Evo owner looking for a realistic project car
05-17-2010, 02:08 PM
#1
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Evo owner looking for a realistic project car
Hello noob-bashing jerks.
I'm from the Chicago area and have a 2008 Evo X GSR and in the process of converting to E85. I always tell myself "I'm ALMOST done with this car" and then find something else to waste money on. I want to take this thing to the track as often as possible and will be at Autobahn at AMS's track day on July 10th, 2010. That will be my first road course experience.
My reason for being here? I obviously have a very potent road course competitor, but it's almost a brand new car (just passed 3,500 miles last week). I want something to completely gut, something extremely light (but can't afford a Lotus), and back in the day dreamed of having a Monster Miata. My plans are now a little bit more realistic: a 1994-1997 (1.8L NA) with 250-300rwhp.
A little bit about me... I'm 25, going to school full time for Business Administration, did 6 years in the Navy.
I'm from the Chicago area and have a 2008 Evo X GSR and in the process of converting to E85. I always tell myself "I'm ALMOST done with this car" and then find something else to waste money on. I want to take this thing to the track as often as possible and will be at Autobahn at AMS's track day on July 10th, 2010. That will be my first road course experience.
My reason for being here? I obviously have a very potent road course competitor, but it's almost a brand new car (just passed 3,500 miles last week). I want something to completely gut, something extremely light (but can't afford a Lotus), and back in the day dreamed of having a Monster Miata. My plans are now a little bit more realistic: a 1994-1997 (1.8L NA) with 250-300rwhp.
A little bit about me... I'm 25, going to school full time for Business Administration, did 6 years in the Navy.
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05-17-2010, 02:09 PM
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Oh and here's the Evo pictures/story:
First picked it up in Los Angeles, August of '09
Blue-taped up for the 2,000 mile road trip
About 1,000 miles in at a scenic rest stop
And at the end of the 2,000 miles
First engine bay layout, was going for a "stealthy" kind of look
The new engine bay color scheme is called "Poo on Blue"
Went wingless (OEM trunk, no holes)
Advan RZ, only 18x9.0 +25, swapped stock tires over and no need to roll the fenders
Fogs deleted
AMS single cat-back, soon to be turbo-back (4-21-10)
EVO emblem idea, didn't really like it so I took it off shortly after putting it on
Advan center caps
Swift springs, perfect height in the rear and unfortunately monster-truckin in the front... but very comfortable springs with an actual improvement over stock as opposed to Eibachs that slam it but handle for **** unfortunately
Zeitronix wideband/boost/EGT install in progress
Made a custom bezel for it, will get pictures of that later
My niece helping me clean
First picked it up in Los Angeles, August of '09
Blue-taped up for the 2,000 mile road trip
About 1,000 miles in at a scenic rest stop
And at the end of the 2,000 miles
First engine bay layout, was going for a "stealthy" kind of look
The new engine bay color scheme is called "Poo on Blue"
Went wingless (OEM trunk, no holes)
Advan RZ, only 18x9.0 +25, swapped stock tires over and no need to roll the fenders
Fogs deleted
AMS single cat-back, soon to be turbo-back (4-21-10)
EVO emblem idea, didn't really like it so I took it off shortly after putting it on
Advan center caps
Swift springs, perfect height in the rear and unfortunately monster-truckin in the front... but very comfortable springs with an actual improvement over stock as opposed to Eibachs that slam it but handle for **** unfortunately
Zeitronix wideband/boost/EGT install in progress
Made a custom bezel for it, will get pictures of that later
My niece helping me clean
Last edited by Evo Ecks; 05-17-2010 at 02:24 PM.
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05-17-2010, 02:15 PM
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Welcome, Very nice Evo. I have a buddy with an Evo VIII making ~600hp, and its still very tame, haha.
So are you still thinking V8, or Turbo?
IMO, V8 is the way to go if you can afford an LS engine(due to weight). If not, go turbo.
So are you still thinking V8, or Turbo?
IMO, V8 is the way to go if you can afford an LS engine(due to weight). If not, go turbo.
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05-17-2010, 02:18 PM
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Nice intro.
Welcome aboard.
I think you should look for a 94. It is my understanding that the 94 was the last of the OBDI cars. It is also a 1.8L engine. Older models (90-92) were 1.6L and had a much weaker drivetrain.
Welcome aboard.
I think you should look for a 94. It is my understanding that the 94 was the last of the OBDI cars. It is also a 1.8L engine. Older models (90-92) were 1.6L and had a much weaker drivetrain.
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05-17-2010, 02:19 PM
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Thanks for the compliment, I'm thinking turbo now, no V8 for me.
I was supposed to take the Evo to Import Wars at GLD (Wisc/IL border) yesterday but Saturday was a rough night and Sunday morning wasn't looking so good... Hennessy...
I was supposed to take the Evo to Import Wars at GLD (Wisc/IL border) yesterday but Saturday was a rough night and Sunday morning wasn't looking so good... Hennessy...
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05-17-2010, 02:29 PM
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Serious question, have you ever driven an Evo X?
Refined is one way I'd describe an Evo X when comparing with an Evo IX, but this thing is extremely precise. Slight understeer, but can be dialed in perfectly with just an adjustable rear sway bar.
Ideally I'd want a '94-97 Miata with all of the proper suspension work done already so I can just work on the power goals... is this recommended or would I be probably looking at a track abused, beat up car? Of course best case scenario is a guy who made a project Miata and got as far as doing the full suspension goals and then was forced to sell the car due to unforeseen reasons...
Refined is one way I'd describe an Evo X when comparing with an Evo IX, but this thing is extremely precise. Slight understeer, but can be dialed in perfectly with just an adjustable rear sway bar.
Ideally I'd want a '94-97 Miata with all of the proper suspension work done already so I can just work on the power goals... is this recommended or would I be probably looking at a track abused, beat up car? Of course best case scenario is a guy who made a project Miata and got as far as doing the full suspension goals and then was forced to sell the car due to unforeseen reasons...
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05-17-2010, 02:44 PM
#11
Serious question, have you ever driven an Evo X?
Refined is one way I'd describe an Evo X when comparing with an Evo IX, but this thing is extremely precise. Slight understeer, but can be dialed in perfectly with just an adjustable rear sway bar.
Ideally I'd want a '94-97 Miata with all of the proper suspension work done already so I can just work on the power goals... is this recommended or would I be probably looking at a track abused, beat up car? Of course best case scenario is a guy who made a project Miata and got as far as doing the full suspension goals and then was forced to sell the car due to unforeseen reasons...
Refined is one way I'd describe an Evo X when comparing with an Evo IX, but this thing is extremely precise. Slight understeer, but can be dialed in perfectly with just an adjustable rear sway bar.
Ideally I'd want a '94-97 Miata with all of the proper suspension work done already so I can just work on the power goals... is this recommended or would I be probably looking at a track abused, beat up car? Of course best case scenario is a guy who made a project Miata and got as far as doing the full suspension goals and then was forced to sell the car due to unforeseen reasons...
They are precise. Very precise. And handle great. But just not as raw (if that makes any sense). In a miata you feel like you're in a go-kart: no electronic nannies, not variable anything, no bullshit: just you, tires, suspension, and powertrain. Evo's are great but you'll have tons of fun in a miata.
To me honestly noting beats a "clean start" where you do all modifications yourself and have 100% reassurance of everything being done right. That's not to say there aren't some VERY well sorted ones out there for a steal.
In fact, there are a couple in the for sale section that are absolutely badass and worth every penny of their asking price. (they're NB's though)
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05-17-2010, 02:49 PM
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Hi there neighbor.
Welcome to the forum.
That's a nice ride you got there. Should be lots of fun. Especially on ethanol, which I assume will be accompanied with a fair amount of boost
I live 25 minutes from the Autobahn. I've seen some pretty cool cars going in and out of there. Actually, I've been working at the railroad yard they built next to it for the last couple of years so I had the luxury of watching them rip around the track quite a bit. Is that an open track day or do you know someone with a membership?
Welcome to the forum.That's a nice ride you got there. Should be lots of fun. Especially on ethanol, which I assume will be accompanied with a fair amount of boost
I live 25 minutes from the Autobahn. I've seen some pretty cool cars going in and out of there. Actually, I've been working at the railroad yard they built next to it for the last couple of years so I had the luxury of watching them rip around the track quite a bit. Is that an open track day or do you know someone with a membership?
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05-17-2010, 04:13 PM
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My Miata with stock power was getting point bys from modified evos(shitty drivers) at Lime rock . That was my first track event before that I only did Auto X. My advice to you get a stock powered NA 1.8 Miata and auto x/track the **** out of it. Then work on power this is what I am doing. Either way good luck with everything
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05-17-2010, 04:31 PM
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Yup pick out some suspension, sways, and rims from 949racing.com. Add a intake, exhaust, pa system for sounds/funny. Throw in a bar, seat, and belts. Track the crap out of that car. FYI a bone stock miata is 100 times harder to drive than an evo at 11/10's. You made a good choice picking a rwd vehicle, you will learn a lot.
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05-17-2010, 04:45 PM
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nope.
Yep, that's what I was getting at with the "more refined" part. I've driven my brother's Evo VIII and his, at the time, was definitely pretty raw feeling. I can imagine a Miata feeling to the Evo VIII what the Evo VIII felt to the Evo X.
Yeah I generally feel the same way about starting from the ground up, but I've dumped too much into the Evo to have any substantial kind of budget for a Miata build. I might just pick up one with a well-done suspension (after countless hours of research on what you guys prefer, of course) and track it like 02semiata and jacob300zx pointed out, until it's time for MOAR POWAH. I know myself and I know I won't be satisfied with 100rwhp, 200rwhp, possibly not even 250rwhp. I get my kicks from the pull...
Hello! And thanks!
Currently spikes to 26psi on 93 octane, going to maintain that and hopefully control some of the taper with a few other modifications (tighten wastegate actuator, crush the BOV that's known to leak at 25+ psi, use an upgraded boost control solenoid to prevent bleed to the wastage actuator). The taper right now goes from 26psi down to 19psi by redline, and if I can hold from 26 down to 22 coupled with some aggressive timing that E85 is known to allow, I should be plenty happy.
The track day is an AMS track day (amsperformance.com) and I'm registering with them. I don't know any details other than that, sorry.
To me honestly noting beats a "clean start" where you do all modifications yourself and have 100% reassurance of everything being done right. That's not to say there aren't some VERY well sorted ones out there for a steal.
In fact, there are a couple in the for sale section that are absolutely badass and worth every penny of their asking price. (they're NB's though)
In fact, there are a couple in the for sale section that are absolutely badass and worth every penny of their asking price. (they're NB's though)
Hi there neighbor. Welcome to the forum.
That's a nice ride you got there. Should be lots of fun. Especially on ethanol, which I assume will be accompanied with a fair amount of boost
I live 25 minutes from the Autobahn. I've seen some pretty cool cars going in and out of there. Actually, I've been working at the railroad yard they built next to it for the last couple of years so I had the luxury of watching them rip around the track quite a bit. Is that an open track day or do you know someone with a membership?
Welcome to the forum.That's a nice ride you got there. Should be lots of fun. Especially on ethanol, which I assume will be accompanied with a fair amount of boost
I live 25 minutes from the Autobahn. I've seen some pretty cool cars going in and out of there. Actually, I've been working at the railroad yard they built next to it for the last couple of years so I had the luxury of watching them rip around the track quite a bit. Is that an open track day or do you know someone with a membership?
Currently spikes to 26psi on 93 octane, going to maintain that and hopefully control some of the taper with a few other modifications (tighten wastegate actuator, crush the BOV that's known to leak at 25+ psi, use an upgraded boost control solenoid to prevent bleed to the wastage actuator). The taper right now goes from 26psi down to 19psi by redline, and if I can hold from 26 down to 22 coupled with some aggressive timing that E85 is known to allow, I should be plenty happy.
The track day is an AMS track day (amsperformance.com) and I'm registering with them. I don't know any details other than that, sorry.
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05-17-2010, 08:58 PM
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Currently spikes to 26psi on 93 octane, going to maintain that and hopefully control some of the taper with a few other modifications (tighten wastegate actuator, crush the BOV that's known to leak at 25+ psi, use an upgraded boost control solenoid to prevent bleed to the wastage actuator). The taper right now goes from 26psi down to 19psi by redline, and if I can hold from 26 down to 22 coupled with some aggressive timing that E85 is known to allow, I should be plenty happy.
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05-17-2010, 11:12 PM
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Ooooohhh. Very nice. I have a bone stock '08 Lancer ES. Pretty much exactly the same as an Evo X, except half the power, half the drive wheels, twice the ride height, and 80% of the wheels. Other than that same car really.
Plans for the future include $45 mud flaps to keep the paint on the rear flare from being sandblasted. And possibly new/wider wheels. Other than that it's my econobox.
The X is my realistic dream car, or probably the new ralliart version actually. Although it's quite the cut in fuel mileage. I can barely get 400 miles to a tank with mostly freeway miles, I hear your range is somewhere around 250?
Plans for the future include $45 mud flaps to keep the paint on the rear flare from being sandblasted. And possibly new/wider wheels. Other than that it's my econobox.
The X is my realistic dream car, or probably the new ralliart version actually. Although it's quite the cut in fuel mileage. I can barely get 400 miles to a tank with mostly freeway miles, I hear your range is somewhere around 250?
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