Ok I have been building a show car out of my 97 GS. I have recently been bite with the boost bug by riding in my boys R32 right side drive Skyline. He is running about 10psi and it feels solid.

I ran into 2 guys while out one night and they both have GSX's and the one guy had a 98 with 80k on it and wanted $12k for it because he still owes 6 on it. The other guy had a 97 with 90K on it and wanted $8K for it. They both have a stage 3 setup from what they tell me and upgraded ACT Clutches. Both have stock internals. I forgot to ask them if they have or are experiencing crankwalk. Should of been my first question but I was just so excited about finding a GSX for sale, let alone 2 at the same time.


My question is which one to buy considering they both drive really good and nothing is wrong mechanically? And is this a good deal? I know they are hard on these cars. They run them hard from what I hear. But who wouldn't right?

Help a fellow 2gnter out!

Thanks!

Go on www.vfaq.com and you can see on how you can check for crankwalk. You should check any 4g63 for crankwalk IMO. Stock turbo or no? Check for shaftplay, losing oil. Timing belts should be changed by 80k so. Personally 12k is a lil much. Good luck and have fun.

Jeremy, defintely do the crankwalk test for yourself. Also, I'm not sure what they are talking about, Stage 3, but I'm getting pretty close to "maxing" out my stock internals. Here is what I bought

97 GSX
43,000 miles
Big 16G turbo from RRE
Ported & Polished exhaust mani / 02 Housing
Lightened Flywheel
Upgraded Clutch
550cc Injectors
Walbro 255 pump
N1 Catback exhaust
Greddy Type-S BOV
Greddy Big FMIC
Greddy Hard upper and Lower IC Piping
SAFC
Custom Paint Job

And I think that is all the important stuff from when I bought it. I got it for $11,500, over $3K in aftermarket parts and a $4K paint job.

I wouldn't shoot far from that deal if I was you. Especially with the heavy mods, and high mileage. My car had all this stuff on it for less than 20,000 miles. I think I got a decent deal. Good luck.

you should ask them what "stage 3" means. I hate this staging garbage, it all leads to the mindset that there is only one way to make a fast eclipse. Granted, my car is cookie cutter, but thats because of limited funds to experiment with other setups/my first time modding a "real" sports car.

Don't get me wrong, there are things that are tried and true, and there's no reason to re-invent the wheel, but the concept of staging makes working on cars feel like building up little soldier action figures from toys R us.

Yah I will ask them about this stage 3 thing, which I was like wtf do you mean stage 3. Anyway I read about the crankwalk and I guess from what I have read when I testdrive the car to mainly feel the way it shifts and listen for a ticking sound. Plus on left hand turns see if the clutch sticks and its hard to get into gear. I mean those are some vague symptoms. Anyone else know of any other symptoms that are common? That is all I got from the article on VFAQ.

I have researched the whole crankwalk deal so I know what it is, just gonna have problems identifing it for sure. It seems like it could very well be mistaken for a clutch/tranny going bad.

I have always wanted a GSX and now I have my chance to get one. I am going to have to sell my car now which I just poured like $11 into my eclipse now. Man I wish this deal would of surfaced earlier.

How much do you think I can get for my car. Its a 97 with 75k. Runs great and it is in very very very good condition. VERY GOOD! Makes me almost want to just turbo this one since I know that this one has been taken care of and not abused.

Can you buy the GSX and basically swap shells, stereo system, dash panels, etc, and sell yours as a stock appearing GS?

Originally posted by FlyinEsi
Can you buy the GSX and basically swap shells, stereo system, dash panels, etc, and sell yours as a stock appearing GS?

ummmm.... no.

Don't turbo your NT. If you really do want to go fast, the 4g is the way to go for the money. The fact that you are now posting in here suggests you already know this, so my advice is find a 4g to beat on.

Also, the fact that these guys by your own admission have beat on these cars pretty hard is not the best sign in the world. They have heavy clutched with the 7-bolt engine. While this is by no means a definite sign of crankwalk, it is an improved chance due to heavy stress on the entire crank assembly.

If you can purchase it in great running condition and actually do a real crankwalk test (get under the car and measure the play at the end of the crank) then go for it. We are all here to help in any way possible.

Keep researching too. The more you know off the bat the better. Fewer surprises.

Yah that is what I am doing now. I always search before I go and ask any questions. I appreciate the help and advice.

I am going to read up on everything I can get my hands on for the 4g. If you know of any other really good sites that have some info that will benefit me let me know. But for right now I am not gonna rush into it...even though this is the first time in years I have actually come across a 98 GSX for sale.

Thanks again for your advice and I will definatly be asking you guys for help when I run into a situation or a problem I can't find an answer to after extensively reserching the problem.

Thanks :thumbsup

With how much money you have into your car already, if you cant' take that stuff with you, ie paint job, stereo, body work, then just rebuild the motor w/ stronger internals and turbo that bitch.

Originally posted by Aggression
I am going to read up on everything I can get my hands on for the 4g. If you know of any other really good sites that have some info that will benefit me let me know. But for right now I am not gonna rush into it...

:thumbsup
http://www.vfaq.com

Originally posted by FlyinEsi
With how much money you have into your car already, if you cant' take that stuff with you, ie paint job, stereo, body work, then just rebuild the motor w/ stronger internals and turbo that bitch.

I want AWD Turbo. I am not going to pour money into a FWD or 2wd car when I can have an AWD monster.

I have about 16k in my car but I am not worried about looks much anymore. I mean I will still make my car look nice and clean. But I need some damn power. I am sick of mustangs thinking they are all that. I don't have mustangs just the guys that drive them. Not all but for the most part in my area they think they are god. When a DSM beats them its some BS line, when if I didn't have to honk or I missed 2nd. Whatever.

I just want AWD.

But whoever gets my car gets a great package, plus the motor has been babied. Never been hard on her. Whats the point has no power to go anyways. HEHE!!!

Originally posted by Aggression
I just want AWD. Whats the point, it has no power to go anyways.

I like you.

Thx man, I just can't wait to join the 4g63 family. Haven't decided whether or not I am gonna go 1st or 2nd gen. Still have a lot of reading up to do.

Originally posted by Aggression
Thx man, I just can't wait to join the 4g63 family. Haven't decided whether or not I am gonna go 1st or 2nd gen. Still have a lot of reading up to do.

I personally fell in love with the 1g styling. It's more aggressive and egdy. No body kits or wings to make it look like one mean sonuvabitch. I really like them but they are getting very old, so they will be cheap, and most likely need alot of TLC.

I love the 1g style though. Beautiful.

Best of luck man. Hopefully I'll come down to the Richmond thing next weekend. I'll be replacing my fans this weekend so I should be able to drive down to Richmond for the 16th.

Hit me on AIM with any questions: primm7h.

Good 1G's are getting rare. Usually the ones you'll find are in need of work so if you don't mind turning a wrench or 2, you're more likely find a good deal.
2G's aren't as hard to find but are usually beat on more and the average 99' is ready for it's 60K service.
Good luck and shop around. Don't jump on the 1st car you see. Make sure you or someone with DSM knowledge goes through a prospect car thoroughly.

Yah I plan on reading up on everything I can to get a better grasp of what to look for when purchasing my next DSM.

Thanks again and if I have any questions I can't research I will deffinatly be asking.

oh the 1g, such beautiocity. is that a word? ROFL. i love my 1g and its boxy look. some people hate, but just tell them to shut up. :D i am so freakin tired right now. this post is stupid.....



MATTS CAR IS FAST. yay. i want to go for a ride in it again. :D

you should keep your car. it's nice. but yet you want AWD turbo right? get a 1G. you sell your car and buy their car you are losing a lot of money cause you aren't going to get back what you paid for the 420a.. so just save an extra couple thousand.. maybe 3-4k.. buy a nice 1G or something. You're in VA right? heh it's not hard to find a 1G. I'm part of DSMCA (capital area).. LOTS of 4g63 1Gs that I see poeple sell.. most are modified but the people in the DSMCA car club take very good care of their car.. sure they beat on it.. but they maintain it very well and baby it and shit like that. groups.yahoo.com/dsmca i think is the web forum? also www.dsmca.org? heh.. every year we have a GT meet (get together).. at least 100-200 TURBO 4g63s show up.. I went to GT5 and GT6.. didnt go this past summer to GT7 cause I forgot all about it.. but yeahh. the two I went two were great. i think outta the 150-200 cars at the meet at GT6.. only 2 were 420a.. one was stockish and one was turbo. the rest were 4g63 turbocharged :)