stock gs-t

[gsxeclipse97]

Ok well my girlfriend and i are looking at getting her a 1997 gst auto that is completely stock, the only thing is that is has sat for 3 years.. So i was thinking that we replace all rubber components timing belt and all the other belts, tires and those sorts of things. Since it has not gone anywhere in that long what are some of the other thing that we should be aware of.. I know that it will need an oil change probably the transmission fluid also; but she wants to convert it to a MT and possible awd as well (at the same time).. Anything in the general maintenance?

1997 gst 128xxx miles
tan leather
!!!stock!!!

 

[silverbullett]

If she wants MT and AWD, just look for a 5 speed GSX and save yourself the headaches. Plus it'll be cheaper in the end. As far as general maintenace, flush your coolant and if you're up for it get rid of that old gas. A tune up wouldn't be a bad idea either. Hope this helps bro.

 

[srumel]

Just like any other time when you get a used car, do all of the maintenance you can on it. (plugs, wires, fuel filter, power steering fluid, brakes.)

The only thing, major, I would do is to drain the gas tank comletely and fill it up with fresh gas. The rotors are likely going to be rusted beyond belief after having sat that long and will probably need to be refinished or replaced. Also, before you start it pull the MPI fuse and crank it for a little bit just to get that fresh oil circulating through the system.

 

[gsxeclipse97]

Ah thanks forgot about the coolant. She has been looking for a gsx for a long time and hasn't been able to find one that is stock with out it being 15grand. I have looked as well for her but no success. The thing is that her step dad is a mechanic and would be able to do all of the conversion for her so all she would have to pay for are the parts to do it. the lady doesn't want that much for the car 2000-2500 so that is why she is considering doing it that way instead.

yeah got the cranking portion covered.. and the rotors are rusted pretty bad.

 

[srumel]

Also, when you change the timing belt, inspect the idler pulleys as these may need to be replaced, replace the autotensioner, the water pump, and don't forget the balance shaft belt.

It's always best not to chance these items.

 

[lilbro717]

make sure theres nothing living in it, that would b back

 

[gsxeclipse97]

its funny that you say that.. the other day i was looking at my sisters car cause her ac doens't work.. so i pulled off blower inside the car and found a dead rat in there... so gross

later today im going to go back and check the turbo for shaft play and see what else is wrong we also are going to swap the turbo to a 14b not to long after we know everything is sound on the car.

 

[lilbro717]

i dont know where the car came from originally but check for rust

 

[gsxeclipse97]

ok so the lady started it before we had came back to put the belt on. But it sounded really good no lifter tick or anthing. Its really quiet.. I checked the fluids that were in there everything was good except the coolant. IT really needs to be flushed.. So we went for a drive in it and it smoked at first but that did go away. It has only sat for 2 years not 3. Also there were a couple of vaccum lines that were un hooked but i hooked those up. there is one line that i had no idea where it goes. it has no vaccum on it at all. Im thinking it goes to the charcoal cansiter but i was not able to see. Also there is another line that is there that i didn't regonize maybe cause its an automatic. It has almost a full tank of gas also so getting rid of that is going to take some time. She tried to give it some gas but then it really hesitated while doing that an felt like it couldn't do it. so long as you didn't try to floor it the car drove smoothly. Also it died on us a couple of times taking it from (park) to (drive) and with a hard stop cause we were testing the brakes

Also when she gave it gas along with the hesitation it made i guess you could be described as a knocking sound but not like rod knock

 

[DJYoshaBYD]

YOU NEED TO PUT BETTER GAS IN!! .. that is knock.. pre detonation.. you need to do the timing, or use premium only, and check your fuel system.. You are either running lean, or your running the wrong gas.. which would make sense, because you are still running the relaly old, octane deprived, nasty, poo gas thats been sitting in their for low these many years.. haha

 

[gsxeclipse97]

Oh no good! well I told her to it needs gas and so it just needs to burn all of that out. its going to the mechanic today so maybe he can drain it so we can get some new gas.

so if i un hook the fuel line off the rail and but the key in the on position will if dump out the old gas?

 

[awdtsi724]

so not worth the conversion, you be spending more than the cars worth and you wont get it back out of it, looking and trans, new rear end, driveshat, front axles, transfer case, clutch master and slave cylinders, cables and lines, thats not even half of it and about 2500 to 3g already if u can find the parts cheep...my buddy did it and was in tears half way through it... as far as getting it up to par check and see what it needs if the timing belt looks go then theres no need to replace it but def do oil, plugs, wires, you know the basic

 

[DJYoshaBYD]

yeah.. the octane rating is probably -70.. haha.. you cant burn that off.. all gas tanks that I have worked on have a drain plug.. its very easy to drain the gas.. you need to put a new fuel filter in their, along with injector cleaner when you put the gas in to get everything spick and span..

 

[gsxeclipse97]

2g's dont have that drain that you are talking about. not that i have ever seen atleast. will for surely get that out of there.

 

[94_eclipse]

If your planing on making it AWD dont buy it, you will have way way to much money and time wraped up into it. Then if you ever go to sell it you will loose your butt. The manual conversion is possible and wouldnt cost you too much but either keep it FWD or dont get it. 15 grand for a GSX is a bit excessive. If you look you can find one for 5 and under, you might have to drive a little ways but you can find one. Good luck with it!

 

[gsxeclipse97]

Im thinking that we should keep it fwd and just by a gsx later down the road for her cause i already have one. but this car is just to good of a deal to pass up so we may just keep it fwd but the manual converison is going to be done for sure. there is just no way of getting around that. she wants a standard so.

 

[DJYoshaBYD]

awww.. That is weak sauce.. another thing you can do, is get a battery, external electric fuel pump, and some hose, and use an electric pump to get the gas out from the fuel neck.. I have done this before and it works quite well..

NOTE*** you need to make LONG wires that can stretch from about 6-10 feet away with a switch on the hot wire leading to the pump that you are using to pump the gas out (please dont dump the gas anywhere but in a bucket and to a hazmat recycling center).. this will keep any sparks away from the gas fumes..

 

[wimploki]

Keeping her as fwd would be the ideal thing to do. Just add LSD, convert to 5 speed, plus some good tires and she's good to go.

Check everything including fuses.

 

[gsxeclipse97]

Ok well Im about to head over there to her car now so i'll keep everyone posted on the outcome.

So after taking the car over tthere today it turns out the car needs 2200 dollars worth of work just for it to be back to normal running condition. that doesn't include that the turbo has massive shaft play so. we are going to continue to look for another car.

 

[silverbullett]

There are a few GSX on S.F. Bay Area Craigslist going for under $7500. I know it's pretty far but at least you'll get what you want for a decent price. Makes me want to get a personal loan and buy another DSM.