Mitsubishi Starion ESI-R and Chrysler Conquest TSI: Oh, Yeah! Those!

"TotallyThatStupid" (jbbush) 05/01/2014 at 16:42 • Filed to: Starion and Conquest

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Having a mind much akin to a steel colander, I tend to forget about certain cars. My interest doesn't wane, really. But with all the other automotive detritus wandering through my gray spongy bits, sometimes cars fall off my mental radar screen.

With that, I submit the Mitsubishi Starion ESI-R and Chrysler Conquest TSI twins.

Before the more popular front wheel drive Diamond Star cars landed, the pentastar and three diamonds came together in a beautiful union to devise a proper sports coupe. The offspring may have looked like a Porsche 944 rip-off, but that doesn't mean it wasn't badass. Rear wheel drive, pop-up headlights, big seat bolsters, box flares, and a turbocharger. Done and done.

This was brought to my attention by… well, let's call him my pen pal. Scott is a guy in Arizona stuffing a BMW M3 motor – a US M50B30 for you geeks – into an old European market 520i (E28 for the same lot). I've never met Scott, but so what? He's the kind of guy you'd want to have beers with, and that's more important. We have had epic email conversations about all sorts of silliness, ranging from unholy engine swaps to restorations to the pain of having our day jobs get in the way of our car habits.

Seriously, it could be a book. Or at least a blog. Anyway, the other day I got this email from Scott:

Ever have any experience with a Starion/Conquest?

I used to lust after these when they came out. Something about the box flares and muscular haunches that really got me. Er, maybe that doesn't sound right.

Anyway, I saw one in the junkyard a while back, quite a nice one in fact and it renewed my interest somewhat. I also saw one on [an incredibly popular blog that isn't this one featuring cars] today. I think it was from a few days ago, but it was pushing 400 horsepower. It seems I'm a closet Mitsubishi fan, given my predisposition for Gen-1 and Gen-2.5 Monteros.

My reply:

I don't have any direct ownership experience with them, but peripherally...

My first exposure was at a small car show at the Trumbull Shopping Park in Trumbull, CT, a quiet suburban enclave 50 minutes out of NYC known for the Bunny Fountain, the 1989 Little League World Champions, and meth. It was a dealer show, meaning all the cars were new stock from the local lots. Mitsubishi - likely the store in Shelton one town over - displayed a Starion TSI-R in red on black leather with a 5-speed. My previous experience with manual transmissions did not vaguely prepare me for the stick-in-firm-butter feeling of that 'box. By comparison the feel of a Datsun 610 and VW Rabbit were like stirring a box of slag with a rubber spatula.

Later, my high school friend Ron - a die-hard Mustang goon - bought either a Starion or a Conquest with a blown head gasket and cracked head (this will be important later). Ron and I had sort of drifted apart after high school, and while I was aware he owned it, I neither heard much about it nor knew its fate. I don't think he ever got it running; at the same time he had a stunning silver 1984 Mustang GT and some early-70s Charger (also in pieces). I have a mental picture of the Starquest and the Charger sitting mournfully outside his garage/workshop in Oxford, CT, but that's about it.

Much later, as in about 6 years ago after I moved to Minnesota, I met a guy named Boun. He had a box-flared Starquest in his garage... in pieces, the victim of a broken head. Sense a trend? After trying to track down a good engine for three goddamned years he gave up and sold it to his brother for parts. The brother also has a Starquest which may or may not run. Apparently, they ALL eat their engines at some point. Now, if you could shoehorn something like an Evolution engine in there, you'd be on to something.

I still totally dig them, but you rarely see nice stock ones. There may be a reason for that. You might be able to make a stock one keeps its head on, but who knows?

So that's it. Neat cars, tend to break, not a lot of nice one left. Seems to be a lot of that going around.

Totally That Stupid is a blog run by two lifelong car geeks. More at !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . You can also !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

McMike > TotallyThatStupid 05/01/2014 at 16:44

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I had a nice stock '86 Conquest for about 12 hours back in 1989.

I think it was a 40K mile car.

Andrew Nier > TotallyThatStupid 05/01/2014 at 17:34

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I raced against a Conquest at Laguna Seca in March. It had an LS1 in it. It was a light car and quite quick.

Zoom > McMike 05/01/2014 at 17:35

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Don't Mike.

Please don't.

Zoom > TotallyThatStupid 05/01/2014 at 17:40

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I remember driving these new at the dealership when they came out. My father had a red one for a demo for a while. Yes, I did put that car through it's paces.

The car had lungs, but was heavy. And I remember bad axle tramp on hard launches. But once it got moving, it was a nicely balanced car.

It's domestic brother, the Daytona Shelby Z, was a bit tougher. It understeered like a pig, but could take a bit more abuse. And still ran like a scared rabbit on the top end. I know a little about that car. I have one sitting in my garage.

AdamKing > McMike 05/01/2014 at 17:53

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Explain.

AMC/Renauledge > Zoom 05/01/2014 at 17:53

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Domestic brother? Are you implying that the Starion/Conquest and Daytona were on the same platform? Because they weren't.

Rockchops > TotallyThatStupid 05/01/2014 at 17:54

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I've always loved these. My first real car was a Stealth. We got it from a guy who had 4 starquests in his driveway. I still think they look great, but I don't think I'd want to run the g54b in there too long. 4G swap is pretty straightforward, and small blocks fit under the hood pretty easily. I'm always amazed how much money some of the diehard starquest guys have in their cars on an engine that will blow its HG when you look at it wrong. Also, rust is a big enemy of these.

I'd probably still buy one.

BLKMGK > Andrew Nier 05/01/2014 at 17:56

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These cars are awesome! for swaps :-) 2JZ? LSx? Probably some RB love too! I mostly just hated the damned seatbelt on a track crap they had...

Blondude > McMike 05/01/2014 at 18:01

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Hehe

Prophet of hoon > Zoom 05/01/2014 at 18:01

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the Daytona was fwd, the Starion rwd.... how are they similar? both owned by dodge at some point?.... pls explain

ndcart > TotallyThatStupid 05/01/2014 at 18:03

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I had a white '89 Conquest-TSI in high school. It was an absolute blast to drive. Then it suffered from a cracked head. Had the motor rebuilt from top to bottom with new head. Cracked again. Had it rebuilt yet again, cracked again. Never fixed it after that. Of course, I drove the absolute shit out of it. Motor may have been a POS, but I still miss that car every single day. I'll always have a soft spot for these.

360ad > TotallyThatStupid 05/01/2014 at 18:04

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Today is your lucky day: http://bringatrailer.com/2014/04/29/hig…

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > TotallyThatStupid 05/01/2014 at 18:05

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AUTO STRANGLERS! NOOOOO! My car had these. Had way tighter stretched black leather. Glad my wasn't saggy like these. They look like sofas. Dealer add on?

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > TotallyThatStupid 05/01/2014 at 18:06

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Negative.

greencow > TotallyThatStupid 05/01/2014 at 18:06

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It doesn't take much to get a newer 4g63 in there....

LOVE these cars, a neighbor has a clean white one that he's put up for sale. The want it is much.

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > TotallyThatStupid 05/01/2014 at 18:07

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coulda been my car after two tubes of MacGuire's polish. I had HKS exhaust, though. One big fat tip.

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > McMike 05/01/2014 at 18:08

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That is a sad story, McMike, but I sure am glad you're here to tell it. Mine met a less violent end along the highway. Then got flooded waiting for me to get the parts to fix it.

CarlosDangerMouse > TotallyThatStupid 05/01/2014 at 18:09

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We used to scour junkyards all over Southern California for Starion intercoolers as a cheaper alternative for the turbo kits we threw on our Hondas back in the early-mid 90s.

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > ndcart 05/01/2014 at 18:10

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The motor was known as the Boat Anchor.

Toyotathong! > TotallyThatStupid 05/01/2014 at 18:14

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Fine Corinthian Leather

Mazarin > Blondude 05/01/2014 at 18:14

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HNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGG

Ad_absurdum_per_aspera > greencow 05/01/2014 at 18:22

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They're neat cars, but warning: unicorns are expensive and demanding pets. Get a Starquest and you're not just buying a car, but signing up for an entire techno-hobby.

Details are numerous and I'll leave them to enthusiast forums — suffice it to say that they had various weak points, even the newest ones are coming up on a quarter century old, and many of them have been flogged hard.

Mazarin > TotallyThatStupid 05/01/2014 at 18:22

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Well, now I gotta post mine:

SoCal66 > TotallyThatStupid 05/01/2014 at 18:27

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My uncle had a Starion when I was a kid, got me craving for a turbo car the first time we passed someone on the 101.

Ratchet when he's all hopped up on synthetic energon > TotallyThatStupid 05/01/2014 at 18:31

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Always loved the aesthetics of the Starquest, but their rarity combined with their penchant to be thoroughly beaten has always made their prices more than I'm willing to pay for one.

Birddog > McMike 05/01/2014 at 18:35

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I had a nice 87 with around 60k on it for about the same amount of time in 1991. I bought it non running, put a new $480 fuel injector in it and doubled my money on it.

170 some odd horsepower never felt so quick.

Kumicho > TotallyThatStupid 05/01/2014 at 18:35

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Can't believe this hasn't been posted. One of the original challenges Top Gear ever had, and Jeremy drove (and eventually ruined) a Starion.

http://www.topgear.com/uk/videos/budg…

brokenfury8585 > TotallyThatStupid 05/01/2014 at 18:36

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Cordia Turbo comes a close 2nd to the starion/conquest

Bad Idea Hat > TotallyThatStupid 05/01/2014 at 18:39

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My dad owned one. Now that was a cool car. Had to get rid of it because the one he got was a bit of a lemon, and the added problem of it not being a practical family car.

I almost want to find one and restore it to give to him, but money.

Stradale > TotallyThatStupid 05/01/2014 at 18:39

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I had an '87 but it hated me so much.

TotallyThatStupid > brokenfury8585 05/01/2014 at 18:47

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My cousin had this car's sibling, a 1985 Tredia with a 5-speed. It was a really nice, solid little car back in the day.

TotallyThatStupid > Kumicho 05/01/2014 at 18:52

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And the added bonus of a Euro 6er, albeit an autotragic.

quickquest88 > BLKMGK 05/01/2014 at 19:00

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i had an 88 that I dropped an aluminum head lt1 into after blowing the motor for the third time (t3/t4 + stock injectors does not equal longevity). It made one hell of a drift car because of the 15% limited slip diff. So controllable when sideways.

Outback XT > Toyotathong! 05/01/2014 at 19:07

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Corinth is famous for their leather!!!

AMC/Renauledge > Prophet of hoon 05/01/2014 at 19:09

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Yup. The Conquest got passed around between 3 Chrysler divisions. Plymouth, Dodge, and Chrysler all had their names on the Conquest at one point or another.

Donut-Manual > quickquest88 05/01/2014 at 19:23

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I too, had an '88...yellow. Paid $2,200 for it when it was about 7 years old. Ran perfectly up until the heater core hose blew one rainy night. It was a slow and expensive downhill road from that point on. I think I drove it for another two years, until the HG blew for the second time. Loved driving that car, and it was the ONLY car any of my friends knew to have stereo controls on the wheel. I regularly kept up with late 80's/early 90's 5.0 through all five gears....with four cracks in my head!!! Was astonished to find out that 2.6L T4 put out 317lb./ft. of torque.

Finally sold it after I decided to take the whole engine apart (after ordering the Mitsubishi manual, of course), with the dream of rebuilding it. Learned my first valuable "rebuilding lesson": price-out parts BEFORE taking things apart. In the mid-90's the alternator was something like $685! And I don't think I need to list the other costs.....lol.

Still miss it from time to time.

TheRallyStache > TotallyThatStupid 05/01/2014 at 19:49

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I came very very close to buying one a year or so ago. Only thing holding me back was the fact that I'd have to rely on it for a daily driver. Such a sexy car.

And yes, you can put a 4g63 in there. It has been done.

Union of Smog Techs of CA > TotallyThatStupid 05/01/2014 at 20:04

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Thanks, not surprised though that such a whore of an engine (even came in a Mazda B2600!?) blew so many heads.

jcm055 > TotallyThatStupid 05/01/2014 at 20:07

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I have always had a soft spot for these. A friend had one when we were in high school and it was such a blast. It's one of those bucket list cars I'd like to build one day.

DjRags > TotallyThatStupid 05/01/2014 at 20:19

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That two spoke tho....

SirRaoulDuke > TotallyThatStupid 05/01/2014 at 20:24

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I miss poofy leather seats.

BigGatorChris > TotallyThatStupid 05/01/2014 at 20:32

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Wasn't that the same motor they were putting in the Dodge Shelbys?

If so, why didn't the MOPARs have the same head issues?

Gurble > AMC/Renauledge 05/01/2014 at 20:36

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Dude, can you not read? He said one was RWD and the other was FWD. The Daytona is NOT RELATED. This car was only ever a Starion or a Conquest. The Daytona was a front wheel drive K-Car.

Gurble > Zoom 05/01/2014 at 20:38

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banjo cat ghost of oppo past > TotallyThatStupid 05/01/2014 at 20:46

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If you remove the cat and get a test pipe these engines thump like Offenhausers, er half a small block. I convinced my friend to buy one off craigslistfor $2k that had a spare engine in the back he had rebuilt and installed. Only the stock adjustable coilovers in the back were blown. Still a sexy car with the meatiest or rears.

Miss this thing

Zoom > AMC/Renauledge 05/01/2014 at 20:48

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Yeh, looking back that looks wrong. By domestic brother I meant sold from the same store. The domestic brother to the Daytona was the Chrysler Laser.

Oh, I know all about Chrysler's platforms in the 80s. And the G body was no where near the DSM's Conquest.

Zoom > Prophet of hoon 05/01/2014 at 20:49

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Sold side by side in the same showroom.

Zoom > Gurble 05/01/2014 at 20:52

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Who stated I didn't know it was front wheel drive?

It sits next to a Shelby Charger that doesn't understeer. And on the same property as 2 GLH Turbos. The main reason the G body doesn't handle well is the K geometry, not the fact that it's front wheel drive.....

quickquest88 > Donut-Manual 05/01/2014 at 20:59

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in the very back of the head there is a water port very close to the cylinder seal. My experience was that this was the weak point in the gasket. I took it to an aluminum welder and had him beef up this area a bit, then widened the port on the outside. Problem solved. I made the poor decision to upgrade a 14b to a t3/t4 and it sucked. 5th gear at 75 it would slip the clutch, but was a dog at anything less. Lost a ton of bottom end. With the 14b and solid lifters I could spin the wheels through 2 gear.

I still regret selling that car. Though I have a 92 3000gt now, with a TT motor ready to drop in when the fwd motor goes.

KamikazePigeon > TotallyThatStupid 05/01/2014 at 21:40

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G/O Sucks > TotallyThatStupid 05/01/2014 at 22:06

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Wow, I knew a Mustang goon who bought one of these in high school too! His '84 GT got too many tickets so he bought an '86 Starion Turbo that turned out to be faster but easier to insure.

It was a phenomenally good car, well put together and oozing with tech and "modern" touches that domestics didn't have. Mitusbishi's pioneering of turbos showed an a little tuning got it to near 300hp. Another rich kid had his dad's 944S and the stock Starion absolutely blew it away on our little back woods road course. Definitely a modern classic but perhaps an acquire taste!

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > TotallyThatStupid 05/01/2014 at 22:21

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I worked at a Chrysler-Plymouth dealer in 88-89 and we had two leftover '88 Conquests. Couldn't give 'em away, so every opportunity we had we'd take them out and flog them. Back then, turbo anything was hi-performance - even a 188hp 2.4 Mitsusquishy. Those cars were a flat-out blast in snow, and by that I mean terrifying to the uninitiated. I'm just amazed that we never went offroading in one.

dsigned001 - O.R.C. hunter > Andrew Nier 05/02/2014 at 00:23

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that is a CLEAN custom interior. I wonder if you could buy a version of that prefab

AMC/Renauledge > Gurble 05/02/2014 at 00:55

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Can you? I wasn't saying that the Daytona was related. Quite the contrary, if you'll look at my first response. I was saying in my second that the Conquest was also sold as a Dodge and Plymouth. Specifically from 1983-86, while it switched to Chrysler badges for 1987-89.

Prophet of hoon > Zoom 05/02/2014 at 01:56

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I'm missing how they are the same or similar cars. The Daytona came from the Colt line of cars and completed the trinity of crap that came from the Big 3 in the 70s (Vega/Monza, Pinto/Mustang II).

The Starion was a really good idea with really poor execution. But, given the K-car, Chrysler's first bailout, and the useless presidency of Carter (who is a really neat guy when he's not president) - it isn't terribly surprising.

However, in no way was the Starion related to the Colt/Daytona line. Simply because they sold off the same showroom doesn't make them the same.

kArno > AMC/Renauledge 05/02/2014 at 02:05

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I remember that the Daytona was a rejected Camaro design that GM didn't want.

AMC/Renauledge > kArno 05/02/2014 at 02:07

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Really? How's that? The Camaro had been redone 2 years before the Daytona bowed.

Mrfist9 > TotallyThatStupid 05/02/2014 at 02:14

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I love the stock wheels, the car being so wide the wheels came in great sizes and offsets. The best being 16x8 -10 Offset. That's stupid wide

kArno > AMC/Renauledge 05/02/2014 at 02:17

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That's right, then two years later the designer of that design took it to Dodge and the Daytona was borned. And there was also an IROC version of the Daytona as well :)

The Devil Drives a Mustang (Rotary Pending) > TotallyThatStupid 05/02/2014 at 02:48

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I have seen a few of these. One of the things that I remember about this for some reason is that they have recirculating ball power steering and not rack and pinion.

burtonscustoms > TotallyThatStupid 05/02/2014 at 03:40

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Nice article! The silver to green fade car in the 4th pic down is my wife's. I built it for her in 05. We still have it, as well as a few other Starquests, but it's not looking near as nice as back when this pic was taken. The pyramid building in the background is the Steelcase headquarters in Kentwood, MI.

300hp30mpgrwdfor30k > TotallyThatStupid 05/02/2014 at 03:41

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I dig these, and they can be made to look cool in the modern day, but my favorite DSM will always be the Gen 2 Eclipse. My friend had and wrecked two GS-T's, but they were cool for a while.

burtonscustoms > burtonscustoms 05/02/2014 at 03:47

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Cliff8928 > TotallyThatStupid 05/02/2014 at 04:49

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I know someone who had a D50 truck with the Mistubishi 2.6 and it had head issues too... There are adapters out there to put the T56 on a narrow-block 4G63t (etc..) . There's also a wide-block 4G64 drop-in that was available for a year or two in some trucks. The Starion has that appeal like it's a design between the second and third gen Supra.

fivepointnine > TotallyThatStupid 05/02/2014 at 06:58

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When I was a kid, this was one of my dream cars! I thought it looked absolutely perfect.

Computerbudda > TotallyThatStupid 05/02/2014 at 07:46

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Amazing still expensive. http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/cto/441112…

Autojunkie > TotallyThatStupid 05/02/2014 at 07:51

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These cars were amazing in their day! The funny thing today is that you can find a used Porsche 944 much easier than you can find a Conquest/Starion.

TotallyThatStupid > Computerbudda 05/02/2014 at 08:07

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Yeah, but at $6k I kind of get it.

thebigbossyboss > Mazarin 05/02/2014 at 08:13

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Many wants. Such Jealousy.

Mr. Sinister > TotallyThatStupid 05/02/2014 at 08:17

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Such great cars. At least until you mod them. Way too fragile, but that was the case with turbo technology at the time. I wouldn't mind having a nice, stock Starion TSi

signinsrlame > TotallyThatStupid 05/02/2014 at 08:20

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I think I have seen exactly two of those in real life (both were the Chrysler) and that was not in the 80s but within the past few years (writing from Soviet Canuckistan). Inserted is the rarely seen bucket of bolts that I lusted after for awhile and which was occasionally sighted on the streets of Ottawa in the late 80s

lmacnit > TotallyThatStupid 05/02/2014 at 08:32

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Starion Trivia I was at a 24 hour Showroom Stock race at Nelson Ledges in the early 80's and there were a few Starions there running pretty well. At 3 in the morning a crew member from one of them asked me if he could buy the rear hatch (all glass) from my Gen 2 RX-7, since his car had lost one at speed. He offered me $300, but I had a 4 1/2 hour drive back to western NY, so I had to decline. The hatches were exactly the same.

PenitentMan > TotallyThatStupid 05/02/2014 at 08:52

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I really like these cars. A friend of mine had one in high school and it was pretty quick. One came up on craigslist recently here in Atlanta with a lexus v8 stuffed in it for under $4k. Should have bought it.

RG1527 > TotallyThatStupid 05/02/2014 at 08:59

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I almost bought one of those at a car auction one time but I was kind of afraid that it would be a repair nightmare and I needed a reliable car to travel to school every day (60 miles one way)

Ended up buying a 4 speed Tercel 2 door :P

cjstangman > TotallyThatStupid 05/02/2014 at 09:19

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I had one of these as a project car a few years ago. Surprising power in boost, but cooked itself when the oil pump chain fell off on the first test drive. Bought a 302 to put in it, which actually fits nicely, but ran out of time before I had to head back to school. ended up selling the whole business off.

Nick > TotallyThatStupid 05/02/2014 at 09:39

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I had a roommate with a Starion years ago. Damn thing was fast, he had a built engine and an upgraded turbo in it. Unfortunately it wouldn't run for more than a week at a time. lol

Zoom > Prophet of hoon 05/02/2014 at 10:32

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Christ. I simply stated 'the Daytona's brother'. Because they were sold side by side in the same showroom.

The Daytona came from the Colt? Seriously, what the fuck. The Daytona came from the K line of cars. It had nothing to do with the colt. The L body Omni came from the european Simca. Still nothing to do with the colt.

"The Starion was a really good idea with really poor execution. But, given the K-car, Chrysler's first bailout, and the useless presidency of Carter (who is a really neat guy when he's not president) - it isn't terribly surprising. "

Please tell me what the Starion line has to do with Chrysler, the K car, or Jimmy Carter. Even though the car was a DSM, About 99% of the engineering was Mitsubishi. So the poor execution was Mitsubishi's alone.

You obviously don't know jack about the malais era. I drove every one of the cars you are talking about when they were new. Checked them in off the carrier, and worked on each one.

Jalisurr > TotallyThatStupid 05/02/2014 at 11:14

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Starion + LS3 = Sweet, reliable, fast as hell car.

burtonscustoms > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius 05/02/2014 at 11:24

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What? Don't like it? Good thing it was built to my wife's tastes, and not yours

GreenN_Gold > kArno 05/02/2014 at 11:32

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Got a source for that? Seems far fetched, especially since the design looked similar to other Chrysler designs of the era. I don't see what the IROC version has to do with anything, as that just followed in step with the IROC racing series.

burtonscustoms > lmacnit 05/02/2014 at 12:12

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Sorry, those hatches are not the same. Look similar, but not a direct bolt up.

RobHeathers > burtonscustoms 05/02/2014 at 12:17

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**made me cum...

Damn you.

Prophet of hoon > Zoom 05/02/2014 at 12:25

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one of them was the bastard, red-headed stepchild and in no way related to the other. I think my prior post will uncover which one I think was the unloved car.

ChubbsMotolo > AMC/Renauledge 05/02/2014 at 12:40

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The Daytona was FWD, and the Starion/Conquest were RWD. They look similar, so I can understand that mistake, but they were not the same platform.

Zoom > Prophet of hoon 05/02/2014 at 12:43

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Again, you reveal your cluelessness. I know the Daytona was not asian. And I'm glad it wasn't. Or it would've made it about as far as the scrap heap like most Starions did. The colt was Mitsu. The K was not. They had nothing to do with each other. Nothing.

There is a reason the FP states there are so few Conquests left. The MCA Jet silent shaft engine was junk. And did not mod well. While the 2.2 Turbo is modded in shitloads of turbo Dodges to this day. Look around see which ones are still on the road. Turbo Dodges, or 80's Mitsu's.

Game over.

lmacnit > burtonscustoms 05/02/2014 at 12:44

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I should have sold it to him. He got someone to sell theirs and the car got back out on the track.

AMC/Renauledge > ChubbsMotolo 05/02/2014 at 12:55

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Right. I wasn't confused. The Daytona and Laser were K-based FWD cars. The Starion/Conquest were Galant Sigma-based RWD cars. But Plymouth, Dodge, and Chrysler all got versions of the Starion conquest. And Dodge sold theirs right alongside the Daytona from 1984-86.

noringnocare > TotallyThatStupid 05/02/2014 at 13:00

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Wonder if you can shoehorn in the new Pentastar 3.5 making 300 HP in these things. *THAT* would complete my life.

HideyoshiJP > Mazarin 05/02/2014 at 13:01

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Ohhh, look at me! I'm Mazarin! I've got a sweet Starion! Good luck finding one that isn't dead, so you can have one as cool as mine!

Yeah, it's pretty sweet. (Not Jealous. Totes.) :(

Beasy Mist > TotallyThatStupid 05/02/2014 at 13:07

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They do indeed eat their engines. My dad had a Conquest when I was a little kid and after his 2nd head gasket he'd had enough and it got traded in on our 91 (sob) Grand Caravan.

Prophet of hoon > Zoom 05/02/2014 at 13:33

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Not sure how you figure that - you're the one who alleged that Asian car, made by another manufacturer that was not Mopar, is the same as a car that was built in the states with K-car and Omni parts.... let me guess, you're a used-car salesman.

Zoom > Prophet of hoon 05/02/2014 at 13:43

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This from someone who states the Daytona (Mopar) and the Colt (mitsu) are the same platform.

Let's go step by step.

Not sure how you figure that.

How I figure what?

You're the one who alleged that Asian car, made by another manufacturer that was not Mopar, is the same as a car that was built in the states with K-car and Omni parts.

Show me where I stated that. Or shut the fuck up.

This is nonsense blathering. Does it make you feel smart?

Moarloud > TotallyThatStupid 05/02/2014 at 14:31

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Love those cars, but once I take a look at the FUGLY interior I exit out of the craigslist link instantaneously. Seriously, that shit makes me sick to my stomach.

Ugly seats, ugly dash, ugly interior color, ugly steering wheel...

Mitsubishi had the right idea with a turbo RWD manual coupe but damn did they pick the wrong guy to design the interior!

pyramidofgreatness > Zoom 05/02/2014 at 14:41

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waaaaaaaait a minute. actually on second thought. no. carry on.

wheelguy00 > TotallyThatStupid 05/02/2014 at 14:59

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Ive had 2 of these. 1987 models white with burgundy interior. I loved them. Wish I still had one. The seats are worth the price of admission cause they were excellent. Car was packed full of features. The factory stereo was pretty cool with steering wheel controls and analog 7 band equalizer. I could talk about it all day. thanks for posting, brings back so many memories.

V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! > Mazarin 05/02/2014 at 15:14

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yeahrightss > TotallyThatStupid 05/02/2014 at 16:39

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I had a 1989 conquest. The dealer told me that the 89's were really 1988 overstock, but they reprinted the manual to say 1989. It was an awesome car. Probably the only stock car to have cool wheels. Deep dish in the back!

yeahrightss > Zoom 05/02/2014 at 16:40

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the Daytona was an ugly piece of crap

Dr. Strangegun > yeahrightss 05/02/2014 at 21:46

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It's funny how I see a lot more Chrysler G bodies on the road around here than I do Camaros of the same era... and this is Chevy country, and not particularly hard on cars in general.

Dr. Strangegun > Union of Smog Techs of CA 05/02/2014 at 22:08

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Heh. Only two years though before Mazda wised up. Took Chrysler 7 years to stop peddling the junk... yes, Chrysler K and L based cars had (beyond the home-brew 2.2/2.5 combo) were available at various times with VW's 1.7, Mitsubishi's G54 (4G5) AND their 6G72 V6. Oh, and a sad little 1.6 liter Simca 6J "Poissy" engine.

Did'ja know that Hyundai used to use a hell of a lot of Mitsubishi 4G series engines in.. well, everything?