Hi. Please don't make fun of me because I am a total newb. I have a 2004 Lancer Ralliart. Cool Metallic Silver with an automatic transmission. I am interested in the car modification world and I need some help getting started. I would really appreciate someone helping me out and directing me somewhere where I can learn the basics. Or, if anyone is cool enough, writing out some things that will help me. As an example, what are some of the best mods to make to my car, show and go. If you give some advice, please explain what the part does and why I need it. Also, make sure it is street legal, as this is my everyday car. I live in St. Louis and bodykits, etc., must be high enough to clear hills, bumps,inclines, etc. I need prices and if the modification will increase my insurance payment. Thankyou for help in advance. And if you answer this, make sure you check often because I might have more questions.

 

Well, first off...welcome! And let me say, excellent choice on your car! If you got a digi-cam, post some pics up so we can see your sweet ride! I'm sure there will be plenty of people who will be more than willing to give you some tips. I just got a 2004 Ralliart myself...Phoenix Red though..and manual transmission. I have one question for you, do you want the warranty on your car?

 

i only ask cuz some mods can void the warranty.

 

I do want the warranty, but I could do without it if it means a better automobile. If something on here voids the warranty, please give details about the void.

 

check out the RRM stuff.

http://www.roadracemotorsports.com

 

intake and exhaust i wouldn't worry too much about. it just depends on how much of an *** your local dealer is. teh stuff i'd avaid until a bit later would be internals and any kind of forced induction. new whells and tires shouldnt' do much to the over all warranty either. just don't take anything i say as gosphel though. i have bee nwrong once or twice in my life. :P

 

Take a peek at www.roadracemotorsports.com and start out with the following:

Short Ram Intake - this will increase the airflow to your engine, and RRM claims it will take almost a full second off your 0-60 times.

Axleback exhaust - Very little increase in power (but it'll make a difference with other mods later on) makes the back end look at lot better, and the car sounds better

When it becomes available, spring for a piggyback ECU (they only have one for the 5 speed right now, not automatic) this will give you the most noticeable gains in power, but will require that you use only 91 octane or higher fuel.

I recommend you do the mods in the order listed. The ECU isn't as effective without the intake and exhaust.

Also, take a look at your suspension. Replacing the stock sway bar is relatively inexpensive, and will greatly reduce body roll when cornering. Adding a tie bar will reduce understeer. Both these items can be bought from RRM.

 

I know all about the RRM stuff. I am going to get the short ram intake, but as for the axleback exhaust, is there anywhere where I can hear the difference it makes? I would like to hear the exhaust before I get it. And can I install the short ram intake myself? I am 16 and not the best tool-guy around, but I would like to do things myself so I can avoid the shops.

 

Ask and ye shall receive. You can install the SRI and axleback yourself, though to install the axleback you will need access to a jack and jackstands so you can get underneath the car. Other than that, just some basic tools and you're set.

http://www.sclc.net/rrm/exhaustidle.mov

 

First off, welcome to the Lancer family!!

Congrats on the new car!

There is lots of stuff in the vendor's classifieds. Its a good source for your upgrade needs.

The very first upgrade should be tires. Preferably to a larger size. The stock tires are total crap. Any mod you do would be useless without this first step. The stock RA can spin the stock shoes all day long.

Basically, the first engine mod should definately be the intake, be it CAI or SRI. CAI pulls cooler air than SRI. SRI tends to have a velocity advantage.

The next thing to do would be piggyback or e-manage. Since you are fairly new to modding, I think piggyback might be your best bet.

The RA exhaust is already 2-1/8" diameter. All you really need here is axle back. Unless you are going turbo.

Suspensionwise, the rear sway bar is a bit too small. That needs upgraded.

The springs VS coilovers is still under debate.

This was posted as a general suspension guide by a fellow member.

The only thing I really dispute about this is the strut bracing. Just look around the boards, you will see what I mean.

 

Let's move on to the exterior and visual part of the car. I want the sri because I have an auto and the cai won't fit on it, right? Also, I want the axleback because I love that sound. The piggyback would be nice, but it's a little pricey. I am on a fixed budget. For the interior, I was looking for a dash kit from anywhere. I don't know what color, maybe yellow, and I was wondering if there is anything I can do to my gearbox and shifter. I have always thought it would be cool to make my automatic look like a manual shifter, in a way. Some kind of crazy mod that would make people think I had a manual, when I indeed have an auto. Is there anything like that, or am I dreaming? I would love to have a complete color-matched interior. With the dash kit, a shift knob with brake lever, a steering wheel, some seats, and all kinds of stuff to make this car the best around. On the outside, I want a different spoiler. The one on there now is nothing. It looks so plain that I don't want it. I want the car to stand out, remember. I love aluminum wings, but they will look like crap on the silver car, so I thought about a paint job to make the aluminum wing look better, maybe a darker color that is unique, something that stands out. However, I think this is expensive, but maybe you guys have some input.

 

I personally think performance upgrades would be more beneficial. As stated before, RRM make some very nice products, as well as other people. But, if you just want it to look like it performs, well, there is an EVO8 kit in a group buy. I think Accolade is the vendor, but I am not posative. You could have the EVO8 look without the sticker price.

For my money, I think I would rather make it fast as well as handle well, and be in stealth mode.

But to each his own. Modding is a hobby, you just need to find where you fit.

EDIT: You are correct, the CAI will not fit the auto.

 

The problem is that I don't know if I want to do more show or go. Sometimes I want to get the look, but sometimes I want to get the performance. Every day it is different. So I am thinking that I do more performance and interior styling, and then do exterior later. I will hold off on the body kit, but I still would like the performance things and some neons. Other than that, I would love to find a dash kit and a steering wheel, and some seats.

 

I tend to lean more towards GO. I like it when a car looks unmodded from more than 3 feet away, and can still move.

Cops tend to pick on cars that attract attention, too. One more reason to avoid show. I'd be happy if the only outside indicator that my car's modded was a 3-1/2" exhaust tip poking out of the rear bumper.

 

I agree I like a clean car more than the ones with neons and huge aluminium wings. It's stuff that doesn't make your car anymore fun to drive just fun to look at. Find a happy medium with show and go maybe stick to a evo spoiler and some suspension/wheels/tires or some n/a mods like intake and exhaust.