New to DSMs, Mods to Get?

[johnk12845]

Hello all!
I just bought a new 1998 Eclipse N/A, that I am looking to modify further than I already have. Since this is my first thread, let me sort of introduce myself at the same time. My name is John, and I from Eastern PA. I am sixteen years old, been in a mechanic shop since I was very young. I bought my Eclipse two days ago, and from what I was told by the seller, the car needs some obvious body work, a new head gasket(Cracked, not blown), and a battery mount. I bought the car for $1500, but it does already have a sort of extensive mod list. This is what its got so far:
-AEM Cold Air Intake
-Aftermarket Exhaust
-Full Body Kit(Replacing Front Bumper because it is cracked through the middle)
-Lambo Doors
-Flip Out Touch Screen Head Unit
-LCD Screen in Passenger Vanity Mirror
-An LCD Screen in the back of each seat
-Custom Sub Box in the trunk
-Few other random interior mods

Now, I do need to get the new front bumper painted when I get it to match the color of the car, but I also need to get the car's paint repainted and brought back to close to the factory look. The Lambo Doors also need to be tightened and have the weight distributed evenly on some new shocks. As you can tell, the car needs a little bit of work, but the parts alone in the car are worth more than the $1500 I paid for it.

My question to everyone now is, what mods should I get performance-wise, and also interior-wise? The car is automatic, unfortunately, but I will make due. Under the hood, I was thinking of doing a turbo setup, not sure what kind of turbo though. Headers, blow off valve, the normal bolt-ons. What else? No clue of what else I want to do in the interior besides two new seats in the front for some show.

My predicted budget once all the repairs, and paint and installations are done is going to be about $3000 all together. Also, I will be going back to my job in the Spring, so I will have some money from that.

If anyone could help me out with some ideas that would be great! Also, if anyone could help me out by giving me a price range on getting the paint corrected, and the front bumper paint matched, to make the whole car look close to how it was when it came out of the dealership.

Thanks!

 

[idkiliketurbos]

I went through that same phase of wanting an eclipse with a body kit and rims and exhaust and all that rice, when i was 14. I got my 98 tsi awd when i was 16 for my second car.(My first car was just to make money on, 95 prelude automatic) Now im 17 and the only mod ive done to the car is redoing my headliner black.

 

[400hp93talon]

Sell it and get a gst(tsi) or gsx(tsi awd) dont waste your money or your time!!

 

[wildfire_gst]

Yeah like everybody else said, sell the Eclipse N/A , get a 2ga/2gb GST or better if you can get a gsx

 

[Lavery]

We are just going to call this car your lemon car. Everyones first car is more or less a lemon. Asking opinions on a forum is a little pointless considering not everyone likes the same stuff. I would assume your not going to sell this car and since your 16 and probably strapped for cash, keeping it is your only option. Your on DSMtuners... so this is the response you should have expected. We are not about body kits and lambo doors over here. Please dont make a bad name for DSM's. Take the car back to stock as much as possible. As for more power out of a 420a... there isn't much you can do.

 

[2gawdtsi]

my TSi is my first car, no where near a lemon..

and thats the very upfront way to put it, but yes i also prefer a clean car over body kits

as for performance, intake and exhaust is all i would do, everything else isnt worth the money. its not gonna be the quickest thing in town, but my friend has a 420a and loves it, 30 something mpg, mine gets half that.

theres plus's / minus's to everything.
welcome to dsmtuners

 

[Rengar18]

Sell it, seriously. Way too much money and effort to make a 420a fast. You could sell it for 1000-1500 (if your lucky) and buy a good turbo dsm for 3500ish. Put that extra 1,000 into some good maintenance and a few starting mods and your set.

 

[johnk12845]

Like I said earlier, I am not really looking to sell the car =P

 

[rEclipserGST]

No need to sell it. Do maintenance, and just keep an eye out for a 420a turbo kit someone is parting out after throwing a rod or something.

To turbo your N/T it will probably cost as much as you bought the car for. But hey, that means your going to have a faster car for the same price... just not as durable.

 

[NiKKUH_BOViCE]

Haha you guys are rough. I have been reading a lot on these forums, and it doesn't seem like its very easy to turbo the 420a. I'm not sure if I said it before, but I am 16, and not really looking for anything too extensive, just what to pick up besides CAI and Exhaust for my car. I am not looking to resell it and get another car =P

If you are not looking to sell, im afraid you are headed for some big dissappointment. Sure, some people in your school might think your car is cool, but if they still think that lambo doors are classy then they are in the past. If you LOVE the way you car looks, good luck - i would not go to any car meets and save myself the embarassment.

 

[D's GS-T]

Dude he's only 16, its a nice car to have when your young, he has pleny of time to get other cars. If the car is nice just keep it and enjoy it. there is no sence in selling a nice car to buy another one unless its nicer then the one you have. Ya bodykits and lambos are lame, and it wont be the fastest, but Unless you got cash laying around then id keep it and save your money for a GSX or TSI AWD.

 

[NiKKUH_BOViCE]

No excuse for Paul Walkers.... Im 17 and I have a clean stock looking DSM. It is sloooow, and it looks slow. I used to be in the wide body kit, 20 inch racing rims, and spaceship style interiors once. Luckily, I was well out of that stage by the time I was able to get my licence (4 months ago)

 

[standard235]

Here is something you should read to see what is expected when you step into the actual tuner (read, make power, make it handle good) world.

Eclipse tuners are a strange sort. They don't like talking about wings or color-matching side skirts and interiors. Eclipse tuners are performance-obsessed sleeper fanatics who dream only about downpipes, exhaust gases, and wastegates. Their cars aren't pretty, but have the ability to spank you silly on the highway. In other words, they write checks their cars can cash.

I can't find the actual quote from Motor Trend...

 

[MIenKEi446]

Hello all!
I just bought a new 1998 Eclipse N/A, that I am looking to modify further than I already have. Since this is my first thread, let me sort of introduce myself at the same time. My name is John, and I from Eastern PA. I am sixteen years old, been in a mechanic shop since I was very young. I bought my Eclipse two days ago, and from what I was told by the seller, the car needs some obvious body work, a new head gasket(Cracked, not blown), and a battery mount. I bought the car for $1500, but it does already have a sort of extensive mod list. This is what its got so far:
-AEM Cold Air Intake
-Aftermarket Exhaust
-Full Body Kit(Replacing Front Bumper because it is cracked through the middle)
-Lambo Doors
-Flip Out Touch Screen Head Unit
-LCD Screen in Passenger Vanity Mirror
-An LCD Screen in the back of each seat
-Custom Sub Box in the trunk
-Few other random interior mods

Now, I do need to get the new front bumper painted when I get it to match the color of the car, but I also need to get the car's paint repainted and brought back to close to the factory look. The Lambo Doors also need to be tightened and have the weight distributed evenly on some new shocks. As you can tell, the car needs a little bit of work, but the parts alone in the car are worth more than the $1500 I paid for it.

My question to everyone now is, what mods should I get performance-wise, and also interior-wise? The car is automatic, unfortunately, but I will make due. Under the hood, I was thinking of doing a turbo setup, not sure what kind of turbo though. Headers, blow off valve, the normal bolt-ons. What else? No clue of what else I want to do in the interior besides two new seats in the front for some show.

My predicted budget once all the repairs, and paint and installations are done is going to be about $3000 all together. Also, I will be going back to my job in the Spring, so I will have some money from that.

If anyone could help me out with some ideas that would be great! Also, if anyone could help me out by giving me a price range on getting the paint corrected, and the front bumper paint matched, to make the whole car look close to how it was when it came out of the dealership.

Thanks!

Did you buy this car from Xzibit? Make sure you paint it lime green (if it isnt already) and get lots of stickers

 

[tragdor]

good luck!

 

[bcowx06]

sell it and buy a tsi!

 

[96_killer]

Haha you guys are rough. I have been reading a lot on these forums, and it doesn't seem like its very easy to turbo the 420a. I'm not sure if I said it before, but I am 16, and not really looking for anything too extensive, just what to pick up besides CAI and Exhaust for my car. I am not looking to resell it and get another car =P

If you know a bout cars its really not hard to turbo a 420a but it depends on your goals. but for 8 or less psi you don't need forged internals or bigger injectors , i have help a friend but a turbo on his Avenger, and on a Accord .. I 'am putting together a kit for my car. And i know most all the 4g63 guys are pushing you to get a GST,TSI,GSX.. ya and i was on of them once with my Tsi but a 420a has a lot of potential its just that your automatic will limit you greatly.. with all that stuff in your car it will most likely will get jacked.

P.S for l little less criticism you should post Here

 

[xhackerekx]

Hello all!
I just bought a new 1998 Eclipse N/A, that I am looking to modify further than I already have. Since this is my first thread, let me sort of introduce myself at the same time. My name is John, and I from Eastern PA. I am sixteen years old, been in a mechanic shop since I was very young. I bought my Eclipse two days ago, and from what I was told by the seller, the car needs some obvious body work, a new head gasket(Cracked, not blown), and a battery mount. I bought the car for $1500, but it does already have a sort of extensive mod list. This is what its got so far:
-AEM Cold Air Intake
-Aftermarket Exhaust
-Full Body Kit(Replacing Front Bumper because it is cracked through the middle)
-Lambo Doors
-Flip Out Touch Screen Head Unit
-LCD Screen in Passenger Vanity Mirror
-An LCD Screen in the back of each seat
-Custom Sub Box in the trunk
-Few other random interior mods

Now, I do need to get the new front bumper painted when I get it to match the color of the car, but I also need to get the car's paint repainted and brought back to close to the factory look. The Lambo Doors also need to be tightened and have the weight distributed evenly on some new shocks. As you can tell, the car needs a little bit of work, but the parts alone in the car are worth more than the $1500 I paid for it.

My question to everyone now is, what mods should I get performance-wise, and also interior-wise? The car is automatic, unfortunately, but I will make due. Under the hood, I was thinking of doing a turbo setup, not sure what kind of turbo though. Headers, blow off valve, the normal bolt-ons. What else? No clue of what else I want to do in the interior besides two new seats in the front for some show.

My predicted budget once all the repairs, and paint and installations are done is going to be about $3000 all together. Also, I will be going back to my job in the Spring, so I will have some money from that.

If anyone could help me out with some ideas that would be great! Also, if anyone could help me out by giving me a price range on getting the paint corrected, and the front bumper paint matched, to make the whole car look close to how it was when it came out of the dealership.

Thanks!

2 slow 2 furious

 

[Clinical]

take the chance now while you're still new to the game and ditch it and get a 4g63T!

 

[jjm96gst]

You guys are a little harsh on the little man. Play nice


I would suggest posting on the 420a-bolt-tech forum you might get a little more support. You can make any car fast just depends how deep your pockets are. Since your 16 I'm guessing not to deep. It's your first car so just take your time and learn before you do anything drastic. Good luck. And guys try to be a little nicer on your advice. His car let him do what he wants.

 

[97Bstd420]

former neon R/T owner here. i know that the 420a form the neon can just use the srt4 turbo setup. can this also be done with these 420's? I know the head is turned around but that is it right? So in terms it is not that hopeless. I loved my Boosted R/T. If there is little to no difference why not do that? Speaking about that would the 2g take the 2.4 swap? Like i said i used to own neons so i know a thing or two about the 420. but on a serious not yes or no?