** Updated 01/2007**
I've been a member of this forum for a long time and thought I'd share some pics of my Evo and it's progress. As many of the veteran forum members remember- I used to own one of the first turbo MP3's. Pics of it can be seen here http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83342- about a year ago I sold my MP3 in hopes of getting something with more power and more potential for BIG power.
So I sold the MP3 to a kid who seemed worthy (he wasn't he blew her up 2 months later) and I bought a 2004 Apex Silver Lancer Evolution with the SSL package.
Right off the bat the car was quick! Quicker than the MP3 and had a different feel to it- being AWD. The stock Evo was about 1-2 seconds faster in the 1/4 then the heavily modded MP3.
Before I even closed on the car I ordered a few mods so they'd be waiting for her when I drove her home. I knew the Evo ran 19psi stock falling to 16psi at redline. This issue is mainly due to the boost sylenoids in the vaccum line, a plastic diverter valve, and a sub-par wastegate actuator. So I took care of that buy buying a hallman Pro-RX boost controller and a JDM MR aluminum diverter valve. The evo runs much better on a 100% recirc setup then a VTA.
At this point I was able to set the boost at 20-21 psi safely and keep it there! With future plans of running more boost- especially when on the dyno I knew I'd need to upgrade the fuel pump. So I installed a Walbro 255 fuel pump.
Strangely enough, the evo's stock intake system is very efficient and is the best option for those of us without full EMS solutions or custom ecu flash work. After going through 2 different aftermarket open air element type intakes I went back to the stocker and added a K&N flat panel filter. Then added a GT-spec radiator shroud to keep the hot air we get here in AZ from going down and heat soaking the radiator.
By now the car was running strong even without any sort of tuning, but it still looked stock. Time to fix that!!! I installed Tein S-tech springs whcih gave the car a nice drop without breaking the bank and damaging the stock struts in anyway.
A few other miscelaneous mods were also needed. The stock evo antenna is too long (like the p5's) and needed to go lol. So I bought a Honda S2K antenna which was about 60% shorter. I also ordered some BlueBatmobiel MR headlight overlays.
As some of you may know the stock evo tail lights have chrome housings and look rather rice. This was one of the worst things about the car. So I had my tails modded and blacked out the housing. I then gave them a JDM MR look by adding some BluBatmobile turn signal overlays and shaved the back emblems.
Time now to work on the feel of the shifter. It was too high and had too much play to it. So I got some help from Tom @ Kartboy with a full Kartboy short shifter kit including base shifter bushings and underood bushings as well. I topped that off with a super heavy OEM MachVi black leather shift knob (I used the same type on my MP3).
After tinting the windows and a new gauge pod for my boost gauge I decided the stock exhaust was really holding the car back. I ordered a Megan Racing turboback system and used 5 KartBoy exhaust hangers to mount the new hardware.
Here are some vids- Right click and save as:
rev
http://smp3000.net/pics/evomrexhaust.wmv
idle
http://smp3000.net/pics/evomrexhaust2.wmv
This made a hge difference and made the car actually feel modded! After this mod I needed to change tires for the third time lol. The stock Advans are soft as hell and don't last more than 7K-10K miles. I hate buying tires! Too expensive!
Now the evo needs some sort of tuning. A lot of people go with mail-in flash's but I didn't want to go that route since you have to reflash the ecu everytime you mod. I bought a used Apexi SAFC-II off a friend and am currently waiting on a plug and play harness for easy install. This should give me about 20WHP and put me around the 295-300AWHP mark. Others have run mid-high 12's with those numbers. I'll test that out this winter.
Next up for the car is probably the biggest mod for these cars- CAMS! Time to start saving! Let's just hope the clutch lasts until then. lol Overall I absolutely love the car. Everytime I drive it- it surprises me. This is a serious car.
That was my old plate- I've since gotten married, got a new job in another state and moved. Here's my new plate:
Next mod is a new pioneer deck with IPOD adapter so I won't need to use CD's anymore. Just plug in the 30 gig and let her rip. You can controll the ipod through the deck.
fin...(first)
I've been a member of this forum for a long time and thought I'd share some pics of my Evo and it's progress. As many of the veteran forum members remember- I used to own one of the first turbo MP3's. Pics of it can be seen here http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83342- about a year ago I sold my MP3 in hopes of getting something with more power and more potential for BIG power.
So I sold the MP3 to a kid who seemed worthy (he wasn't he blew her up 2 months later) and I bought a 2004 Apex Silver Lancer Evolution with the SSL package.
Right off the bat the car was quick! Quicker than the MP3 and had a different feel to it- being AWD. The stock Evo was about 1-2 seconds faster in the 1/4 then the heavily modded MP3.
Before I even closed on the car I ordered a few mods so they'd be waiting for her when I drove her home. I knew the Evo ran 19psi stock falling to 16psi at redline. This issue is mainly due to the boost sylenoids in the vaccum line, a plastic diverter valve, and a sub-par wastegate actuator. So I took care of that buy buying a hallman Pro-RX boost controller and a JDM MR aluminum diverter valve. The evo runs much better on a 100% recirc setup then a VTA.
At this point I was able to set the boost at 20-21 psi safely and keep it there! With future plans of running more boost- especially when on the dyno I knew I'd need to upgrade the fuel pump. So I installed a Walbro 255 fuel pump.
Strangely enough, the evo's stock intake system is very efficient and is the best option for those of us without full EMS solutions or custom ecu flash work. After going through 2 different aftermarket open air element type intakes I went back to the stocker and added a K&N flat panel filter. Then added a GT-spec radiator shroud to keep the hot air we get here in AZ from going down and heat soaking the radiator.
By now the car was running strong even without any sort of tuning, but it still looked stock. Time to fix that!!! I installed Tein S-tech springs whcih gave the car a nice drop without breaking the bank and damaging the stock struts in anyway.
A few other miscelaneous mods were also needed. The stock evo antenna is too long (like the p5's) and needed to go lol. So I bought a Honda S2K antenna which was about 60% shorter. I also ordered some BlueBatmobiel MR headlight overlays.
As some of you may know the stock evo tail lights have chrome housings and look rather rice. This was one of the worst things about the car. So I had my tails modded and blacked out the housing. I then gave them a JDM MR look by adding some BluBatmobile turn signal overlays and shaved the back emblems.
Time now to work on the feel of the shifter. It was too high and had too much play to it. So I got some help from Tom @ Kartboy with a full Kartboy short shifter kit including base shifter bushings and underood bushings as well. I topped that off with a super heavy OEM MachVi black leather shift knob (I used the same type on my MP3).
After tinting the windows and a new gauge pod for my boost gauge I decided the stock exhaust was really holding the car back. I ordered a Megan Racing turboback system and used 5 KartBoy exhaust hangers to mount the new hardware.
Here are some vids- Right click and save as:
rev
http://smp3000.net/pics/evomrexhaust.wmv
idle
http://smp3000.net/pics/evomrexhaust2.wmv
This made a hge difference and made the car actually feel modded! After this mod I needed to change tires for the third time lol. The stock Advans are soft as hell and don't last more than 7K-10K miles. I hate buying tires! Too expensive!
Now the evo needs some sort of tuning. A lot of people go with mail-in flash's but I didn't want to go that route since you have to reflash the ecu everytime you mod. I bought a used Apexi SAFC-II off a friend and am currently waiting on a plug and play harness for easy install. This should give me about 20WHP and put me around the 295-300AWHP mark. Others have run mid-high 12's with those numbers. I'll test that out this winter.
Next up for the car is probably the biggest mod for these cars- CAMS! Time to start saving! Let's just hope the clutch lasts until then. lol Overall I absolutely love the car. Everytime I drive it- it surprises me. This is a serious car.
That was my old plate- I've since gotten married, got a new job in another state and moved. Here's my new plate:
Next mod is a new pioneer deck with IPOD adapter so I won't need to use CD's anymore. Just plug in the 30 gig and let her rip. You can controll the ipod through the deck.
fin...(first)
Last edited:
. Mitsu could have done 1up and made the car a little nicer. Oh well, theres always next years model.
