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.
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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.
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UPDATED: 10/2010
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. If you need parts for your 3000GT/Stealth, check into Mitsparts.com. They have great prices although their customer service is just “OK.”
When you go to look at your (possibly) 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.