What are the firts things to do before moding my car...

[KaLo]

ok so im buying a 1992 talon pretty soon and I want to know..all of the things I need to change,clean,repair or tune..like belts or lines and stuff...I want to make sure my car is running 100% fine before doing anything to it....just get talking about stuff and I will learn
thanks a lot

 

[Dragon TalonTsi]

Okay brotha, here goes, just listen, and don't question my status, I know, it says I am a newbie, but I am far from it, people just dont give +3 points anymore, oh well. You will need to do a basic PMCS, Preventive Maintenance Checks and Services, on your car. You will need to check, repair, and tune everything accordingly. Check everything, fuses, wires, solenoids, sensors, plugs, every little electrical thing you could think of. Change all of your filters, gaskets, etc. Bust rust, paint it, clean it, whatever can be salvaged, save it, what needs to be fixed, repair it. Degrease it using a mild degreaser, Greased lightning, Black Magic, etc. to clean and shine your engine bay. Do a basic Flush and change on all of your fluids, T case, transmission, differential, power steering, coolant, oil, brake and clutch if applicable, and do a scan of everything. Hoses and belts will need changing, so do a complete tune up; plugs, wires, timing belt, etc. Your car will need it and will be better for it. Trust me, you will enjoy it for the lasting time of your car. The reason why I tell you to do that is to prevent it from getting major problems after you mod it out, if you do, then you will be better for it like I said. Chances are if the previous owners have no idea of when they were maintained (usually cheap a$$es), so you take the iniative to do that. You should not mod it out before taking care of this, actually, do not start modding your car without doing the necessary maintenance first, that is a must!!!. And if you do start modding it out before you do that basic essential pmcs's, you'll be paying for a brand new block or head or something really expensive which is not cheap. Basically, stop, look, and listen to all the others and what they have to say. You'll be fine, just work withing your goals, and remember, anything is possible, anything!!!!

 

[Talesin]

Also, get your mechanic to do a compression test to know where you're starting off, with the engine. And make the $30 investment that is a datalogger cable... it's really your only 'hard numbers' window into what the engine is doing. I'd also suggest a copy of the shop manuals or shop manual CD if you plan on doing any repairs on your own.

Besides that, read. Read a LOT. All of the newbie FAQs you can get your hands on, the tech upgrade paths ('Tech Guide' link at the top of the page), any part reviews you can before buying them. Also, keep in mind that if you go on-the-cheap, it WILL come back and bite you in the ass with these cars. Something I've learned over and over already.

 

[Dragon TalonTsi]

Yeah he is right too, that is what I forgot, get a Haynes or Chilton manual, they are life savers, and take it slow, do it right, remeber, be easy on your car, dont take no short cuts.... you'll only hurt yourself....

 

[KaLo]

thanks guys...

yeah i picked up a haynes repair manual for the 90-94 eclipse talon laser and im reading it one page at a time.I really want to make sur my car is 100% ok before i mod it...i want to have that gut fealling that nothing will bust on me....you know that fealling when you just made sure evrything is perfect...its feals so good cause you are sure thats nothing is going wrong under that hood...anyway..im a perfectionist in that way ..so im not worried that i will push things too fast before basic tune ups and repairs....anyway...keep posting you guys...i will read more and thanks