** This is rather length, I have nothing better to do at the moment :) **
Around 99/00 I was dragged to the DSM shootout, to watch a friend's cousin race his Eclipse. I didn't know anything about them, or really cars in general for that matter. At this point, I've been around DSM/EVOs for 20+ years. I Went through many Eclipse/Talon/Colt/Mirage/Summit when I was younger. At that time, in my teens my dream was to own an EVO which seemed impossible. Moved 10 hours away in my early 20s, and a few weeks later I was the proud owner of a 30k mile EVO 8.
I ended up doing mild bolt ons, and used it as my daily driver. Selling off my comfortable BMW, because I didn't want to title it in my new state. Bad move, driving the EVO daily became hell. My career and business grew, and my love for the car faded. Realizing I could afford some checklist "exotics" I went that route for a few years.
Till I was hit with a random email. I made a WTB thread years back, and someone reached out with this. Rented a car the next day, and drove 10 hours to pick it up. Upon arrival the guy wouldn't pick up his phone for hours. He didn't think I was actually serious, and had second thoughts on letting it go. Eventually he reached out, and I had to talk him into selling me the car.
Really cool car, but I ended up selling it. That was roughly 7+ years ago, when I was debating an R35 GTR or Ariel Atom.
Since that EVO 4, I actually stayed away from 4g powered cars for years. Till 2 years ago, a clean low mileage Colt GT came up for sale I couldn't pass up. Then another one last year, it was also low mileage and one owner I believe. Got rid of both of them, as I didn't want to hack up clean stock cars.
Every year, I go on a 3 month trek with my wife. The last two years, I've gone cross country for a month either before or after our trip via motorbike. Well, fast forward to our good buddy Rona. We took it very seriously early on, I can recall being the only two in the grocery store wearing masks and people constantly looking. Didn't leave the house unless it was for groceries, or to hike. But, I thought it would fizzle out quickly. So I continued on with my normal future plans and ordered a new Royal Enfield Interceptor 650. I had it painted within the first week or two of owning it. Had a set of Ohlins shocks made, and I believe was the first person to have Andreani forks here in the US. It was also fitted with an exhaust, Givi racks and cases, and windscreen. I stayed locked up for months, till eventually taking a trip to see my parents which is nearly 10 hours away. I felt comfortable at the time doing this, because I wasn't near a single soul for months, and was taking tests weekly just to keep on top of it.
The trip went great, But upon returning home. I knew going cross country wasn't in the cards due to cases still growing, etc. So, I ended up looking around for various cars to buy. Solely because I had nothing better to do. Autozam AZ-1 was first on my list. There is a dealer only a few hours away, who had a few. They all had various little issues, and the place wanted top dollar. Wouldn't budge a cent. Off to seeking the next best Kei car, The Suzuki Cappuccino. Found an importer in Atlanta that had one, so left Charlotte the next day to go and check it out. It had a built motor, larger turbo, built rear end, with a clutch that was on and off. I hated it. After chatting with the owner, and displaying my love for early Mitsubishi's, he informed me that they had a Galant VR4 at another location an hour away. Jumped in the guy's Delica, and went to check it out. Ended up getting to take a rip in a track prepped Mazda hatchback, along with the GVR4. For that day, it felt almost as if things were normal once again. The GVR4 wasn't perfect, but I wanted it. This particular GVR4, is a very rare EVO spec. Which came with a different bumper, vented hood, AMG seats, Big 16g turbo, 510cc injectors, larger intercooler and piping, different fuel pump and MAF, dual runner intake manifold which is controlled by the ECU. Different transmission, which has a shorter gearset, and a 4 bolt rear end with 4WS.
This was on the drive home of picking it up, a few weeks after going down to check it out. I was told the AC worked, and found out quickly in 90+ degree Atlanta traffic that it didn't! But, it made it home without any real issues. The next day, I had the AC converted over, replaced all the relays and had ice cold air. Then started to order parts, to fix all of it's little issues. The Tein coilovers from the 90s, which are no longer made for these cars. Decided to puke all of their oil within the first week of ownership.
The only off the shelf coilovers available, are the typical Taiwanese offerings. BC,Feal,Ksport. I live in NC, and Bilstein and Ohlins are both here. Tried getting both of them, to make a set of custom coilovers. No dice. Found a company that can revalve, and stuff bilstein guts into BC Racing coils. So, I went that route. Along with JNZ stainless line, Hawk HPS pads, and new rotors all around.
I noticed a stud, missing from the exhaust manifold. No big deal right? Well, studs broke in the turbine housing, and the exhaust manifold was pretty gross itself.
While the manifold and turbo were off the car, I decided to just upgrade everything with fresh parts. The EVO spec comes stock with a Big 16g turbo, I opted for the EVO III 16g turbo. Probably the only person to spend $800 in this day and age, on a stock turbo..
Upgraded the manifold, with an FP race unit and a manifold blanket, as you cannot attatch the stock heat shield to it.
New 3in stainless downpipe to replace the Fujitsubo unit that was on the car, along with a stainless o2 housing.
The transfer case was leaking, so it was pulled for fresh seals.
The transmission had a leaky seal. Both were replaced.
The driveshaft yoke, and u joint were in poor shape. Mitsubishi sold the yoke and u joint together basically since new. Not an item you would ever think would NLA. Well, trying to order one I found out they were being discontinued. I bought as many as I could.
All of this work, and some other small jobs were completed within a month or so of purchasing the car. I wanted the mechanicals to be in 100% working order ASAP. I chased a highway vibration issue for over a month. Multiple alignments from different shops, wheel balances, replacing the new tires that were on the car with another new set.... Nothing completely fixed the issue! Made a post online, and started to do what others suggested. $5.99 fixed the problem. Never heard of hub centric rings till this point!
Finally I could enjoy the car. The Blue Ridge Parkway, and other wonderful roads are a short drive away.
Picked up a set of Speedlines from 95., that needed some work.
All was great, till it wasn't. Returning from a hike almost two months ago, I came around a blind corner and met a boulder in the road. It smacked the oil filter, and that was all she wrote. Bearing damage. Mint 70k mile motor, taken out just like that. Not even driving quickly, or anything. Simply just heading home!
At this point, I didn't know which direction to go. This was purchased only as a fun car, to enjoy in the mountains. With no goals of power, etc. With it needing an engine, I decided to take a different approach, and chase a dream I've always wanted to tackle. Entering a Hill Climb. NC has an event, and it looks like Kentucky will also be getting one this season. I have ZERO on track experience with 4 wheels. I will be attending as many autocross, and track days as possible this season.
Found a 50k mile JDM 6 bolt engine, that I paid way too much for (Everything is pricey currently) and swapped it in very recently. It's currently running rich, most likely from a botched throttle body seal replacement. So it's parked, and getting converted over for race duty. Hopefully this motor holds, while I build one.
Ripped the interior out.
AMG seats, kinda cool!
I love 80/90s rally, and everything Pikes Peak related when it comes to motorsports. The car is off to paint, in two weeks for a Group A livery. Once paint is completed, off to have a cage fabricated.
I have a pile of new parts, just waiting to be installed and is growing daily! The 4WS will be getting deleted. Custom arms in the rear, custom mustache bar, EVO III Aluminum radiator, Whiteline rear sway bar, toe link eliminators, all new bushings, along with every suspension piece. Random seals, etc. Oh yeah, that lovely boulder hit the steering rack lines. With the car being RHD, you cannot just order a new one from a local parts store. The RHD rack is actually NLA, so I had to order a used one from Malaysia. They charged me $2.10 to ship it, pretty sure that was supposed to be $210. About the only silver lining. Like an idiot, when just replacing the motor I didn't do the water pump or timing belt. I had what I thought were the correct ones kicking around in storage, but it was for another vehicle. I now have the correct set, which will be getting installed when it's ripped apart for all of this.
