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For nearly 20 years, the Mitsubishi Eclipse has been one of America’s more popular sport coupes. Reasons for its success include sleek styling, powerful engines and affordability. The original Eclipse was the result of a joint venture started in the mid-’80s between Mitsubishi and Chrysler, known as Diamond Star (DSM)

Current Mitsubishi Eclipse

Mitsubishi’s sport coupe is offered in base GS and more sporting GT trim levels. The base level Mitsubishi Eclipse GS is reasonably well-equipped with air-conditioning and full power features along with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine good for 162 horsepower. In addition to its burly 265-hp, 3.8-liter V6, the GT has a sport-tuned suspension, 18-inch alloy wheels and fog lights. Stability control is standard on the GT.

The GS can be equipped with either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission with a sequential-shift Sportronic mode. The GT comes with a six-speed manual, and a five-speed Sportronic automatic is optional.

Many consumers shopping for a used Mitsubishi Eclipse will likely encounter the previous, third-generation model, which was sold from 2000-’05. It has a hatchback body style, front-wheel drive and four-cylinder or V6 power. It’s smaller and less refined than the generation that succeeded it. The RS and GS trims of this generation were powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder good for 154 hp. The GT had a smooth-revving 205-hp 3.0-liter V6. All could be had with either a five-speed manual transmission or four-speed automatic.

Although this Eclipse was fairly popular with consumers, it attracted little critical acclaim. In Edmunds.com tests, editors noted that the Eclipse was not as sporting as previous versions and had a low-quality interior. Nor did the car change much during its run, though in 2003 Mitsubishi added a GTS trim that had a slightly more powerful V6 (210 hp) and more standard equipment.

When new, the first- and second-generation Eclipses were considered some of the best affordable sport coupes available. The original debuted in 1990. This Eclipse was also a hatchback, and these early models can be identified by their pop-up headlights. There were four different trim levels, each offering its own mix of powertrains. The top-of-the line model was the desirable Eclipse GSX, which boasted a 195-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine and all-wheel drive. In 1992, minor updates were made, including the addition of fixed headlights.

Compared to the foreshortened, almost stubby first Mitsubishi Eclipse, the second generation (1995-’99) seemed long, sleek and gorgeous. It was a bit bigger than the earlier car but in many ways very similar mechanically. As before, normally aspirated or turbocharged engines were offered, and AWD was available on turbocharged models. The first- and second-generation.

 A gauge pod is an automotive metering device that sits outside of the stock gauge cluster. It can be a large tachometer, used for racing, or a row of extra gauges that display more information about the engine. The different types of gauge pods are configured for the individual wants of the driver.

When gauges were first introduced, they were a basic display of the vital functions of the car. A speedometer was primary,surrounding a smaller fuel level gauge. As cars became more advanced more gauges were offered from the factory; often, the dashboards of expensive cars were heavily adorned masterpieces of engineering. 

Inexpensive cars did not get special gauges, and as these cars got older, they became the experiments of mechanics everywhere.Aftermarket gauges could be added on for very low cost. These extra gauges,stored in gauge pods, could be fastened to any surface of the car. With the inevitable next year’s model, there were always new places to mount them.Everything from clocks to the boost pressure of a turbo charger was available for aftermarket installation. Into the late 1980s, add-on gauges were most popular as “three-packs,” and could be installed in less than an hour by a competent backyard mechanic.

The most common gauge pods seen today are “A-pillar” style gauges, mounted along the driver’s side windshield. These are custom fit to blend in with the car’s interior, giving an impressive amount of illuminated information. Another popular gauge style is the over-sized tachometer, used on cars that were built to be fast on the racing track. The gauge’s face can be as large as 10 inches, and include bright yellow and red warning lights. These lights will signal the driver through his peripheral vision to shift to the next gear. The very bulky tachometer is stored in a single “gauge pod” housing, and mounted to the right of the driver.  

The temperature of the engine block, oil temperature and pressure, amount of power in the battery, rotations of the motor per minute and even vacuum pressure of the intake manifold are common readouts that can be ordered for gauge pods.Some gauges can read tire pressure, ambient outside temperature or even altitude above sea level. All can be installed into custom gauge pods.

One great way to enhance up the interior of your vehicle is to install a dash trim kit. You don’t need to have a luxury car to benefit from the visual appeal of an expensive looking interior; you can install a dash trim kit yourself. These days’ vehicle owners are always looking for ways to add style and class to their cars and trucks. Installing a dash trim kit to your car or truck is very easy and something that you can do yourself at a fraction of the cost that a dealership or customizing shop will charge you. Not only is it easy, it is a great way to enhance the value of your vehicle.

Dash Trim Kits are a simple install and make an astonishing look and feel to any interior. Before buying a Dash Trim Kit you need to research what colors with fit best with your project. With hundreds of styles and colors to choose from, you can make a vehicle look like it came stock with an OEM kit or go with a style such as Carbon Fiber for your dash and trim.

Dash Trim Kits come in a variety of styles including vinyl dash trim, carbon fiber dash trim, aluminum dash trim and oxford dash trim. These kits are made with 3M adhesive on the back for easy installation, and are cut using CNC laser cutting technology for superior quality and perfect fit. Dash trim kits come in a wide range of finishes, from aluminum, to wood, to carbon fiber, and solid colors.

Wood dash kits come both in real wood and in real-looking synthetic wood.Either can improve the look of a dashboard. Real wood veneers are sliced from large planks or logs. Manufacturers keep careful track of the origins of each slice in case someone wants to match the panels.

Synthetic wood dash trim is made from plastic. You may not think of plastic being a proper material for a car. Think again. Look inside your car. There’s plastic everywhere, from the cup holder to engine parts. It’s hard to imagine a world without plastic.

Carbon Fiber Dash Trim Kits are made out of a heavy duty UV coated material and finished with the carbon fiber finish. These dash trim kits are available in a variety of colors such as blue,silver, black, pink, red, and green.

Aluminum Dash Trim Kits are similar to the carbon fiber dash trim kits in material, but have a metallic aluminum finish. These dash trim kits are available in brushed aluminum, OEM aluminum and chrome.

Oxford Dash Trim Kits which are the highest quality wood finish dash trim kits. These trim kits have an exceptional high gloss finish and are as close to real wood as you can get.

High Performance aftermarket parts and accessories for the Acura Integra now available at modifiedintegra.com :Name Brand Air Intakes WeaponR, AEM,and Injen.ExtremeDimensions Duraflex and Carbon Fiber Body kits. HSport Air Suspension Kits. Skunk2 Camshafts and Gears. Whatever your need to make that Acura Integra into the next 10 second car Modified Integra has it.

Modified Integra specializes in custom highquality performance parts and accessories for the Acura Integra and is dedicated to providing the highest quality high performance Interior, Exteriorand performance parts at completive prices with excellent customer support.

That’s right the cold air intake is not just to make your car the next 10 second car. They also can improve your fuel economy. With today continuing rise in gasoline prices everyone is looking for ways toget more miles for that gallon of gas. There is no better place to start than to replace your existing stock air intake system with a high quality aftermarket cold air intake. I know you are asking yourself how is that going to improve my fuel economy.

First you need to know a little about the chemical makeup of air and some basic physics. Air is a mixture of 78 percent nitrogen, 21 percent oxygen and 1 percent trace gas. The nitrogen and trace gases are of no use in causing the explosion that make you car engine run.The oxygen combined with the gasoline is what makes the explosion.

The number of air molecules referred to a density is directly affected by the temperature of the air. So when a volume of air is heated it expands therefore causing the air to be less dense.  This being said it stands to reason that coldair is denser and contains more oxygen per volume.

By installing a high quality well designed cold air intake that positions the air intake outside of the hot engine compartment then the engine can draw in colder more dense oxygen rich air. This combined with the gasoline will cause a more intense explosion which will resultin more horsepower, torque and better fuel efficiency.

Now let us look a little at what makes a well designed cold air intake. There are various factors to be considered in the design ofthe cold air intake system such as the diameter of the pipes need to be increased for better air flow, the interior of the intake must be smooth to reduce air resistance, it must provide a more direct route to the air intake, the length of the intake pipes must be tuned for maximum air flow and it must use a more efficient and less restrictive air filter. Intake system come in various configurations and can be made from plastic, metal, rubber or composite materials. A well designed cold air intake is dyno-tested and tuned for a guaranteed high flow performance. Installing this in your vehicle will surely give you an instant power boost all throughout the engine’s rpm range.

There are several different types of aftermarket High Performance Air Intakes on the market each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Myself I prefer the ColdAir Intake.

The ColdAir intake system relocates the filter outside of the engine compartment to deliver the coldest air inlet temperatures possible. Colder air carries more oxygen, which translates into more horsepower and torque.

Installation Instructions:

• Step 1

Remove the original air intake by removing the piping, air filter and air box. These parts can be removed by using a screwdriver or ratchet and socket on the bolts holding the clamps together. Loosen the clamps and remove the hardware but save the hose clamps. Carefully remove the air sensors from the original intake.

• Step 2

Install the new coldair intake on your Acura Integra by sliding a rubber sleeve over the hole on the intake manifold and fitting the pipe into the sleeve. Tighten the two hose clamps around the rubber sleeve. Another rubber sleep and two more hose clamps will be fitted together in the same manner in the middle of the intake.

• Step 3

Jack up the car and lower it downon to two jack stands. Get under the car to complete the installation by reaching up and placing the filter onto the end of the piping with another sleeve and hose clamp.

• Step 4

Make sure all the hose clamps are tightened and all the rubber sleeves are pushed on properly with no gaps.

• Step 5

Carefully remove the jack stands and lower the car back to the ground.