3/27/2008
Report Card: Turbo and the Talon
Travis Hurst, an automotive student at Virginia Beach Vo-Tech, is the proud owner of this 1997 Eagle Talon TSI.
By Ed Sunkin
Travis Hurst, an automotive student at Virginia Beach Vo-Tech, is the proud owner of this 1997 Eagle Talon TSI.
Hurst, who’s nicknamed “Turbo,” said he got this car bone stock. While the second-generation Eagle Talon TSI was fast (it came with a small T-25 Turbo engine that pushed 210 hp factory stock) Turbo said he was ready to take the “most-feared 4-cylinder in world — the 4G63 — one step further.
“I started reading on-line about a year ago on my car and how easy it would be to make it go faster,” Hurst said. “So, I basically worked all summer, and more, to add performance upgrades including a GReddy 2G Intercooler Piping Kit, a GReddy RS BOV (blow off valve), an Injen Technology intake and Hallman PRO Boost Controller.”
Other modifications HURST made include:
• A 3-inch Catback with Vibrant Flat Black Muffler;
• Exedy Cerametallic Clutch;
• ACT StreetLite Flywheel;
• EVO Motorsports 9 FMIC (front mount intercooler);
• Big T28 Turbo upgrade;
• Megan O2 Housing; and
• GReddy Turbo Timer
Hurst seems please with the Talon’s performance progress.
“I'm now at 250 wheel horsepower (whp) at 16-psi of Boost with a maxed out stock fuel system,” he said. “So, next year with a better fuel system and with some fine tuning, I’ll be at 350-plus whp.”
Did You Know….
The second generation Eagle Talon was introduced in 1995 simultaneously with its Mitsubishi Eclipse counterpart, while the Plymouth Laser model was eliminated that year. Mechanically, the new Talon and Eclipse models were almost identical with the engines in the turbocharged versions receiving a modest increase in output thanks to a redesigned intake and exhaust and new turbocharger.
The new T25 turbocharger, provided by Garrett, had boost increased to 14-psi of peak boost and was smaller than the previous Mitsubishi built 14b turbo that was on 1G models. The T25 did spool up faster than the previous turbocharger in order to increase the turbo response or reduce turbo lag.
To view more of Travis “Turbo” Hurst’s 1997 Eagle Talon TSI, visit the Pix section on the home page.