Decisions, decisions.. 1g, 2g; FWD, AWD?? Need input, ideas, opinions, ANYTHING!

[DSM IN MN]

I have been contemplating making this thread for a while now. I finally have decided I need help choosing which direction to go with these cars of mine.
I have three cars, and I simply CANNOT decide which one I would like to build. Now quickly I will show a picture or two of each car just to give you all a little visual of them all.

1990 Eagle Talon TSi AWD (shell)

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1995 Eagle Talon TSi AWD (Auto)

(Before repainting)

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(After repainting)

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1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS-T

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Now that you all have seen the cars in question, I am going to take time to explain some up's and down's of each one.
The '90 TSi AWD was bought by me with an early 7-bolt short block, a head, and everything I would need to rebuild the car minus an engine harness, ECU, and turbo. That was fine to me though (at the time), because I thought "Cool, cheap shell for $200, and for $400 more ($600 total), I can have a good starting point and build a car I want. PERFECT!" Little did I know how big of a project the car would be.
Now some of you may ask why I originally looked for a shell. My answer would be; my dad told me I AM NOT to touch either of the 2gs, engine wise. So I looked for a 1g shell to build. Then the WEEK after I bought the 1g, he said I should just put the money into doing an engine for the other Talon or the GS-T.
In other words, I just thought I could build a car the way I wanted; the color I wanted, the engine I wanted etc.

The '95 Talon was a LONG project. My dad and I completely torn it down (body/interior wise), and repainted it. It took us nearly nine-months. It was worth it, as far as looks go for the car. There are a few problems the car has though. I plan to get it some tires to use it for this winter. Now, we replaced the windshield. And it leaked a little. So my dad fixed that; cool. But windows on each side let water in EASILY (I went through a carwash, so ask me how I know ).
Besides that the headlights really need to be realigned. And as much as I hate saying it, the car was once in an accident. So the frame is a bit tweaked. The driver's side fender sits too far back. So far back actually, that we painted part of the driver's side headlight (just the white plastic so it would look normal). The last "problem" is, there was a mouse nest in the heater and my dad took the easy way out. He took the blower motor out and pulled as much of it our as he could. I was content with removing the dash a completely cleaning the heating system out. Oh well.
Other than that, the car is nice and clean. Even though it's an automatic, it's pretty cool.

Now let's move onto the red GS-T. EVERY BODY likes this car. My uncle (part owner of my dad's body shop), even said it looked better than my Talon. I mean, all my friends like it, GIRLS especially like is ( ), but I don't know if I so much care for the 2gb Eclipse look over the 2ga Talon took. Don't get me wrong; a nice black, white or blue 2gb GSX; I wouldn't even give it a second thought! That thing would be having an engine build as we speak. But red...and a FWD.. Manual? Meh'.. The "syncros", in the transmission, or so I was told, feel like they are going out. It is hard to get the car to shift into reverse at a standstill. The clutch also feels a little weird. (It also has 15x,xxx miles on it; actually close to 16x,xxx miles).
But EVERYONE says I should build it! I have a local DSM friend who converted his 2gb Talon to 2gb Eclipse says "Build the GS-T." every time I see him. It doesn't make this choice easier.

The car is a tad rusted too. The driver's strut tower is rusting, and the original own "fixed" the pass. side. They cut the rust out, and spot welded sheet metal in its place. Cool... Just another thing to fix. Besides those things, it has door digs ALL over it.



So there you all have it, a little information on each car. I do not know what to do. My engine plan is a 2.3/.4L stroker, 2100cc or so injectors on E85. All powered by a Holset HX35. The rest of the supporting mod would be to follow.

I just find it a bad idea to mess with FWD...

If you need any more info. you know what to do; ask away! Thanks in advance for the insight. I really just need some ideas here.

 

[1990AWD]

I am personally fond of '90 model DSMs (I have three) but a red 2gb GS-T? That's too sexy to pass up. Build that and do an AWD swap. The little bit of rust can be fixed, and it sounds like you know how to do body work.

The auto Talon would make a good drag car though...

 

[Alex7747]

hasn't this thread already been made?.. anyways, what to you want out of the car? nice drag car? quick street cruiser? or just a car to have fun in?
I would build the auto into a drag car. keep the gst stock and a cruiser/dd and the 1g i would fix(stock rebuild, 16g ect) that for a fun car, rally the hell out of it!! but thats just my opinion... good luck either way man

 

[DSM IN MN]

I am personally fond of '90 model DSMs (I have three) but a red 2gb GS-T? That's too sexy to pass up. Build that and do an AWD swap. The little bit of rust can be fixed, and it sounds like you know how to do body work.

The auto Talon would make a good drag car though...

See, these are the EXACT problems I run into. I love 1gs.. 1ga Talons actaully. Not many people do. I just find it would be awesome to have a nicely built 1ga. But witht he cost of parts and such, I THINK it is going to cost wayy too much money. *If anyone wishes to inform me I am wrong, I would be very appreciative *

Then it comes to the red GS-T; the cool little sports car (as everyone seems to refur to it as). I mean, yeah it is cool, but getting rid of all the little dent, door dings, rust would be a job and a half. Also going through transmissions when I get the engine together.

I also HAVE thought about the AWD swap. As of now I have everything except the gas tank, rear suspension/axles, and subframe. But that would entail a really big swap. (I know it can be done in like two weeks. I've seen Jason over on Mitsu-###-as-####-Media do it to his GS-T. Not to mention; it would be HARD to get my dad to go for a swap like that.

And we can't forget the '95. Man that thing is nice. It would also be so un-expecting. Dark-green with silver rims? Pshhh, what's that? Then with a nice 2.4L set-up, crack the throttle and they wouldn't know what to think..

Shesh... This is harder than I thought. :/

See, these are the EXACT problems I run into. I love 1gs.. 1ga Talons actaully. Not many people do. I just find it would be awesome to have a nicely built 1ga. But witht he cost of parts and such, I THINK it is going to cost wayy too much money. *If anyone wishes to inform me I am wrong, I would be very appreciative *

Then it comes to the red GS-T; the cool little sports car (as everyone seems to refur to it as). I mean, yeah it is cool, but getting rid of all the little dent, door dings, rust would be a job and a half. Also going through transmissions when I get the engine together.

I also HAVE thought about the AWD swap. As of now I have everything except the gas tank, rear suspension/axles, and subframe. But that would entail a really big swap. (I know it can be done in like two weeks. I've seen Jason over on Mitsu-###-as-####-Media do it to his GS-T. Not to mention; it would be HARD to get my dad to go for a swap like that.

And we can't forget the '95. Man that thing is nice. It would also be so un-expecting. Dark-green with silver rims? Pshhh, what's that? Then with a nice 2.4L set-up, crack the throttle and they wouldn't know what to think..

Shesh... This is harder than I thought. :/

hasn't this thread already been made?.. anyways, what to you want out of the car? nice drag car? quick street cruiser? or just a car to have fun in?
I would build the auto into a drag car. keep the gst stock and a cruiser/dd and the 1g i would fix(stock rebuild, 16g ect) that for a fun car, rally the hell out of it!! but thats just my opinion... good luck either way man

Maybe.. There have been a few surrounding this subject however. But otherwise no, it hasn't.
I want, as far as where this built motor is going, a REALLY nice drag set-up. AND something I can take out during the summer time and have some.....street "fun" .

I agree with you there. The only problem is, the GS-T goes into storage every winter. My dad seems to think it is worth too much to go through a MN winter, . I always say it looks like it has seen worse (only judging by its strut tower rust).

Thank you! I was thinking of something simular to what you said. I'm just really not sure I am going to be able to afford it. If anything the 1g will get stored away. I'm not scrapping it! I saved the car from going to be crushed.

 

[Alex7747]

well, if you want a nice drag car and fun "Street" car i vote build the auto AWD. auto is the way to go for drag. and it would be a nice street car for the summer. keep the 1g until you can afford to restore it(shouldn't cost much if you already have all the parts and you are building a motor anyways). (or sell it to me ). and the awd swap is actually real easy once you're under the car and looking at everything. (I'm about 66% done with mine. i have the whole rear end, gas tank, exhaust hangers, exhaust from my old gsx in my gst. all i need is the actually awd parts to finish. awd tranny, t-case, and rear diff). with that being said you could build the gst right now until you can AWD swap it. i see your dilemma now....i vote build the auto and daily drive the gst.

 

[Nasty Dream]

FWD is fine as long as you aren't dragging and don't have hella torque. Especially if you don't live in an area with terrible weather (rain/snow). You'll have to be easy in first gear, but first gear is really hard on the driveline anyway, so even if you have AWD you probably want to 'be easy' in 1st.

Put the chrome wheels on the Talon, get some wider tires for grip for the GS-T, put an LSD in it, get a body repair kit for about $20 or $30 and tap out as many dings as you can get to. Paint the rust repair. Get it to about 400 HP and have fun. The paint won't last forever anyway, if you don't like red. Get really stiff struts in the rear if you want to keep the fronts from spinning up. I set my adjustables to 5/5 in the rear and get much better traction for acceleration. This is the way FWD race cars are setup. Handling is great, but you could set them to 4/5 if you are afraid of oversteer.

You said the Talon is tweaked; I wouldn't put my heart into it. But I'm skittish that way.

EDIT: or sell them all and get exactly what you want and money to build.

 

[DSM IN MN]

well, if you want a nice drag car and fun "Street" car i vote build the auto AWD. auto is the way to go for drag. and it would be a nice street car for the summer. keep the 1g until you can afford to restore it(shouldn't cost much if you already have all the parts and you are building a motor anyways). (or sell it to me ). and the awd swap is actually real easy once you're under the car and looking at everything. (I'm about 66% done with mine. i have the whole rear end, gas tank, exhaust hangers, exhaust from my old gsx in my gst. all i need is the actually awd parts to finish. awd tranny, t-case, and rear diff). with that being said you could build the gst right now until you can AWD swap it. i see your dilemma now....i vote build the auto and daily drive the gst.

FWD is fine as long as you aren't dragging and don't have hella torque. Especially if you don't live in an area with terrible weather (rain/snow). You'll have to be easy in first gear, but first gear is really hard on the driveline anyway, so even if you have AWD you probably want to 'be easy' in 1st.

Put the chrome wheels on the Talon, get some wider tires for grip for the GS-T, put an LSD in it, get a body repair kit for about $20 or $30 and tap out as many dings as you can get to. Paint the rust repair. Get it to about 400 HP and have fun. The paint won't last forever anyway, if you don't like red. Get really stiff struts in the rear if you want to keep the fronts from spinning up. I set my adjustables to 5/5 in the rear and get much better traction for acceleration. This is the way FWD race cars are setup. Handling is great, but you could set them to 4/5 if you are afraid of oversteer.

You said the Talon is tweaked; I wouldn't put my heart into it. But I'm skittish that way.

EDIT: or sell them all and get exactly what you want and money to build.

At this stage in the game, I have been contempaiting selling them all and buying a 2500 Cummins as a hauler. Then saving for another AWD. I cannot afford that however I look at it though. So I am forced to make a choice. It's just not very easy.

Thanks for the input though. I believe it's starting to help.

 

[Nasty Dream]

Neiko #20709A 7Pcs Heavy Duty Auto Body Repair Kit

I picked up something similar from Pep Boys years back. Managed to bang out some really easily, with no experience.

 

[DSM IN MN]

Neiko #20709A 7Pcs Heavy Duty Auto Body Repair Kit

I picked up something similar from Pep Boys years back. Managed to bang out some really easily, with no experience.

My dad owns a body shop. We have PLENTY of tools, .