eclipse gs newbie question

[johny24]

I just got a 97 eclipse gs from my cousin with 160,000 miles on it and they are mostly highway miles. There are no problems with the car just a dent on the front end of the bumper but cant complain about a free car. Well I have a few questions with some setups i want to get for my car and would like some answers and suggestions would be appreciated

1) How much is it for a full catback exhaust with muffler going to cost and how much does it typically cost to get it installed?

2)My car already has a short ram intake but i am thinking of getting a AEM cold air intake. Is it worth it on my eclipse?

3) whares a good cheap place to get a body kits and how much is it to get it installed with a paint job?

I also thinking of getting rims for my eclipse and thats about it cause i heard getting a turbo for my car is too expensive. Just wondering is it worth it spending money on aftermarket parts my eclipse? does my eclipse have too many miles? or is it too old? I want my car to look nice and have some modifications..
I live in the New york and i dont have a garage to do everything myself.

 

[whiteflash]

I just got a 97 eclipse gs from my cousin with 160,000 miles on it and they are mostly highway miles. There are no problems with the car just a dent on the front end of the bumper but cant complain about a free car. Well I have a few questions with some setups i want to get for my car and would like some answers and suggestions would be appreciated

1) How much is it for a full catback exhaust with muffler going to cost and how much does it typically cost to get it installed?

2)My car already has a short ram intake but i am thinking of getting a AEM cold air intake. Is it worth it on my eclipse?

3) whares a good cheap place to get a body kits and how much is it to get it installed with a paint job?

I also thinking of getting rims for my eclipse and thats about it cause i heard getting a turbo for my car is too expensive. Just wondering is it worth it spending money on aftermarket parts my eclipse? does my eclipse have too many miles? or is it too old? I want my car to look nice and have some modifications..
I live in the New york and i dont have a garage to do everything myself.

1.) Cat back can range from 200 to over a 1000, just depends on what brand. I got a stainless steel cat back for 180 shipped of ebay.
2.) Keep the short ram, save some money.
3.) If it were me i'd skip the body kit, most people around here will tell you that too. your choice though.

Get an exhaust and rims and go from there, that should be a good start. But first, i'd do some maintenance cause it probably needs it. good luck.

 

[VergeTSi]

yea you should be able to find a catback for about 200 on ebay or try craigslist some time times you can find great deals on there

 

[johny24]

mechanically the car is good... time belts,sparks,etc is good.
ABout the body kit dont know yet dont want it to look to ricey but i want my ride to look nice you know.
also what kind of rims would look good im thinking of 18' but are they too big or 17's and where is a good place to buy them online or some recomendations
thx for the advice guys

 

[BigRand]

You my friend need to visit this website

www.2gnt.com and please read all the info about this car you got for free, before making any kind of purchase, believe me, it will save you money in the long run.

 

[dr1665]

You my friend need to visit www.2gnt.com

Who is the man? BigRand is the man.

1. Catback exhaust is nice, but shop around. It's not worth spending more than $300, imo. You're not going to see any real gains from an exhaust on an otherwise stock 2GNT.

2. The only reason the AEM short ram on your car is cool is because it's free. Don't spend another dollar on your intake system unless it's replacing the filter with a K&N.

3. Skip the body kits, chief. You got the car for free, but that doesn't mean you want to find out it's worth $20 when you go to sell/trade it. Keep it clean and tasteful. As Rand mentioned, hit up 2GNT.com. Go into the CARS section of the Wiki and read up under the power section. You can spend some serious time reading very easy articles about all kinds of things.

Simple recipe for you:
-Get some quality wash/wax materials so you can shine your ride.
-A set of 17" wheels w/ tires should run you under $800 from WheelMax.com
-A set of Eibach Pro-Kits usually run about $200.
-See if you can't find a used 2G GST rear section (muffler). Better flow and sound. You can also, with some effort, use the muffler off a 3G Eclipse. Not sure which one, but they're getting popular in some areas.

At that rate, you'll have a clean car with a nice set of rollers, a drop, and a bit more growl on the prowl.

Latz

 

[link16]

Who is the man? BigRand is the man.

1. Catback exhaust is nice, but shop around. It's not worth spending more than $300, imo. You're not going to see any real gains from an exhaust on an otherwise stock 2GNT.

2. The only reason the AEM short ram on your car is cool is because it's free. Don't spend another dollar on your intake system unless it's replacing the filter with a K&N.

3. Skip the body kits, chief. You got the car for free, but that doesn't mean you want to find out it's worth $20 when you go to sell/trade it. Keep it clean and tasteful. As Rand mentioned, hit up 2GNT.com. Go into the CARS section of the Wiki and read up under the power section. You can spend some serious time reading very easy articles about all kinds of things.

Simple recipe for you:
-Get some quality wash/wax materials so you can shine your ride.
-A set of 17" wheels w/ tires should run you under $800 from WheelMax.com
-A set of Eibach Pro-Kits usually run about $200.
-See if you can't find a used 2G GST rear section (muffler). Better flow and sound. You can also, with some effort, use the muffler off a 3G Eclipse. Not sure which one, but they're getting popular in some areas.

At that rate, you'll have a clean car with a nice set of rollers, a drop, and a bit more growl on the prowl.

Latz

Great info.

You say you don't want to spend a butt load on your car. Than don't but body kits are more trouble than they are worth, and a turbo would make your car fun as hell and only run about $4k. But with a body kit and paint job alone (a good paint job) will cost that and more. Your call, it's your car. We could all think of a million ways to spend your money but again, its yours.

 

[johny24]

nice suggestions really im reading all the info and all of you guys are helpful im glad im into dsm's now..

 

[absolute_DSM]

Leave the body kits to Paul Walker.



Once you boost, youve never go back.

 

[cs82685]

Once you boost, youve never go back.

Quoted for truth.

I'm gonna agree with these guys having done some mods to the body and boosting the car, by far I think the money in the turbo kit is much more fun. For good looks just do what Driggs said, a little drop, some 17's and a nice wash/wax. Maybe an exhaust, tsudo exhausts on ebay are good quality with great prices and give a nice deep rumble to the car.

 

[johny24]

Great info.

You say you don't want to spend a butt load on your car. Than don't but body kits are more trouble than they are worth, and a turbo would make your car fun as hell and only run about $4k. But with a body kit and paint job alone (a good paint job) will cost that and more. Your call, it's your car. We could all think of a million ways to spend your money but again, its yours.

Is a turbo really complicated fo try install myself?and you tell me its 4k for the the turbo so is that the turbo kit or whats goint to cost all together to get it installed??
If i do go turbo how much gain in torque and horsepower do i get?


also about the exhausts I want some that dont sound like a can coming out of my car , I want a like nice low growl for good price?? any suggestions on what should i look at?

 

[BigRand]

Is a turbo really complicated fo try install myself?and you tell me its 4k for the the turbo so is that the turbo kit or whats goint to cost all together to get it installed??
If i do go turbo how much gain in torque and horsepower do i get?


also about the exhausts I want some that dont sound like a can coming out of my car , I want a like nice low growl for good price?? any suggestions on what should i look at?

Man you just keep putting them up, and I just keep knocking them down......

Here is a link, be very familar with all the parts involved need to successfully be part of the 420a (w/turbo) club....

How to build a 420a stage 2 turbo kit for under $1000

I will advise you that Chris who built his custom kit, has done a lot of his own custom fab work to complete this kit for under $1000, you my friend should be able to complete this kit for about $2000-$2500 purchasing items at retail price.

Take a look at some of the vendors on this site, and please join 2gnt.com as they will have information for you there as well.

With the right set of tools and about 2 or 3days of calculated work, you should be able to get this install done and feel really good about it afterwards.

 

[BrokenTsi]

Put some wheels and suspension on the car. Sell it. And buy a 2g GST or GSX. You got the car for free, I would flip it to help me get something I really wanted.

 

[absolute_DSM]

Put some wheels and suspension on the car. Sell it. And buy a 2g GST or GSX. You got the car for free, I would flip it to help me get something I really wanted.

Now that is a good idea. Only problem I could see is getting enough with the mileage its at.

I agree with Randy there 100%

And to add, if youre asking things like this

Is a turbo really complicated fo try install myself?and you tell me its 4k for the the turbo so is that the turbo kit or whats goint to cost all together to get it installed??
If i do go turbo how much gain in torque and horsepower do i get?

Theres a lot of research for you Get out there, this stuff is exciting!

 

[Jeff99GS]

I think you should get the Body Kit. A great Place to look is BODYKITS.COM
They have every bodykit ever made for the 2g. If you have two hands and a little skill you can do all the body work and painting yourself. A great Paint job is all about the WET sanding.
I love how everyone considers having a bodykit as being a "ricer", but having a 3" exhaust that sounds like a fart cannon and driving around popping the pedal all day isn't being a ricer hahaha. I would Rather Get hot girls IN my car not have them Laugh at my fart exhaust.

 

[Locke]

Put some wheels and suspension on the car. Sell it. And buy a 2g GST or GSX. You got the car for free, I would flip it to help me get something I really wanted.

Now that is a good idea.

read http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=173573

 

[4UH8ERS]

They have every bodykit ever made for the 2g. If you have two hands and a little skill you can do all the body work and painting yourself. A great Paint job is all about the WET sanding.

Painting is not all about wet sanding. I'm not trying to be mean but thats just ignorant. My 2 best friends paint cars for a living and I went to school for it as well to learn as a hobby. Don't go telling kids that painting a car is easy, especially not doing it the right way. A controlled tempurature enviroment (a.k.a paint booth or shop) with the right products (correct temp reducers, cleaners, sealers, puddys, ect ect.) Not to mention spraying clearcoat is not something that lays out nicely with a cheap ampro gun or some junk from autozone. You need for example a sata rp or similar quality gun to save you a lot of hassle and alot of annoying WET sanding and buffing. I know this is off topic but I'm trying to keep the OP from thinking this is easily obtainable.

1. body kit $400.00
2. mounting hardware and adhesives $ 45.00
3. 1 gallon of Rage (filler) $ 40.00
4. 1 gallon of any normal base coat $200.00---$800.00
5. 1 gallon of clear (r &m for ex.) $187.00
6. reducers/hardeners $200.00
7. cleaner solvents, tack clothes $80.00
8. high build primer surfacer/sealer 2 quarts $125.00
9: good high speed buffer $150.00
10. 3m buff pads, trizact/extra cut/swirl remover $150.00
11. sandpaper rolls/ grit- 180, 320, 600 (minimum) $57.00 per roll-- $171.00 total
12. masking tapes/ fine line, 1" and 2" $23.00
13. masking paper $25.00 per roll
14. respirator 3m with charcoal filters $28.00
15 6" 3m sand block $12.00
16. spreaders $7.00
17: sata rp spray gun $500.00
18. 100 galon compressor $400.00
19. devillbiss cheap inline air dryer $12.00
20. ect ect ect
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$2755.00---3355.00

thats kinds of a bare minimum to do it right. Then you have to know the right pressures to set the gun at, depending on what your spraying ect ect ect . to much to know and attempt unless you have someone who has most the stuff and they will let you borrow it and give you insight on how to use it.

 

[johny24]

Painting is not all about wet sanding. I'm not trying to be mean but thats just ignorant. My 2 best friends paint cars for a living and I went to school for it as well to learn as a hobby. Don't go telling kids that painting a car is easy, especially not doing it the right way. A controlled tempurature enviroment (a.k.a paint booth or shop) with the right products (correct temp reducers, cleaners, sealers, puddys, ect ect.) Not to mention spraying clearcoat is not something that lays out nicely with a cheap ampro gun or some junk from autozone. You need for example a sata rp or similar quality gun to save you a lot of hassle and alot of annoying WET sanding and buffing. I know this is off topic but I'm trying to keep the OP from thinking this is easily obtainable.

1. body kit $400.00
2. mounting hardware and adhesives $ 45.00
3. 1 gallon of Rage (filler) $ 40.00
4. 1 gallon of any normal base coat $200.00---$800.00
5. 1 gallon of clear (r &m for ex.) $187.00
6. reducers/hardeners $200.00
7. cleaner solvents, tack clothes $80.00
8. high build primer surfacer/sealer 2 quarts $125.00
9: good high speed buffer $150.00
10. 3m buff pads, trizact/extra cut/swirl remover $150.00
11. sandpaper rolls/ grit- 180, 320, 600 (minimum) $57.00 per roll-- $171.00 total
12. masking tapes/ fine line, 1" and 2" $23.00
13. masking paper $25.00 per roll
14. respirator 3m with charcoal filters $28.00
15 6" 3m sand block $12.00
16. spreaders $7.00
17: sata rp spray gun $500.00
18. 100 galon compressor $400.00
19. devillbiss cheap inline air dryer $12.00
20. ect ect ect
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$2755.00---3355.00

thats kinds of a bare minimum to do it right. Then you have to know the right pressures to set the gun at, depending on what your spraying ect ect ect . to much to know and attempt unless you have someone who has most the stuff and they will let you borrow it and give you insight on how to use it.

wow thats alot of stuff in painting a car and sound complicated with all the tools

 

[Jeff99GS]

Painting is not all about wet sanding. I'm not trying to be mean but thats just ignorant. My 2 best friends paint cars for a living and I went to school for it as well to learn as a hobby. Don't go telling kids that painting a car is easy, especially not doing it the right way. A controlled tempurature enviroment (a.k.a paint booth or shop) with the right products (correct temp reducers, cleaners, sealers, puddys, ect ect.) Not to mention spraying clearcoat is not something that lays out nicely with a cheap ampro gun or some junk from autozone. You need for example a sata rp or similar quality gun to save you a lot of hassle and alot of annoying WET sanding and buffing. I know this is off topic but I'm trying to keep the OP from thinking this is easily obtainable.

1. body kit $400.00
2. mounting hardware and adhesives $ 45.00
3. 1 gallon of Rage (filler) $ 40.00
4. 1 gallon of any normal base coat $200.00---$800.00
5. 1 gallon of clear (r &m for ex.) $187.00
6. reducers/hardeners $200.00
7. cleaner solvents, tack clothes $80.00
8. high build primer surfacer/sealer 2 quarts $125.00
9: good high speed buffer $150.00
10. 3m buff pads, trizact/extra cut/swirl remover $150.00
11. sandpaper rolls/ grit- 180, 320, 600 (minimum) $57.00 per roll-- $171.00 total
12. masking tapes/ fine line, 1" and 2" $23.00
13. masking paper $25.00 per roll
14. respirator 3m with charcoal filters $28.00
15 6" 3m sand block $12.00
16. spreaders $7.00
17: sata rp spray gun $500.00
18. 100 galon compressor $400.00
19. devillbiss cheap inline air dryer $12.00
20. ect ect ect
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$2755.00---3355.00

thats kinds of a bare minimum to do it right. Then you have to know the right pressures to set the gun at, depending on what your spraying ect ect ect . to much to know and attempt unless you have someone who has most the stuff and they will let you borrow it and give you insight on how to use it.

Well just so you know, I do it for a living too. If you want a Quality paint job with NO Orange peel, you ABSOLUTLY HAVE to wet sand the car. I will pay your High school shop teacher or your Buddy's 1,000,000 dollars If they can paint a car and NOT have Orange peel.... PROFESIONALS wet sand.....Regular body shops trying to push out work as fast as possible DON"T wet sand. The school is basically teaching you to work for a BODY shop not a custom Body Shop.
I learned Everything I know about painting from Picking up a Gun and Trying it. Thats the ONLY way you will ever learn. Most People are scared to try to paint a car themselves cause of people scaring them away from it. Like I said YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME SKILL. I guess Maybe some people don't have what it takes to do a good paint job. I painted my car and did my body work For $530 bucks! The first car I painted was NOT in a Booth Nor did I use an Expesive Gun. I don't pay people to work on my car for me.

 

[johny24]

A couple more questions do i have to rebuilt my engine in order to handle a turbo kit since it has so many miles? and how much usually a shop charges to get the turbokit installed? I kind of feel iffy about installing it myself...

 

[4UH8ERS]

Well just so you know, I do it for a living too. If you want a Quality paint job with NO Orange peel, you ABSOLUTLY HAVE to wet sand the car. I will pay your High school shop teacher or your Buddy's 1,000,000 dollars If they can paint a car and NOT have Orange peel.... PROFESIONALS wet sand.....Regular body shops trying to push out work as fast as possible DON"T wet sand. The school is basically teaching you to work for a BODY shop not a custom Body Shop.
I learned Everything I know about painting from Picking up a Gun and Trying it. Thats the ONLY way you will ever learn. Most People are scared to try to paint a car themselves cause of people scaring them away from it. Like I said YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME SKILL. I guess Maybe some people don't have what it takes to do a good paint job. I painted my car and did my body work For $530 bucks! The first car I painted was NOT in a Booth Nor did I use an Expesive Gun. I don't pay people to work on my car for me.

I said booth or an open shop BTW.

, why are we talking about orange peel? and minimal orange peel thats unnoticeable to an untrained eye is fairly easy. You can just buff with extra cut and a wool pad if you lay the clear well. Of course, a slower clear will run out alot better. Most body shops use quick clear and they still usually stick to buffing without wetsanding. Anyways who cares, I was merely saving the boy a headache. You see my avatar, I painted my car and its not wetsanded or buffed, but I have full access to a paint booth and all the tools as well. it cost me hardly nothing.

Johnny I think your best bet would be to do a compression test to check the condition of your motor first. You can rent one from autozone and it has fairly easy to understand instructions with it.

If your compression check turns out well, just turbo your current motor, but don't go over about 8psi, depending on what type of turbocharger your running. As far as cost, there is no telling. You would have to call a local shop.

 

[Jeff99GS]

Well I Said Orange peel cause thats usually what you are trying to remove when wet sanding. Some People DON"T care and leave the car tha way it is, but I wet sand everything till its smooth as Glass. I just Don't like when people discourage others from getting bodykits and a paint job. I Had a lot of fun times working on my car and installing the bodykit. Its all a personal prefrence....Some of those guys almost sound Jelouse when they tell everyone not to get a bodykit. I don't know about those guys but I know My car is a ####y Magnet, and thats what matters to me! The girls don't care how fast it goes. They wanna look at the shiny paint haha.

 

[absolute_DSM]

My car is a ####y Magnet, and thats what matters to me! The girls don't care how fast it goes. They wanna look at the shiny paint haha.

Might just be me, but since when have we built our cars just to get women?

 

[link16]

My car is a ####y Magnet, and thats what matters to me! The girls don't care how fast it goes. They wanna look at the shiny paint haha.

I don't know about you guys but my g/f LOVES fast cars. Sure the looks are a plus, but the faster I go and the the corners I hug makes her happy.

 

[Slo2gen]

My girl hates my car because i spend more money and time with it than I do her. Its quiet though, doesnt bi*** out loud(the car).