Mitsubishi Eclipse...Need Help/Input???

[bullitproofranger]

Hi everybody, I unfortunatly had to get rid of my ranger, but I have a freind who offered me his 92'ish mitsubishi eclipse, It's really nice car for its age, the engine he believes was rebuilt at about 90,000 miles, and its got maximum 135,000 miles on it now, but the transmission(4 Speed automatic) went out on him and he never fixed it, and the local junkyards say it will cost about $600-700 for one and thats just to much for me, and these auto transmissions have had problems, so I figured it would be cheaper and more cost effective to get a donor car and convert it to manual(because I think the manuals are more durable, according to my research), I DO KNOW that converting it would be a pain in the @$$, but I have freinds that would help me with it, what I am asking is what would I have to do, to make it possible?

The car is a 1992-93 Eclipse with the 2.0 DOHC Non-Turbo, and don't worry it wont become a rice burner

 

[pillen140]

Pedals, tranny, clutch, flywheel, shift cables, shifter..... I would just go buy a different vehicle if you are worried about price.

 

[bullitproofranger]

Pedals, tranny, clutch, flywheel, shift cables, shifter..... I would just go buy a different vehicle if you are worried about price.

Well I probably should have specified that he is giving the eclipse to me free, the interior looks almost brand new, and the engine runs just fine, and the paint is pretty good for an 18-19 year old vehicle, on top of everything I need something to drive I can trust for quite a while, so I feel it is reasonable to fix it.

 

[pillen140]

Thats just a lot to do, and you will probably end up paying more the $700. And if youre looking for a vehicle you can trust.... Mitsubishi is not for you.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Just wait for a donar car to pop up cheap because someone didn't think they needed to change the timing belt (which you will need to do) A couple hundred bucks should get one. A quick look on craigslist turned up a '91 Laser with a inop but supposed to be good N/A 2.0 and a 5spd for $300 in my area. It would have everything you need. Rip off the parts you need and junk the rest and it would put a big dent in the overall price (worth at least $1-200 for scrap)

I had a cousin to the Eclipse, 1990 Plymouth Laser RS Turbo 5spd. Same as a FWD Ecplise Turbo with different stickers and trim. Dunno what the history was on it, I got it with 135k and sold it with 167k and it treated me very well... much better than my Ranger anyway.

Typical used car stuff, starter, alternator, battery, brake stuff. In the first three years (how long I had the Laser) I had my Ranger I changed all that plus more including a tranny. The ol' Laser only left me stranded once (dampener pulley came apart... but it was 14 years old with 16Xk miles, stuff happens) and never ceased to bring a smile to my face. That turbo whistle was addictive. I would get another turbocharged one in a heartbeat if I found one that wasn't beat to death and had the money at the time.

90-94 Plymouth Laser, Eagle Talon, and of course the Eclipse would have the parts you need for sure. Not sure how much of the newer styles would cross over.

Mine had the stickers when I got it, my Prom date liked them so I left them until after prom. Here it is shortly afterwards while it was still spiffied up for the occasion:

 

[disciplerocks]

If you get a donor car, it wont be as difficult to do the swap. If you try to piece it together you will probably end up giving up on it. I would just get another auto and call it a day. Although I have done 1 FWD tranny swap and I told myself I will never do it again. Its worth the money to have someone else deal with it IMO. Your choice though. Good luck.

 

[disciplerocks]

And if youre looking for a vehicle you can trust.... Mitsubishi is not for you.

I'd have to agree here. How many pre 95 you see on the road? They have many nice cars I like, but they have never been known for reliability.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I'd have to agree here. How many pre 95 you see on the road? They have many nice cars I like, but they have never been known for reliability.

Not many pre '94 cars of any make still out there. Taurus, Tempo, Foxbody... even trucks they all not that common to see out there anymore. If you do see one they are usually pretty beat.

When I sold mine back in '05 there were still quite a few around. Sadly, many including mine ended up wrecked, it didn't last 6 months after I sold it.

The herd really thins out about that age, and anything that could be called "cheap speed" is certainly no exception.

 

[89coltgt]

The manual swap is not too hard or expensive at all. The most difficult part of the swap will be cutting the hole in the firewall for the clutch master cyl and installing the pedal assy. The mitsubishis are not terribly unreliable, I daily drove a 91 nt/auto for years. It doesn't hurt to know your way around them. All of the parts needed can be had at salvage yards cheap, the manual trans are easy to find and cheap, I nearly had to give some of mine away when I downsized my stockpile of parts.

 

[Quartermile]

Get some chicken and stir fry that thing. Its junk

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Get some chicken and stir fry that thing. Its junk

Just because it was imported? Or do you happen to have any experiance with them to go with your theory?

 

[Original_Ranger84]

Well I can say i haven't seen many mitsu's on the road for a long time. Well except for the old Monteros. A free car is hard to turn down, and the transmission may not be complete toast. It could just need some work, and even if it needs a new one thats still not alot of money for a tranny. I couldn't find a manual trans ffor my truck for under 900.

You can get a parts car like the other guys said and then keep it or part it out or junk it after you get what you need. Also I would recommend loooking for another vehicle that would have taken the same transmission that some guy would sell for cheaper.

 

[99RangerOffRoad]

Take the eclipse, part it out and then buy something better.

 

[Ranger Kip]

its not impossible, just a pain in the ass. I was thinking about doing it, but my mom doesnt know how to drive stick =P

 

[RangerFabWorks]

those cars arent terrible to work on. i have first hand experiance pulling the whold awd drivetrain outta a 90 talon tsi.

i just dont like them. but they are good to work on. timing belt is an hour job.

never drove one, but rode in one. they ride real nice.