My restoration of a 2g GSX

hippiekiller · 09-12-2007

This is my on going project of a GSX that got in the hands of a rich kid ricer that didn't know how to take care of a car to save his life.

Before I picked it up.

After new wheels and tires and dericering the exterior.

And some semi-recent night shots...Not the best, but it looks alright.

Alright that pretty much shows where it is at this point.

Winter has a lot in store for this car. Carbon hood and maybe hatch are soon to be ordered, debating the hatch still. After that, it goes in for paint. Won't be red anymore. Still going back and forth on a couple of colors. Got it home and the old t25 that was on it was about dead so I put on a small 16g for now. It has a 6 bolt out of a Japanese Galant VR4 RS so that is all taken care of until I build an engine for it. The kid I bought it from was running around with the SSQV vented to the atmosphere so that is fixed. And also was running a walbro 255 with no FPR so I get to do that this weekend. The old tint needs to come off and get retinted. After that comes a 2.3L from FFWD and a head to match. Still debating what turbo. I have some time to think that one over though. Anyway, enjoy. I'll update pics as I can.

Mod List:

HKS Super Dragger Exhaust and downpipe (no longer made and I have not seen it on any other 2g's)
Walbro 255
Aeromotive FPR
Safc
Small 16g
FMIC
Blitz SUS intake
Taylor 409 wires
Gram Light 57F's in Time Attack wrapped in Nitto Neo Gen's
Tokico Illumina Shocks/Struts and springs
HKS Limited Edition Matte Black Turbo Timer
B&M short shifter
ARC titanium shift knob
Tons of crap waiting to go on.

blageo23 · 09-12-2007

Looks really nice!

hippiekiller · 09-12-2007

Thanks. Well, it looks better in pictures IMO. The body is really straight. Only a couple of dings. Those will be taken care of. Also going with a 2gb front. Sides and back will stay the same. Trying to decide on the spoiler...High, low or no. All look good to me. Some rust on the strut tower too, my body guy said it really isn't a big deal compared to most he sees. Probably going to get around to throwing my old Blitz gauges in it too...

I have boost, 2 temps and 2 pressures laying around so I figure they should go to a good home.

sleepydsm · 09-13-2007

I love NO SPOILER on 2gs, too few people have that. It looks sexy. Car is looking good!

Matt D. · 09-13-2007

What wheels are those?

hippiekiller · 09-13-2007

Gram Light 57F's 18x8.5's.

Matt we've met once before at an East Burbs meet. You might remember my daily driver.

John

Matt D. · 09-14-2007

Ahh, yes! Still the only Mustang I've seen that cared more about turning and stopping instead of going fast in a straight line.

hippiekiller · 09-14-2007

Yeah, my Mustang is a little bit different than any other I've seen. That's part of the reason I don't really pay attention to them any more. Do something different than supercharge it and put on Bullitt wheels and people flip out. Pretty pathetic really. There are actually a fair amount of Mustangs out there with attention paid to the twisties... www.griggsracing.com makes a buttload of parts for it, most people don't want to spend as much on their suspension as they did on their engine though.

And the little bit I have been able to drive it the GSX is way more fun than the Mustang. Mostly that whole boost thing though.

Matt D. · 09-14-2007

I've always said that the only Mustang I'd own would be a 99-04 Cobra because it has independent rear suspension. Wouldn't mind doing basic bolt ons and road racing the hell out of it.

hippiekiller · 09-14-2007

The IRS bolts right up to my car...Maybe in the future. If I ever buy another mustang it will probably be an '03-'04...So much potential in that car.

However, my main goal for now is bringing the GSX back to life. I felt bad for the car when I picked it up. All the interior trim was painted red. It will be what is should have been soon. Trying to decide between black (not just any plain old black though) and the celtic blue pearl that was offered on '96's. The color looks like this http://thefrost.net/eclipse.htm

hippiekiller · 12-18-2007

So yeah my parts to put on the car keeps growing...No heat in my garage means come spring I have some catching up to do.

and tomorrow I have to pick up some more....

**scheides** · 12-19-2007

Looking good man! A few points. If you really want to de-rice it, ditch the a-pillar gauges and go with a true sleeper setup on the dash (I had my 2G setup like this, LOVED it).

Do you have DSMLink yet? You might consider skipping the aftermarket FPR (not really necessary) and put the money towards more power mods: cams or dsmlink, then maybe a bigger turbo.

Looks like the car is dropped....do you have any other suspension mods done to it yet?

hippiekiller · 12-19-2007

I am planning on ditching the a-pillar gauges...Have a center vent mount setup coming from extreme psi. It fits my 60mm blitz gauges.

No dsmlink yet, when taxes come around I plan on dedicating it all to getting this thing up and running properly. Hopefully will be picking up the AEM ems, provided funds can justify it. If not I will run dsmlink.

I have to pick up cams for the new head. Probably going to go with the tried and true 272's and some Toda cam gears. Bought the head from the moderator/owner of widsm.org. Pretty heavy port job, oversized valves titanium retainers etc... Should flow a good amount of air.

I am still deciding on turbos. Probably going to end up going with the GT3076R... And a new manifold, not sure which yet.

Yeah it's dropped. Tokico 5 ways and matching springs. Have the same setup on my mustang and it works pretty well. Sooner or later it will have coilovers. Needs strut bars and some upgraded sway bars.

Picking up the injectors, flywheel, 2gb headlights, black dash and black console tomorrow.

blageo23 · 12-19-2007

Looks like this will be a fun project! If you are going to tune this yourself or at least attempt to I would NOT get AEM EMS! Its soo damn confusing(well for me at least) and Link is alot more user friendly(So Ive been told)

hippiekiller · 12-19-2007

No way am I going to tune it myself...I plan on getting it all together and taking it over to MAP.

Shooting for a solid 400 at the wheels. Maybe a little less than that until I can upgrade the tranny, axles and drive shaft. Clutch has to be done as well. BAH, so much work to do yet

Kevin 1G Drummer · 12-19-2007

I'm running a 3076r on my 1g, and so far, I'm really happy with it. As soon as I get some cams, I'm sure I'll love it alot more.

**JET** · 12-19-2007

You have been listening to the honduh guys too much. You don't need to upgrade any of the driveline stuff until you are WAY over 400 whp. Clutch will be needed, depending on what you want to do in the future, you might want to think about twin disk right now.

Speedfreak · 12-19-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by JET

You have been listening to the honduh guys too much. You don't need to upgrade any of the driveline stuff until you are WAY over 400 whp. Clutch will be needed, depending on what you want to do in the future, you might want to think about twin disk right now.

FPR, Cam gears, and driveline stuff are not needed. Spend that money on the other stuff you want.

hippiekiller · 12-19-2007

Hmm, already have the FPR so it is going in anyway, and I prefer to have it in there as well. Would rather degree in the cams. Just the way I like to do things. Not really looking at twin discs yet...Maybe down the road. Hmm, I was always told stuff starts to break at about 400hp with the GSX's. Not to mention it is a 13 year old car with 130k that I have no idea what has been replaced on it and when it was taken care of. I don't like things breaking and then having to be towed somewhere.

Kevin, what RPM's are you getting full boost at? More than likely the 3076r is the turbo I will end up running.

Kevin 1G Drummer · 12-20-2007

With my stock cams, I'm seeing 18psi at about 3600-3800 rpm with a badly leaking bov flange.