Project 1990 Eagle Talon TSI

[D_Eclipse9916]

This it back in the day when he let me borrow it for 2 months in exchange for me doing the timing belt.

Adam, you should have bought those wheels from me

[ViPER1313]

I did, sort of, indirectly through Jason. They are 17s, not 18s like in that picture, and they are on my Mustang right now.

[ViPER1313]

Feeling a little bored tonight, I figure I would post up a condensed photo history of the Talon

I bought this car a little over 8 years ago on a complete whim. I was searching Craigslist one night with no intention of buying anything, saw it posted and called the seller. After talking with him for a few minutes, I drove to an ATM and then an hour to Annapolis MD, inspected the car at night in a poorly lit parking lot with a crappy flashlight, put a deposit down on it and picked it up a week later. Here is the car the day I bought it.






The car was rough when I bought it and still is to this day. Other than a completely failed attempt at painting the hood on the grass at my apartment complex, I have never invested anything into the appearance of this car. I fixed the pressing mechanical issues when I bought it (plugs, wires, brakes, tires, new rims because 1 was dented, front half-shafts, new windshield, rebuilt power steering pump, suspension refresh). I also lent the car to DJ after his went 2-3-2-boom at the track, and in exchange he replaced the timing belt, all the accessory belts, etc.

Immediately upon getting the car back I took it to a Summit Main event without so much as a shakedown. The heat from the manifold melted the top timing cover onto the timing belt, at which point the Red Bull Can heat-shield was born.

Yes, Red bull heat shield

After the initial maintenance, the car stayed pretty much the same over the next 2 years. The car generally held up well, taking on Shenandoah circuit and 120+ mile commutes.




I modded the car a little as I went (it is a DSM after all), and the mods only exacerbated the issues the engine was having with oil consumption. The valve stem seals were bad when I bought the car, and after the cats were removed the smoke screen the car would put out at idle went from annoying to embarrassing. I decided to tear off the head and replace the entire top end, which took 4 days of work over 3 years to complete.





Here is how the car sits now:






The car is running well after the head swap, especially after I corrected the spark plug firing order (that I drove on incorrectly for over 70 miles).

HKS Idle

Ricer Mod List (Current)
DSMLink v3 Lite
HKS272 Cams / Crower Springs / Crower Retainers / ARP Head Studs
FIC 850cc Injectors
2g Manifold w/ HKS External Wastegate
APEXi Catless Downpipe / 3in Cat Back Exhaust
MBC
Gutted Air Filter housing held together by binder clips
93/94 1Gb Front Brake Calipers
Boost / Oil Pressure Gauges

My current plan is to stop acting like I'm 18 and get this car to where I have wanted it since I bought it. My immediate plans are to

1. Source / piece together a decent suspension. The car is currently running on Monroe Quickstruts in the front and KYB / Eibach springs in the rear, giving it an awesome 50s Gasser stance. This line item has become exceedingly hard because Koni stopped making rear struts and no one makes a decent spring for the car anymore.

2. Refresh the brakes. I will probably stick with decent pads / SS brake lines for the time being, also need to check to make sure all the calipers are working well after sitting for so long.

3. Install a larger fuel pump. I am still running close to stock boost because I am still on the stock fuel pump / wiring.

4. Install the parts I already have lying around (Wideband, GT2871r, External FPR) then up the boost.



5. Do something about the wheel situation. Spray bombed swirlies from the poor me days have to go. I have a set of 17x9 5zingen FN01Rc's I bought from Jason, which are an ambitious fit at best. If I go this route, I will definitely have to roll the fenders and will also likely have to run a small spacer / grind away part of the rear LCAs to get them to fit. I am leaning towards selling them and trying to source a set of 18x8 5zigens, however these are also un-obtanium. Also considering punting and just getting these.

6. Fix up the body and cosmetics. I want to re-install the rear seats, fix the water leak through the rear wiper that has flooded the rear hatch since the day I bought it, replace the passenger side door, PDR the dent in the RR quarter panel and either spray or plasti-dip the car. I am not going for show car here, but something that is passable.

[Jake]

Always fun to see some history! Didn't know you'd had the car that long although I do remember DJ having it in school for a bit. Sounds like an ambitious list but easy enough to hack away at it all.

Do you want to have the car back on track, or just as a cool toy/weekend cruiser?

[ViPER1313]

It's going to stay a street machine for the time being. The car has no safety equipment, and I would rather buy something like this that is already done (or just pay for track insurance on the Mustang) than deal with the breakdowns and safely risks of driving a cheaply prepared 26 year old car on track.

[ViPER1313]

Another wheel option - I already have a brand new set of Evo 9s, but I would need to do something with the tires on them.

[ViPER1313]

After looking around for a few days, I decided to pull the trigger on a set of KYB AGXs / Tein S-Tech springs. Not an ideal setup, but given the options that are still on the market, which mainly consist of ChinaSpring Coilover Type-R hellaflush, this is the best I can piece together without buying a used setup or mortgaging my house. It should definitely be an improvement over the lack of suspension that is on there now.

Also got a Walbro 255 in the mail, which should be the last link in the chain to high boost.

No wheel opinions at all? I thought this was MM, where everyone had an opinion about everything. :dunno:

[HAULN-SS]

post pics and a poll to make it easy

[JPolen01]

You have to provide pictures in the thread for us to shit on your ideas. Ain't nobody got time for clicking links.

[Maengelito]

Another wheel option - I already have a brand new set of Evo 9s, but I would need to do something with the tires on them.

what kind of tires you got on there?

[ViPER1313]

11 y/o Toyo Proxes RA1 with unknown heat cycles

[JustinG]

SHEP is disappointed!!!!

Looks like shit, needs more "BIG ASS" FMIC

Is there anyone still supporting the 1G and 2G like back in the day? or is the aftermarket dead?

#LifeGoals


#LongLiveTheShep

[JPolen01]

It's settled. You need a set of TE-37s. And a much lower ridge height than that monster truck Justin posted.

[JustinG]

you shut your whore mouth, no one disrespects THE SHEP.

Warning: Filmed with a potato...
[youtube]G0pEZmtgTaQ[/youtube]

[ViPER1313]

No one really supports the 1g anymore - most people have moved on to modifying Evos. FMIC will go on with new turbo.

[Maengelito]

11 y/o Toyo Proxes RA1 with unknown heat cycles

Awesome. Do they still have decent tread? What size are they?

[JPolen01]

11 y/o Toyo Proxes RA1 with unknown heat cycles

Awesome. Do they still have decent tread? What size are they?

Are you actually planning to drive on 11 year old tires Mr Rodas?

[JustinG]

11 y/o Toyo Proxes RA1 with unknown heat cycles

Awesome. Do they still have decent tread? What size are they?

Are you actually planning to drive on 11 year old tires Mr Rodas?

This applies in multiple ways....

[WRXtranceformed]

11 y/o Toyo Proxes RA1 with unknown heat cycles

Awesome. Do they still have decent tread? What size are they?

Are you actually planning to drive on 11 year old tires Mr Rodas?

I lol'd :lol:

[Maengelito]

11 y/o Toyo Proxes RA1 with unknown heat cycles

Awesome. Do they still have decent tread? What size are they?

Are you actually planning to drive on 11 year old tires Mr Rodas?

I am not planning anything.