Reviving Taiga

[Stizzydrew]

This is the Build Thread for 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS-T. Reply below.

 

[Stizzydrew]

I got to fixing both doors that don’t wanna open. I added a 6M 1.0 10CM bolt to give it a better latch grip you can say? So it’s not much slack. Both now open but I’m stuck with a broken lock switch. Only able to unlock and lock from the inside on driver side door. Passenger lock works but clip is broken might just replace both entire doors

 

[Stizzydrew]

Picked up a window at junk yard because driver side window is non existent atm..

took both door lock actuators and passenger interior door handle because my current one was broken for the tab to hold in place.
Also took all the rod lock tabs I could find because why not

 

[Stizzydrew]

Finally fixed both doors

 

[Stizzydrew]

Finally got time to start up the car with a new battery, I didn’t expect anything but past owner said used to run before so it was the only small hope I had that it might start, totally did not and it’s what i expected. Noise was unsure to me , thought it might be bad starter or even a locked/seized engine.


I looked at the belt, I didn’t see the belt was not on, but it was on the cams.. so is why I didn’t expect it to be off.. turns out the belt was off how did I not see this? I’m not sure I could have sworn I checked. Explains why the engine did not crank.

Next step is to see if motor is not locked. when I have time I will try to spin the crank and hope it moves with no funny noise. Either way the engine will be pulled apart to examine if engine is worth saving or getting a replacement/ rebuild.

 

[pauleyman]

That pic just looks like the balance belt. You need to look at the main belt.

 

[Stizzydrew]

That pic just looks like the balance belt. You need to look at the main belt.

Oh okay, will do when I get to working on the car again. What’s weird is I just did a quick check by pushing down on the belt where the cams are and it was pretty tight or normal. Wouldn’t it be loose if it wasn’t on?

 

[pauleyman]

Oh okay, will do when I get to working on the car again. What’s weird is I just did a quick check by pushing down on the belt where the cams are and it was pretty tight or normal. Wouldn’t it be loose if it wasn’t on?

It's a whole different belt. The pic is of the balance shaft belt, not the timing belt

 

[19Eclipse90]

For reference:

 

[Stizzydrew]

Today I got to cleaning up the trunk getting rid of trash and plastics in the trunk and oh boy I’ve never seen something like this! It’s a good thing I’m going to do a tire well delete anyways. I’m not sure how this even happens.

 

[Stizzydrew]

Replaced GS-T wheels with the OZ rally wheels. I prefer the OZ rally over the GS-T wheels!

 

[BLACK'98DSM]

Today I got to cleaning up the trunk getting rid of trash and plastics in the trunk and oh boy I’ve never seen something like this! It’s a good thing I’m going to do a tire well delete anyways. I’m not sure how this even happens.
View attachment 743099

That's common, even in areas that aren't rust prone. The car now or in the past has a leaking rear hatch seal. The aluminum plate from Archer Fab will solve the rot, but make sure your hatch is sealed so nothing else goes wrong

 

[Stizzydrew]

That's common, even in areas that aren't rust prone. The car now or in the past has a leaking rear hatch seal. The aluminum plate from Archer Fab will solve the rot, but make sure your hatch is sealed so nothing else goes wrong

I checked seals and they looks fine, now that I’m thinking about it maybe they had dropped the rear window washer fluid or it leaked and past owner probably never noticed. Car sat 4 years before picking it up so I think that’s probably what happened since seals looked fine. Probably will replace them regardless since it’s a 15 mins job . But yea archer fab will definitely be done

 

[Stizzydrew]

Picked up a turbo HKS Super drager for the eclipse… passes fist and shoe test.. yeah it’s about 4 inch tip and 3.5 from the back of exhaust.

If anyone has ever had a super drager on a dsm pls reply with videos of cold start, fly by or anything I wanna know how these sounds with the 4G63. I had it on my 420a it sounds amazing compared to other fart cans I’ve seen and heard in person. Hoping it’ll do the same for the 4G63.

 

[Stizzydrew]

bad news, engine is 100% seized or locked up or the crank welded itself from the past owner probably due to oil leak and owner never realized it.

now how did I come to this conclusion? Where for starter.. engine won’t turn over by hand. Took it to my very trusted mechanic that works on Mitsubishi, evos, BMW, galants, 3k VR4’s.. and he did his tests and he said he couldn’t turn over the engine over as well.

Now I noticed when I added oil into the car awhile ago the next morning it spilled I’d say 90% of the oil the next morning.. it came from this sucker here.. pretty sure that’s not the only spot either from the oil pan.

Now if I piece those two together possibly the past owner locked up the engine because of this leak and never realized it was low on oil or cared to notice oil leaks in his driver way… and maybe one day he was driving and obviously no oil+ heat = welded crank from bearings. note that I did not touch the oil pan, i simply added oil and it drained it all out the next morning so this had to happen in his ownership?

Not sure this is my guess of how it happened but either way engine is F*cked.. I’m now realizing maybe this car was a bad purchase and I’m stuck if I should replace the engine, replace the rusted strut tower and pay an alarm/wiring shop to remove the viper alarm on the car bc I have no experience with wiring nor do I wanna mess up anything wiring or just junk this car and look for a running GS-T/GSX. Losing motivation already just for the fact of the rusted towers, didn’t think shops would quote me 3-4K for replacement.

I’d be 7-8k in to make the car running again. I could simply use that 7-8k for a GSX or maybe an evo shell or something else dsm platform. This is a toy for me so I wouldn’t mind dropping money into this but then again I could maybe find one running perfectly fine for the same amount. Not sure what I wanna do. Should I stick this one out make it have a good revive story and enjoy it even more or just take the easy way out and junk it/part it out and find another dsm. Pretty bummed out.

Opinions anyone?

 

[DreamChaser7]

Find a better candidate, keep it for a parts car? I just hate to see any more of these scrapped.

 

[Stizzydrew]

Find a better candidate, keep it for a parts car? I just hate to see any more of these scrapped.

I thought of that too, but I just decided to try my best and save it before making it a parts car. I ended up buying a strut tower replacement from this guy on this forum and I’m gonna have a shop just do a replacement. It’s Gonna cost me a pretty penny but it is what it is, I’ll do it. The part I got for the replacement Came off a AWD talon .

 

[DreamChaser7]

Just pick at it then. No rush right? These projects are for love not return on investment at this point.

 

[Stizzydrew]

Just pick at it then. No rush right? These projects are for love not return on investment at this point.

Yeah agree. Hopefully she’s running 100% perfect by the end of 2025. Maybe sooner will be better but we’ll see. Thanks man.

 

[Stizzydrew]

Well I finally got the car registration and new pink slip finally in my name… new plates and tags ! since 2017 it hasn’t been registered. Poor dsm.

Despite the car not running… I can finally park it in street if needed (space is limited at my house and garage) I’m excited to figure out what the f*ck is wrong with this engine! It won’t turn over! Not sure where to start but definitely will do alot of reading on how to remove the engine/ head cylinder and possibly put in a new block or rebuild block if needed. Definitely will need a new oil pan or turbo oil feed gasket because it’s leaking from down there. Also found out I’m the 11th owner… cars been through some unspoken stuff

Rip old plates, hello new plates.

 

[Mahreeoh17]

Well I finally got the car registration and new pink slip finally in my name… new plates and tags ! since 2017 it hasn’t been registered. Poor dsm.

Despite the car not running… I can finally park it in street if needed (space is limited at my house and garage) I’m excited to figure out what the f*ck is wrong with this engine! It won’t turn over! Not sure where to start but definitely will do alot of reading on how to remove the engine/ head cylinder and possibly put in a new block or rebuild block if needed. Definitely will need a new oil pan or turbo oil feed gasket because it’s leaking from down there. Also found out I’m the 11th owner… cars been through some unspoken stuff

Rip old plates, hello new plates.

Lol wow 11th owner?! She needs love for sure.

Same story with mine, not registered since 2007 and just put it in my name. I kept the ugly plates tho where in California are you? I'm in Bakersfield.

 

[Stizzydrew]

Lol wow 11th owner?! She needs love for sure.

Same story with mine, not registered since 2007 and just put it in my name. I kept the ugly plates tho where in California are you? I'm in Bakersfield.

Yeah tell me about it! It needs a lot but I’m ready for it, I’ve dreamt of these cars since I was a kid, turbo model anyways. It was auctioned so I was required new plates anyways . It’ll look way different in a year or 2 from now. I’m from Los Angeles. Near Burbank area.