New Owner: Anything I should know? What should I mod first? [merged]

[airboss]

Hello to everbody in this forum. I'm new to all of this so from time to time I may ask a foolish question or two so bear with me. I just recently purchased a 1991 Talon TSi Turbo FWD for $7,600.00 Canadian and the Car was in MINT condition, never winter driven, always stored indoors, 100,000 kms., one owner (A Doctor) who always did the regular maintenance and anything else that needed to be done, and always a couple of good coats of Mother's Wax on her. She is in Pristine condition on the inside as well as under the hood, Pictures will follow soon so you can see for youself. What do you think? Also, I plan on doing some modifications, nothing outrageous but enough to put her around 250 HP. I'm thinking a mechanical boost gauge mounted on a single A Pillar Pod, a K & N High FLow Air Filter System to replace the whole stock can filter that is there now, and a new blow-off valve...Does this sound reasonable? That would do it for mods under the hood for now. The rest would be looks items like 17" Sniper Rims, and a neon purple ground effect kit.

Let's here those comments...I'm new to this stuff so all advise and help would be appreciated.

 

[chet]

its a dohc turbo...i'm positive.

the car has those wheels on it...along with an aftermarket sunroof.

 

[DSMSpyder99]

if you take a picture of the engine bay we can easily determine if it is a N/T or a Turbo. I think its a Tsi (FWD)

 

[chet]

i checked for the side mount intercooler and it has one.

i also looked at the gauge cluster and it has a boost gauge...so i'm 100% sure its an awd turbo.

i was just hoping you guys could narrow down the year for me...as i haven't asked the guy i'm buying it from.

like if awd turbo's with the wheels pictured were sold in 93 or 94 or from 92-94.

in a few days i'll have pictures and more information...i'm just hoping it has a 4bolt rear end...although thats a longshot i think.

 

[Sotarts]

The sticker in the door-jamb. (When you open the door, it's on the frame.)
Some parts (panels, lenses.. etc) usually have the date of manufacture stamped/formed on them.
Another way you can determine by the VIN. It's an alphabet letter that corresponds with the year (I forgot the order or which letter it is, I used to work at the auto pound, that's how I know)
You can also take the VIN to the dealer and ask. Or call the dealer parts dept. and ask. Or run a carfax.
It says what year on the title. You DO have the title, right?
Go here: http://www.carfax.com , at the top you can do a "free check". You won't get a free check, it will only confirm EXACTLY what kind of car that is, what year, etc...
Or this is a joke and you're pulling our leg?
You've done motor swaps, yet you have no clue how to check for manufacture/model year?

:bsflag:

 

[chet]

well, i bought the car without looking under the hood or opening the doors...as its locked sitting in a parking lot.

i offered the guy 200 after checking for the intercooler...and he agreed. the car needs a fuel pump and maybe a few other things...

he has all of the service records and said this to me in an email...which i just received.

"Talon is '91, with '90 laser drivetrain, which has about the same milage as the car. Takes the same oil/air filters. Car also has new idler for timing belt, new timing belts within the past 500 miles, new hoses. Timing belts MUST be changed before they reach 40K -they've broken on me twice well before the reccommended 60K (Chrysler told me to go !@#$%^
myself- they stand behind their belts for 12K, even tho they say keep them on for 60K."

 

[2gBlkGST]

a REALLY easy way is to type the vin number in carfax...and w/o paying the year, model, and all that coems up.

 

[Sotarts]

Originally posted by chet
well, i bought the car without looking under the hood or opening the doors...as its locked sitting in a parking lot.

http://www.carfax.com top right corner or right in the middle in front of your nose. Enter the VIN in the box and press 'submit' (or whateverthehellitwas). It will show EXACTLY what it is.

 

[NeOzz1]

I am a first time 91 Eagle Talon TSI owner. I live in Ohio and found my car in Pittsburg PA, it had 48,000 miles and only had one 70 year old owner. As you can probably assume it is almost spotless. But it is also completely stock! I will have some money soon but I have no idea what to buy and what I should buy. Please give me some ideas and also maybe some free mods I should make too. I also have a question about the 16G turbo...
- Will it bolt directly on in place of the old turbo?
- How much boost can I push out of it with just the turbo nothing else?
- Do you need to buy anything besides the turbo for it to work with the car?
- Do I have a boost control on my car?
- If yes were is it?
- Do I need a different one?
thanks for the help it is highly appreciated.

 

[CowPimp]

Originally posted by NeOzz1
I am a first time 91 Eagle Talon TSI owner. I live in Ohio and found my car in Pittsburg PA, it had 48,000 miles and only had one 70 year old owner. As you can probably assume it is almost spotless. But it is also completely stock! I will have some money soon but I have no idea what to buy and what I should buy. Please give me some ideas and also maybe some free mods I should make too. I also have a question about the 16G turbo...
- Will it bolt directly on in place of the old turbo?
- How much boost can I push out of it with just the turbo nothing else?
- Do you need to buy anything besides the turbo for it to work with the car?
- Do I have a boost control on my car?
- If yes were is it?
- Do I need a different one?
thanks for the help it is highly appreciated.

Most of these questions can be answered by searches, but I will tell you what I know.

I don't know if it bolts directly in place of the stock turbo, but I do know that the installation of a 16G onto a 1G is easier than onto a 2G.

Every car is different, but I don't suggest running more than about 12-13psi on a 16G with the stock fuel system. Raise it one pound or so at a time and make sure that the car can handle it. If you raise it too much, you will lean out the air/fuel mixture and damage internals like your pistons. An upgraded fuel pump will allow for more boost at a reasonable cost.

You can install a turbo with no other mods, but I advise against it. You aren't going to notice the gains that you are expecting without supporting mods. Do the following mods before getting a bigger turbo: intake, intercooler piping (Upper at least), full exhaust, and a fuel pump. Check the tuning guide on this site for more information.

No, the car doesn't come with a boost controller. You can buy a manual boost controller for about $50, or you can buy an electronic boost controller for a few hundred dollars. Go with the manual controller if money is of any concern to you. Don't forget to install a better boost gauge than stock. The stock one is totally innaccurate.

 

['96_Talon_TSi]

Check out the Tuning guide

but here are the first few things you need:

new boost gauge
intake pipe & open element filter
exhaust
boost controller
hard intercooler pipe


Thats all the basic stuff you will need. When you get into the turbo stuff, you will need a new fuel system, because the stock system doesnt flow enough for playing down decent boost numbers on a bigger turbo.

larger fuel pump
larger injectors
fuel control (S-AFC, DSM-Link, etc)
and your 16G turbo.
probably even need a larger intercooler

Yes, the 16G will bolt right up to your 1G, its the 2G they dont bolt right up to.

 

[BUCK]

Congrats on a NICE find - but no matter how pretty it is - untill you've checked or changed EVERY hose & EVERY belt & EVERY fluid - & gotten rid of the damn water to oil cooler don't go tearing into the sumbitch. 48K would be time for all new belts anyway - you can spend some money on that FIRST. Clutch life on the AWD is not that great either - That 14B will give you something else to spend money on in SOME regard before long if you enjoy flogging it it as much as we all do - have fun & Good Luck.

 

[pyrokilla]

Hi guys, well I have been looking for a Talon TSI AWD for over a year now and I will have it tommarow! Its stock so far except for being lowered.

I have already bought this exhaust

http://www.greddy.com/products/prod...dtypename=SP - Exhaust Systems&productidx=280

What are your thoughts on this catback? I have heard great things from my friends. Anyways Nice to meet you all!

Oh and i got a steal on the exhaust new in box for $350

 

[JessesTalon]

Originally posted by pyrokilla
What are your thoughts on this catback? I have heard great things from my friends. Anyways Nice to meet you all!
Oh and i got a steal on the exhaust new in box for $350 [/B]

I paid less than that for my entire 3" turbo back with no cat flanged for a test pipe with magnaflow straight through muffler... 0wned.

80 for muffler 100 for test pipe 100 for downpipe + flex peice and mandrel bends after the "test-pipe" to the magnaflow




Nice to see a new DSM's. Post some pic's in the gallery and link them in the hangout...

When you get it do all the free mods and have somone help you rewire the fuel pump.

then buy a custom 10$ boost controller (ball and spring) off of ebay

then go to the tech article section and read my article i did about the 5.99 3" intake for 1g's. buy a k&N filter if you havent already (45$)

happy boosting at 15psi and running low 14's (if your a good driver mid to high 13's (get a better exhaust and get your money you got ripped off of back...

 

[erc's_gsx]

do some tuneup work on ur vehicle before u really start modding. as for the $10 mbc from ebay, you should probably stay away from that, i've heard bad stuff about the "secret inovations" that they create it with just save $50 and grab a hallman mbc from www.taboospeedshop.com

 

[98RedGs]

I don't really trust the 10 dollar boost controllers either.
Get the exhaust and sell it if you could or change it to a greddy evo or apexi-n1 exhaust.

Make sure all repairs/maitaince is up on the car before you put any larger mods on it. Because if you don't, you're going to be paying for repairs instead of mods.

 

[Sk8er07999]

Good to have another dsm'r! I am sure the greddy sounds and peforms nicely but I will always stick with the apexi! Nice choice either way. Don't go trying to make some home made exhaust It may perform well but the quality and craftsmenship of greddy or apexi units are far superior and sound alot better. I agree. Do all the preventative maintanence so you won't break as many things as you would without! Good luck and enjoy

 

[herovueboi]

this concerns the Ebay item, MBC. Don't order it, i bought one and that was one worthless piece of ****. Seriously, well the thing with it is that it doesn't peak. no matter where you set it, it won't stay at a point you set it to. It just keeps going higher and higher, unless you want to keep your boost guessing, i ordered it and got rid of it in 1 day. i'm happy with my MBC from summit race Turbo XS. that ebay mbc useless. Hope that helped!

 

[pyrokilla]

I have not bought the exhaust yet, should I cancel.

 

[erc's_gsx]

you should probably just cancel ur order on the greddy exhaust and grab an apex N1 or maybe a thermal R&D exhaust (which i own),
but you'll spend a good $200 more, but it'll be worth it.

just save up $300 more and grab a turboback from RnR. i think they sell them for around $600 compared to a $500 catback system.

 

[Sk8er07999]

Yeah the RNR is the best bang for the buck but I have to say I love the sound of the apexi n1. I get compliments on the best sounding 4-banger all the time. They are made very well too. if you think about it apexi n1 is like 500 for the catback 200 for the dp plus another 150 or so for a 2.5 inch 02 sensor housing so the price goes up real quick. But I know that when I get a 1g I will not put anything on there except the apexi n1 dp and catback.

 

[dsm50fifty]

Yesterday I bought a 95 GSX (always wanted an Eclipse N/A or Turbo). 100k miles, 5spd, 1g turbo, 1g BOV, ported exhaust manifold, boost controller and boost gauge. While driving it I easily noticed a very annoying noise coming from the engine. The previous owner informed me before I bought the car that it had an exhaust leak (exh. manifold gasket). He told me that his friend installed the manifold and torqued it, drove it but forgot to retorque it after the engine got warm. He also claims that the stock plastic BOV cracked and caused the stock turbo to blow and he had a friend replace them with 1g components. After driving it only for a very short period of time I opened up the hood and noticed it was very hot, and even saw a little smoke. Is this caused from the hot exhaust leaking out from the gasket or am I in for some expensive repairs?

 

[gregmondro]

the 2g bovs were plastic meaning it could have cracked.

1g bovs aren't plastic.

the exhaust manifold is a easy fix if it just needs to be tightened, it's either a 12 or 13mm wrench to tighten the bolts.

where was the smoke coming from?

 

[dsm50fifty]

The smoke wasn't coming from a certain arear, and it wasn't much at all. As soon as I opened the hood a small amount rose but that was it. So tightening the bolts should do the trick on the leak??

 

[ECLIPSE4x4]

I think you are going to have to be a little more specific here.

I mean did it smell like oil?

Could have been detailed and the chemicals burning off?

Let the car run, see where the smoke is coming from.

 

[dsm50fifty]

I'm gonna go check it out, I'm guessing it's exhaust leaking from the exhaust manifold gasket. The noise is sounds almost like a grinding noise but it's not.. it sounds like a 2-stroke engine in high rpms and it's coming from the engine bay.