Still relatively new to the Evo scene, and im currently looking to get some tuning and mods done. Currently my goals are to be around the 400WHP mark. The biggest restriction for me is the fuel i have access to, being up in Canada we don't have E-85, and the best we can do is 91 octane without Ethanol or 93 with it. We also don't have a reputable AWD tuner anywhere near me, so i will have to get the tuning done via email. My car is a 2003 Evo 8 GSR with approx 57,xxx miles on it and this is my mod list to date;


-Injen intake & UPIC
-Samco BOV
-HKS TurboTimer
-Walbro 255 Fuel Pump
-Hallman pro MBC
-Megan Catback, Test pipe, Downpipe
-Internally ported/externally ported/swaintech coated exhaust manifold/also with porting
-Ported/Coated o2 Housing
-Ported/Coated 10.5 Hotside
-Ported Intake Manifold
-Ported 65mm Throttle Body
-PPI LICP
-XS power FMIC
-Exedy Stage 2 Clutch
-ACT Lightweight Flywheel


Current plans for upgrades before summer are ;


-Kelford 272/272 Cams
-GSC Beehive springs
-GSC Titanium retainers
-TWM Short Shifter
-Torque Solutions front motor mount
-Torque Solutions transmission roller stopper


Now i'm just wondering what kind of power i can expect to be making with the current mods, and my planned mods. I also need some advice with who to go with for tuning. I started the tuning with a company in the states last summer, and things didn't go like i wanted. I've noticed some problems with the tuning, and they never got fixed so i'm looking to start fresh with a different company.

I'm also more then open to any suggestions for other parts and mods that i should be using. I know a new turbo is needed, but i'm also looking into getting an aquamist water/meth kit.


Thanks in advance for any help and advice,


Cheers!

 

93 octane gas with ethanol is the highest octane most of America gets, outside of E85. It's not that bad. Your mods list looks pretty decent, aside from the XS power intercooler. They're iffy as to whether you're actually going to get any gains. A Buschur or similar intercooler should be in your future. they're expensive, but for a reason.
A lot of people have had very good luck with e-mail tuning. I'd suggest that route for tuning, if you don't want to go through all the research of learning to tune on your own. (That's the route I took, and I'm really happy I did. but it took a lot of learning to become confident in it.)

 

What size of intercooler would you suggest i get? I tried the email tuning last summer and it didn't work out so well. Do you have anyone you would recommend i try out? I plan on learning how to tune, but i've owned my car for two years and havent put 1000 miles on it yet. So i want to get my mods done, tuned and drive it. I want a powerfull yet reliable car i can daily drive during the summers.

Cheers!

 

About the closest to you is English Racing. Good bunch of guys.

 

The buschur street core intercooler is all you'll ever need, and requires little to no modifications to fit beautifully. I have it and like it. As far as Email tuning, Mellon's been doing it since before I joined the evo game and I've never heard a bad review about him.

 

All these guys are spot on. I have the Buschur 4" FMIC on my car and it's well worth the price. Also +1 on English racing and Mellon tunning. I had done a lot of email tunes with Mellon in the past. I would reccomend going to his website and becoming familiar with applicatations like EVOSCAN and ECU Flash if you are not already. Also you will need a tactrix 1.3 cable to plug into your ecu and laptop. There are quite a few links in the newbie forum to show you how to tune your car if you want to learn or at least become more familiar with what you have and how far you can go. Good Luck!

 

Tscompusa is another remote tuner I would recommend.

 

I've been leaning towards going with tscompusa, but i'll look into mellon and english as well. Is there any need to upgrade my injectors to reach my power goals?

Also when i upgrade to the street core, will i need to modify my intercooler piping to make it fit?

Cheers!

 

An Injector is definately reccomended. Those stock 560's are gonna be maxed out duty cycle wise to get you where you wanna be. Plus you're gonna want room to grow cause it's only a matter of time before you'll be wondering what you need to make 500 once you cross the 400HP threshold. precision or RC 1000-1200's in a Low-Z or maybe an 1100cc HI-Z should give you a solid baseline for now and plenty of upside for later.

 

With the buschur street core. The piping won't strictly need to be changed, bit the licp is crap on evos, so I'd recommend replacing it regardless. The uicp is generally accepted as ok thpugh. Tscompusa hasn't been doing the email tuning thing as long as Mellon, but he's definitely a knowledgeable guy too. You won't go wrong wither way. I didn't see that you were still on stock injectors, though. Those need changed if you're trying to see 400 HP for sure. 750-900 cc is all you'll need for your goals. Going biggest is just more costly and more difficult to tune.

 

Hitting 400whp on pump with a stock(ish) turbo'd Evo VIII is going to be difficult (read: not reasonably possible). You're going to need a better turbo. Based on your mod list, I'd look at something in the FP-Green/BBK-? size. I'd also pick a GSC S2 cam over the Kelfords.

l8r)

 

Well it was just a goal of mine. I know they say the 10.5 hotside evo8 turbo is good to about 390, so until i can afford a new turbo and get it installed, ill have to live with what i got. Although there is a local guy up here selling an FP Red with 84mm anti surge cover, 25psi waste gate actuator, and it's ported for 1700$. Guess we will see how much the labor is gonna be for the cams. Didn't expect to be buying injectors and a new intercooler.

Why would you suggest the S2's over the Kelfords? I've been between the two since i started looking into cams.

Cheers!

 

The LICP has been changed according to the previous owner. Never actually took a look myself though. Which brand would you suggest to look into for injectors?

Cheers!

 

I had really good luck with my PTE880's on the stock turbo, with E85. It would be a good idea to see what your tuner recommends, though. Injectors tend to have their own individual "personalities" Using the ones your tuner sees most often could save some time.

 

I've had HKS 272, HKS280, and now Kelford 272 cams in my car. While the Kelfords make good power, I do not like how they spool my turbo (50 trim). Going from the HKS280s to the Kelfords has made my turbo feel 'lazy' for lack of a better word and lost me 300 RPM in spoolup. In doing more research I believe the GSC S2 will make about the same power as the Kelfords but with better spool characteristics.

You do realize that with the increased lift of either the GSC or Kelford cams, you will also need an upgraded valve train, right?

l8r)