cloud's build

[CloudINC00]

I already have a Titanium Pearl 03 GS but I've always wanted a convertible. I've been searching on craigslist for one and I finally got one (really cheap too).

Main reason I got it was that it fit the conditions I needed it to be: convertible, manual, and 4 cyl. The plan is to build it the right way unlike my old GS (being honest here). First I have to take care of the small issues. This thread will follow the progress of this car with the most recent photos on the first post and more progress as it happens.

Parts list:
Turbo components:
*BEP 4-bolt DSM flanged 47-trim t04b turbo
*Internal 38mm wastegate
*Same-side FMIC
*2.5" mild-steel intercooler piping
*2.0" mild-steel intercooler piping
*T-bolt clamps
*3-ply couplers
*Greddy Type-S BOV (with non Greddy blue top)

Intake/exhaust components:
*DSM turbo exhaust manifold with chrome plated heat shield
*2.5" downpipe flanged and flex-piped with internal wastegate dump
*3" full exhaust + 2 resonators and a muffler (low rumble)
*60mm GT throttle body

Fuel/tuning components:
*440cc WRX injectors
*EVO fuel rail
*EVO fuel pressure regulator
*EVO fuel pump
*AEM electronic boost controller (TRU-BOOST)
*AEM wideband (UEGO)
*Tactrix cable w/OpenECU software for EVOs
*2003 EVO 8 ECU

SOHC head components:
Parts and services performed on this head:
*rpw 272/272 stage 3 turbo cam
*rpw titanium valve springs
*new retainers
*new valve guide bushings
*ported and polished intake and exhaust ports
*back cut exhaust valves
*5 angle valve job

Cooling/oil:
*2 Zirgo slim radiator fans as push fans
*OBX radiator hoses
*-4an SS turbo oil feed line
*-10an SS turbo oil drain line
*oil pan with -10an bung
*oil sandwich plate

Suspension:
*Progress lowering springs
*MEGAN Front upper strut bar
*Polyurethane motor mounts
*Full Prothane suspension bushing kit
*EVO 8 wheels

etc:
*Eagle vacuum manifold
*Weight reduction: AC/lines delete, heater core/lines delete, misc parts delete
*Optima red-top relocated to the trunk with kill switch (making it legal for the drag strip)

Visual:
*Tinted headlights/corners/reverse/3rd brake light
*Tinted tail-lights or TYC black-housing tail-lights
*GT side-skirts
*Red-accent interior lighting
*VIS OEM-style carbon fiber hood
*LED 3rd brake light bought when there was a GB on here.

Audio:
*Head-unit delete: amp only with aux
*Pioneer 3-way 6x9s in the back and 3-ways in the front

Most current photos Feb 2013:





Jan 2013:







Dec 2012:



Sept 2012:







Aug 2012 (When I purchased it):

[CloudINC00]

Known issues:

*Top doesn't function -fixed
*Power mirrors don't work
*clock and 12v outlet doesn't work -fixed
*Horn doesn't work
*Wheel lock key missing
*Poor wheel fitment (poor choice in offset and tire size)
*Blown shocks (I can tell they put lowering springs on it, shocks blew, then put stock springs back on)
*Poor interior
*Top needs new headliner
*Top in poor condition (needs to be conditioned/treated)
*Evaporator leak
*Rear-view mirror doesn't stay in position anymore

Car is about to hit 200k mile mark with little knowledge about its maintenance (car was repossessed, that's why I got it so cheap). That beating said, I'm going to do as much regular maintenance on it as possible since I'll be pulling the head off anyway. I'll document it all and split it up like a Haynes manual as far as what to do ever ____ number of miles

[CloudINC00]

Day 1 photos (weekend when it was purchased):
Aug 20, 2012

Front (with my baby creeping in the background, lol)


Rear


Wheels:


Interior:


Engine:


Trunk:

[blacknblack3g]

Not a bad looking stocker. I'm anxious to see what you have in store for it! Those leather seats look rough though, any thought into fixing that?

[CloudINC00]

First day I did a simple search and found that flipping the switch under the trunk liner would reset the top and it worked. Proof that the search function still works wonders

I also discovered why I had a small leak inside, the evaporator filter is clogged. I have yet to pull out the entire interior for cleaning up (and I'm probably going to put in my old GS's interior in its place b/c its in better condition) to replace the filter.

[CloudINC00]

Originally Posted by blacknblack3g

Not a bad looking stocker. I'm anxious to see what you have in store for it! Those leather seats look rough though, any thought into fixing that?

cheap initial fix: put my cloth seats in it since they are in really good condition. Maybe bucket seats in the future, but I'd like to fix other issues first before buying some Brides

[CloudINC00]

Looking through the service manual, it looks like my convertible top is missing some pieces that help hold it together (as well as keep moisture out)

Top:

[CloudINC00]

WRX injectors ordered. Going to install those first as well as the EVO fuel rail/FPR then reflash and rescale using the "idle for 16 mins" method of tuning


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[ccarrillo717]

Dafaq put all these "updates" in one comment

[Drewski0523]

Welcome back Cloud, you don't know me but your original build is what has led me to boost mine. Thanks for what you've done. Good luck with this project. I hope it goes well

[CloudINC00]

Originally Posted by ccarrillo717

Dafaq put all these "updates" in one comment

Maybe I'm used to making build threads (like back in the day) where the first post is the "most current" the 2nd is "in progress" and any post after that is progress made. It makes a better quality post in the future for people to search through and feel progress once the project is finished. Besides, I do a lot of updates on different streams (phone, home, work, laptop, etc) it's easier to just reply to myself. If it bothers people then sorry I'll try to keep updates to a minimum. You'll see a lot of posts bring edited since they're just placeholders (majority of info on pg 1 instead of pg 7 of 13 for example)


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[Drewski0523]

Ignore Carrillo, he's outlet resident thread troll. You'll learn to love him or ignore him.

[rlvers]

Can't wait to see how this one comes out, good luck that everything goes well

[Mattt]

Im excited for this one

[Drewski0523]

Originally Posted by newdie

Im excited for this one

What about mine?

[Red Sun]

Originally Posted by Drewski0523

What about mine?

Drew was sooo last week

Nice spyder BTW. Just needs some TLC

[Drewski0523]

Originally Posted by Red Sun

Drew was sooo last week

Nice spyder BTW. Just needs some TLC

Until the week after next

[Mattt]

Originally Posted by Drewski0523

What about mine?

Dude I've been pumped for yours for the past year!

[CloudINC00]

Originally Posted by Drewski0523

Welcome back Cloud, you don't know me but your original build is what has led me to boost mine. Thanks for what you've done. Good luck with this project. I hope it goes well

Thanks! I hope it has helped people with their builds. Back then I wish I did it the right way but it was a time of experimentation. There's so much more info out there nowadays


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[Drewski0523]

Originally Posted by newdie

Dude I've been pumped for yours for the past year!

And it's finally getting to be that time, up first, the trans. I can't wait

Originally Posted by CloudINC00

Thanks! I hope it has helped people with their builds. Back then I wish I did it the right way but it was a time of experimentation. There's so much more info out there nowadays


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There is and it did. Thanks man

[Chad]

I thought you left? . What happened to the old 3G?

[CloudINC00]

I still have it. Parting it into this Spyder since this one is manual


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[Drewski0523]

Originally Posted by CloudINC00

I still have it. Parting it into this Spyder since this one is manual


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Why don't you just make the old one manual?

[thahnic1080]

wow welcome back looking for to this build thread

[CloudINC00]

I got this one cheap (probably the same price as the tranny swap, at least now I'll have spare parts or can have a FS part out thread for leftover parts). Plus I already tore up the ECU harness for the first build


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[scooter]

Glad to see you back and with another eclipse! If it wasn't for your original eclipse I highly doubt I would of ever boosted mine. I really cant wait to see how this turns out.

[Thrice0805]

Just checked out your other Eclipse and I am now excited to see what u will do with this one. Have fun!

[CloudINC00]

The plan:

*Get pre-turbo parts installed and tuned (ie: injectors and EVO ECU)
*Put turbo kit on and get a good base flash at a safe 8psi
then I can go one of two ways:
1) Install the build head I have (stage 3 turbo camshaft w/p&p etc) and perform "OEM" rebuild on motor once it hits 200k or
2) sell the head and begin the DOHC swap at 200k miles.

[CloudINC00]

Had a day off to get started on it:

Took most of interior out:


of course the trunk had water in it (there was quite a bit more before I pulled the plugs and vac'd it a bit):


and the sound-deadening material was "dry-rotted" yet very saturated with water (It took no effort to pull it off, it was literally peeling off and sticking to the vac hose when I was cleaning):


I felt like I needed a shower after this:


It looked like it was about to rain so I buttoned it all up:


And now its even more of a 4x4 with the "weight reduction" lol


Looks like the top has a slow leak somewhere unless its all evaporator issues. I'll sit in the car while its raining and try to find leaks. I'll have to find a PN for a full top gasket kit.

I also looked everywhere, and there was no wheel lock key to be found . Not to mention I think the original owner jipped me of my amp under the passenger seat! lol

Oh and I picked up some good habits from work (the blue material is a yoga mat, lol):

[jaloosk]

Mine:

[CloudINC00]

Don't worry, I still have a spares box lol:


It's just so much faster when you know where to grab for the tool you need lol

[CloudINC00]

Got EVO ECU, WRX injectors, and evo fuel rail/FPR put in today. Now going through the long and careful process of dialing them in. So far so good, car runs like stock!









The reason why I choose to go with WRX injectors is because they require no modification to the stock harness and can be modified to 800cc (unmodified 440cc). I have a set of RC injectors (780cc) but I don't want to go through the hassle of wiring in a resistor pack when WRX injectors work just fine (keep it simple, right?). The EVO FPR is also great for boost, same with the rail. After-market FPR don't usually bolt onto the rail, therefore a line is usually needed, which is really prone to leaking (again, keep it simple)

[Lil Mitsu]

You might be aware of it already, but your front pass side tire is mounted backwards.

[CloudINC00]

Originally Posted by Lil Mitsu

You might be aware of it already, but your front pass side tire is mounted backwards.

lol yeah I saw the arrows. Driver side is too.

Also, the former owner had 3 of the 4 tires at 70psi. These tires are shot anyway, plus they're 205s. I've got my 225s on GS wheels going on here as soon as I can get the wheel locks off.

[CloudINC00]

I'm waiting on more parts so this morning I decided to do something cosmetic:

remove:


wetsand and clean like a beast:


spray:


Most of the funds are going towards the build, this is a cheap alternative to the look I'm going for as far as show and shine.

Cure for 24h, then clear and cure for another 24h, and repeat (till I'm out of clear lol), rub the heck out of them with rubbing compound, then wax.

[Drewski0523]

Off to a good start man. Definitely moving fast on the fix side. With the lights though I hope the night shade lighted up. Wet it looks dark as hell, almost spray paint like. I would have left the red circles covered so the lens is clear over them. However kudos on doing it right

[CloudINC00]

In my experience they lighten up a bit after you prep them for clear. Plus the photo makes them look darker (and glossier) than what they actually are

[Red Sun]

They look well done

[CloudINC00]

Thanks

I just realized I should be tinting 03 bumper frontmarkers since I'm doing the conversion on the 01 lol. Hopefully I can get the exact shade as the others. Defeats the purpose of doing them all at the same time lol.

In other news, I scrubbed of as much rust as possible from the trunk and primed it to prevent rust cancer.

So I did pretty good with the tint... but when I went to clear it today, I was unsatisfied with the way the clear looked. Going to sand it down and try to save em with another can of clear

[CloudINC00]

Just got these and picking them up Sunday:


Fitment (stock vs Racingharts):


Decided to go with 17s since tires are cheaper and readily available, plus more tirewall. Both good properties for a road-course car. problem is going to be filling our huge wheel gap. Should be fine with those tires and a decent suspension.

The wheels/tires on the car now will be for sale dirt cheap soon ($50 each picked up). I don't have anywhere to put them (already have 8 GS wheels with tires laying in the garage as well as another set of racing harts and 2g 5-spoke wheels)

As far as the build goes:
It's on hold this week as there is a hurricane coming to FL. Maybe during breaks I'll start to pull stuff off the old 3g since that's in the garage.
Last thing I did was stop the rust-cancer in the trunk:

[CloudINC00]

Question: Any suggestions for what type of gasket/sealer/glue I could use to re-seal the clear plastic on the doors?


Right now any suspect water source/potential leak is Lucifer himself. Trying to fix all possible leaks before putting new interior in (otherwise it would only be a waste)

oh and someone had asked to see photos of the old GS sleeper:

R.I.P

[Red Sun]

I like the wheels

[CloudINC00]

Originally Posted by Red Sun

I like the wheels

Thanks. The original plan was to get RPF1s but I ran into these racingharts and had to get them. They look similar but 5 "spoke" instead of "6". 5 is my favorite number of spokes when it comes to wheels lol

[Red Sun]

The RPF's are pretty nice, they do look similar.

Your old 3G was 5 spoke, I can see why you like em

[CloudINC00]

haha yeah, I love the stock GS wheels.

The car is haunting me even when I'm at work:


Cleared the lights again, debadged, and re-painted fake vents.
The lights are still curing but I decided to put these up for comparison.

Left = vinyl tint, right = spray tint. (test fit, so I know they're not all the way in, lol)


oh and I was planning on doing a lot more work but the rain has been killing all my plans.

[CloudINC00]

I did some work on the car today:

-used rubbing compound on the lights then reinstalled
-put in old suspension from the non spyder
-repainted fake vents

Before and after:














I forgot to switch the front wheels since i was trying to beat the rain. The car sits a lot lower now but I'm still going to get a full coilover kit when I put the new wheels on. Also, theres still a small leak somewhere that I have to find. I need to stop as many leaks as possible before putting the new interior in

I was also planning on restoring the headlights today as well as transferring the CF hood (after restoring it) but the rain came.

I don't know how I feel about CF hoods on silver... maybe it will look better once I restore it...

[CloudINC00]

Well, I found the leak... I need a new top lol. I put mostly everything back in but left the back seats/covers and carpet out since it will just get wet during rain anyway. I also got most of the turbo kit off the old GS. Inspected the turbo and it looks good. Still had oil in it and no shaft play.

Oh I also picked up the wheels today at a BBQ

[CloudINC00]

Thank god the daily has tons of trunk space!

[rsingh12]

Man can't wait to see the new wheels on, this car is going to look sweet when its all sad and done

[CloudINC00]

Thanks. Yeah, waiting on tires right now but suddenly the car won't idle. I was headed to work so I just jumped into the daily when it kept dying. I'll look at it when I get home.

My first guess is a hose went loose and I have a vac leak. My 2nd (and less likely) guess is the warmup sequence of the car doesn't like the new injectors (even though they were scaled and ran perfectly fine for weeks with 0 LTFTs?). At least it's NA so its easier to find issues like this before its boosted lol

[gomer3G]

got a question, what happened to the old gs.

[Lil Mitsu]

Originally Posted by gomer3G

got a question, what happened to the old gs.

Look in the garage.

[CloudINC00]

It wasn't tuned right when it first blew (before I swapped to the evo ECU). I rebuilt it then went to college. It sat for years before I tried to start it, the engine was seized. Instead of taking it apart, I just got a Spyder really cheap that was already MT (it was a no-warranty repossession. Got price reduced even more since top and interior was done)

[CloudINC00]

I plan on parting out the rest of the old GS once the Spyder is done. I was in high school when I started building it so a lot of things weren't done right I admit. Luckily there's a ton of info out there now so no one should have an excuse lol.

[gomer3G]

oh, ok. didnt know, i saw it there, you had said it was turboed, and i was constantly wondering why you would pull parts off a already built car and put them on another car. the only explanation i could think of was that you really loved the spyder more then the coupe.

[CloudINC00]

I've changed my mind, the 17" racingharts are going on the daily and the 19"s are coming off my Accord and going to the spyder lol. they're RacingHart 3-pc c2 19s. Here they are on my accord:


If I ever go to the track, the stock GS wheels will do if I dont find some EVO wheels lol

[CloudINC00]

After doing some research I've gone with these tires for the 19s:


does anyone see anything I've missed?

[rsingh12]

Those wheels aren't that bad. Got anymore pics of the accord, I like it.

[CloudINC00]

Im at work right now so I can upload some later. I made a member's ride thread about it a while ago but the pics dont work anymore. I think I have some on my deviantart lol.

stock wheels:






The accord is my dad's now. I decided to get a more fuel efficient (and newer) daily: my CRZ



I just realized, all my cars have been 2 doors lol

[rsingh12]

I like the accord, it was clean. The crz is amazing, any plans for it?