what kind of 1G???

[Sarich5]

I'm looking to buy a first gen dsm and I'm not sure what im getting myself into.
It must be an AWD turbo.

Is there anything different between the first gens???
Example: On a 93 3000GT the crankshaft is forged and on the 91-92 they weren't

I know I want to buy a first gen, I'd rather not have pop up lights. are the 90-91's the only ones with pop ups??
Can anyone help this newbie out????

 

[pooker]

90-92.5was a 6 bolt with 3 bolt rearend and 92.5-94 was a 7 bolt with 4bolt rearend, there was some in betweens with a 6 bolt and 4 bolt rearend. The 4 bolt can hold more power, big plus, besides that it is just cosmetic differences.

 

[90laserRSfwd]

1990's are the odd child. and the 90 and 91 had flip up lights. I believe the best car you could find would be a 1992 (for your particular app.) There are some difference's in cosmetic apprience. The best to find would be what's called a 6/4 combo (6 bolt motor, and 4 bolt rear) also look for one with an LSD rear end. Incase you don't know the 6 bolts have been proven to be less suseptable to "crankwalk". The 3 and 4 bolt rears are doub'd that because of the # of bolts on the outer shaft knuckles. For example a 3 bolt rear has 3 bolts that connect the axle from the rear diff. to the knuckle that drives the wheel, 4 bolt has 4 bolts. Anything else just ask

-Jace

 

[90laserRSfwd]

Oh and May of '92 was the switch over point from 6 bolt to 7 bolt motors. Just look at the decal on the drivers side door jam and it will tell you the month and year it's was manufactured (anything april '92 and previous had 6 bolt / after that was 7. This only applies to turbo cars and the non turbo cars with the 2.0L DOHC motor, not the 1.8L POS)

 

[force it in]

Look for an early 92 with the 6 bolt 4 bolt combo. Here's a link that will show you how to check for a 6 bolt engine. http://www.vfaq.com/mods/early-late-engine.html
Happy hunting.

 

[Sarich5]

Thanks guys!!!! I've had a 3000GT SL for awhile and still love it, I just need something faster and more fun!!!! So I turned to the DSM

If I can't find the 6/4 combo what should I get?? a 6/3 or a 7/4??? because I've been looking at a 1990 Tsi and love it!

What kind of mods and money will it take to run mid to high 12's?

 

[Sarich5]

I plan on buying a 5-speed. Will the stock trans hold for mid 12's?? Good idea to buy some kind or LSD for the rear???
All this is new to me and just need a good place to start and know what i'm gettin into.
This car is more than likely going to be driven 3-5 times a week. Bad idea if I want to run 12's?

 

[1g_tsi_awd]

If you plan on running 12's you might as well get a rebuild. Do things right the first time, and you won't have to do it a second time... And shep trannys are nice.

 

[Wpgdsm]

90 tsi AWD all came with lsd's and did not have an option for auto tranny only standard. 91 tsi AWD had ABS brakes without an lsd or standard brakes with an lsd. 1st gens also had a bigger turbo on the standard tranny cars. The standard trans won't even put up with the factory engine much less one that has any amount of power. BY the way you do not want one with ABS, it was considered one of the worst systems in the industry.

 

[Defiant]

Example: On a 93 3000GT the crankshaft is forged and on the 91-92 they weren't

I'd check that "fact". How else would a crankshaft be made?

 

[1gcrazy]

The standard trans won't even put up with the factory engine much less one that has any amount of power.

He's right! Considering numerous members have reached 11's on our stock transmissions!

90 tsi AWD all came with lsd's

I'm not sure I even want to BELIEVE this...

 

[Calan]

He's right! Considering numerous members have reached 11 on our stock transmissions!

yeah... dump the clutch improperly on a $64768634 race tranny built by anyone several times.. and see how long it lasts...

but hey.. wtf do I know...

 

[Sarich5]

I'd check that "fact". How else would a crankshaft be made?

I'm pretty sure you can have a cast crank? correct me if i'm wrong. I know a lot about 3S's but I do not know everything.
what is this "fact" thing you talk about???

 

[luvmygst]

I'd check that "fact". How else would a crankshaft be made?

Not all cranks are forged. All the cranks in the 4g63 are forged but other cars use nodular iron (aka cast) cranks.

Edit: This is a good read.

http://www.automotiverebuilder.com/ar/eb010650.htm

 

[Wpgdsm]

He's right! Considering numerous members have reached 11's on our stock transmissions!
I'm not sure I even want to BELIEVE this...

Sorry I should have said that the tranny in a DSM have been known to be unreliable. There seem to be an awful lot of threads on this site that are about tranny problems. I don't personaly know anyone who owns one that has not had to repair or replace one.
I do congratulate anyone who has been lucky enough to have one that has not grenaded.
If I offended anyone with my statement I'm sorry.

 

[dsm-onster]

Keep in mind that most of the "tranny problem" threads are about clutch issues. AWD and a 5000 rpm clutch dump really explodes those buggers. And even performance street clutches... I am pulling apart my broken clutch (ACT w/ the REVISED hub springs). I sheared it in two pieces. The hub is separated from the puck material. This clutch is in a supposedly tractionless FWD.

But that's ok. You did initiate a great topic about these cars. Anyone getting involved in a T/E/L model needs to realize that the stock long block hp potential out weighs the potential of aftermarket 'street' upgrades to the chassis and drive train. Clutch, differentials, motormounts, all take a beating (ive split solid polyurethane motormounts w/ an 18G and pump gas on stock cams). Of course next is the tranny. . . I've seen a decently taken care of tranny take all a 7_bolt block can deliver w/out bending a rod. But, after about 450 hp, many say the innards become glass. 350 hp lends to a good chance of delving signficantly into the 12 sec range as I've seen as well.

No matter what you get you can always swap what you want into it... 6bolt block and 4-bolt rear is not hard to get into any 1G AWD

 

[Talesin]

Actually, the 1G 7-bolts aren't all that bad off on the crankwalk issue. It's mostly the 2Gs that have the walk problem. The six-bolt seems to be a stronger engine (thicker hardware, especially), but a 1G seven-bolt shouldn't be too bad.

92-94 had fixed-beam headlights. 90-91 had pop-ups. Grab a 92 if you can find one, and you should be fine. You can also convert the three-bolt rear diff to a four-bolt for the price of parts and labor, removing the old rear diff/axles/cups and mounting the new parts.

Also, before you grab a 1G AWD DSM, at least one important fact should be known. They're geared WAY lower than the FWDs. This means that when you're cruising on the freeway, you'll be doing 3500rpms in fifth to get 65mph, instead of under 2500 on a FWD. My old GS-T actually would get around 30mpg boosting regularly... my GSX now gets under 20, just from the gearing difference, especially under a lot of freeway cruise commuting. The GS-T would also (*cough*) theoretically hit over 100mph in third, while the GSX tops out fourth to get there. Fifth on the GSX also ends at 147mph, at stock redline, while the GS-T could theoretically get around 180-190. Much longer legs on the FWD.

AWD DSMs also heavier (read: less nimble in twisties, if you like autocross) and have more parts that can (read: will) break. Unless you REALLY need AWD (hard launches, can't deal with the back end floating a little, really want to stick the hell out of turn exits) it's much less of a headache to just grab a FWD. Tempted to pick another one up just to use as a daily driver, and strip the GSX out completely for road course racing on weekends. :b

 

[Rippinstock]

Its a rocky road but i think if your going to gt a 1g i'd get the pop-ups. At first id didnt want to get 1g with it but in the end it gives the car much more attitude. i got a 91 and love the pop-ups and a bonus is u get the 6 bolt, upgrading to the 4 rear can always be done, happy hunting tho.

 

[1999silverGSX]

The standard trans won't even put up with the factory engine much less one that has any amount of power. .

I dont think this statement is true. I have a friend with a 91 GSX and his trans seems fines. It shifts perfect no grinding. With these cars 2nd seems to go before any of the others, his car has 125,XXX miles on it and it still shifts fine, He has a b16g and supporting mods with an act 2600 clutch and it holds and shifts with no problems. Its all about how the car was taking care of and how u treat it. If you beat it then you can expect things to break.