Newbie here doing a light '98 ESI rebuild

[Kevin Willemse]

Newbie DSM Owner here! 1998 Talon ESI bought up on a whim, I have seen them on the road and thought they looked fun. Had no idea they had such a following! Being from SA we never had these at all. So I picked this clean example up recently for a great price, needs some cosmetic work inside (exterior paint is quite clean except the usual door trim flaking and so on), so I have started stripping her out. No engine plans, want to keep her stock (it's the FWD anyway, and my heady days of 4 cylinder drag mods are over  ). Just want to get her really clean and solid, and upgrade to a decent sound system (been doing sound for decades). Will post pics in this thread for anyone interested. Hi everyone!

[Kevin Willemse]

Previous owner had painted the headliner to get rid of the dreaded sag... that's gotta go. Down to the metal and on we go!

[Kevin Willemse]

Customising a new backboard, which was missing...




Matching re-lined roof liner! Yeah! So porno... came out great!



Spare wheel area sealed, and cover was tatty so cleaned it up and reinforced and insulated/soundproofed it, but then built a full sturdy carpeted insert

[Kevin Willemse]

Time for speakers. Nothing crazy, JBL GTO 5.25s up front and GTO 6x9s at the back (with the usual mounting cuts and tricks, not a big job if you know how and have done it before). I am powering them through a Sony XBR100T which pushes 40WRMS per channel which is a great balance. Simple sub solution will follow. Oh yeah and also FaitalPro 3" in the dash. All the speakers (except the rears which were replaced by prev owner) were completely aged and eaten away! 20 years of thumping will do that I guess...

Oh and while at it, let's insulate and deaden the entire pan

in the doors...


In the rears...

The quest for quiet!


Original speakers served their time...


Carpeting, seats, every panel scrubbed down. Custom floor mats en route...

[Kevin Willemse]

Seats, carpeting going back in. New leather boot and gearknob




Aero spec wipers - good for an extra 2whp


I've used Duplicolor Hypersilver before, like now, often. If you know what you are doing you can get great results from these without much effort. Older car like this, didnt aim for perfect but the job came out great! Wheels look good! and FWIW I hate the plastidip/black look... ugh (winter wheels )


While she is up... drums 'n calipers too


Deck in! Yes, I color code my shrink wrap...



LEDs all around, front and back, side, inside etc. DRLs are a pain, still figuring out - anyone got ideas to get 6v to run the DRL LEDs? Won't be too difficult, just gotta do it. Smoked the side markers too (LaminX)


Front badge done in Hypersilver. slight darker, metallic hue is a subtlety


Out for her first cut polish and clay bar!

[Kevin Willemse]

Finally done! Still a few tiny things on the way, but this is she. What a funn toy she is indeed.


<img]src="http://i.imgur.com/3isYKGA.jpg" width="740" height="382" /img>

[Ryan Singh]

Wow man, nice job. Looking super clean!

What are your plans for the sound system? I was an audiophile for decades also. I used to SPL too.

[Zach Holt]

Nice buddy! Welcome that’s pretty sick nice to see a stocker

[Brett Haviland]

Glad I got to get my hands in her

[Ryan Singh]

Lol Brett