CountryDSM
Proven Member
- 177
- 22
- Dec 13, 2012
-
Chandler,
Arizona
I thought it was time that I finally create a build thread. I'll give a quick history of how I got the car, it's current condition and progress, and plans for the future.
I was a massive F&F fan as a kid, and the eclipse was the car I wanted when I saw the first movie. As I neared the age of driving, I soon realized the Skyline, Supra, and all these other cars I loved were not a realistic option. A quick search on craigslist proved the eclipse to be oddly cheap and something I could afford. Back then when I had the understanding of a car through video games, all I knew was that Paul drove it in F&F, so it had to be good and fast.
I found a low mile 98 GS at 16. It was very clean and stock, minus a cat-back. I focused on a nice sound setup and wheels once I quickly figured out what the 420a was. Once I realized that the GST/GSX was the route to go, I began looking. Here is a picture I just found yesterday on craigslist of it for sale. 5 years later and the motor is blown and it is trashed. Sits sun rotting.
Picked up my current GSX about a year later once I sold the GS. I was still not knowledgable whatsoever in the world of DSM's and had much learning to do. I had never seen the Barcelona Red color before and I fell for it hard. It needed paint correction and maintenance, but was fully loaded and almost all stock minus an eBay 16g, FMIC kit, BOV, and exhaust. 98 with 110k miles. It was stock before that, but the seller just bought all of that and put it on. I had no idea about eBay parts back then. It made the right noises so I was sold. I was lied to in terms of what maintenance had been done so I did overpay, but you live and learn.
I took the car to Chad @ 3D Motorsports (Built the 3Dx Evo on 1320) when I first got the car. I had no idea what was going on when it started doing what DSM's do best. Giving a shoutout to him as chad helped me in a big way and got me to where I am today in terms of knowing it inside and out.
Fast forward to now about 4-5 years later. Busy with school, so it will see almost all of it's upgrades and changes during the summers. I did not document the cars progress and new part pickups well at at all, so I am going to jump into a current rundown and start from here.
When I saw Gofer's E85/68HTA setup and success, I decided to follow a similar route. My goal with the car was to make it the Eclipse I always wanted from the factory, which yes you might say would be similar to the Evo. I wanted to be 12 second quick, reliable, have Evo styled aspects like the brembos and interior, plus have all the amenities.
Quick overview of current setup (forgetting things, will update) :
Power : Tuned on V3 with E85. 28psi/Conservative timing. No AWD dyno nearby. Still on MAF. Ported JusMX style HTA68 w/ 20g billet wheel. Holset internal gate, external dump. 3in Exhaust + Vibrant muffler. FP manifold. PR FMIC. Stock block. Head has been cleaned/decked and has new seals, ARP studs, Cometic HG, lifters, and Delta 272's.
Fuel : 1000 ID Injectors. E85 450lph. Fuel Lab 818 + -6an lines. Edelbrock/SX performance AFPR.
Drivetrain : Stock other than Redline fluids, shifter bushings, and a South Bend DxD Drag.
Handling : Ground Control Coilover + Koni Yellow kit. Paul's (99gst_racer) adjustable tubular toe arms. Bronze DR-31 17x8 +35 235/45. Bunk Kumho all seasons that like to spin and I will be replacing.
Almost everything is working as it should and nothing is removed. It has full interior, CC, P/S, A/C, all of it. Actually, the antenna motor does not work and I will probably never get around to that.
Here is my remaining list of what is left to finish on the GSX - SSL MR+ Edition . I plan to have most of this done within the next 2-3 years.
We only have a 1/8 mile here, so I'd like to make a trip to a 1/4 mile and grab a time in the 12's.
Double Din with a good speaker setup all around.
Cipher Tan Leather seats. My passenger side is coming apart.
Evo 8 Steering Wheel.
Repaint Front and Rear Bumper, Hood, and Side Skirts.
Strictly CTSV Brembo Kit + Evo Rears.
Worst part about the car. RUST. Needs wire wheeled and a new undercoating. Plus strut towers replaced and repainted.
Dynomat trunk, reduce rattles.
Engine bay heavily cleaned, powder coating, new bolts, etc.
Create new trunk storage holder. (Using Bradydings method)
Find a remote key that will actually program.
JNZ Driveshaft Rebuild Kit.
A/C could use a recharge.
From here on out I will update the progress of the car, most of which will be tackling that list.
I was a massive F&F fan as a kid, and the eclipse was the car I wanted when I saw the first movie. As I neared the age of driving, I soon realized the Skyline, Supra, and all these other cars I loved were not a realistic option. A quick search on craigslist proved the eclipse to be oddly cheap and something I could afford. Back then when I had the understanding of a car through video games, all I knew was that Paul drove it in F&F, so it had to be good and fast.
I found a low mile 98 GS at 16. It was very clean and stock, minus a cat-back. I focused on a nice sound setup and wheels once I quickly figured out what the 420a was. Once I realized that the GST/GSX was the route to go, I began looking. Here is a picture I just found yesterday on craigslist of it for sale. 5 years later and the motor is blown and it is trashed. Sits sun rotting.
Picked up my current GSX about a year later once I sold the GS. I was still not knowledgable whatsoever in the world of DSM's and had much learning to do. I had never seen the Barcelona Red color before and I fell for it hard. It needed paint correction and maintenance, but was fully loaded and almost all stock minus an eBay 16g, FMIC kit, BOV, and exhaust. 98 with 110k miles. It was stock before that, but the seller just bought all of that and put it on. I had no idea about eBay parts back then. It made the right noises so I was sold. I was lied to in terms of what maintenance had been done so I did overpay, but you live and learn.
I took the car to Chad @ 3D Motorsports (Built the 3Dx Evo on 1320) when I first got the car. I had no idea what was going on when it started doing what DSM's do best. Giving a shoutout to him as chad helped me in a big way and got me to where I am today in terms of knowing it inside and out.
Fast forward to now about 4-5 years later. Busy with school, so it will see almost all of it's upgrades and changes during the summers. I did not document the cars progress and new part pickups well at at all, so I am going to jump into a current rundown and start from here.
When I saw Gofer's E85/68HTA setup and success, I decided to follow a similar route. My goal with the car was to make it the Eclipse I always wanted from the factory, which yes you might say would be similar to the Evo. I wanted to be 12 second quick, reliable, have Evo styled aspects like the brembos and interior, plus have all the amenities.
Quick overview of current setup (forgetting things, will update) :
Power : Tuned on V3 with E85. 28psi/Conservative timing. No AWD dyno nearby. Still on MAF. Ported JusMX style HTA68 w/ 20g billet wheel. Holset internal gate, external dump. 3in Exhaust + Vibrant muffler. FP manifold. PR FMIC. Stock block. Head has been cleaned/decked and has new seals, ARP studs, Cometic HG, lifters, and Delta 272's.
Fuel : 1000 ID Injectors. E85 450lph. Fuel Lab 818 + -6an lines. Edelbrock/SX performance AFPR.
Drivetrain : Stock other than Redline fluids, shifter bushings, and a South Bend DxD Drag.
Handling : Ground Control Coilover + Koni Yellow kit. Paul's (99gst_racer) adjustable tubular toe arms. Bronze DR-31 17x8 +35 235/45. Bunk Kumho all seasons that like to spin and I will be replacing.
Almost everything is working as it should and nothing is removed. It has full interior, CC, P/S, A/C, all of it. Actually, the antenna motor does not work and I will probably never get around to that.
Here is my remaining list of what is left to finish on the GSX - SSL MR+ Edition . I plan to have most of this done within the next 2-3 years.
We only have a 1/8 mile here, so I'd like to make a trip to a 1/4 mile and grab a time in the 12's.
Double Din with a good speaker setup all around.
Cipher Tan Leather seats. My passenger side is coming apart.
Evo 8 Steering Wheel.
Repaint Front and Rear Bumper, Hood, and Side Skirts.
Strictly CTSV Brembo Kit + Evo Rears.
Worst part about the car. RUST. Needs wire wheeled and a new undercoating. Plus strut towers replaced and repainted.
Dynomat trunk, reduce rattles.
Engine bay heavily cleaned, powder coating, new bolts, etc.
Create new trunk storage holder. (Using Bradydings method)
Find a remote key that will actually program.
JNZ Driveshaft Rebuild Kit.
A/C could use a recharge.
From here on out I will update the progress of the car, most of which will be tackling that list.
Last edited: