Test drove a gsx and wanting some feedback

[flyjum]

So I test drove a 1990 eclipse gsx today and here are some problems I found
I would like to know if these are common and easy fixes
I own a old supra and have worked on them a ton but this would be my first dsm

The only mods were airbox mod and no muffler(not exhaust just the muffler unbolted and taken off)
The car has 180k or so miles

1st the car had a mild break up at 5,000ish rpm at full throttle
Like a very small misfire but it was still pulling you could just feel it missing a bit.
Did not feel like fuel cut(at least like a 7mgte fuel cut which is very harsh)
I think it might be too big of a plug or weak spark but what else could it be and what should I look for when I go back to look at it?
It also had a very cracked turbo manifold which I know is common but could that be the problem?
Also the car was running 14lbs of boost(according to the shitty dash gauge)


The trans shifted fine but felt slightly knotchy(more then my supra trans at least) if shifted kinda quick not sure if this is normal. The clucth engagement was at the end of the peddle throw so I dont think that is out of adjustment.

Also if someone can post some common problems and what to look for when buying a gsx post that info up. It would be nice to know

 

[CrawlinZX14]

Well as a former MK3 owner myself, the gsx will have a much shorter harsher shift, especially if you don't have a race clutch in your 7M. No muffler will open your exhaust up a bit more and allow u to over boost if your on stock turbo and waste gate. 180k is a lot of miles. Get some history on the car like last time the timing belt was replaced and the waterpump too. This is def no 7m with a ct turbo tho. I would start with history on the car. On major issue with mt dsms is their synchros. Most ppl end up having 2 double synchrod to help prevent grinding. Otherwise I will suggest searching the forums a bit and do some research.

Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using Tapatalk

 

[1MeanTSI]

pre turbo exhaust leak could feel like a miss especially at high rpms. more pressure=more motivation for the exhaust gas to go somewhere (ie crack in mani). The trans is usually pretty tight (i also had a mk3 supra with a 7mgte in high school) compared to a supra with stock clutch and trans. Whats he asking?

 

[gofer]

The mis-fire is usually improperly gapped or old spark plugs, something you could quickly pull out and visually check before buying the car.

If you're considering buying the car and you want to know what you're getting yourself into I suggest you follow this. ---> DSM Used Car Buyers Guide

 

[flyjum]

The car is 1200
It has new battery, new timing belt, new waterpump, and new tensioners, new alternator belt, new alternator and fresh oil
As for the miss fire I was thinking maybe the coils are going bad or cracked which is common with a mk3 supra

Both front struts are completely blown and he said the guy he bought the car from hit a curb or pole or something and smashed one of the wheels
The car drove straight and it did not look like any suspension parts were bent.

Also someone cut a hole and put a ghetto ass sunroof in the car looks homemade and like shit and the hood flew open on the freeway and smashed the roof up even more a bit.
He replaced the hood and windshield but the roof is pretty much trashed.
Does anyone sell like a roof cover or something like that?
Besides that the body is in decent shape.

It did not smoke at all on start up(made sure to stand behind it) and did not seem to smoke while driving
The valve cover gasket leaks a bit but it did not drip all the way to the ground.

 

[LandSpeed-DSM]

I would run far away from that car based on what you have described so far. But this is just my opinion.

 

[91stocker]

Sounds like a money pit. Im with LandSpeed on this one.

 

[1MeanTSI]

Ok....I actually looked at this car. Its got meshies and its black right? STAY AWAY

 

[flyjum]

Ok....I actually looked at this car. Its got meshies and its black right? STAY AWAY

well its more purple haha
but yea that is the car

For $1200 for a running gsx I think is pretty cheap
He said a few people have came and looked at it but they expect like a perfect car or something

I dont mind doing work on the car
I plan to to a full engine rebuild and have the trans rebuilt by jacks trans

Did you test drive the car as well?

 

[TCtitan]

then offer the guy 600 for it and if he doesnt take it then walk away, the car sounds like its hungry for tons of money

 

[Nosroxs]

Yeah i would walk away from it also, i think you are gonna throw more money into it then what it is worth... by the time you buy the car and put all the parts you are gonna need to put into it you could buy a real nice eclipse/talon... IMO id keep searching i know for a fact you can find better.... don't know where you are or if you buying locally or what not but look at craigslist in my area the dsm's are a dime a dozen ... > http://centralmich.criagslist.com good luck and good hunting..

 

[LandSpeed-DSM]

It's going to be the chassis/subframe/suspension and electrical/electronics gremlins that will make this a nightmare.

$1200 is cheap for a running AWD, but be prepared if you do buy this. Get it on a rack, who knows what you'll find hacked together underneath.

 

[90_gsx_88]

Did he have any of the records of the work done to it and how long ago he did it I mean if so that's alot less than worrying about it yourself that saved you some money there I mean a few odds and end parts here and there (its an older car to begin with) I think is no problem and if you don't mind a lil body work and some bondo to fix the dents I'd go for it just start walking around the car a bit and start throwing out numbers id personally start at 700 cash but wouldn't go over 1000 I mean you plan on doing motor and tranny as it is so there isn't much extra there if you think about it you'd just be in it for any extra you want to do to it way cheeper than what I got mine for but mine is slightly built knocked the guy off 8500 to 6000 but its all personal preference on what you want to do and can build it the way you want

 

[flyjum]

Daily Driver 90 Eclipse GSX

this is the car
Its a arizona car so no rust or anything
The underside looked really clean

Not many gsx cars here in arizona
At least ones that run

I dont mind dumping money into it to know that it has a new engine and trans ect.
I have rebuilt quite a few engines before so its not really an issue
Also not going to be a daily driver it will be a track car

If 1meanTSi test drove or knows who owned it before or something I would like to know what he thinks of it.

 

[TCtitan]

IMO thats still too much, it doesnt even have a sunroof and the paint is way past done. i like that its from arizona and has no rust though and that it stock which means not too much could be wrong with it. but since the dude seems like a Dbag with the whole im not going lower so dont waste my time deal i wouldnt bother.

 

[flyjum]

IMO thats still too much, it doesnt even have a sunroof and the paint is way past done. i like that its from arizona and has no rust though and that it stock which means not too much could be wrong with it. but since the dude seems like a Dbag with the whole im not going lower so dont waste my time deal i wouldnt bother.

yea I guess he is moving to texas on the 5th so the longer I wait the more desperate he will get maybe.

Im not sure I will pay 1200 because it does have some major issues mainly the roof
Also the sunroof is not missing it I dont think it ever had one and someone cut a hole and tried to make a sunroof but ####ed it up so it looks like crap.
I was thinking I could fabricate a aluminum roof plate and cover it

 

[TCtitan]

im thinking you give him 600-700 the kid would be lucky to have that, its a good project car if you plan on letting it sit and you do some work on it

 

[Reefman]

Ask if you can run a compression check and go from there. I would start pointing out some of the issues with the car and offer what you reasonably want to pay for the car. Just don't overpay.

 

[CrawlinZX14]

Personally I would walk away from that car. Unless you had another chassis and needed a motor or something. But that car IMO is not worth 1200. I agree, check compression on it, but before u buy also do a leak down test. The coils on these are not like the supra's at all. So I doubt that is your problem there. Likely improperly gapped plugs, fouled plugs or an ECU issue. Looks like a money pit to me tho, so unless your trying to drop a fair amount of coin, I would keep looking.

 

[sugarfree]

The exhaust manifold heatshield is missing, that means its a good one ;-)

 

[Anubis_4_99]

yea I guess he is moving to texas on the 5th so the longer I wait the more desperate he will get maybe.

Im not sure I will pay 1200 because it does have some major issues mainly the roof
Also the sunroof is not missing it I dont think it ever had one and someone cut a hole and tried to make a sunroof but ####ed it up so it looks like crap.
I was thinking I could fabricate a aluminum roof plate and cover it

If it's your thing, you can de-skin the roof and re-skin it with an unmolested roof skin. Should be a bunch of spot welds on the inside, or the rain channels, holding it together. You could maybe save yourself some cash if you dont know how to weld, by drilling the old spot welds out and removing the old skin so it is ready for the shop you have put on the new one. Your windshield might also have to be pulled for that, not 100% sure on a dsm.

Or like you said, just fab up some kind of plate, mount it underneath and fill the void with some bondo or fiberglass or similar, paint it and no one will ever know the difference.

If it is a factory opening just missing the glass or whatnot, that should only take a junkyard trip and 4-6 hours to fix depending on how mechanically inclined you are.

 

[flyjum]

If it's your thing, you can de-skin the roof and re-skin it with an unmolested roof skin. Should be a bunch of spot welds on the inside, or the rain channels, holding it together. You could maybe save yourself some cash if you dont know how to weld, by drilling the old spot welds out and removing the old skin so it is ready for the shop you have put on the new one. Your windshield might also have to be pulled for that, not 100% sure on a dsm.

Or like you said, just fab up some kind of plate, mount it underneath and fill the void with some bondo or fiberglass or similar, paint it and no one will ever know the difference.

If it is a factory opening just missing the glass or whatnot, that should only take a junkyard trip and 4-6 hours to fix depending on how mechanically inclined you are.

Yea I was just wondering is someone made a roof cover or not.
Ill rivet it or bolt it on I dont really care what it looks like just would need something to cover the hole up.

 

[DSMTyson]

At the most i'd give him 800 and call it a day.

 

[WES_393]

That break up could also be overboosting. The AT 1g's only have 390cc injectors which can't handle 14psi. I would check for a boost controller of some kind. If it has a boost controller and no other tuning mods, I would assume the car has been ran at improper A/F ratios which can lead to some heavy damage.

 

[flyjum]

That break up could also be overboosting. The AT 1g's only have 390cc injectors which can't handle 14psi. I would check for a boost controller of some kind. If it has a boost controller and no other tuning mods, I would assume the car has been ran at improper A/F ratios which can lead to some heavy damage.

car is 5 speed and I did not see any kind of boost controller
wastegate was not shimmed or anything either