The biggest pain with the timing belt is the fact theres no room to work. You have to drop the engine a little bit to make things easier.

Spark plugs arent too bad, but most people replace valve cover gaskets and the intake manifold gasket while there.

Service manual for future reference - http://tearstone.com/2003-2005-eclip...ervice-manual/

 

I have to find out when I get the car, I bought the Haynes and the factory service manual but if it truly is a Mitsu engine I guess I can use that online one. Was the 2G Stratus R/T coupe also a Mitsu engine or was that just this last generation? Anything else as far body that I should look for, this oughta be fun I'm used to having a truck on 32s I could just slide under, now I'm gonna need to jack it up to do anything

 

01-05 Stratus Coupes are the same mechanically as the 00-05 Eclipses. Tons of OEM parts available. Only engines available are the 4G64 4cyl and 6G72 V6 between both Strat coupe and Eclipse. The 03-05 4 cylinder cars did not have the option of being 5 spds. ( I dont recall seeing any anyways)

The only things that changed between 01/02s and 03-05s are the headlights, taillights, bumpers, hood, trunk lid, and interior pieces. The "2.5g" we call them has a different dashboard and door panels, even from the Eclipse which shares the same dash as the 01/02 Stratus Coupes.

On the coupes you can swap either front or rear ends over easily as they share the same main structure. Even the Eclipse door will fit, though it has 3 ribs in it, and the glass is different. If buying an exhaust, the Eclipse exhaust will fit, but needs lengthened 15".

I put rear brakes on my 2001 Stratus Coupe from a 1997 Eclipse. Many parts are interchangeable.

 

That is awesome to know, so when you go part shopping say at rock auto or whatever, will you go and buy parts from the Eclipse instead? I'm interested in this car because is somewhat of a rarity. There's only a handful of them and I think this car will stick out but I know going to a junk yard or craigslist is also a much longer stretch than a Dakota

 

I do actually. The sedan 2.4 is DOHC where the coupe 2.4 is SOHC and is completely different. Not long after I bought the car I replaced the front rotors and pads to ceramic, and ended up with sedan parts that wouldnt fit.

The Eclipses and Stratus coupes came out of the same plant in Normal, IL. Only thing different is the skin of the cars.

 

So good news and bad news.
The good news is the dealer got my $3,000 check today, so essentially the car is mine. The bad news is some 18 year old punk thats never driven stick before had to take it out for a test drive when my contact guy was out for day on Saturday. Apparently he blew the clutch. Looks like I might be delayed in getting my new ride but it seems as though someone is gonna be eating a repair bill and its not gonna be me. I'm not sure whether to be happy I didn't have it go when I got it here to NY or if I should be worried about it getting done out there

 

The sedan is also the same as the Sebring. The interior is identical to the 1999 Sebring convertible I had.