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.

 

[IMMORTALSPYDER]

Is there a heat shield over top of your exhaust manifold? if not then that's why it was so hot underneath there.

 

[dsm50fifty]

Just went to start it up and see where the smoke was coming from but it wouldn't start. The first attempt gave me several clicks.. as I kept trying the clicks got fewer and fewer until there were no clicks at all when I attempted to start it. I'm assuming this is a battery issue. Now for the exhaust manifold, I noticed that there was two threaded holes on it placed on either side of the manifold, with nothing bolted into them. Is this for a heathshield?

 

[halik008]

clicking....yes sounds like barrety issue indeed

threaded holes .....yes for heat shield

halik

 

[dsm50fifty]

I'm gonna call some of the local salvage yards to see if they have any Eclipses. What years are models' heat sheild would fit my '95 GSX? Would I need to torque the exhaust manifold bolts to spec or should I just tighten as them as much as my little hand and wrench can because I don't have a torque wrench.

 

[Denji]

95-99 eclipse.. 95-98 talons too!

 

[QCV8eater]

Hey Ppl!

Newbie here... I just subscribed to this forum after looking at it for a few months. I'm located in quebec city, Canada (anyone around here? montreal? PM me so we could get in touch some time) and currently drive a virtually torqueless 1.6L mazda protege.

Anyways, I'm going friday night to check out a '97 GSX. The guy has tagged his car at 15 900$ CAD. The car has 92 000kms (52ish thousand miles) and he says that the brakes will have to be either worked (i think they might be warped) or completely changed and that the timing belt squeaks uner humid conditions.

Question is : How much do you think I should counter-offer him? 15900 seems quite a lot to me, knowing it's a 97 and that there's some work to be done to bring it back to mint.

Also, what should I pay attention to, ie typical problems, rattles, squeaks? Is there a easy-quick way to diagnose crankwalk (i've heard it's one of the major problems) or any other common trouble on a GSX?

By the way, there are no major mods done to this car (BOV and Turbo timer and that's it).

Please help me out... I really want to own an Eclipse, but I don't want to get screwed

--Phil

 

[jasoncitrano]

first off all 15900 is extremly high, timing belts are extremly important and not easy to change, check that, check the oil color, and level. drive the car make sure you can feel the grip of all wheels when you turn hard and such. check for oil leaks and coolant leaks as well. let me know

 

[Nvious]

Hello every one, i am going to be a dsm owner very soon... almost closed a 98 gsx with 65k... i am an x-integra owner and i am looking forward to learning and tuning my gsx

 

[WI_99'GST]

Welcome to the man's world! hah

 

[QCV8eater]

As I was thinking about it... maybe the price tag is high because Eclipses were not sold in Canada and they're imported from US. But does it still justify a 15900$ tag? I'm not sure... calling every canadian 2g ECLIPSE owners... how much did you pay for it? in what shape was it? mods?

Thanks!

--Phil

 

[Defiant]

You like roller-coasters?

This is the part where it goes clikclikclikclikclikclikclikclik

You know what comes next.

Hold on.

Oh. One other thing: This one don't stop at no clown-surrounded ticket gate. It's straight to the gaping maw of hell.

But if nothing else, it's an interesting ride.

 

[halik008]

You like roller-coasters?

This is the part where it goes clikclikclikclikclikclikclikclik

You know what comes next.

Hold on.

Oh. One other thing: This one don't stop at no clown-surrounded ticket gate. It's straight to the gaping maw of hell.

But if nothing else, it's an interesting ride.

defiant,

some of ur posts are just simply brilliant!!!

halik

 

[tom1995tsi]

HAHAHHA Defiant

 

[heavyD]

Isn't it the truth. That is the most accurate description of owning a DSM yet.

 

[Eagle_Summit]

So true about dsms. Ive owned mine for maybe a month and ive dumped a shitload of money, and broke sum parts already



and there goes my life :laugh:

 

[2GSpoolin]

Yeah that's like $11000 ish US??? To lazy to go look at the conversion, but yeah i would say talk him down a few g's and that is prob as cheap as you will get it on your side od the border...

 

[QCV8eater]

it's almost $12500 USD

 

[HyperGSX]

Do a compression test, drive it around the block and listen for any unusual sounds, pop the hood and look for leaks and properly colored fluids.

 

[QCV8eater]

Any other piece of advice? C'mon... It's tomorrow afternoon!

 

[BoredOutaMyMind]

pop off the intake tube leading to the turbo and stick your finger in and feel for shaft play? probably a good idea to do this before you actually drive too . Check to see if smoke comes out under boost too

 

[QCV8eater]

Ok here are some updates...

I saw the guy yesterday afternoon and.. DAMN I want this car... however... there are a few problems on it and i'd like you ppl to tell me how bad they are and at what cost they could be solved... and also how much i could counter-ofer him (he's asking for 15900 CAD, 12500 USD) considering those problems and being already over-priced IMHO

1 : Scratch on the front bumper near the driver side wheel well... not too deep but it's to the plastic...

2 : CD Player not working. Everything else on the HU works, but not the CDs... The guy told me it should only be a weld that failed somewhere

3 : 1 or 2 dings on the body

4 : Cruise control works one time out of 2 (don't hink i'll use that so much)

Except those few things, car runs great... AWD seems to be in pretty good shape. Leather too. Every repair has been done with OEM parts.

Thanks !

--Phil

 

[MarkyGsX]

hey guys...just recently purchased my first dsm white 90 gsx for $3300 at 100k....i was a former z owner 86na and 87turbo 300zx...both of which were stolen from me....my car came with hks evc, hks turbo timer, KnN filter, apexi 3" exhaust, ACT 2100 clutch, eibach pro kits w/ kyb agx all around...blitz super sound bov(which i have swapped w/ oem) momo steering wheel, razo pedals and momo knob,front strut bar and 4 point roll cage....maintanance done at 88k include new head gasket,timing belt and tensioners,waterpump, and many other new engine parts incuded along the way....this price good for this car....I am new to dsm's but my some of my friends have 2g and 1g gsx's and gst's and are dsm nuts....how was my buy...? thanks...

I have some new pic's in my profile for anyone interested checking out my car...

 

[02BLUR]

all that and the body is still straight. Looks really awesome. I think you got quite a deal.

 

[MarkyGsX]

body is very straight paint is decent with only minor touch up required...

 

[FutureGSXOwner]

I like it alot...Just keep it where it wont get stolen.