Any Mitsubishi Guys in the House? FWD - AWD conversions, mirage/summit/etc

This awesome thread made me aware of the Mitsubishi swap-a-thon, that is DIY Evos.

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/build-projects-and-project-cars/cant-buy-an-evo-i-iii-yet-so-i-made-my-ownkinda/82093/page1/

Googling around seems to indicate that making an "Evo" isn't too hard (while not easy).

http://www.evolutionm.net/forums/evo-show-shine/582255-99-mirage-evo-5-awd-conversion.html

Anyone have any good resources for what swaps where and how hard? Links/personal experience/whatever. These little cars look like a ball, and with AWD - rather potent.

I've always been a honda guy, but am kind of tired of FWD. The Miata has helped some, but I would like to give an AWD boost buggy a go.

These photos and content withing should make your head explode...
https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/westside-hooligan-awd-mirage-update/53840/page1/

My wife's out of town for two weeks and I'm browsing craigslist.

I might have another car and not a wife soonish.

Sounds expensive.

In reply to Wally:

Probably.

I know on my Lancer the unibody is almost identical to the evo save for a couple major parts. Such as the rear quarter panels and rear upper strut mounts. Probably more but anyways its just different enough that that it'll take some major fab work and welding to make the drivetrain and suspension bolt on. I'm not sure that the mirages shared as many similarities as the later lancers did.

Yes you can do it.....And yes it's not that bad. The good thing is that now there are EVO's in North America, parts are much easier to find than they were when I helped my friend build his. The only difference is the trunk floor pan. You do have to cut that out and either build a frame or weld in the the Evo floor pan. Other than that, you can bolt it all in if you can find the parts. That has historically been the issue. You could get the front cuts but not the rear cuts.

This is for the 4G CSM models. The 3G like the westside team have are actually easier in a lot of ways. 4G61t.org use to have a lot of information on that swap.

5G CSM swaps are a lot harder because of the wiring. Mechanically it's still pretty easy. I would get an EVO 8 first though before building one of those. It would be cheaper and the Evo 8 is a better car.

I once saw pictures of a 1st gen Tiburon with an Evo Drivetrain. I thought that would be an awesome conversion

In reply to accordionfolder:

Not sure I understand the goal you want to achieve? Drag racing? DD? Autocross? Track car?

Which Evo do you want to create? Why not just by an Evo8/9/10?

I helped build an Evo on a 4th gen Mirage/Lancer Sedan body. Using a Eagle Talon donor. It did take a lot of work to get the rear frame aligned before welding in the reinforced mounting points. Also there was a lot of work on the wiring to get it clean.

It has been tweaked since it was birthed. I was a fast straight out the gate and gets faster with each step. The only car I ever got an adrenaline rush in (hands shaking), that is after years of ice racing, rallycross, Road racing, and also autocrossing my Evo8.

In reply to Advan046:

I don't want to or care about creating an "Evo." I just like building things that go fast. So just learning the ins and outs.

So what I really mean is I want to build something with a 4g63T and AWD.

Ive always wanted to 4g63t awd one of these

old_ wrote: Ive always wanted to 4g63t awd one of these

That sir is so evil.. it needs to be done

Boom....There you go. The transmission is the same as the DSM's in one of those so you just need to put the engine in and then plumb and wire it.

It's been done a lot. I saw one going 10.5 in the quarter. It was funny to see the look on people's faces.

the Expo lrvr4

In reply to 4g63t:

I'm super disappointed with your reply given your user name ;)

I didn't realize evo-8's had become so affordable.

It's not that...It's just that getting the parts and getting it welded straight is not an easy proposition. Add that to the lovely fact that 4/5G CSM's love to rot out their roofs because of the glue they used...It's a PTA and it adds up quickly cost wise. I would build a 2nd gen Talon first instead of another swapped CSM but that is just me.

In reply to bmw88rider:

That wasn't me being snarky about the Evo VIII, there are several around me for "reasonable" sums of money.

Talon might be cool also. What does CSM stand for?

I have a caged logbooked Talon TSi (AWD turbo) car that I'd be willing to part with.

accordionfolder wrote: In reply to bmw88rider: That wasn't me being snarky about the Evo VIII, there are several around me for "reasonable" sums of money. Talon might be cool also. What does CSM stand for?

Colt summit mirage triplets.

Oh and if anyone is really interested for an odd ball FSP autox car, You can build a 2.4L 4G CSM and have a 150-170HP under 2K LBS car.

They put the Summit Van for 94-95 on the same line as the regular summit coupe.

Put some 13" rims, I custom made a set of coilovers using a koni DA cartridges and A1 VW strut housings.

Wally wrote: Sounds expensive.

Might be cheaper than I thought

old_ wrote: Ive always wanted to 4g63t awd one of these

GOOD NEWS!:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtKcUJtgDhA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfHRiMAYyp4

Welder and a dream The 3G csm is straight forward with the engine swap. Adding awd is not that complicated, but you will need to build some things. I think a 4g mirage is the easiest to convert but I've never tried. Dsm parts are plentiful and cheap. Great budget build and super fun to drive. Enjoy

4g61t.org is a great source of info