[Nashville, TN area]1989 Mitsubishi Starion - NOT RUNNING - $1000/OBO

[riceboyler]

Well, I hate to do this, but due to the fact that I'm looking at moving for work this summer, I'm going to have to sell my Starion. I've owned this car for a little over 2 years after purchasing it from minagera. It's a true 89 Starion (title says so, everything matches VIN wise) but it's not running at the moment.

 

<tl;dr>

• 1989 Starion, Black and Black, 5-speed
  
• Not running due to engine out of the car
  
• Tranny is fine, suspension is sagging in the rear
  
• Interior is baked, but all there
  
• NOT SHP
  

About a year and a half ago, while driving it home from work, the radiator sprung a serious leak, it ran hot, and cooked the head gasket. In the process of tearing it down, I decided to go ahead and pull the whole engine and was glad I did after I saw the condition of the bearings. No huge damage, but there was definite wear on 2 of the 5 mains, and 2 of the 4 pistons as well. Pistons and rods appear to be in great shape, crank will need to be polished, but otherwise appears fine. The block is mostly disassembled, the flywheel appears to be fine, and the clutch is okay, but could probably use a replacement. There's still friction material there, but it could be better. Pistons are all out, but the crank pulley is still on. If things with this move go slower, I'm hoping to get this block to the machine shop to be magnafluxed and decked, and have the crank polished. I'm not sure what size bearings it had, so it will have to get indexed as well.

 

The head is an M28 NJV head casting, that other than a 3 angle valve job appears to be stock otherwise. The stock 12A turbo spooled fine and I haven't touched it. I purchased upgraded injectors from from Lower Shores (850/1050) which are already installed in the Intake Manifold. The head is completely reassembled sitting on my bench, and I have the remnants of a full Fel-pro head set including the head gasket ready to go.

 

The exterior of the car needs some attention paint wise, but the body is straight. The airdam (1-piece) does have the typical cracks, but they're not bad, and are held together for the most part with zip ties. The hood is awful, as I attempted to cover some missing paint and only made it worse. I'll admit, I don't belong anywhere near paint or bondo. That said, I haven't applied any bondo to the rest of the car. The fog/driving lights do have a yellow tint film from Burton, and the sidemarkers have been tinted black with the same film. The headlights have been replaced with the suggested H4 housings that DO have the proper cutoffs, so an HID upgrade would be quite easy. Right now, it has the typical Superwhite H4 bulbs, which made a HUGE difference in visibility. The rear lights are a custom job I did myself that have two rows each of LEDs, both orange and red. The housings were blacked out, and I removed the mirrors as they were badly rusted. Additionally, the red reflectors have mostly been removed, but the one built in below the reverse light is still there, meaning they are legal in all 50 states. The wiring is not complete, but the replacement flashers are in the car. It was one of those projects I was working towards finishing when the car went down. Wheels are all stock 7s/8s (it's not an SHP), though one of the rears does have the center painted black, as opposed to the grey paint on the rest. They're in good shape, minor curb rash here and there, but nothing major and certainly not bent.

 

The interior is complete but has certainly seen better times. It sat for years in the Texas sun baking it, so everything is a little brittle. I've replaced the gauge surround (due to the previous one being totally cracked), I also replaced the sunroof controls, removed the trim (as it was horribly faded), etc. It does have an Autometer boost gauge in the stock boost gauge location. The seats are there, but not in outstanding shape. The drivers side is very worn on the bolster, and the leather on both is quite hard. It does have the 89 auto-down window control, though the window motors are slow. They work, but they're slow, and could probably use with some attention. The door panels do have holes cut for tweeters at the top, but otherwise are in good shape. There is a leak somewhere that causes the floorboards to get wet with rain, and I'm not sure where it is, but in the interest of full disclosure, there could be some rust in the floorboards at this point. Carpet is all there, speakers have been upgraded, though the rear speaker covers aren't there. E-brake cable needs to be replaced, and it comes with the car (thanks to Minagera for providing it ). The exhaust has NO catalytic converters, it's a straight 2.5" pipe back from the downpipe (also cat-less) to the stock muffler. There are two rust spots I'm aware of on the rear right fender flare (right above where the mud flaps would be). The rest of the car, last I looked, is rust-free. Again, due to the leak, that may have changed.

 

The tires are almost new Yokohamas all around in 225/45 (IIRC, I'm at work right now, not by the car. I'll update when I post pictures). The brakes are fine, though I do have a couple of replacement calipers that will go with the car. Suspension is a little saggy in the rear end, and it's apparent from looking at the underside of the car that it has had an off-road excursion at some point. The bushings could all use some attention, but the car still drove like a dream before the overheating.

 

Speaking of the overheating, I have a replacement aluminum radiator (CX Racing) with two fans that I've already mocked up, but have not installed in the car. Other parts that will be going with the car include:

• 16G cold-side mated to a 12A hot-side with divorced wastegate in need of a rebuild. I actually have the replacement 16G wheel, but the cold side will probably need to be machined as well.
  
• AEM UEGO Wideband O2, sensor is already installed in the downpipe (straight, not catted), but I haven't done the wiring for the gauge in the car.
  
• Hood struts from Motocam360, not installed.
  
• GenII MAF-T electronic unit. I have the unit and the instructions and began the process of mapping out the wiring, but have not wired it into the car yet. I did hook it up to a 12V battery to confirm it powered on as expected. Also have a 4" GM MAF and associated hoses from a 1G DSM, so it should be relatively easy to rig it up to get rid of the MAS.
  
• Polished SS 3" OVCP with a Forge BOV
  

I know that a for sale thread is worthless without pictures. I will take some pictures either tonight or tomorrow and post on this thread, but I wanted to at least get it out there while I had time this morning. It will hurt to see this car go, but being that it's an '89 Starion, I want it to go to an enthusiast.

 

The car is located in White House, TN (about 25 miles North of Nashville), and it WILL have to be trailered. As I said, I'll get pics up when I get the chance. Thanks for looking, and feel free to ask questions.

Edited July 3, 2014 by riceboyler

[riceboyler]

Pictures can be seen at: http://1drv.ms/1nZcxg6

 

I'm dropping the price to $1000/OBO for SQC members ONLY. I want this car to go to somebody who can appreciate what it is. I know it looks rough in the pictures, as I didn't have time to clean it up before I shot some pictures. I need it gone by July 12th, as I'm moving to Florida that day, and will have to abandon it otherwise.

 

For the $1000, I'm NOT including the MAF-T or the MAF sensor or hood struts, as I'll sell those separately.

 

Let's see if I can get some pics to actually show up here...

 

 

Edited July 3, 2014 by riceboyler

[randy]

Did you sell it or abandon it?

[Wildcatfanatic]

I went and got it this morning Randy. (My wife wanted it). Pretty sweet it's a 89 starion factory sunroof car. Now just to get it back together

[randy]

cool good luck with it,i would have like it but that travel is insane.

how is the body on it?

[Wildcatfanatic]

Overall pretty good. One rust spot right rear mudflap area. A few dings here and there. Interior is shot except dash area. It has traveled from Texas to Alabama to Tennesse to kentucky. So it has been in a lot of sun baking weather.

[riceboyler]

Thanks for coming to pick it up yesterday and dealing with the chaos of the morning! I found the bag of head studs and downpipe (spring loaded) bolts in my garage. I packed them, so I can ship them to you. PM me with your address, and once we get all unpacked (once we get to Tallahassee), I'll ship them up to you. I figure the head studs are pretty darn valuable.

 

I hope your wife loves the car as much as I did. I already miss it!

[Wildcatfanatic]

No problem I figured it would be hectic. Glad I was able to keep it from get abandoned.