Saving a GSX

[Hobbycat]

This is the Build Thread for Saving an GSX. Reply below.

 

[XC92]

I've been restoring my '92 Talon TSi AWD manual, basically the same car. I hope yours is in somewhat better shape than mine was. Best of luck.

Very minor quibble. It's "Saving a GSX", not "an".

 

[Hobbycat]

Yeah, english is not my fortè Any way to edit it? Do you have pictures of your car?

 

[XC92]

Sure, just edit the thread and change the title. Very easy. And there's a photo of my Talon above my ID, XC92.

 

[Mech Addict]

Love the car and totally appreciate your goals: enjoy the fabulous car like it was made. We’re on the same page that way. Mine was unmodified but roughly treated, so my back to fresh is much lengthier. Hope you got the fuel situation sorted out, since the tank is lying behind the car in your photo. Also, others surely know best, but I thought 1st gen Auto used a different turbo than the 14b (13??). Please get some more eye candy on this gem and share some stories about it. Trips, repairs, how you came to own it, whatever you think about when you see it....

 

[XC92]

Yeah, I'd like to hear more about that gas tank. I'd like to drop, clean and line mine, as I suspect that it's pretty rusty, judging by the orange-tinted liquid that came out of it when I drained it after it sat for over 5 years.

Plus some idiot mechanics dented it some years ago when they tried to lift the rear by the tank, and I'd like to see if there's a safe way for me to undent it.

And it wouldn't hurt to clean, derust and paint its outside along with the tank shield and the part of the car underbody that it hides.

Like you and many here, I want to get the car back as close to what it was like when I bought it, with some modest and sensible "upgrades", like poly bushings, better clutch, better brake pads and hoses, etc.

 

[Hobbycat]

Hello greetings! You're right, it's a 13b turbine. This is my 3rd Eclipse, my first 2 were 97 'GSTs, now I found this gem. Stored for 7 years. The gas tank required service, the Control Arms, Brake booster, Master Cylinder, brake calipers, fuel pump, TCU, new battery, oil, oil filter, gas filter, belts. Next will be Timing components. Car has 124k miles on engine, trans and chassis. Motor mounts are bad and need replacement. I thought it would take me more time to get him running, but thank God everything went well. Crazy to take it out on the streets since here in Puerto Rico 1Gs are very rare.

 

[Hobbycat]

Greetings! Lowering the gas tank is an easy task. Once down, it will be easy for you to work with it. In my case it was not so bad and only required cleaning. I installed a new pump and it is working very well. I have realized that the arts are hard to come by. A shame that the mechanic dent the tank but I think you can correct it without any problem.

 

[XC92]

Thanks. My concern is one of safety. A nearly empty gas tank is basically a bomb. I'd like to take every precaution to make it a safe. Would pouring water into the tank after the various lines have been disconnected neutralize the risks?

 

[NOSLO2PT0]

The stock auto turbo is a 13G.

The only way an empty gas tank would be dangerous if you were welding on it. Drop the tank, completely empty it, let it sit for a few days, and you should be fine. You can flush it thoroughly with water if you want the extra safety.

I just had mine completely cleaned. It had a TON of scaled rust built up inside, along with the old varnish that used to be gas.

 

[Hobbycat]

Thanks. My concern is one of safety. A nearly empty gas tank is basically a bomb. I'd like to take every precaution to make it a safe. Would pouring water into the tank after the various lines have been disconnected neutralize the risks?

Water, yes you can do that. Is not hard at all and yes, safety is the most important thing.

 

[Red Rider]

Greetings from another 1G restoration going on.

I used to fly daily into San Juan, was based in St Thomas. Been to Vieques, Culebra, Fajardo. One of the lessons I learned in St Thomas was car theft is rampant. I had a $3,000 used Mazda stolen right off the yard. I was told later it's hopeless to look for it as the parts are worth more than the car down there. If any of that goes on in PR, I'd keep a close watch and a steering lock on the car once it's finished.

 

[Hobbycat]

Greetings from another 1G restoration going on.

I used to fly daily into San Juan, was based in St Thomas. Been to Vieques, Culebra, Fajardo. One of the lessons I learned in St Thomas was car theft is rampant. I had a $3,000 used Mazda stolen right off the yard. I was told later it's hopeless to look for it as the parts are worth more than the car down there. If any of that goes on in PR, I'd keep a close watch and a steering lock on the car once it's finished.

Yes, thanks for the tip.Glad to know about another restoration going on. Its worth it!

 

[Hobbycat]

Hi again guys! Today i was testing the brakes, new brake booster and MC installed. Pedal feels hard, car stop but hardly. Do i have to bleed the entire system? MC was bleed.

 

[XC92]

Whenever you open up or replace any part of the hydraulics, you have to bleed the system. Since you replaced the MC, you have to bleed all 4 calipers to get all the air out of all of the lines, ABS (if you have it) and prop valve.

 

[Hobbycat]

Whenever you open up or replace any part of the hydraulics, you have to bleed the system. Since you replaced the MC, you have to bleed all 4 calipers to get all the air out of all of the lines, ABS (if you have it) and prop valve.

Yeah, will ask the neighbor for help, will see if air in the line is the problem. Thanks for the info!

 

[XC92]

If you replaced the MC, there's air in the line, no question about it. Helps to have someone else when bleeding though, unless you have speed bleeders or one of those one person kits.

 

[Hobbycat]

If you replaced the MC, there's air in the line, no question about it. Helps to have someone else when bleeding though, unless you have speed bleeders or one of those one person kits.

Neither of the two. I will have to wait for the weekend. After that the motor mounts need to be replaced, but little by little.

 

[Hobbycat]

XC92 any progress with your Talon?

 

[XC92]

Waiting for some trans spacers so I can put it back together. Should arrive later this week. Meantime I'm cleaning up and painting some front end parts and replacing the front wheel bearings. Should be done in a day or two, then I put the trans together and back on, and I should be done. There's other things I still need to do but I'm going to take a brief break and enjoy my efforts and relax a bit.

Btw when you replace the mounts, one at a time so the engine and trans don't sag too much and potentially mess something up. Follow the FSM.

 

[Hobbycat]

Waiting for some trans spacers so I can put it back together. Should arrive later this week. Meantime I'm cleaning up and painting some front end parts and replacing the front wheel bearings. Should be done in a day or two, then I put the trans together and back on, and I should be done. There's other things I still need to do but I'm going to take a brief break and enjoy my efforts and relax a bit.

Btw when you replace the mounts, one at a time so the engine and trans don't sag too much and potentially mess something up. Follow the FSM.

Glad to know, that sound like good news. About the mounts yes, will replace one at a time. The hard stuff is ordering online, there are differents mounts depending of the year, transmission type ect. Don't want to order the wrong ones. VIN number maybe.

 

[XC92]

Did you go with OEM or aftermarket, and which vendor? And are you staying with rubber or switching to poly? Also why do you need to replace them?

 

[Hobbycat]

I have to look for them, i think rubber will be the best option to keep it stock as posible and minimize vibrations. Oem or aftermarket that depends of the price .

 

[Mech Addict]

You won’t likely find the driver side mount, hate to say. I spoke to a tech at Anchor, and he said the ones sold for the 1.8L will fit, and can be stiffened by filling the windows in the rubber with windshield adhesive. I can’t say for sure that it works from any personal knowledge.
the other three should be available, but many folks seem to complain about trouble getting the right one on first try. If you could find an OEM source, probably worth the money. If you owned a 90 with cruise control, like mine, then the manual trans mount is NLA.

 

[Mech Addict]

Going with poly is a slam dunk, though you get more vibration, from what most say.