Da Groj

At that price, it would be worth trying to rebuild it. Most cars it's just not worth it because masters are usually cheap.

Drew, agree...finding a kit is another issue. OEM is no longer available. More research is due.

Simple project - adding a cam sensor heat shield. Wasn't made for SAS piping (non-US versions) so a bit of trimming was required:



And installed:



Also decided to try a compression test. Admittedly, the engine is fresh and it was 50 degrees, but it is data. Blocked the throttle open, unplugged the injectors and gave it a whirl.



#1...190 psi
#2...192
#3...195
#4...188

The battery may have been slowing a bit on #4, but happy to see fairly consistent and some reasonably decent numbers!

Running out of projects for this car currently...installed the new reverse light switch (5 weeks ship!):



Old:



Complete and now we have reverse lights!:



Next...cowl looks to have some debris under it...thanks to sitting for 5 years outside under a tree:



Yup:



All clean now and thankfully no surprises!

Minor update, but they make a difference...new rearview mirror because the original is delaminating:



And new ashtrays...because Japanese like to smoke:



And installed...ridding the interior of any remnants:



Also got confirmation that the New Zealand modified oil pan...will be on its way back next week!

Center stack complete with the dash filler - plain, but I like it:



Twice around the world finally came the road race oil pan from New Zealand:



Innards are filled with goodness (4 trap doors):



Oops...worldwide travel resulted in some damage...hmmm.  This will result in a minor oil leak...:



Hopefully we can just straighten out the tweak...

Major progress today...weather appeared good and road clear - time to get temporary plates!

Off to registration...:



Next to go for the maiden voyage around the block and point it toward the alignment shop 40 miles away! Less than an hour later - arrival and enjoyed each minute of the drive learning to drive right hand drive/shift on the left while watching oil pressure, coolant temps, hoping nothing falls off!



Success - other than an oil leak and a bit of surging idle (tune)...drove like I'd hoped. Quick steer, firm suspension, lots of fun car noises (diff, exhaust, tire)! On the rack:



Kept the alignment conservative - partly because of wide tires on front became dangerously close to the strut...-1.5 front and rear dialed in. Always fun to visit this shop...13 GTR's on the property along with two Evo's and an assortment of BMW/Porsches awaiting attention. Three GTR engines alone in-work:



Love the hood vents...at traffic lights, you can see the heat wafting thru - appreciate the practical elements of the car. Unfortunately, the moisture was from the blizzard we got caught in...not enjoying the salty mixture on the road...time for a thorough underwash:



Overall no brake leaks (master must have just been faking the leak), coolant temps consistent with fan occasionally triggering, and nothing fell off! The oil leak is the only hold back - something under the lower timing cover (on the oil pump plate). Covered nearly 200 kms to include visiting the engine shop that patiently helped us with the bearing/crank fiasco (appeared he was very appreciative of the 'closure' of a running engine!) Also, picked up the older assistant at school who started to see the excitement of a RHD JDM turbo sedan with a big wing and holes in the hood!

Attempting to locate the oil leak (rather substantial, but only while on the road)...it might be the oil pan juncture to the block. Seems hard to believe I could have messed that up...but since we have a new oil pan to install, would eliminate that possibility. Disassembled for cleaning - pretty impressive workmanship:



And:



We appreciate the workmanship/detail that went into the update. Diagonal trap doors should completely eliminate any concern for our application. Our 245 Rivals won't provide that much stick!

Love the detail on this pan:



Install was painless...actually easier than OEM due to slightly different pickup location (no finagling the pan into place):



Comparison of the OEM to Racefab pickup - notice the enlarged intake area:



Let it sit 48 hours and filled it with 6 quarts (2 more than OEM) and took it to the car wash for its first bath!



This will be a fun car - very quick steering and I noticed the faster we took the corners (rotaries!), the more my Assistant smiled. This may be indications of things to come!

Well, first attempt to pass inspection ended up with:



And on the rack:



The inspector wasn't pleased with the 'updated' fart can exhaust...not unsurprisingly. Missed the noise limit by 1 db (96 db). We should be able to figure something out...maybe a bunch old socks inserted...

But another 100 kms and I'm liking the car more and more. Nimble with a responsive engine even doting at ~3000 rpm.

Gave a fellow car friend a ride - he was impressed although the 2nd gear 270 degree on-ramp took him a bit by surprise as the car transitioned between oversteer and understeer a bit - he took full advantage of the overhead 'bejesus' grab handle. :-)

Passed 400 kms and 2 of the three nits have been corrected. The third discrepancy should be addressed by this 'plug' (DB Killer) to lower the exhaust note:

https://www.dl-racing.com/Silencer-DB-Killer-45-114mm

Another appt on Friday (assuming the db killer shows up)...this time I will take the young female assistant to the event and see if we can gain a bit of ground on 'pity'. Ha.



I've already been followed to parking as well as engaged during other events for pics and inquiring about the car. Do EV's get this type of attention?

So much fun! Well done sir (and assistant).

Steve: Thanks! Mitsubishi makes a good product that I have to say is much easier to work on than the Subaru. I can understand the following.

Big news! Evo has passed the German inspection!:

After updating this sewer pipe size outlet:



And 'plugging' it with a db Killer:



End result!:



Sound went from 96-99 db (waivered) to a solid 92. I will say highway driving is now like an OEM exhaust...we realize this isn't good for HP, but a reaffirms the interest in a quiet exhaust...

We also did a few very minor adds...but lends to a finished car:

Missing clips:



Missing strut top dust caps:



Hopefully, now we can move to the next stage...tuning, dynoing, and a Ring visit (if it survives!)

Car came out dope! All the money on these cars pretty much went in to the engine, and drivetrain. With some suspension work, can be pretty beast. Such a good platform. How is it compared to the sti street wise? Fyi, jealous of the oil pan . I may be getting oil pan thing done soon so I can stop making excuses to not hit it to the track.

Dan: Thanks - we are happy with it. Comparison is the STI is a softer package. The Evo is sharper overall...much has to do with the quicker steering and the firm coil overs. Good roads here so likely can live with the firm ride especially if the handling is good. We've not given this car the boot, but in second gear on-ramps, it seems to handle nicely. Will have to get a sense of the AVC diff...we can feel it locking which is a bit of surprise due to the poor reputation (reliability).

The oil pan is a real piece of workmanship. Certainly eliminates the oil concern. Expensive and took forever, but glad we did it.

Was quizing the assistant on its top speed. If we do 75 mph = 3500 rpm, what is that at 7000 rpm redline? I'd like to see it hit 8000, but unsure if it will pull top gear. It will be tested eventually...

Love the sedan utility...just works for so many applications. From hauling Scouts to the hauling at the Ring!

Permanent registration finally...new plates...and first family dinner outing to downtown Stuttgart (Five Guys!) for bit of torture test!



Passed with flying colors...also hit 23 psi and 6000 rpm :



Few discrepancies still, a clunk, loud exhaust, an occasional high idle (1500 rpm), and oil pressure (uh oh). Changed the sending unit out today (I've had Autometer sender failures before) as it was reading inconsistently and occasionally 0 at idle with no dash oil light or any other indications. We'll see after another oil change and few miles.