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Got Insulin?
06-15-2009, 07:03 PM
It's been a while since I've posted here, but I still consider this my home forum. Over the last year, I've occasionally dropped teaser photos of my car, but I've never really gone into a whole lot of detail about just how it all came about. Before I get rolling, I just wanted to thank all the friends I've made here (Red, Lazy, the rest of you mofo's) for all the help and support. And the FSMs. And the cuddling. But, on to the goods!


So this is my 1993 Eagle Talon TSI AWD. Came fully loaded from the factory with leather, rear wiper, ect, ect. in a ballin' Mitsubishi Arctic White with the tell-tale Eagle blacktop.
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/talon.jpg

I'm getting a little ahead of myself with that picture, but it'll come in time.
My love of DSMs started after I purchased a MINT 97 Eagle Talon in January of 07. I had huge plans for her, but I quickly came to find out that my Talon, despite it's looks and semi-rarity, was the bastard of the DSM family which people scorn because of it's 420a power-plant. I was pretty bummed because only after my purchase did I discover that my peppy, but awesome looking, car was nothing short of a Neon with the most ballin' body kit ever produced by man:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/TALON1.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/TALON2.jpg

So my slightly ignorant plans of a 6-bolt AWD swap came to a jarring halt after I did some research and realized what I was getting into. This research also uncovered how rediculous, and how totally frustrating the car would be if not taken care of. So despite it's N/A status, if my lovingly dubbed #2 taught me anything, it was regular maintence schedules are key. But I wouldn't be deterred by that. I was on a quest to find an AWD.
I didn't get far before I found that it would be no easy task to find myself an unmolested 2GB Talon that fit my meager budget and were in good/amazing shape. So the search began.

(For those unfamiliar with DSMs, they came in A and b waves, with 1ga's starting in late 89 and continuing until early 92, 1gb's from 92 to early 94; 2GAs from late 94 to 96, and 2GBs from 97-98 or 99 if it was an Eclipse)

In January 08, I found what I had been looking for. Now, I had expanded my horizions a little bit, joined some forums, asked newb questions, and researched as much as I possibly could. I had realized that my quest for the perfect 2G Talon would have to be on hold. I just didn't have the money to play with the big boys, much less pick up the stock, low mileage dream car that practically doesn't exist anymore. But on some fateful January night, I found that golden Craigslist ad.

I bought the car in March of 08 after admiring her and talking with the previous owner for nearly 4 months via email and taking a few (unbeknownst to my parents and friends) roadtrips down to Deleware to see her, and take the occasional spin with the P/O. I followed her progress from the of a realitively stockish 1gb Talon with a 16g and supporting mods to the slightly more modified mess she is today. I purchased her in March after securing a loan (mostly to build credit, I was only 19 at the time) on a Monday night and left the next afternoon to go pick her up. Me, my lady at the time, and my best bud drove down to Deleware to pick up the car. It was a harrowing experience getting home because after all my research, I really had no hands on experience with the car. I had never drove a car with a turbo or a car with an ACT 2600 in it for that matter. Not to mention, we drove all the way home from the very tippy bottom of Del to Philly with NO TAGS. It was nuts.

So we get her home, and I have to wait a month to get tags, my owners card, blah, blah, blah. The car needed to be tuned....badly. I had no idea what I was doing, so I did some research, set up my VPC (which along with the AFC had been zeroed out, so no tune except for the chip, go figure) and messed with the AFC a little. Despite my best efforts, I couldn't get it to idle right. It was unbeleivable. And, yet, every time I looked in the car's general direction, or even thought about it, I burst into a spontaneous smile. Even now, as it sits, currently broken, I'm smiling. It soon became more than just my car, it became the Talon. I got my first noise complaint from my girl's mom about a week after I got it, and I couldn't stop laughing.
So, more pictures, less talk, right?
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/DSCN1513.jpg
How's that for starters?
And my modlist? Sure.

Forced Performance FPGreen turbo
2g exhaust manifold
38mm external tial wastegate w/ dump
660cc injectors
Supra TT fuel pump
VPC
AFC
Eprom Ecu w/ burned chip that has stutter box launch and some other goodies
Brian Crower Cams 272 grind
Buscher 2.5" exhaust
Greddy electronic boost controller
ACT 2600 clutch
Fidanza flywheel
Adjustable fuel pressure regulator
Custom intake
Eibach pro-kits springs with KYB AGX shocks and struts
Front and rear strut tower bars
Forged 18" rims - Centerline (white)
Huge race FMIC
Ebay turbo timer
Autometer boost guage
Autometer EGT sensor and guage
AEM UEGO wideband O2 sensor
Cheap aftermarket head unit
Aluminum radiator
New clear, bright head lights and clear sidemarkers
High flow catalytic converter, test pipe included (not installed)

Now, as I stated earlier, it was never my intention to buy a modified car, but I got too good of a deal on her (in my oppinion) to let her pass. So I sucked it up. I planned from the get-go on a whole different set-up, so why not start with a decent set-up as is, right?
Wrong.

To be continued....




NY 95 TSI AWD
06-15-2009, 07:35 PM
I'll be checking back. :)

swade
06-15-2009, 07:47 PM
Next chapter... PLEASE!

swade

lazylaser
06-15-2009, 10:22 PM
Nice, I got an honorable mention.
Both the cars look great, that 420a must be nice to D.D., maybe I just have a soft spot for 2gb talons even if they are fwd and non-4g63. The 1g looks like a great project, how long has it been broke? What broke? And what is keeping it from being fixed?

Get some more info and pictures up, I feel the need to know more. I like how in your story, you pretty much did whatever it was going to take to get that AWD home.

Got Insulin?
06-19-2009, 04:47 PM
Thanks for all the compliments and kind words, fellas. The car was just started up for the first time in almost a year last weekend. There's alot of details between then and now, so I'll be sure to update after I locate all the pictures and details of the extensive modification and learning processes included along the way. However, I'm currently troubleshooting some itsy bitsy stuff that's keeping it from being streetable, so bear with me.
Thanks!

Got Insulin?
06-19-2009, 05:00 PM
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/DSC_0009.jpg

dirtyjerzey
06-19-2009, 05:49 PM
^^ looks so sexy. Can't wait to get my front mount on :D

Got Insulin?
06-19-2009, 11:47 PM
Keep in mind guys that this is all retro to 11/08, so it's a little dated.


So, back to the story, right?
Everything is going fine and well up until about June '08. I'm getting ready to leave for work, and when going to put my car into reverse, it begins to grind. So I pull it out, thinking that maybe in my rush, I hadn't had the clutch all the way into it's sweetspot, and put it back in gear without a problem. Everything seems cool.

Now, I need to tie up some loose ends. Remember that erratic idle I told you about earlier? Well, no matter how well I, nor my friends, got the car dialed in on the VPC/AFC, she wouldn't idle right. She'd start up just fine, run, then idle would drop, it'd dump fuel to compensate, rinse, and recycle. So, being a newb, I dealt with it. I figured it was all in the tune, that is, until I started smelling gas in the engine bay. If this has never happened to you, it's pretty scary when you have no idea what's going on, or why your car is acting the way it is, much less smelling like it has a dual-barrel carb that needs to be refit. Again, I've gotta stress that, unfortunately, I could talk the talk, and really, for the most part, I know what I'm talking about; but at this point, couldn't walk the walk. I spend so much time reading and researching, it's rediculous. But you know what? It doesn't mean dick if you don't know what you're doing. You need the whole experience, a.k.a.-knowing what something does, how it works, and how to fix it, as well as how to install or remove said something. I failed miserably at this last point, despite my best efforts.

Anyway, I come to find that my turbo-timer isn't letting the car cool down for the full minute-and-a-half that it's set for. I figure that this has something to do with the eratic idle, and say "Fug it, a minute is long enough." The minute turns into 45sec. which turns into 30, and I'm still driving the car every day because the supposedly reliable 2g N/A is in my driveway with the water pump from hell attached to it. That's an entire 'nother story in itself. Also still looking for this fuel odor's origin, and now I'm starting to grind 1st like it's my job, losing second, and third is beginning to chirp, too. And reverse? Well, I didn't really use it that much anyway. Yeah, that was all but gone, too.

The strangest thing began to happen around this point: I realized why DSMs got such a bad rep, and for the first time, I regretted buying the car. Will I ever admit that this betrayal went through my head again? Doubtful; but what's the point of telling a story, if I'm only going to mention the good parts? I realize that kids like me, the ones that bought the modified cars, and let their problems get the best of them until they couldn't move the car, were the reasons for the bad rap. And I hated that I was part of this group.

Car gets parked, where it's since sat while I gather parts, at the end of July '08 when I can't even start it in first because of the engagement issue. I'm aggrivated to say the least? And this fuel leak that's been causing me all this trouble? Yeah, is was an injector seal and an O-ring that had dissolved and my injector had been slowly pissing fuel all over the top of the block. This, causing the sloppy idle, and damn near total hot-shutdowns, fried the seals on my turbo, and did who knows what damage past there.

That pretty much is the story of the car so far. I cut an 12.1 on a backroad according to a friend's iPhone with Dynolicious. blah, blah, blah. It's been sitting since July, and I've since torn it almost all the way down. The AFC is long gone, the VPC all boxed up; the turbo is still in the car while I await the funds to rebuild it; the guages, I relocated from my A-pillar to my center vent, and I did some sweet custom stuff with the wideband and boost guage. I've also slowly been piecing together the interior and have just recently aquired all of it, but I'm still hunting for a leak that, until recently, I never knew existed, but think/hope is just faulty weather-stripping. Aside from that, I picked up a clutch, but think that the culprit may lie somwhere with the master/slave, but that's a road I don't even want to travel yet. I've slowly been accumulating parts and have alot of great stuff to put on the car when I get it running. As for tuning, I'm going to pick up DSMLink and use a GM Maf with the the Translator zeroed out. After that, I'm done modding for a while, except for maybe some stereo options, as the stuff that's in there just isn't cutting it. I did pick up a 6-bolt head and a bare block (shipped here from Va for $175! ****in A!!).

Got Insulin?
06-19-2009, 11:50 PM
Parts and other fun stuff: (12/08)
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/1G%20pics/noname.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/DSCN1748.jpg
The rapidly expanding parts catalogue that's taking over my room.:)

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/DSCN1749.jpg
Old, ghetto-welded 3" open intake, vs new FP 4" mogoloid intake, pictured with the massive 4x9" K&N with a similar thyroid problem.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/DSCN1750.jpg
Gaskets, EE-PROM ECU, Stainless steel turbo bolts, forward facing oil filter housing, SS Ring with extra ports for the oil filter housing, FP feed and drain lines

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/DSCN1751.jpg The legendary DSMLink.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/DSCN1752.jpg
Halman MBC, and old oxidized aluminuim piping vs. recently breifly polisghed, old aluminuim piping. And my sweet purple TIAL BOV.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/DSCN1753.jpg
JM Fab heatshield that was repolished, by me, to it's original shine and the MAF-t that alllows me to "delete" the stock MAF and replace it with a GM MAF. Schhhwwweeeeeeet.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/DSCN1754.jpg
Closeup of the port extension for the oil-filter housing. It gets put in place of the oil filter and the oil filter fits into it so that you have more ports for whatever oil monitoring/ cooling equipment you may want to install. SS Oil feed line (From the filter housing) with a filter, and the corresponding dump tube so that gravity can do it's job and evacuate the oil from the turbo as quick as it can. Also pictured is the forward facing oil filter housing. It gives you alot more room to work with since the filter is now not at a right angle.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/DSCN1756.jpg
And, last but not least, the sweet non-cruise control cable that will allow me to delete my cruide control, clean up my engine bay, and ditch all the wires looped on top of my valve cover.

4/09

I finally got my own camera, so new shots will be on the way, but here's a teaser of the DNP tubular:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/1-5.jpg
My main squeeze, and her slightly older cousin in the forground:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/33.jpg
Cleared, uuber polished aftermarket headlights:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/333.jpg
Arse-end:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/1111.jpg
Creative solutions the the A-pillar pod problem:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/11.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/111.jpg
Things that still need to be dealt with:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/1-6.jpg
Clear timing-belt cover:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/3-1.jpg

Got Insulin?
06-19-2009, 11:54 PM
Getting ready to clean the FMIC up. When your tubo is spitting oil like mine was, you might as well clean it out while it's off of the car
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/DSC_0075.jpg
Greasy, oily alcohol during:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/DSC_0074.jpg

What could that be?! Notice the FP packing tape, lol.
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/DSC_0061.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/DSC_0063.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/DSC_0065.jpg
Quick bay shot, finally with some IC piping. I'm not totally happy with it, but it'll due until I get the car running:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/DSC_0083.jpg

Thanks, guys:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/DSC_0084.jpg

Finally, un-gutted, full interior again:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/DSC_0085.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/DSC_0086.jpg

Another project, can you say "suede"?:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/DSC_0088.jpg

Something else that's been creeping in my garage. It'll be painted to match, but I've got some other ideas I'm throwing around, too:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/DSC_0089.jpg


The partially dis-assembled 6-bolt.
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/DSC_0096.jpg

The fun end of the boost controller:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/DSC_0097.jpg

Mishimoto Rad:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/DSC_0098.jpg

MAF traslator with extended harness for on the fly adjustments:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/DSC_0099.jpg

Current bay shot with tubular mani test fitted:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/DSC_0103.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/DSC_0104.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/DSC_0106.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/DSC_0002.jpg

Got Insulin?
06-19-2009, 11:56 PM
5/09
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/DSC_0005.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/DSC_0004.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/DSC_0001-1.jpg

I'm on the fence about the hood big time, but I'm thinking painted white, it'll be decent. I'm going to sand it and rattle can it to get a feel, and then it'll get painted, along with the mint 1GB bumper I just picked up when I get the clutch situation taken care of.

Got Insulin?
06-19-2009, 11:59 PM
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n116/tjedi1/DSC_0009.jpg

Rain delay....

6/14/09
So, today, at 5:00 PM, my car roared to life for the first time in eleven months. I'm ecstatic. There's a few small bugs to work out, such as figuring out why my fans won't come on,why the thermostat isn't opening, and why my temperature guages aren't working, but **** it, the car runs. The idle also needs to be adjusted and the entire car gone over, but as of now, I'm still getting the chills thinking about it.

6/15/09
Today yeilded alot of burnt skin on my forearms and frustration. I need to get back on the Link forums to do some research and find out some basic info, like the OT at idle and shiz like that. The fans are wired up, but drawing way too heavily because it's all routed through one side, so now I need to make the trek to find the driver's side fan connector and settle that. The idle is all over the place, and my Oil pressure saw a drop from 80PSI to 45 PSI, so there's some things that need to get sorted out. I'll update when something gets accomplished.


I'm working on some minor issues right now, like getting past my newb-ness, but I'm making good progress. Any comments/concerns/advice/sexual inuendos are more than welcome.

lazylaser
06-20-2009, 12:01 AM
Good move on upgrading to 'link, and yes knowing what you are supposed to be doing and doing it are two different things. I was very lost, even all they searching in the world... it just isn't anything like someone looking over your shoulder showing you just 1 time how to do it right, that's all it takes. Preventive Maintenance, and a good understanding of these cars will help you from breaking them. Any half assing it, will leave you with a pile of broken parts.
Dsms do not forgive ignorance, good intentions will not get you by, and the cars get a bad rap because of it.
Glad you are working your way out of being another statistic with a dsm on jackstands.
"you" doesen't mean you,but is just general statements agreeing with your posts.
Edit: lol thats my old MAF-t!
Everyone seems to have a couple secondhand part in their build threads these days. I'm guilty of that myself!

Got Insulin?
06-20-2009, 12:05 AM
Baby steps, Ben.
Thanks.

Got Insulin?
06-20-2009, 05:05 PM
"you" doesen't mean you,but is just general statements agreeing with your posts.
Edit: lol thats my old MAF-t!
Everyone seems to have a couple secondhand part in their build threads these days. I'm guilty of that myself!


Haha, that's why you got some special mention, son.


The junkyard run was a total bummer today. Sometime inbetween when I left at closing last night, and the time I got there an hour after they opened, somebody grabbed the 4-bolt that I had off the car and the car was crushed. The staff knew nothing about the 4-bolt, but whatever. Time to make a pilgramage to Harry's!

Got Insulin?
10-30-2009, 07:35 PM
In case you were wondering, the car has moved under it's own power since the last time I updated. Lots of small things taken care of, still have a bunch of other stuff to get tweaked. However, with school and work, little has been getting done.

Oh, and there's rumors of another DSM, of the four door, limited edition, variety joining my collection in the near future. I promise some more news soon.

Stay tuned.