Looking at this 96 TSi need some opinions and help.

[dsmpride77]

Hey guys, I know I have been on here before asking for advice on getting either a TSi or GSX.

Well here's the scoop.

Found a 96 TSi with all GReddy parts, Type S BOV, Front Mount Intercooler. 3in Exhaust. 50k miles on rebuild with paperwork. 16g turbo. (Dummy has the BOV going to the atmosphere). 18in aftermaket rims and wheels.


Problems:
-Exhaust leak right on the exhaust mani, you can see the exhaust mani seem to 'rot'??(crack?) And can feel the exhaust leak.
-Some belts seem to be loose and squeak, no problem.
-Window tint and some body is a little dented.

The guy needs money and a car so he will take my ESi and $400 for it.

I think its a good deal yeah needs some work like all DSMs out there but it doesn't seem like too big of deal on the problems. I don't know if its true, but he said that I couldn't go over 2000
RPMs with the exhaust leak or could burn a valve and the turbo and BOV wouldn't kick. Don't know how much of that is true, anyways..

I have been looking for an AWD DSM for about 3 years and I can do this now.

What do you guys think, I would really like to get the opinion of hardcore DSMers that knows more than me.

Thanks in advance guys.

Sent from my Epic 4G using Tapatalk

 

[DSM_Talon77]

Hey guys, that was my other account, I lost the info for this account and just remembered it and so, if anyone can help me out it would be greatly appreciated!

 

[BIRDCLAWTSi]

It sounds like a deal, The reason you wouldnt want to drive it too hard with a crack in the manifold is because it is a pre 02 sensor leak. You will not have correct afr's. I dont know if you know about cars or have a friend or father who does, But i wouldnt trade my TSi for an ESi... There may be more going on than you can see. Look under the rocker panels and quarter panels for rust and rot.

The manifold can be welded for cheap. Just make sure the timing belt is good, Hoses(General maintenance)... Make sure the turbo is good. Remove the intake pipe and wiggle the shaft. Check for in and out play as well as up and down. Make sure you check the turbo.
It sounds kinda strange that he doesnt want you to drive the car over 2k. Granted the manifold crack, But you should be able to go over 2k, Make sure you can get it into gears without grinding, Make sure it is not smoking or knocking. Just make sure the car is worth it mechanically and it is a good deal.

Maybe , If you can get some pics or video of the car running and post em up on here before you pull the trigger...That would be very helpful.

 

[DSM_Talon77]

It sounds like a deal, The reason you wouldnt want to drive it too hard with a crack in the manifold is because it is a pre 02 sensor leak. You will not have correct afr's. I dont know if you know about cars or have a friend or father who does, But i wouldnt trade my TSi for an ESi... There may be more going on than you can see. Look under the rocker panels and quarter panels for rust and rot.

The manifold can be welded for cheap. Just make sure the timing belt is good, Hoses(General maintenance)... Make sure the turbo is good. Remove the intake pipe and wiggle the shaft. Check for in and out play as well as up and down. Make sure you check the turbo.
It sounds kinda strange that he doesnt want you to drive the car over 2k. Granted the manifold crack, But you should be able to go over 2k, Make sure you can get it into gears without grinding, Make sure it is not smoking or knocking. Just make sure the car is worth it mechanically and it is a good deal.

Maybe , If you can get some pics or video of the car running and post em up on here before you pull the trigger...That would be very helpful.

The guy is just i dire need of any sum of cash, but needs a car and he is exploring all options for a trade plus cash on my end. It starts up fine, don't hear any knocks, he did take off the top timing cover (hopefully the lower one is still there (hah). Belts looked good, then again it was at night, I will get pics of the car when I go and test it out.

He has a lot of looks, so I'm trying to get it done asap ### I've been wanting one for so long.

He said it has been running around 18-19lbs of boost and until you get the exhaust mani crack fixed then you wont get any? Wont you get some spool out of the turbo and noise from BOV even with the crack? If I do get it, I am planning on taking it to an exhaust shop to see if they weld it so I can save up for an Evo3 Mani.

Alright, here are some pictures of the outside and the engine bay.

Eagle Talon TSi FWD - Imgur

I found a guy with a ported stock exhaust mani with no cracks and only wants $30 so that will fix that crack and bad weld job on the existing mani.

 

[BIRDCLAWTSi]

Looks pretty good man, The price is right. That manifold looks decent. It has the spot for a external wastegate near the crack. Just clean it up and have it welded.

Other than that some minor cosmetics, But that is easy to fix. As long as the tranny ,Turbo and engine are good.

If the crack is big enough , And i mean pretty big , You will have a hard time spooling the turbo. Does it sound like an exhaust leak at idle? Like a car without a muffler?

If the crack isnt that bad and it is not building boost, Check the wastegate actuator, See if the arm has any play in it.

I cant stress enough how important it is to physically remove the intake pipe and feel the shaft for play. In and out is very bad, There will be some side to side.
I dont know if you have ever had to buy a new turbo before, ...Even for a new e316g it is in the $5-600 range, Used is around $2-300 for a good clean one.

Another thing i didnt see was fuel upgrades.. Injectors , fuel pump,Etc.. 19 psi on stock fuel is no good.

 

[95talongirl]

The guy could just be in need of a car that doesn't need work, as well... sometimes a trouble free car is worth more than a hopped up version that needs repairs.

It doesn't look bad for the price. Take Birdclaw's advice, and you should be fine.

Oh, in your first post it says you were looking for an AWD model? You do know this one is a FWD, right? (going off the ad listing) Just making sure you didn't miss that!

 

[Dhan]

Hey guys, that was my other account, I lost the info for this account and just remembered it and so, if anyone can help me out it would be greatly appreciated!

Is it on the Denver Craigslist?

EDIT: Wow, never mind. Paying attention fail

 

[2GbTalonGuy]

I would go for it. By the look of it, it needs a bit of work, but for that deal I would go for it. Ant that way you dont have to go through the PITA of selling your car.

 

[DSM_Talon77]

Alright. Bit the bullet and got it!! SUPER EXCITED!

-Yes I know its FWD (dont care at this point at least i got my TSi )
-The turbo has very very minimal shaft play (checked by a DSM guy in town as well to double check)
-I figured out, the guy covered the external wastegate with a piece of thin piece of metal and tried to weld and that failed.. A buddy of mine and I were looking at it and couldn't find the wastegate actuator?? Also couldn't tell what kind of turbo was on there. (guy said it was a 16g.. couldn't tell??)
-Yes it sounds like a car without a muffler becuase all the exhaust is going out the wastegate spot that was poorly "covered".

-Speedometer and mile clock dont work.
-Driver door handle doesnt unlatch the door, have to open it from the passenger and open the driver side from the inside.
-Valve cover is cracked. The guy poured epoxy under the spark plug cover and you push on it and some oil comes up.
-ebrake isnt very strong.
-motor mount may be broke on one side.
-may need thermostat? could be fixed when exhaust leak is fixed?
-timing belt cover is missing (top to bottom) =/

Also the manifold is the Turbonetics T3/T4 Manifold.
That is about it, maybe $250-$500 in work? Not too bad??

EDIT:
No tranny grinding.
Clutch VERY stiff (guy says its an aftermarket)
Doesn't have much power, hopefully that is becuase of the exhaust leak.

 

[Bluefire16]

I have a feeling there is more wrong with it than that. The motor is prob shot, but it still a good steal either way, even if you need to rebuild the head.

 

[DSM_Talon77]

I have a feeling there is more wrong with it than that. The motor is prob shot, but it still a good steal either way, even if you need to rebuild the head.

How do you get that feeling? because I may be thinking the same, even though the guy SAID rebuilt with 50k. I have a feeling it wasnt and he said he had paperwork and didnt.

 

[Dhan]

guy SAID rebuilt with 50k. I have a feeling it wasnt and he said he had paperwork and didnt.

That would've been a red flag for me. First off, don't drive it in that condition. You may already know not to, but you'd surprised how careless many ppl are.

Get the timing belt covers stat and while they're off, check to see what condition the belts are in. Check both belts. If he really did do a rebuild 50K ago, the belts will be in decent shape, in need of replacement soon, but in decent shape.

Get a whole new header and VC too. Don't bother trying to fix what's already toast.

You can see if the motor mounts broken. E-brake's fairly straight forward. May just need adjustment. Clutch probably needs to be bled.

Will definitely need some work before its roadworthy. The seller sounds like he was a goof ball. I would take the repairs slowly on this one and be meticulous. No telling what kind of abuse it's been through. Good job rescuing it!

Did you end up trading your ESi for it, or did it turn into just a cash deal?

 

[DSM_Talon77]

That would've been a red flag for me. First off, don't drive it in that condition. You may already know not to, but you'd surprised how careless many ppl are.

Get the timing belt covers stat and while they're off, check to see what condition the belts are in. Check both belts. If he really did do a rebuild 50K ago, the belts will be in decent shape, in need of replacement soon, but in decent shape.

Get a whole new header and VC too. Don't bother trying to fix what's already toast.

You can see if the motor mounts broken. E-brake's fairly straight forward. May just need adjustment. Clutch probably needs to be bled.

Will definitely need some work before its roadworthy. The seller sounds like he was a goof ball. I would take the repairs slowly on this one and be meticulous. No telling what kind of abuse it's been through. Good job rescuing it!

Did you end up trading your ESi for it, or did it turn into just a cash deal?

I ended up trading my ESi for it. Right now it is at a shop, having a good friend look at it to see of anything else that may be wrong with it.

I dont have much money till my next paycheck on the 3rd, so I am going to weld the mani for now, the VC, I am looking to find a good one thats pretty cheap (hah). Do have a spare stock 2g BOV and MAF w/pigtails i amd probably going to sell, or attempt to.

I tightened up the ebrake and it holds now but squeaks when its really needed.

Wish i knew what kind of turbo was in it with a T3 flange (GReddy maybe?) so i know whether to get an external wastegate or it has on in it. (New to the wastegate/turbo stuff)

 

[Dhan]

I tightened up the ebrake and it holds now but squeaks when its really needed.

Wish i knew what kind of turbo was in it with a T3 flange (GReddy maybe?) so i know whether to get an external wastegate or it has on in it. (New to the wastegate/turbo stuff)

Your E-brake squeaks WTF What are you trying to drift with it or something . Or do you mean that when you park it on a steep hill, the car rolls and the E-brake squeaks?

Pictures pictures pictures! Snap a photo of the turbocharger assembly and we'll id it for you.

 

[DSM_Talon77]

Your E-brake squeaks WTF What are you trying to drift with it or something . Or do you mean that when you park it on a steep hill, the car rolls and the E-brake squeaks?

Pictures pictures pictures! Snap a photo of the turbocharger assembly and we'll id it for you.

, not going to drift in this car especially with the leak. But car rolls and ebrake squeaks like on a hill.

Will get pictures once i get it back from the shop.

EDIT: Also doesnt anyone know why my "Anti Lock" light is always on in the dash?

 

[DSM_Talon77]

Ok, so heres the scoop...

Needs motor and tranny mounts bad, and some lifters *sigh*.

The turbo is a Greddy T3/T4, I do not see a wastegate on the turbo at all, and where it is leaking on the manifold, that is the spot for an external wastegate... So I have been trying to decide on somethings..

[1] Get an external wastegate and mount it up to the mani. But what PSI spring should I get? I dont really understand the wastegate.

[2] Find a used 14b turbo for under $150 and get a stock ported mani for $30 and call it good?

I'm not quite sure on where to go from here.

 

[cookmeup272]

the wastegate diverts exhaust gases away from the turbine to limit the boost. You can get whatever spring you want, just know that you WONT be able to run any boost less that than spring. So if you get like, a .5bar spring, you will only be able to run about 7.5lbs and up. There is a guy on the classifieds selling a stock 2g manifold.

 

[DSM_Talon77]

the wastegate diverts exhaust gases away from the turbine to limit the boost. You can get whatever spring you want, just know that you WONT be able to run any boost less that than spring. So if you get like, a .5bar spring, you will only be able to run about 7.5lbs and up. There is a guy on the classifieds selling a stock 2g manifold.

Okay, that makes more sense now, I thought the spring was for that psi and lower, makes more sense now thanks.

I have a buddy in town selling a ported 2g manifold for $30 in town, just need to find a good used 14b turbo.

Unless the turbo is the cost of a Tial Wastegate, then I'll just keep my current setup (Greddy t3/t4 with current t3/t4 flange mani)


Any place to get a Tial under $200?

 

[cookmeup272]

I run a TurboXS external wastegate on my setup.