Saving a DSM Legend: 1998 Eclipse GSX Restoration

[Boozer]

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[Boozer]

Back in the year 2000, my first car was a 1995 Eclipse GS-T in Everett Green Metallic... I loved that car. It met its end in college when it was totaled due to a flood. On and off over the years i have considering trying to find another eclipse but due to life, kids, etc it never became a serious pursuit. I enjoy a good project and over the last 4 years or so i have had various different restoration/build projects in the garage. I recently just finished a 1997 BMW K1100 Cafe Racer project and had someone buy it off me so I started to consider what might come next. As I was perusing marketplace I came across a cryptic add for a "Mitsubishi eclipse manual" with no price and 2 crappy pics. I saw the factory GSX wheels in the pics and sent the guy a message (not expecting any reply). To my surprise, he responded and offered to facetime with me and show me the car.

Long story short, it ended up being a 1998 Eclipse GSX, 114k original miles with what looked like a few modifications. The owner didn't know much about the car other than that he bought it off of someone 8 years ago with the intent of restoring the car but instead it sat in the corner of his shop. I'm a sucker for a project so I decided to go for it and roll the dice.

As I said before it has been about 20 plus years since i was in the DSM world. I know enough to be dangerous but have relied on @IHeartMyHonda (fellow local DSM'er) who has been a wealth of knowledge. I got the car home and started to dig into all of it and it seems someone spent a decent amount of money modifying this thing probably 10-15 years ago.

It seems to be a highly optioned example as it sports ABS, leather interior (in surprisingly good shape), sunroof and the rear LSD. I sent a bunch of pics to @IHeartMyHonda and he has helped with identifying all of the modifications.

Here is a list of what we have found so far. I'll follow with some pictures as I am sure many of you might see some other things as well.
No rust on the strut towers (front and rear), no rust on the rocker panels or in the wheel wells... just some surface rust on a few suspension components... really a solid car.
Exterior paint has left the chat... clear coat on the upper half is compeltely gone, hood has surface rust from missing paint in areas.
6 Bolt Swap
ARP Headstuds (waiting on a borescope to confirm stock internals or not)
VRSF Front Mount Intercooler
20g Turbo w/ external Tial Wastegate
GReddy Type RS bov
Injen Intake
Aeromotive Fuel Pressure Regulator
Bigger Injectors (will be taking them off to clean and confirm what size)
Fuel Pump (I am guessing it has a bigger fuel pump due to the aftermarket regulator, need to pull it to confirm)
Apexi Exhaust
Tokico Shocks w/ Purple Springs (TBD on brand)
No name strut bars (Front/Rear)
Gates Blue timing belt
AEM Wideband
Manual boost controller
HKS Turbo Timer
Monster Energy Coolant Overflow... this made me laugh and definitely dates the build
Short Shifter (TBD on what it is, but definitely has something)
DSMLink (TBD on which version... appears to be a V2 cable, but will be pulling the ECU to confirm)

The owner also sent along a spare turbo that was in the car when he bought it... turns out its a Holset HX35 and seems to have never been used!

I am sure there is more but this is what I have found so far... onto the pics!

Rolled the car into the sunlight at the owners shop... she looks rough, but there is potential!

Finished the deal and got her loaded up on the trailer for the trip back to Nashville.

Made it home!

Let me know what you see, excited to bring this GSX back from the dead!