Showcar Build RS to GS Restoration Build

[Bland-Biscuit]

Salty-Seagull submitted a new DSM Profile :

1999 Eclipse


Read more about this vehicle here...

 

[Bland-Biscuit]

Chasing a Dream...​

The 1995-1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse is my dream car. It's the only car I ever truly wanted, although the classic VW Bug (Herbie!), Porsche 911 (sporty Herbie?), and Mad Max's Ford Falcon also caught my eye as a kid. Hmm... I'm starting to think movies had an influence on me... And I guess they did because my passion for the Eclipse actually began on the big screen.

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Wait, Modern Cars Can Be COOL?!​

I grew up in a place and time where domestic automobiles were pretty much the only options, and "cool" cars were the muscle cars of the past, which were unobtainable for a high school kid. Still, I remember seeing an Eagle Talon back then, and I know that I really liked it, but I don't recall ever seeing a Mitsubishi Eclipse until I saw the first "Fast and Furious" movie in the theater. The passion I felt the first time I laid eyes on that Kawasaki Green Eclipse was indescribable. Maybe it was the color, or the graphics, or maybe it was the body kit, the carbon fiber hood, or the pop-out head unit that struck me as something special... It was probably all of that, actually, but whatever the case, I simply had no idea cars could be THAT cool! I went from not really wanting to drive to being absolutely obsessed with owning a 2nd Generation Eclipse. It's all I talked about that summer. And yet, I knew virtually nothing about them. I genuinely thought I could just waltz into a Mitsubishi dealership and order a car like the one in the movie.

That was back in 2001, and I was young and essentially broke, having just graduated high school and preparing to start college in the fall. I didn't have a car of my own, money, or even enough credit to finance one. All of that, combined with the fact that I lived where the Eclipse was (and still is) a rarity and Mitsubishi dealerships were nonexistent, meant that my dream would not come to fruition any time soon.

My passion never diminished, though, and I never stopped dreaming...

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A Slight Detour...​

After years of disappointment, unable to obtain the car I truly wanted, and really wanting a car of my own, I decided to settle. In 2004, the very first car I wholly owned became a 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier (because, to me, it looked sort of like an Eclipse, the price was right, it had low miles, yadda yadda ). I modified the car extensively, but in the end, it could never be what my heart truly wanted. It was a fun distraction, but I never missed it after I sold it.

My first car: a 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier. I was just a little inspired by The Fast and the Furious.

A few years after I bought the Cavalier though, I found and purchased a clapped-out Eagle Talon base model that I used as a daily driver/winter beater. I absolutely loved that car and made so many memories in it... it was such a turd, but it was my turd, and it was glorious. I brought my first Christmas tree and lawn mower home in that car, and the rust stain remained in my driveway for years after it was gone... I still miss that car.

This '97 Talon was my absolute favorite car I ever owned until I bought my Eclipse. I still miss it.

After that, I made a practical choice and bought some really nice Volvos. Yet, I still yearned for my dream car. Year after year, I would look online and see the number of available DSMs dwindling as mileage climbed higher and higher until, eventually, they became quite hard to find at all, in any condition. I actually kind of lost hope for a while, and with the rising costs of adulting combined with some major life changes, I thought my dream was to be relegated to the rearview mirror.

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And Then, an Eclipse... Of the Heart!​

In July 2019, after 18 years of searching, I finally found a Mitsubishi Eclipse that I could afford. A beautiful Saronno Red 1999 RS was parked on a used car lot in Arizona with less than 100,000 miles on it. After some dialogue convincing myself that this was the right car at the right time, I promptly picked up the phone and made my dream come true... Well sort of. Owning an RS was never my dream. I wanted a GS or better. No problem... I'd just upgrade it... Right?

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Close Only Counts in Horseshoes, Hand Grenades, And... Mitsubishi Eclipse Trim Levels?​

Actually, no. Although this RS was very well optioned, it is not close to a GS. No RS is. I just didn't know that at the time.

Differences between the non-turbo trim levels exceed the superficial, and extend into things like the wiring, which prevent you from simply plugging in a lot of equipment and effectively upgrading the car. To add to the challenge, there are actually a few differences between model years too, and of course with options and package upgrades, so finding the right parts to do the upgrade can be a real challenge. In the end, to build the car I really wanted, I would end up having to buying one from an auto recycler, and transfer the parts to this chassis. It also meant I would be buying myriad parts from around the world. Part hunting has become a real hobby of mine.

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"Cheap cars aren't nice, and nice cars aren't cheap..."​

This old saying applies to my RS. Before upgrading the car, I needed to repair it. With the benefit of hindsight, it has become clear to me that this car was pretty far down the road to becoming a , but I bought it cheap, and actually feel pretty lucky to have a drivable car for the price I paid. I was expecting something far worse.

To that end, this car is actually a bit of a curiosity to me. On one hand, you can tell it was cherished for most of its life, as nothing appears to be beyond repair. On the other hand there is a lot of things for me to repair.

The Good:​

• No rust: This was the clincher for me.
• Low-ish miles: but yet not TOO low, indicating the car had been driven over the years.
• Clean CarFax.
• No accidents reported.
• Only two previous owners.

The Not-So-Good:​

• Body damage: Excessive dents, plenty of paint damage, a broken antenna, and even a little hidden damage.
• Engine damage: The car has piston slap and a blown head gasket.
• Damaged & missing trim: A lot of the trim is good, but there are damaged and missing pieces throughout the car.
• Deferred maintenance: Like, all of the maintenance.
• Old rubber: Most of the rubber pieces are dried out and in need of replacement.
• Missing fasteners: Several broken and missing fasteners and clips.
• Aftermarket alarm: I don't like these, and it hacked up my wiring harness, but it looks repairable.

While all of the damage, missing pieces, and deferred maintenance are certainly a bummer, it doesn't really bother me. In the end, I feel like I scored a great deal on a rust-free, drivable project with a ton of teaching potential. I'm really happy.

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​

Building a Dream​

I'm still trying to figure out the path forward. And am pretty much just enjoying the journey as it comes... I've kind of bounced around between a restomod and a Fast and Furious tribute... But am leaning back toward restomod as of 2026.

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Lets Goooo!​

The threads that follow outline the original trim level upgrade/restoration project and evolve into the Fast and Furious project by page 6. There’s still a lot of interesting info in those early posts, but feel free to skip ahead to page 6 to get to the tribute build.

I hope you enjoy this journey with me! It'll be a delightful challenge and I'm looking forward to sharing the things I learn a long the way in the hopes that it helps others reach their dreams too.

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A Timeline of 2019: From Purchase to Winter Storage​

July
8 - I contacted Ideal Cars and agreed to purchase a red 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse RS that they had on their Mesa Arizona lot. The car had 96,615 miles on it, and 2 previous owners. I found the car on cargurus.com.

19 - My paperwork and payment arrived today making it official, I now own the car!

23 - My car was picked up from Ideal Cars by a car hauler that I hired through AJN Transport in Owosso, Michigan. It is roughly 2000 miles from the dealership to the delivery destination in Michigan.

28 - My car arrived after only 5 days in transit!

August
7 - The restoration has begun! I replaced the yellowed reverse light housings with some new old stock replacements, and swapped out my broken reflector garnish with a used one that was in great condition.

22 - Fixed a bad ground in the taillight. Replaced the broken antenna mount, and tested the radio for the first time.

24 - Washed and waxed the car for the first time.

28 - Finished detailing the car and applied a second coat of wax.

September
12 - Installed new spark plugs, spark plug wires, and an air filter.

21 - Replaced the gas cap and installed non-foglight bezels & air inlet covers in the front bumper. The bumper is not original, so I intend to replace it with an OEM one at some point.

October
11 - I purchased an OEM front bumper from Cosineau Recycling in Antigo, WI! Cosineau was awesome to do business with, which was much appreciated because finding a 20+ year old original front bumper without damage, and from a source willing to ship, was one of my biggest challenges to date.

16 - The car went into the shop for a full inspection and a coolant flush before winter. It definately needs some work, but its not too shabby. I also had the old worn out wiper blades replaced and was able to test the wipers for the first time.

19 - Went to a gas station for the first time.

27 - Detailed the car one last time before putting it away for winter.

November
1 - The car went into winter storage with 96,683 miles on the odometer, so I put 68 miles on it this year.

 

[Bland-Biscuit]

I spent the winter collecting parts, and I am thrilled to say that I was able to find just about everything I need for my build. I was even able to track down an OEM set of hatch decals, and I'm pretty stoked about it. It will be a while before I get everything installed yet, but I'm pretty optimistic that it will all come together now.

 

[Bland-Biscuit]

May 7th, 2020 - today was the first time I've driven the car since November 1, 2019. I went to the gas station and filled the tank, which was almost empty after six months of occasional idling in my driveway.

I love this car. It is a joy to drive, though it is slow.

 

[Bland-Biscuit]

The car spent the last 2 days in the shop. Replaced the valve cover seals, the mismatched hood liner clips, and the windshield washer t-connector which fixed the sagging hoses.

I also replaced the fuse box cover so I can identify all of the fuses now, added the caps to the trunk spoiler nuts, and swapped out my old floor mats for some new old stock replacements from Extreme PSI. The car still needs a lot of work, but progress is inching forward and it feels pretty good.

 

[Bland-Biscuit]

Added my first piece of GS trim today: the center console armrest that I bought in the classifieds section last year. I am so glad to have a place to rest my arm now!

It looks great!

I didnt need to replace the whole console, just the insert. Here's a photo showing the RS insert on the left, cup holder insert in the middle, and the GS arm rest parts on the right.

Here is a visual guide for the center console and its related parts and part numbers.

I also replaced my broken trunk/fuel door release lever today.

Here is a visual guide for the fuel door handle and related components including part numbers.

The little details are my favorite. They really help to tie it all together.

 

[Bland-Biscuit]

Made some more progress on the small stuff. I recently found a new old stock gas cap and a missing door bumper. Today I added the missing pads for my license plate. I love these little improvements.

 

[Widgmaster]

You gotta just love driving in a nice clean car. Is that little arrow at the top of the license plate opening telling you

...... THIS SIDE UP.......

 

[Bland-Biscuit]

You gotta just love driving in a nice clean car. Is that little arrow at the top of the license plate opening telling you

...... THIS SIDE UP.......

Lol I'm not sure why that is there. Might be a guide for the license plate? That little detail didn't carry over to the 3g bumpers?

 

[Bland-Biscuit]

Replaced my door panel brackets yesterday. The mounting holes were enlarged and the screw wouldn't fit anymore (left). It's just one more little detail for my build, which has been a ton of fun so far.

 

[Bland-Biscuit]

I probably shouldn't be this excited- but I am. Today is my birthday and my incredible wife gifted me an OEM battery cover! It was just one of many little bits that were missing when I bought the car nearly a year ago. This was a tough one to find, and it looks almost new! I am so stoked!

 

[Bland-Biscuit]

Today marks the one year anniversary from when I agreed to purchase my car. It took 18 years and over 2,000 miles but I finally have my dream car.

 

[Bland-Biscuit]

I took possession of my Eclipse one year ago today. I added 130 miles to the odometer over the last year. The car now has 96,745 miles on it.

 

[Bland-Biscuit]

Replaced my lower rubber trunk dampers. They were pretty beat down.

Just another small improvement, but all these little details are starting to add up.

 

[Bland-Biscuit]

Had both front axles, and the driver side outer tie-rod end replaced today. It's just the tip of the deferred maintenance iceberg, but its a start.

 

[BLACK'98DSM]

It's nice to catch up on your build! Very clean and smooth. It's nice to see someone actually saving one of these cars. If I could find a low miles DSM then I would definitely save it and restore it. But I have a more abused example, so I thought it would be best to make it low 'n fast

 

[Bland-Biscuit]

It's nice to catch up on your build! Very clean and smooth. It's nice to see someone actually saving one of these cars. If I could find a low miles DSM then I would definitely save it and restore it. But I have a more abused example, so I thought it would be best to make it low 'n fast

Thanks, man! I appreciate the comment! It's good to see you back on the forum!

Your car is awesome man! This one needs a lot of work, but I love it. It's perfect for me. It has just enough miles and was abused enough that I don't feel guilty modifying it with some GS upgrades along the way. It's been a fun project so far, and I'm really looking forward to driving it around on nice days... Someday..

 

[Bland-Biscuit]

Had the other outer tie-rod end replaced today (previous attempt had a defective part). It needs an alignment, but I feel a lot better about driving it now. Bit by bit it's coming together.

 

[Bland-Biscuit]

It took a year, and a LOT of searching, but I think I found all of the components I need to add OEM foglights to my car. Amazingly, everything is new old stock except for the pigtails and bezels, which are used. I'm pretty excited about this.

It will be a while before I get them installed though. I still have a lot of deferred maintenance to tackle first. I'm just glad I was able to track down all of the parts.

Here is a visual guide with part numbers for these parts: 2GB Fog Light Visual Guide

 

[Bland-Biscuit]

The cold weather has returned to Michigan, so the car is back in storage with 96,783 on the odometer. I added 100 miles to it this year. (I'm trying not to drive it much until I finish the deferred maintenance.)

Here's the interior at the end of 2020. It still needs some work, but I have all of the parts to replace the trim that I know is broken or damaged now, so I'm pretty excited about that. The biggest change here in 2020 was adding the GS arm rest to the center console.

There was not much progress on the exterior this year. I have most of the parts I need for the GS conversion now, but I'm still trying to figure out how far I'd like to go with that.

I can hardly wait to restore the front bumper I purchased a year ago, but I've prioritized buying my parts and completing the maintenance first. It's a slow build for sure, but the project is inching forward though, and I'm happy with it.

 

[DogWhistle]

Lookin' good!

 

[Bland-Biscuit]

Well, it's official, my car is now 22 years old. It was manufactured in 03/1999.

It will still be a couple of months before I take it out of storage, but I'm really hoping to make some progress on it mechanically this year. If nothing else, I'd like to fix the oil leak at the head, and replace the timing belt and all four motor mounts.

I have been buying parts to repair/restore and upgrade this car for well over a year now, and that scavenger hunt has been a lot of fun, but it has also been pretty challenging at times too. To try to make it easier for others, I started putting together some visual guides in the article section of this site. I hope it helps.

I have also done a lot of research to try to better understand the differences between an RS and GS, so I can decide how far I want to go with my conversion project, as well as to help cut through some of the misinformation out there. If anyone is curious to read it, here is a link: https://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/532056/

I was also curious to know the differences between the 420A powered Talons. The results of that research is here: https://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/532855/

Other than that, I'm just looking forward to the warmer weather so I can keep working on my dream car.

 

[Bland-Biscuit]

We have been having unseasonably warm weather in Michigan, so I took the car out of storage today (a few weeks earlier than I normally would).

I will be making an appointment at the mechanic soon to (hopefully) make a huge dent in the deferred maintenance. I'm pretty excited about it.

 

[Bland-Biscuit]

Well, the mechanic will have to wait for now. I just spent a bunch of money at an auto recycler this afternoon. They had a 99 Eclipse 10th Anniversary GS in great condition that had barely been picked over yet!

I bought the:

• Front bumper (it looks almost new!)
• Hood liner
• Headlights
• Battery cover (it had one!!!)
• Bumper air duct
• Hood support rod
• Door panels

I'm ecstatic! I can't wait to clean them up and get them installed!

 

[Bland-Biscuit]

I decided to swap out my base model black mirrors for red ones I've had for a while now. I also installed my new driver door panel after I swapped the black door card for a gray one that I bought in the classifieds. This was harder than I expected and took a lot longer than I planned, but it's two less things on my to-do list.

The door panel still needs some work though because the air vent is broken by the switch bezel. I have a new bezel and plan to reuse my old vent once I figure out how to swap the parts in.