keep an eye out then.

 

[BLACK'98DSM]

Eh, just toss out the spare tire and scissor jack, then keep a little 75 shot on standby "just in case"... You'll lose the headgasket sooner rather than later but hey, it'll be fun for a little while. Then once the headgasket goes you now have an excuse to buy headstuds + MLS which will handle the boost from that turbo!
(I'm full of bad ideas)

 

[BLACK'98DSM]

Hey, there's a '99 RS at my local yard! What's still on the list of needed parts?

 

[CrackedDSM]

Hey, there's a '99 RS at my local yard! What's still on the list of needed parts?

Front trans mount, power steering reservoir/lines to and from the rack, as much of the stock clutch line as possible(I have the master and the slave) and radio brackets.

That’s it as far as I know right now. I’m 100% certain more will pop up later though as I assemble it more.

 

[BLACK'98DSM]

The rubbers are probably rotten, but It seemed to have the trans still fully bolted in, so can at least get that mount. Maybe the hardline for the clutch too. The radio itself is gone but I bet the bracket is still there too. There's also a '97 Spyder there that may have it as well. They both were placed on the lot this morning and I was there less than an hour later.

 

[jesse12345]

Man I've been super busy lately but I'm all caught up on this thread.

Just remember if you do go turbo chances are your pistons are still stock and they will crack. I ran a couple runs at 20 pounds on a completely stock never touched 420a and no rods snapped but the ring lands did crack. That was when I wanted to see how much it could handle before something broke. I did run 10 pounds for a summer and it really does feel good. It's no drag monster that your used to but it's still pretty fun. It was "tuned" using an adjustable fmu. You just don't want to push it to far because 100 psi of fuel going through your lines is very sketchy. I got away with it for a couple runs but then I dialed it back down.

Anyways I'm glad that your finally getting things wrapped up. I haven't had much time to do anything so I apologize for that. I can bet money I have spare parts in my garage but it looks like a tornado went through there unfortunately.

 

[CrackedDSM]

The rubbers are probably rotten, but It seemed to have the trans still fully bolted in, so can at least get that mount. Maybe the hardline for the clutch too. The radio itself is gone but I bet the bracket is still there too. There's also a '97 Spyder there that may have it as well. They both were placed on the lot this morning and I was there less than an hour later.

Shit I meant to say bracket. Not the mount but the bracket itself on the trans. I’ve got the mounts thankfully.

 

[BLACK'98DSM]

Shit I meant to say bracket. Not the mount but the bracket itself on the trans. I’ve got the mounts thankfully.

Yep. I said mount at first but said bracket the second time. I knew what you were talking about. Saturday is a very busy day for me in the shop but I'm taking Sunday off and it'll be dry, so I'll go grab that BRACKET for you. Whatever you were going to pay for another one, I'll make sure to get it to you for cheaper.

 

[BLACK'98DSM]

Well, I abandoned the part after pulling it. It's in the worst shape I've ever seen for one of these brackets. I'm assuming someone left the bolts loose and all that rocking/banging around cracked and broke it. Sorry about that but I tried. Hell, I got to wrench on a DSM again so I can't complain

That's a through and through crack, aside from the hole being wollowed out.

That used to be a bolt hole, but I guess it's been broken off for a number of years. I noticed that it felt loose after pulling the first bolt, but with some kind of critter nest on top of this thing, I didn't see that a whole chunk was missing until lifting it out.

One part not worth saving. At least there was a wagon available to tote around my tool box so I didn't have to carry the heavy bastard


Alright, story time's over. Somebody send Cory a bracket asap!

 

[CrackedDSM]

Well, I abandoned the part after pulling it. It's in the worst shape I've ever seen for one of these brackets. I'm assuming someone left the bolts loose and all that rocking/banging around cracked and broke it. Sorry about that but I tried. Hell, I got to wrench on a DSM again so I can't complain

View attachment 789271
That's a through and through crack, aside from the hole being wollowed out.
View attachment 789272
That used to be a bolt hole, but I guess it's been broken off for a number of years. I noticed that it felt loose after pulling the first bolt, but with some kind of critter nest on top of this thing, I didn't see that a whole chunk was missing until lifting it out.
View attachment 789273
One part not worth saving. At least there was a wagon available to tote around my tool box so I didn't have to carry the heavy bastard


Alright, story time's over. Somebody send Cory a bracket asap!

That's the rear bracket, my brother in Christ. I need the front!

But holy crap that is WILD! Like you said, loose bolts is how that happens? Jeebus.

 

[BLACK'98DSM]

That's the rear bracket, my brother in Christ. I need the front!

But holy crap that is WILD! Like you said, loose bolts is how that happens? Jeebus.

Hmm so you need the one that's EASIER to remove! That's great
I can sneak back over there one day soon for sure. I guess I totally overlooked that you already found this one. I remember discussing it specifically so that's where my mind was at I guess. If the one you need is also ruined, I wouldn't know what to think! Surely it's fine though.

 

[BLACK'98DSM]

Major edit: I work on too much stuff and forget everything. I'll have it pulled for you no problem.

 

[CrackedDSM]

Hmm so you need the one that's EASIER to remove! That's great
I can sneak back over there one day soon for sure. I guess I totally overlooked that you already found this one. I remember discussing it specifically so that's where my mind was at I guess. If the one you need is also ruined, I wouldn't know what to think! Surely it's fine though.

Major edit: I work on too much stuff and forget everything. I'll have it pulled for you no problem.

No worries brother, I always appreciate the people that help me so much! But man I know how that feels, .

 

[CrackedDSM]

Well, ended up biting the bullet and bought an engine hoist from amazon. I had an awesome guy and forum member here offer me his whenever I wanted, but this isn't going to be my only project. I'm gonna have another turbo DSM in the future, and my uncles Jeep will need some work too so...it'll get used. Plus it's collapsible and I can tuck it away when I don't need it. So yeah, this was the last piece.


Now I have zero excuses as to why the engine/trans aren't in.

To do list, not necessarily in order.

• Clean/Scrub Transmission. Maybe paint?
• Paint VC, permanently install it.
• Install clutch, pivot ball, fork, all mount brackets and everything on clean trans.
• Mate Engine and Trans together
• Drop Engine/Trans as a unit into the shell
• Bolt it in/secure it
• See what else you don't have that you now suddenly need.
• Post raging, slightly whiny posts in the build thread about it. Threaten to sell it too?
• Get over it, buy the parts needed anyway.
• Plug everything in/button everything in, try to start it.
• ???
• Profit