I bought an evo

[Emre]

and I wuv it.

I snapped up an Evo VIII when they first hit the US market in 2003. Not nearly as fun as the Evo V RS or the "full fat" Evo VI Tommi Makinen Edition that originally got me hooked on Evos back in the late '90s (I got to drive both in Istanbul), but still awesome. A Cusco 23mm rear swaybar and careful tuning really brought the car to life.

For me, the magic combination was:

• Evo VI TME titanium turbo w/ 10.5 cm2 hotside;
• larger O2 housing;
• 3" downpipe and exhaust;
• 660cc GReddy/Denso injectors;
• Walbro 255 L/hr fuel pump;
• A'PEXi AVC-R electronic boost controller;
• custom dyno tune.

The AVC-R allows you to fine-tune separate boost maps for each gear. The TME turbo spins up lightning quick, but is still able to push out a decent CFM at high engine speeds. In the end, turbo lag was significantly less than stock and power levels were up to 340+ hp at the wheels. This was on pump gas (Sunoco 94) with a 100% streetable tune. I also had a low-boost setting on the AVC-R that would top out at 19 psi. That made ~300 hp at the wheels, but was gentler on the drivetrain and allowed for smoother driving in day-to-day use. That's what I ran most of the time.

Don't start modding until you do lots of homework. Most guys on the forum tune for high dyno numbers and end up with cars that suck to drive. And don't forget to flush the t-case/front diff and rear diff with OEM Mitsubishi DiaQueen every other oil change (i.e., every 6K miles) if you want them to last forever.

BTW, my sig pic is me sliding the Evo through Corner 10 at Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant. That car was a beast!

It has gyrodisc pads up front and Hawk HPS out back...I might get some HPS to match up front.

If you run proper tires, you'll be better off with HP+ instead. Those HPS pads tend to glaze if you really get them hot.

[InuFaye]

I snapped up an Evo VIII when they first hit the US market in 2003. Not nearly as fun as the Evo V RS or the "full fat" Evo VI Tommi Makinen Edition that originally got me hooked on Evos back in the late '90s (I got to drive both in Istanbul), but still awesome. A Cusco 23mm rear swaybar and careful tuning really brought the car to life.

For me, the magic combination was:

• Evo VI TME titanium turbo w/ 10.5 cm2 hotside;
• larger O2 housing;
• 3" downpipe and exhaust;
• 660cc GReddy/Denso injectors;
• Walbro 255 L/hr fuel pump;
• A'PEXi AVC-R electronic boost controller;
• custom dyno tune.

The AVC-R allows you to fine-tune separate boost maps for each gear. The TME turbo spins up lightning quick, but is still able to push out a decent CFM at high engine speeds. In the end, turbo lag was significantly less than stock and power levels were up to 340+ hp at the wheels. This was on pump gas (Sunoco 94) with a 100% streetable tune. I also had a low-boost setting on the AVC-R that would top out at 19 psi. That made ~300 hp at the wheels, but was gentler on the drivetrain and allowed for smoother driving in day-to-day use. That's what I ran most of the time.

Don't start modding until you do lots of homework. Most guys on the forum tune for high dyno numbers and end up with cars that suck to drive. And don't forget to flush the t-case/front diff and rear diff with OEM Mitsubishi DiaQueen every other oil change (i.e., every 6K miles) if you want them to last forever.

BTW, my sig pic is me sliding the Evo through Corner 10 at Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant. That car was a beast!

If you run proper tires, you'll be better off with HP+ instead. Those HPS pads tend to glaze if you really get them hot.

How difficult is it to flush out the t-case and diffs?
I have literally just started to learn. Its a whole different world from e30's.

[slammin.e28]

How difficult is it to flush out the t-case and diffs?
I have literally just started to learn. Its a whole different world from e30's.

Well...Japan was allied with Germany....

[Emre]

How difficult is it to flush out the t-case and diffs?

No different from any other car. You've got fill and drain plugs on the t-case, tranny, and rear diff. You can buy DiaQueen in a 5L pail and use a transfer pump to fill. Personally, I let a shop do that work since I hate the smell of diff lube ;)

I have literally just started to learn. Its a whole different world from e30's.

I haven't been on the Evo forums for a few years now, but I remember them being full of garbage. A lot of them were stupid kids who were into dragracing and had no idea how to properly set up and tune a real car. Basically, DSM dweebs and Mustang meatheads who bought Evos because they could make cheap power.

There were certain vendors (one that starts with the letter "B") who were basically selling junk and the forum kids were too inexperienced to recognize the shoddy build quality and poor design. So you really need to cut through a metric shit-ton of bullshit to get to any useful info.

Overall, the UK forums (especially LancerRegister) are much better.

[Wh33lhop]

I drove the piss out of my friend's IX MR up a twisty road on Sunday. He's got it on some all-seasons right now but I still had a huge grin on my face. Even got it to power-on oversteer in gravel mode (first gear hairpin).

Would drive. Too aggressive looking for a DD IMO but I can definitely approve.

[Cronopoulos]

They are great cars! I love my 04 just as much as my E30.

[accident]

I hate the smell of diff lube ;)

Gear oil has got to be the worst automotive related smell EVER. Makes me gag every time.

[Pantless Spency]

Gear oil has got to be the worst automotive related smell EVER. Makes me gag every time.

never smelt it, but the "lock-nut" penetrating shit i have is the worst smell i have experienced while working on cars so far.

[accident]

I've smelled some pretty nasty penetrating oil, but none of them were ever as bad as gear oil. God I hate that shit lol

[Cronopoulos]

I've smelled some pretty nasty penetrating oil, but none of them were ever as bad as gear oil. God I hate that shit lol

Agreed, ruined many pairs of clothes with that stuff...

[e30trooper]

gear oil smells pretty good. What oil sucks is the ones in the early bumper shocks. that sucks balls!

[Mercury[BKM]]

in for the blown *insert engine component here* that seems to always happen to these cars.

[HarryPotter]

Such a nice looking car. I love evos.

[freeride53]

Excellent automobile. Yours' looks very clean.

[Vince30]

Cool evo.

I bought my e36 from a guy named Ian Faye so every time I see your name I think its the guy I bought my car from.