89 shelby/chrysler csx

twistnturn · Post by **twistnturn** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 12:03 pm

I saw one for sale, they want 3k for it. I've heard some good things about them (hot fast they are). It is a turbo. How much power did these make? Is there a good aftermarket for it? Im askin cause I might pick it up. its got 169k on it and its in good condition.

Panhead · Post by **Panhead** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 12:19 pm

3k sounds like the right price for it. even though its high milage. its in good condition. there are aftermarket parts to rebuild the 2.2 TII thats in it, even bored out to .020. go to www.turbo-mopar.com and it'll help you out alot.

03blackrt · Post by **03blackrt** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 12:30 pm

they are quick, but not insanly fast.

see below likns:

http://www.allpar.com

http://www.allpar.com/model/csx.html

http://www.fwdperformance.com

http://www.forwardmotioninc.com

ScottSXT · Post by **ScottSXT** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 1:46 pm

How many of the original parts did it have? Did it have the front and rear spoilers? Rear wing? Fiberride wheels? Shelby interior? What number car was it?

They built 500 of these cars. At the time it was a technological marvel. First ever production car to use fiberride rims and a variable nozzle turbo (VNT).

The variable nozzle turbo spools up pretty quick, that's the benefit. The negative is they are expensive to replace and your engine controller (SMEC for an 89) is difficult to come by. There is good aftermarket support for the older turbo Dodges, but not so much the VNT itself because it was a very limited run, 500 89 CSXs and a very limited number of Daytonas, Lebarons, and Shadows got the VNT turbo in 1990.

If you're looking for something to go fast, any older turbo Dodge can be made to go fast with relatively little investment. For example, I had an 87 Lebaron sedan 2.2 turbo/automatic that ran 16.91@80.3mph bone stock. I invested about $250 into it and it ran 14.97@90.0mph, pretty good return on the investment. It wasn't even intercooled at that point. The 88 up cars are the easiest to make go faster because they have the blow through intake, they're easily intercooled. Check out www.turbododge.com there are plenty of good cars for sale there. www.turbo-mopar.com is also a great site, excellent tech info there.

Scott
86 Shelby GLHS #408
89 Daytona C/S competition package
92 Spirit R/T
04 SRT-4
05 Neon SXT mtx
Walkersville, MD

MyNeonSaysHi · Post by **MyNeonSaysHi** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 3:51 pm

http://forum.2gn.org/viewtopic.php?t=93 ... shelby+csx
I found one too with only 80k. And it never sold. The owner just didn't like where he was selling it at so its in front of his house now. (so I been told at a dude at O'reillys.)
awesome car. Hands down. 176 Horsepower I think.

kc2005ptgt · Post by **kc2005ptgt** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 3:53 pm

What town is it??? I am right over the creek from you.

:)

twistnturn · Post by **twistnturn** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 4:19 pm

Dont know what number it is, yes it has the original rims, spoiler, seats, side skirts and everything-its in very good shape. the owner recently replaced the clucth, shocks, breaks, and tires. Are they pretty reliable? if i did buy it what is the first maintenance i should do to it? also what should I look for in the test drive so I don't buy a lemon?

sorry for all the questions, i don't know that much about the old turbo cars.

Post by **jonnymopar** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 7:34 pm

twistnturn wrote:Are they pretty reliable?

Not really. They're a ton of fun, but they were a bit troublesome. The VNT system was really innovative, and as far as I know, nobody ever designed a turbo like that before. Instant boost from that car. But they had problems with the vanes sticking on some cars. If they stick open, no boost. If they stick closed, overboost cutout.

twistnturn wrote:if i did buy it what is the first maintenance i should do to it?

Depends. Is it gonna be a daily driver? Or just a weekend car? If you're gonna use it for a daily driver, I would put some thought into converting it to Turbo II. All the correct engine internals are already there, you're already intercooled, you just need to take out the Turbo IV turbo, convert your smec or find another VNT smec, and possibly swap some parts of the wiring harness, but I'm not 100% sure on the wiring. Vacuum routing is quite a bit different, but you can probably find the Turbo II vacuum diagram pretty easy. The TII turbo can be a little bit laggy on the 2.2, but you can boost the hell out of them.

If this is gonna be an on-the-side car, then I would just polish that thing up and keep it as original as you can. That is a very rare car (only 3 years of production), and the 1989 model year was unique to itself. 87-88 basically looked alot like a regular Shadow and there were no VNT turbos.

ScottSXT wrote:The negative is they are expensive to replace and your engine controller (SMEC for an 89) is difficult to come by.

Believe it or not, you can take any 1988-89 turbo SMEC and easily make it into any computer you want... Turbo I, II, or IV. All you need is a chip programmer. Check this out: http://www.thedodgegarage.com/turbo_pfi_advanced.html

ScottSXT · Post by **ScottSXT** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 8:10 pm

These cars are getting to be 20 years old now. I've had ones that are extremely reliable and ones that have been problematic. Alot of it depends on the prior owner and how they took care of it.

Personally I wouldn't drive an 89 CSX every day. I'd make it a weekend type car. There are lots of regular turbo Dodges out there than can do regular daily duty. The #'d Shelby cars should be preserved if at all possible.

MyNeonSaysHi · Post by **MyNeonSaysHi** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 11:16 pm

And with that many miles on the one you are looking at... I wouldn't have it be a daily driver as said by others. It would make an AWESOME project car. Rebuild the engine and upgrade it and make it clean. Speaking of old Dodge turbo cars. I saw a white Conquest on the side of the interstate. The dude had his hood opened and was looking at the engine. Doesn't that thing have alot of electrical stuff that goes wrong. Looked nice though.

and kcacr, its in my town of Gardner, Ks. Well Gardner is considered a city now, gorwing like crazy. Its about 4 miles south of Olathe. 20 miles south of kck.

Post by **jonnymopar** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 11:38 pm

raul-01 wrote:Speaking of old Dodge turbo cars. I saw a white Conquest...

Not a single part of that car is Mopar

.

2k2patriotblueneon · Post by **2k2patriotblueneon** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 8:11 am

HOLY SHIT!! I want that car....my first car was a shadow....oh how I miss her....she could smoke my neon easily....well....until the swaps done...lmao...anyways buy that car genious!! Or give me the guys number!!

Oh and someone move this thread.

twistnturn · Post by **twistnturn** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 1:02 pm

I would buy it, but Im a little straped for cash. the car was suppose to be for my significant other-she was going to pay for it-(ofcourse I would drive it when i wanted to) but i dont want to set her up with a lemon.
The car is on an AirForce base, but if you really want it pm me and I'll give you the guys number.