It started when I knew I needed something a little quicker than my 92 Talon 2.0 n/a. I began my search for a 1st gen AWD exactly a year ago. I landed with a 1990 GSX about a month later. The guy said all it needed to be on the road was an exhause, turbo, and a starter. At the time I didnt know much about DSM's so I didn't question anything he had to say and just took his word for it, I just want a DSM now!!!
So some friends and I went to tow my new baby home! Got there and first impression was AWESOME! The body was in very good shape but when he popped the hood I was less than impressed. Everything seemed to be apart but he insisted it didnt need much. I was just so excited and didn't know much about DSM's at this point so I didn't really question anything so we loaded her on the trailer and we were on our way!
Got her home at night and took some pics that night and in the morning.
First pic of my new love haha...
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I think the pain/body was in pretty good shape compared to the other 1st gens I looked at...
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Car was completly stock besides obviously this FMIC and piping that he gave me with the car. We later mounted it higher...
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And an engine pic, to the eye it doesn't look like much work is needed...
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So it was now time to get to work and start ordering some parts. Got the starter in, re-mounted the FMIC with some costom i/c piping done by my friend. Lastly the turbo!!! I decided to go with a big MHI16g from extremepsi.
Pic of my new 16g...
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Now a pick of the turbo in the car with the piping n all...
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I was slowly but surely making progress and learning ALOT about dsm's. It was time to start her up finally but could not get her going for the life of me. Had a friend help me out and we found the alternator belt just hanging there. Which led is to dig deeper and we found that the guy I bought it off of did a hack job of the timing belt. He didn't put the big washer in between the crank bolt and the crank pulley so the belt worked it's way half way off the pulley. After we corrected this we thought it would be a good idea to do a compression test to see if it did any damage and it did. I think the numbers were something like 50,90,110,110.
So the head had to come off. Did a leakdown test that revealed bent valves.:chair: Took the head off and one look at the pistons and I knew what happened. I was now looking at this when I popped my hood, and I know the DSM community is very used to pics like this but I'll show it anyways
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Got all new BC valves lapped in and put my head back on. Got it all back together and she FINALLY ran!!! At this time it had no exhaust and was very loud. It wasnt inspected or registered but I took her out and I fell in love with DSM's. The sound of that 16g and the feel of AWD telling you to sit the F#$% back down was awesome! My only mods at this time were: big 16g, FMIC with the piping, and boost and narrowband air/fuel guages, so I know the car wasnt running to healthy without any tuning device. Never-the-less I continued to take it around the block pissing everyone off with the noise.
Not even 2 weeks after I got it all back together I blew the fel-pro HG on one of my around the block passes. NOT AGAIN, but yes I knew the head would have to come off.:tat: Replaced the HG with a Mitsu 4 layer metal HG and some ARP's to make sure that didnt happen again and got it all back together again! Here are some pics of the car when it ran... Got the car registered and legally back on the road for just a weekend, I soon noticed she wasnt running nearly as good as before but didnt know what was going on. Looked at everything even compression which revealed 140 across all 4. Eventually the car didn't even start and I was ready to throw in the DSM towel. I could not pinpoint the problem untill I did another compression test where I could not get even 1psi of compression on ANY cylinder. Here are some pics of the car when it was in good running form...
The engine bay...
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The body...(I know I wish I didnt cut up the bumper too)
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I was now left with a REALLY tough decision. I didn't know whether to just get rid of this car or tear it apart early for an extensive winter rebuild. I had so many people just telling me to sell it and that's its not worth it, but it would be so easy to just throw in the towel but to stick with it would be a challenge. I didn't give up on my baby yet so why now? Just about a month ago I decided to take the motor out and begin the big build...
So now the motor is out and completly torn apart. Already have the a/c and p/s completly removed and am cleaning up the engine bay(pics to come). The block is at JNZTuning right now getting a .30 bore, hot tanked, and a re-surfaced deck. Here is my list for my 08-09 rebuild:
Ross .30 pistons
Eagle Rods
ACL Main and rod bearings
ARP's to hold it all together
B/s eliminator
New timing components
Cometic HG
New 1mm oversized vales and valve job on the head
BC springs/retainers
BC 272 cams
Fidanza cam gears
TRE stage 2 trans w/ 4 spider center diff.
Fidanza 3.2 clutch w/ lightwieght flywheel
Mishimoto Radiator w/ 12" slimfans
Walbro 255 lph
1050cc injectors
Aeromotive AFPR
DSMlink
Wideband 02 guage/sensor
I know I'm forgetting a few things but I priced everything out and have it listed on Microsoft word. I want to have this beast back on the road by May/June and if not def. by the DSM shootout. My goal is for 450-500 hp hopefully with the 16g, before I upgrade my turbo setup next fall/winter and hopefully am shooting for 600 AWHP.
So as of now like I said I have my block at JNZ and am taking everything one step at a time. I don't make as much a I wish so I'm getting parts in spirts but will post pics and updates as I continue my build!
So some friends and I went to tow my new baby home! Got there and first impression was AWESOME! The body was in very good shape but when he popped the hood I was less than impressed. Everything seemed to be apart but he insisted it didnt need much. I was just so excited and didn't know much about DSM's at this point so I didn't really question anything so we loaded her on the trailer and we were on our way!
Got her home at night and took some pics that night and in the morning.
First pic of my new love haha...
I think the pain/body was in pretty good shape compared to the other 1st gens I looked at...
Car was completly stock besides obviously this FMIC and piping that he gave me with the car. We later mounted it higher...
And an engine pic, to the eye it doesn't look like much work is needed...
So it was now time to get to work and start ordering some parts. Got the starter in, re-mounted the FMIC with some costom i/c piping done by my friend. Lastly the turbo!!! I decided to go with a big MHI16g from extremepsi.
Pic of my new 16g...
Now a pick of the turbo in the car with the piping n all...
I was slowly but surely making progress and learning ALOT about dsm's. It was time to start her up finally but could not get her going for the life of me. Had a friend help me out and we found the alternator belt just hanging there. Which led is to dig deeper and we found that the guy I bought it off of did a hack job of the timing belt. He didn't put the big washer in between the crank bolt and the crank pulley so the belt worked it's way half way off the pulley. After we corrected this we thought it would be a good idea to do a compression test to see if it did any damage and it did. I think the numbers were something like 50,90,110,110.
So the head had to come off. Did a leakdown test that revealed bent valves.:chair: Took the head off and one look at the pistons and I knew what happened. I was now looking at this when I popped my hood, and I know the DSM community is very used to pics like this but I'll show it anyways
Got all new BC valves lapped in and put my head back on. Got it all back together and she FINALLY ran!!! At this time it had no exhaust and was very loud. It wasnt inspected or registered but I took her out and I fell in love with DSM's. The sound of that 16g and the feel of AWD telling you to sit the F#$% back down was awesome! My only mods at this time were: big 16g, FMIC with the piping, and boost and narrowband air/fuel guages, so I know the car wasnt running to healthy without any tuning device. Never-the-less I continued to take it around the block pissing everyone off with the noise.
Not even 2 weeks after I got it all back together I blew the fel-pro HG on one of my around the block passes. NOT AGAIN, but yes I knew the head would have to come off.:tat: Replaced the HG with a Mitsu 4 layer metal HG and some ARP's to make sure that didnt happen again and got it all back together again! Here are some pics of the car when it ran... Got the car registered and legally back on the road for just a weekend, I soon noticed she wasnt running nearly as good as before but didnt know what was going on. Looked at everything even compression which revealed 140 across all 4. Eventually the car didn't even start and I was ready to throw in the DSM towel. I could not pinpoint the problem untill I did another compression test where I could not get even 1psi of compression on ANY cylinder. Here are some pics of the car when it was in good running form...
The engine bay...
The body...(I know I wish I didnt cut up the bumper too
)
I was now left with a REALLY tough decision. I didn't know whether to just get rid of this car or tear it apart early for an extensive winter rebuild. I had so many people just telling me to sell it and that's its not worth it, but it would be so easy to just throw in the towel but to stick with it would be a challenge. I didn't give up on my baby yet so why now? Just about a month ago I decided to take the motor out and begin the big build...
So now the motor is out and completly torn apart. Already have the a/c and p/s completly removed and am cleaning up the engine bay(pics to come). The block is at JNZTuning right now getting a .30 bore, hot tanked, and a re-surfaced deck. Here is my list for my 08-09 rebuild:
Ross .30 pistons
Eagle Rods
ACL Main and rod bearings
ARP's to hold it all together
B/s eliminator
New timing components
Cometic HG
New 1mm oversized vales and valve job on the head
BC springs/retainers
BC 272 cams
Fidanza cam gears
TRE stage 2 trans w/ 4 spider center diff.
Fidanza 3.2 clutch w/ lightwieght flywheel
Mishimoto Radiator w/ 12" slimfans
Walbro 255 lph
1050cc injectors
Aeromotive AFPR
DSMlink
Wideband 02 guage/sensor
I know I'm forgetting a few things but I priced everything out and have it listed on Microsoft word. I want to have this beast back on the road by May/June and if not def. by the DSM shootout. My goal is for 450-500 hp hopefully with the 16g, before I upgrade my turbo setup next fall/winter and hopefully am shooting for 600 AWHP.
So as of now like I said I have my block at JNZ and am taking everything one step at a time. I don't make as much a I wish so I'm getting parts in spirts but will post pics and updates as I continue my build!
