Good day all,
not that many are likely to read this any more, but it seemed wrong not to post it here.
the auto trader ad will always be the most "up to date" place, but here's what I put there today...
and if you want to refer someone, or chat about it - please don't message inside the UBB... notifications haven't worked here for a while.
please use email - andrew [at] bienhaus [dot] org
thanks
Autotrader AdClean, stored, heavily modified for racing but still street legal. Contact for more questions and to discuss.
Will try and list all details below, pictures can be made available, it's just in storage at the moment and I’d have to go to it.
Reasoning - Just don’t have the free time to appreciate her any more… and I love my wife more. :-)
And yes, I realize it’s worth more as a “part out”, but just not interested in doing that.
Original owner, ordered from the factory in fall of 1996, delivery spring 1997.
Ordered with every option available at the time. :-)
Production date, March 17, 1997. (luck o’ the irish!)
The rest will include random thoughts and observations as well, to try and be as factual and transparent as possible.
Exterior
- Paint in good shape, been kept polished and waxed, rear spoiler being different material, has had some fading and needs polish/recoat
- No rust, except the front lip of the hood, but it’s just starting and not through yet
(hood was new in about 1999, after an incident with a bovine)
- No serious accidents, only a run in with some livestock one night, that resulted in a replaced front hood, headlight & fender
- Not winter driven at all, since 1999
- New tires on original clean alloy rims, in 2021
- Passenger trim piece is off (original adhesive gave way) but happened at home, and piece is with car
- Headlights maintained against hazing, bulbs led now
- Window tinting (original from 1997) has began to peel, and needs to be cleaned up by a professional and re-done (had a quote of $350 in 2022, but never got around to it)
- Motorized sunroof and shade, all good
Interior
- Clean, well loved, still has new leather smell :-)
- Some panels in kickwell removed at present for work, but all are in the car (complete)
- A-pillar 3 gauge pod, with A/F, fuel pressure, and o2 led (classic!)
- 4 point harness (Scroth) for both driver and passenger, using legal stock points
- Stock premium stereo, with 10 disc changer in the rear
- Additional subwoofer (powered) in the rear
- New touchscreen, BeeLink Win10 PC (ultra small PC) is with it, presently, but is extra $500 if you want to keep that
(can be tuned using any PC/Laptop, but I was in the middle of putting a new one in, rather than using a laptop, when project got interrupted in 2022, again…)
But I understand that not everyone wants a touchscreen in their car all day long, and I can use it elsewhere…
- Other minor cosmetic mods, but mostly just pride in keeping it stock
DSM Link - 95 ECU – current and updated to latest available but needs to be tuned better (just updated it to v3, and haven’t had the time)
Brakes
- Oversize slotted/drilled rotors front, clean/new stock rear
- New race pads
- All calipers pro rebuilt, including OEM dual piston calipers on the front in 2022
and, they really work nicely as recently as end of November… don’t ask how I know that… ;-)
Suspension
- Sway bars (I think they were RM?) – very solid
- Strut tower bars, front and rear. (front one is presently off, but included)
- Front strut mount points are secure, but not perfect. (we all know about the weak point in the DSM front strut towers, and I have maintained them)
- Koni adjustable shocks, all 4 corners, no signs of any issues (either visible or during use)
- Slightly lowered and springs, not hack job, professional choices, and minimal undesirable camber loss
(just can’t remember whose make of springs – but they weren’t cheap)
- “Feels tight”, as that was always the desired result
Engine & Driveline
- 4g63, timing belt done at 90,000km, using only OEM parts, all replaced per vFaq
- Mitsu 20G turbo, modified in Texas… in only ways that they know… :-)
- Had only true synthetic oil, since day one (transfer cases, gearbox, and diff as well)
- HKS 272 “lumpy” cams, front and back
- Upgraded injectors, 750cc… I think… (lots of gas)
- Most physical components also powdercoated for looks & longevity, but needs a little cleanup
- Custom “sheet metal” intake, for max airflow, with insulated mount to head, to reduce heat transfer
- Custom intake pipes, with BOV mount, etc, etc, etc.
- Hand-ported head, intake and exhaust
- Custom exhaust manifold, and custom setup for HKS wastegate (pretty sure its an HKS)
- Custom heat shield for same setup
- Full 3” custom stainless exhaust from that point back, including both cat and test pipe, with “trackside” quick disconnects for same
- Wideband o2, in rear bung, readable by DSMLink
- Gearbox rebuilt around 100,000km, after failing first/third gear bearings (typical at the time), BOTH end bearings replaced OEM parts
- Transfer case monitored, and sealed properly against leak at 15,000km (never an issue since)
- Centre differential modified into “4 spider gear” configuration for strength/durability
- Front mount intercooler, major name, but escaping me, can get core dimensions if desired
- a/c still on, and was working after a Freon top-up last year (typical practice each spring for many years)
- No engine codes, all starts and runs clean (just needs tuning)
Other engine bay or related items
- Full aluminum rad, direct fit (best thing I ever bought)
- Dual aftermarket fan setup for same, controllable from driver seat, in addition to normal operations (for use with Turbotimer)
- Fuel pressure regulator, and upgraded lines from the tank (braided)
- Upgraded fuel tank pump
Other
- Factory manuals
- all other parts related to it (several boxes, you get it all, no junk kept)
- water injection kit, that never got installed – it’s yours
- MSD DIS-2 that was in the car, got taken out in a cleanup purge, and didn’t go back – you can have
Hoping for a good home, where it can be enjoyed, raced, or whatever you want.
Wasn’t ever really beat on hard, I was always too afraid of breaking my baby… more of a joy on cool summer nights in the country. :-)
Did some days at the drag track, low 12’s. (a better driver should have been able to get 11’s!!)
Did some Mosport and Shannonville, they were a lot of fun.
Shoot me a message.
Thanks
