JStrateger
10+ Year Contributor
- 375
- 6
- Jul 17, 2008
-
New Carlisle,
Ohio
This is my first blog post, so I think an introductory history of my car is in order before I post any recent updates.
Summer 2007, I was 20 years old and looking for a new car to buy. With the help of my brother, I came across a 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse GST . The interior was pretty clean but the guy wanted like $1700 for it, which sound ridiculous to me given to condition the car was in. The front bumper was ripped off in a towing accident, the door handles were missing, the engine didn't run but he “assured†me the engine was in great shape, and it was sitting on four spare tires. Long story short, I talked him down to 700, which still seemed high to me but whatever, I wanted a project and didn’t have to travel to get it. I went it picked it up the following weekend.
When I took these pictures over four years ago, I skillfully left out the front end... I regret that now because it’s kind of hard to see the bumper is ripped off. After I got her home, I didn't really get around to working on it until the following year.
Summer 2008, I was now 21 years old. I’m legal to drink. (Drinking set me back a lot, don’t do it!) My plan of attack was to get the engine running, which I had no clue the condition of so that was a good starting point in my book. After a thorough inspection, I determined the fuel pump was bad. Replacing it was next on the list, and replacing it brought good news: the car started right up! Unfortunately, it bought bad news as well; the engine knocked horribly... worse sound I've ever heard in my life! This was a pretty bad day but at least I knew what needed to be done. It was time to put her away and start saving cash!
Summer 2009, I was 22 now. Out with the old, in with the...ehhh…nothing, just out with the old! I started tearing out the engine. This being my first engine removal, I didn't find it hard at all. It was fairly straight-forward; just take it out.
When I wasn't working on removing the engine, I was searching around the net for a replacement motor. I decided to go with one from tigerjapanease.com for around a grand shipped with less than 28k on it. I thought it sounded like a good deal so I ordered it. They delivered via full size semi-truck and unloaded it with a forklift jack. It was kind of funny seeing it parked out front of my house, unloading a small engine, which happened to be the only thing in his trailer. After inspection, I was pretty pleased with it. It looked like it was in great condition. It was wrapped in a saran wrap of some sorts when it arrived... No oil leaking anywhere, nothing seriously damage except a ding or two in the oil pan. I thought it was a grand well spent.
I don’t want to drag this on too much so I’ll wrap it up. I got a clutch, replaced the timing belt+ some gaskets, and removed the balance shafts, blah blah blah, nothing too exciting. I threw it together and drove her around for about a year, slowly fixing all the minor issues with it. In that year of driving it, I took care of maintenance. I replaced almost every sensor on the engine. The one that stuck out the most was the idle air control valve because it was almost two hundred dollars. I’m glad engine maintenance is out of the way.
Summer 2010, this is a little more recent. The car sat most of the summer with seized brakes. The only thing significant I did to it was a 2gb conversion and dye my carpet black.
I got the kit off a local DSM owner for $150.00
I had my friend Nathan, who was going to school for auto body and paint, paint them for me at his school. They turned out nice.
Winter 2010, disaster strikes! My other car was down so I had no choice but to drive the DSM in snow this winter, which really sucks, only her second winter seen to my knowledge. She usually sits happily in the garage and hibernates. Anyhow, I was riding with my friend on the highway and we were having a little fun, giving her some hell, when suddenly we hear a large clunk when going from fourth to fifth. It refused to go into any gear while on the highway. So, we pull over and shut it off. I started it up in second and drove it home… all the way… in second gear. Yes, this was VERY annoying to do. I go home, tear off the transmission to find that my clutch disc practically exploded.
Bah! I knew I shouldn’t have skipped out on the clutch! (I got it off ebay) Oh well, time for upgrades, I guess.
Summer 2011, I’m now 24 and a lot of upgrades are on the horizon. On that note, it’s time to end this History blog since this is now the present. Next update coming soon!
Summer 2007, I was 20 years old and looking for a new car to buy. With the help of my brother, I came across a 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse GST . The interior was pretty clean but the guy wanted like $1700 for it, which sound ridiculous to me given to condition the car was in. The front bumper was ripped off in a towing accident, the door handles were missing, the engine didn't run but he “assured†me the engine was in great shape, and it was sitting on four spare tires. Long story short, I talked him down to 700, which still seemed high to me but whatever, I wanted a project and didn’t have to travel to get it. I went it picked it up the following weekend.
When I took these pictures over four years ago, I skillfully left out the front end... I regret that now because it’s kind of hard to see the bumper is ripped off. After I got her home, I didn't really get around to working on it until the following year.
Summer 2008, I was now 21 years old. I’m legal to drink. (Drinking set me back a lot, don’t do it!) My plan of attack was to get the engine running, which I had no clue the condition of so that was a good starting point in my book. After a thorough inspection, I determined the fuel pump was bad. Replacing it was next on the list, and replacing it brought good news: the car started right up! Unfortunately, it bought bad news as well; the engine knocked horribly... worse sound I've ever heard in my life! This was a pretty bad day but at least I knew what needed to be done. It was time to put her away and start saving cash!
Summer 2009, I was 22 now. Out with the old, in with the...ehhh…nothing, just out with the old! I started tearing out the engine. This being my first engine removal, I didn't find it hard at all. It was fairly straight-forward; just take it out.
When I wasn't working on removing the engine, I was searching around the net for a replacement motor. I decided to go with one from tigerjapanease.com for around a grand shipped with less than 28k on it. I thought it sounded like a good deal so I ordered it. They delivered via full size semi-truck and unloaded it with a forklift jack. It was kind of funny seeing it parked out front of my house, unloading a small engine, which happened to be the only thing in his trailer. After inspection, I was pretty pleased with it. It looked like it was in great condition. It was wrapped in a saran wrap of some sorts when it arrived... No oil leaking anywhere, nothing seriously damage except a ding or two in the oil pan. I thought it was a grand well spent.
I don’t want to drag this on too much so I’ll wrap it up. I got a clutch, replaced the timing belt+ some gaskets, and removed the balance shafts, blah blah blah, nothing too exciting. I threw it together and drove her around for about a year, slowly fixing all the minor issues with it. In that year of driving it, I took care of maintenance. I replaced almost every sensor on the engine. The one that stuck out the most was the idle air control valve because it was almost two hundred dollars. I’m glad engine maintenance is out of the way.
Summer 2010, this is a little more recent. The car sat most of the summer with seized brakes. The only thing significant I did to it was a 2gb conversion and dye my carpet black.
I got the kit off a local DSM owner for $150.00
I had my friend Nathan, who was going to school for auto body and paint, paint them for me at his school. They turned out nice.
Winter 2010, disaster strikes! My other car was down so I had no choice but to drive the DSM in snow this winter, which really sucks, only her second winter seen to my knowledge. She usually sits happily in the garage and hibernates. Anyhow, I was riding with my friend on the highway and we were having a little fun, giving her some hell, when suddenly we hear a large clunk when going from fourth to fifth. It refused to go into any gear while on the highway. So, we pull over and shut it off. I started it up in second and drove it home… all the way… in second gear. Yes, this was VERY annoying to do. I go home, tear off the transmission to find that my clutch disc practically exploded.
Bah! I knew I shouldn’t have skipped out on the clutch! (I got it off ebay) Oh well, time for upgrades, I guess.
Summer 2011, I’m now 24 and a lot of upgrades are on the horizon. On that note, it’s time to end this History blog since this is now the present. Next update coming soon!
