A DSM is a car built by Diamond Star Motors, a joint venture between Mitsubishi (three Diamonds) and Chrysler (penta-star). The vehicles were produced with the names Eagle Talon, Mitsubishi Eclipse, and Plymouth Laser. DSM cars are assembled in Normal, Illinois.
DSM cars began production in 1989 and officially ended in 1993 after the design and production for the 1994-1995 dsms. Mitsubishi became responsible for the operation of the 1995-1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse and Eagle Talon. We still call the 1995 to 1999 a DSM. The 1989-1994 is called the first generation DSM (1g DSM) and the 1995-1999 is the second generation DSM (2g DSM).
The motor in the 90-92.5 is a 6 bolt motor (most desired, handles more power), and the 93-99 contains a 7 bolt motor,(less desired, does not hold up to much horsepower). The 1g also has three different Mitsubishi engine types, the 1.8 non turbo motor, 2.0 non turbo motor, and the 2.0 turbo motor. All three motorshave manual (5 speed transmissions) and also auto (with overdrive) transmissions. All of the non turbo motors only have Front Wheel Drive (FWD) Transmissions. The turbo motor has FWD and AWD (All Wheel Drive) transmissions. The 2g DSM has two different motors, the 2.0 turbo mitsubishi motor, and the Chrysler 2.0 non turbo Motor.
Some people call the 2000+ Eclipse a 3g, but most will agree that it is not a 3rd generation DSM, but it is the 3rd generation eclipse. The 2000+ is a completely different motor.
Parts Comparison
Parts
First Generation
Second Generation
Cylinder Head Ports
larger, more flow
smaller, less flow
Intake Manifold
larger
Smaller
Combustion
less Efficient
more efficient
Connecting rods
1g (89-92.5) bigger 1g (92.5-94) smaller
Smaller
Compression
7.8:1
8.5:1
Flywheel/crankshaft:
(89-92.5) 6 bolt (92.5-94)7 bolt
7 bolt
Turbo
M/t14BA/t13G
T-25
Exhaust Manifold:
less air flow
more air flow
O2 Housing:
less air flow
more air flow
Throttle Body:
60mm
52mm
Throttle Body Elbow
smaller, less flow
larger, more flow
Fuel injectors
M/t 450ccA/t390cc
450cc
Fuel Pressure Regulator
M/t 36.3 psi. A/t 42.7 psi.
43 psi
Cam Angle Sensor:
yes
2g Ano 2g Byes
Crank Sensor
No
Yes
MAS/MAF:
Less Air Flow
More Air Flow
Oil cooler (turbo model):
90external (air) 91-94internal (water)
Internal (water)
SMIC (turbo model):
larger core, smaller inlet/oultet
smaller core,larger inlet/outlet
BOV:
Steel
Plastic (vulnerable to leaking)
ECU:
91-94 Some (90 - most)
95- Most (96-99 None, stock)
Crankwalk:
almost unheard of
20-35% common
Rear Diferential:
89 - 92.5 3 boltWeak 92.5-944 boltStronger
4 boltstronger
Suspension:
stronger, lighter
weaker, heavier
Front calipers:
90- 94 FWD single piston90- 92.5AWD single piston 92.5-94 AWD Dual piston
FWD single piston AWD Dual Piston
Rims:
1.8 models 14”,15”,16” 2.0 models 16”
FWD 16” AWD 17”
Turbo Schematics
1g to 2g DSM
90-94 Eclipse, Talon, Laser
Specification
Base
Medium
High model (FWD)
Premium Model (AWD)
Eclipse
GS
GS
GS/GST
GSX
Talon
DL
ES/ESi
TSi
TSi AWD
Laser
none/RS
RS
RS Turbo
RS Turbo AWD
Engine
1.8L 4g37
2.0L 4g63
2.0L turbo 4g63
2.0L turbo 4g63
Horsepower
92
135
190 / 195 (M/T)
180 (A/T) 190 / 195 (M/T)
Valves
8v
16v
16v
16v
1995-1999 Talon, Eclipse
Specification
Base model
Mid model
High model (FWD)
Premium model (AWD)
Eclipse
RS
GS
GST
GSX
Talon
ES
ESi
TSi
TSi AWD
Engine
2.0L 420a
2.0L 420a
2.0L turbo 4g63
2.0L turbo 4g63
Horsepower
140
140
210
210
Valves
16v
16v
16v
16v
General Useful Information
1 horsepower=33,000 foot pounds per minute
Horsepower can be converted into other units as well. For example:
1 horsepower is equivalent to 746 watts. So if you took a 1-horsepower horse and put it on a treadmill, it could operate a generator producing a continuous 746 watts.
1 horsepower (over the course of an hour) is equivalent to 2,545 BTU (British thermal units). If you took that 746 watts and ran it through an electric heater for an hour, it would produce 2,545 BTU (where a BTU is the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 pound of water 1 degree F). One BTU is equal to 1,055 joules, or 252 gram-calories or 0.252 food Calories.
Presumably, a horse producing 1 horsepower would burn 641 Calories in one hour if it were 100-percent efficient.
Tuning with O2 voltage readings Every car is different when it comes to tuning settings. The 1st gen usually reads a lower voltage (leaner) especially 90's, due to grounding issues. Also 1st gens have a lower compression ratio so you can run your car leaner before 7 counts of knock which will retard your timing.
90-94 Turbo Models Only
Fuel type
Volatage (lean/rich)
91 Octane
.89 -.91 volts
92 Octane
.88 volts
93-94 Octane
.86 volts
95-99 Turbo Models Only
Fuel type
Volatage (lean/rich)
91 Octane
.94 - .95volts
92 Octane
.94 volts
93-94 Octane
.92 volts
With a 1G car the compression is lower too so you can run leaner before getting knock that retards timing
When the O2 sensor heats up after several runs, the voltage output drops a bit. Usually .94v will drop to .92v.
Vacuum Line/Emissions Removal
Pick Out the DSM'er
1. Your DSM is the most unreliable car you have ever owned, but still your favorite. 2. Your wife/girlfriend wishes your car never exsisted. 3. You have a garage full of spare engines, just in case. 4. People always ask you what is a "free mod" 5. Your freinds get beat in a race and call you to run the rematch for them. 6. Your Palm Pilot is only for logging your engine's data and nothing else. 7. You know more about the 4G63 engine than some engineers at Mitsubishi. 8. A junk yard to you is an upgrade yard. 9.Your car consists of parts from more than 10 other DSMs. 10. Your car consists of parts other than DSM parts (GM MAF) 11.Your screen name has one of the following in them: DSM 4G63 FWD AWD TSI GSX GS RS TURBO V8 KILLER 12. You take offense when a HONDA or Domestic dude calls you a Riceburner. 13. You've hit your head on the B-pillar during an AWD launch.
14. The UPS or FedEX guy has been to your house at least 25 times.. 15. You can launch your oil dip stick 20ft. 16. You no longer have A/C and dont care at all.
17. A normal weekend involves removing your transmission 5 times.
18. Your Daily Driver is a 12 sec car. 19. You had to remove your radiator fans, because they just don't fit in front of that Turbo. 20. At the Strip you sit around with the Z28s and WS6 guys and talk shit about hondas. 21. You can get your 4cyl to a12.5 second1/4 for $775. 22. You know that you dont need nitrous to run a 1/4 mile in under 12 seconds. 23. "Stock" means that the car has all of the parts it came with, you didn't add a thing, you just dremeled or removed a few, that's all. 24. Eveytime you launch your wipers automatically turn on 25. You are always hanging on the weekends with other DSMers 26. Most of the time driving on the road you are looking for other DSM's. 27. You know if the talon in front of you has a turbo, if it is fwd or awd all from a mile away. 28. You have dsmtrader.com, dsmtuners.com, and the MadDSM site on your favorites :)
9 Rules for Dating a DSM Guy:
1 - Do not touch anything on the car without asking permission. If you get permission, dont break it. 2 - Do not ask what every sound is, even if you think it sounds funny. 3 - When his friends are in the car, be prepared to get squished into the back seat, because you're the "smallest" 4 - If something breaks, get a good book/magazine, a comfy lawn chair, and wear lots of sunscreen and bug spray. 5 - Don't expect him to treat your car with the same respect he treats his own. 6 - Your gift list for him will be a long list of car parts you have never heard of. 7 - Get used to driving fast, with the windows down, with only the sounds of the turbo. 8 - Dont tell him that his hands are dirty. He already knows and he likes it that way. 9 - You will get pulled over while you're in the car with him. Don't worry, he's done this before.
