Project Eclipse: Upgrade Path

Sound System:

Additional speakers for front staging. There are 3 inch removable panels on the dashboard that are intended for either tweeters or small speakers. There are also 3.5inch openings in the knee area for additional speakers. Alternatively, regular tweeters can be installed and molded into the front pillars



Also, the JVC fronts may be upgraded to a better coaxial model or even a component set with custom mounting. A customized door pod may also be constructed if needed. Additional amplification can also be used for a much cleaner setup and lesser distortion.

Suspension Upgrade:

I currently have rear drum brakes. Rear disc brake conversion is only logical. Kits are available from eBay for under $100 and these usually include all the parts required for the swap. In most cases these are used components from donor FWD vehicles. Instructions for the swap are available all over the internet. New pads are a must when doing the swap. Rotors may be resurfaced or replaced as needed. Stainless steel brake lines are an excellent option. If this swap is going to be performed, this is also an excellent time to flush the entire brake system. I have no ABS so this swap should be straightforward.



The addition of rear upper and lower strut bars noticeably improved chassis stiffness for the rear. For even better cornering and handling, a rear antisway bar could be added. The RS does not come with an antisway bars for the rear but a used one from another FWD eclipse or talon could be used. These go for about $20 on eBay. This is however, a three-part upgrade as two other additional components are needed. A pair of sway bar end links (usually about $30 from eBay - brand new) and lower suspension arms (about $25 each from eBay - used). The sway bar connects to the end links and the end links connect to the suspension arm. The RS lower suspension arm does not have the mounting point for the end links.





Perhaps the biggest and most "personality" changing upgrade for any vehicle are wheels and tires. The RS came with oem 14 inch wheels with 195/70-14 all season michelin tires. These are actually very good tires but the sidewalls are relatively tall. A plus 1 (15") to a plus 3 (17") wheel upgrade will not only enhance handling but will also make the entire car look better. 18"-19" wheel combinations have been known to fit the eclipse with very little modification but they are very impractical for everyday driving. Too little tire (sidewall height) makes for a harsher ride. The objective is to make the car look better without sacrificing too much comfort. My initial plan is to purchase oem wheels from compatible donor vehicles. I want the new wheel and tire combination to look stock rather than aftermarket. Wheel bolt pattern is 5 x 114.3.





Interior upgrade:

Generally, I prefer manual windows for simplicity. Unfortunately, when seated on the driver's seat, the passenger side window crank is almost impossible to reach. The solution is a power window retrofit kit (available from eBay with prices starting at $50 for a generic 2 window kit). These kits are easy to install and if you purchase known brands like Spal, they should work as well as oem power windows.