Tip of the day: If you are installing lowering springs or installing new struts, be sure that the alignment holes on strut and upper spring seat line up. I recently noticed one side had more wheel gap than the other and sure enough the holes aren’t aligned. Use a long screwdriver to make sure the holes are aligned.
Source: Ming696 on 3si
3SI (3000GT/Stealth International) is the most popular forum for 3S enthusiasts. With millions of posts and 28,000+ members, you can find a lot of great information including guides, part numbers, tips and tricks, and sources for parts. I’ll explain how to search 3SI to tap into this knowledge pool.
Dealers and shops usually charge $900-$1100 for the 60,000 or 120,000 mile service. For those of us who want to save a few hundred dollars in labor, here are a few links to get you on your way.
Recommended guides:
http://www.vr4stealth.com/60k-tune.htm
Quick tips:
Recommended Tools/Accessories to make the job easier:
Anyone shipping used parts after a sale or trade knows it is a pain. Here you’ll find out how to keep the cost down when shipping car parts in general.
([2] 65″ boxes, [1] 60″ box, [2] smaller ones)
I have created this guide to supplement Antoni’s 3000GT/Stealth oil pump replacement guide. This guide will go into more detail than the guide found there and will give an account of my experience when I recently replaced my oil pump. I will give tips on how to avoid the problems I ran into along the way. First things first–most likely when you start, your car will look like this:
A common wear item on the 3000GT is the black strip at the base of the hatch glass where the rear wiper sprouts from. It turns to a very dull gray and looks ugly. Fortunately, it is fairly easy to take care of this in your garage.
On 91-98 3000GTs, the sail panels can fade and peel after years of exposure to the elements. With a few simple steps and an hour or two worth of work, you can get them shining again.
(more…)
If your plastic 3000GT or Stealth headlights/headlamps have peeling clearcoat (95+ 3000gt/Stealth models only, 94 had glass), you can restore them to a beautiful shine and avoid spending a heft amount on new headlights with a little hard work.
Before
After
So you’re looking at your first Mitsubishi 3000GT or Dodge Stealth. It looks great in the pictures, the price is within your budget, and you’re ready to make a deal. After owning multiple 3000GTs over the past few years, my number one advice would be to be patient when looking to purchase one of these jaw-dropping machines. Never rush a purchase, there are always other 3S’ available on the market, or there will be soon. Wait patiently for the right car, one that has maintenance records, looks and feels right, and is within your budget. Pay a little extra for a well-maintained car. It will save you a bundle of money and headaches in the long run.
Before I get started, do not be afraid to tackle minor repairs yourself. There is a great community at 3si.org that offers a wealth of knowledge.
When you go to look at your (possible) new vehicle, here are some specific things you should check on:
Looking for a substantial power increase in your naturally aspirated 3000GT or Stealth? Forced induction is the most cost effective way of big power gains in these cars because of the relatively small displacement. Luckily for the DOHC owners, a twin turbo conversion is a 95% bolt-on process. With good tuning and proper maintainence, a front-wheel drive twin turbo car (FWD-TT) can be a reliable daily driver with 50% more power on tap than stock.
What can you expect in power gains?
A reported 75-100 whp can be expected at low boost levels (7 psi).
How much will a complete conversion cost me?
The cheapest of conversions can cost you anywhere from $500-$1000, but a bare-bones buildup is not recommended. Expect to pay between $2000-$3000 for a reliable setup with quality used parts and new gaskets throughout.
Where can I find the parts?
Using a variety of sources including 3SI.org’s classifieds, eBay, and even salvage yards, you should have no problem aquiring most of the parts. new parts can be purchased from any of the discount online Mitsubishi dealerships.
How long will it take?
Anywhere from 2 weeks to several months, depending on how fast you work, and if everything goes your way. I would count on a solid month to have everything installed if you don’t have much wrenching experience. Working out the bugs afterwards will also take a substantial amount of time. As a general rule, plan for the work to take twice as long as expected to account for the unforeseen.