Well, I totaled my 350Z on the racetrack. I am replacing it with an '05 EVO RS that I plan to modify to the max. Looking for some advice:

1. SoCal Mistu dealers with the best deals and most EVOs?

2. Best bang for the buck mods?

3. Cost of a replacement of the turbo, fuel mgt., etc. to run some serious boost?

Thanks.

 

1. SoCal Mistu dealers with the best deals and most EVOs?

www.socalevo.net


2. Best bang for the buck mods?

www.evolutionm.net ~search~


3. Cost of a replacement of the turbo, fuel mgt., etc. to run some serious boost?

www.evolutionm.net ~search~





I remember you from my350z.com. I was FLY BY Z. Welcome to cheap fun!

 

From 350zmotoring.com?


Anyways, what are you looking for to run "serious boost." How much are you looking to run? Or what figures are you looking for?

 

ouch..that sucks bro. what track? what happened? insurance got you covered?

 

pmed

 

best bang for the buck to make your car run faster lap time is more track time(with instructions?), after you're convinced you can't go any faster with the current setup, then i would consider other stuff like suspension/slicks/brakes/power etc. My friend's evo make crazy hp but can't put it to good use(too much hp) and he's a seasoned driver...that's my 0.02

 

Thanks for all the kind responses. This EVO car community is far better than the 350Z boards I have been surfing for the last 18 months, which are full of 15-year-old trolls who have never driven a car much less a Z or an EVO.

I agree with the last post. It is not so easy to become a good driver on the racetrack. I have done about 15 days HPDE at Willow Springs Raceway (big track), Buttonwillow Raceway, and Streets of Willow in CA; as well as Spring Mtn. Raceway in Nevada, all in the past year. Mostly in my heavily modified N/A 350Z, but also in my Audi B6 S4 6MT sedan. The more you learn, the more you practice, and the more you get good driving instruction, the better you get. I am honest with myself. I run in intermediate group most of the time, but I am one of the slowest drivers in that group in the Audi (too heavy at 3800 lbs.), and at best in the middle of the pack in the 350Z. I have a lot to learn.

As for how much boost, I don't know. I am new to turbo cars. My ex-wife owned a Volvo turbo wagon for a long time, but of course that is not a performance car. I have never owned a turbo car myself. One thing is for sure, modding the 350Z without adding forced induction was very expensive and did not return the performance gains that adding an after market TT or SC would have.

I have seen so many EVOs at the track events I have driven this past year. I have thought about this a lot. I have test driven the EVO and the STi. I have considered spending more money for a Lotus Elise or C6 Corvette. But since I still have the S4 as my daily driver, I think the best move is to save money for mods and track time by buying an EVO RS.

Thanks again for all your advice. I look forward to being a member of the EVO community.

 

i'm seeing alot of Evos too lately, it's one of the faster best bang for buck straight out of the box "track" car around...so far the only "weak" point i see in the Evo is the brake pads, i changed mine to Ferrodos...

 

Former 350 owner here (mine was a lemon though), and I can tell you the EVO won't dissapoint.

I won't be able to help with track mods (besides the obvious like suspension, brakes, and tires. I assume you autox, or course race). I enjoy straight line racing. But I'm sure can find info in other sections of EVOm. As for go fast mods, you will see that the basic modifications to add to the EVO will be:

*turbo-back exhaust. This will replace the stk down pipe, stk catalytic converter, and the stk cat-back exhaust (not sure if you knew the term "turbo-back").
*manual boost controller will help hold boost. From the manufacturer, boost is set to 19psi, then drops to 16psi by redline.
*S-AFC or an ECU flash will help you tune/lean the car so that it doesn't run as rich. The flash can manipulate other values the AFC cannot, but the AFC works well (for me it has). If you want to tune the car yourself, you can go with the AFC. IF you don't want to be the one tuning the car, a flash will work for you.
*Cams (seems like 8 of 10 EVOs use HKS cams)
*Cam gears (Fidanza gears are cheap and do the job)
*fuel pump (Walbro, works and is cheap)
*air intake kit
*You may need a clutch by now (I did)
*bigger intercooler
*bigger injectors

With those mods you chould be able to run in the mid teens (113-116mph) in the 1/4 with the stk turbo (with a bit more power left). Don't know if that's enough for you, especially on the road course.

Start off slow and do it right. As you may already know, throwing a bunch of parts on a car doesn't mean you will go fast. The EVO needs to be tuned right to get the most from your mods.

My $0.02. Good luck.

 

Now considering an '04 RS with a big discount from MSRP, as opposed to '05 RS at near MSRP. Differences, as far as I know, are 5 hp bump, and aluminum roof. If the price difference is $2000 - $3000, I would go with the '04. What do you all think?

 

Welcome to the board. I remember you from my350z.com also. My name Z YA LTR on that board. Good luck.

--Josh

 

Since your tracking the car, your modification list should be very easy. Drive your car to Road Race Engineering. www.roadraceengineering.com

Depending on your budget they can set your car up very well.
1) RRE JIC Suspension - installed, aligned and corner weighted to your abilities.
2) Full set of energy suspension bushings
3) Track Suited Brake Pads, Stainless Steel Lines and Motul Fluid
4) Alluminum radiator and Samco Hoses
5) A set of RA1 or Hoosier R3S04's depending on your budget (fender modifications for 275+)

As for power, call David Buschur (can be installed at RRE)
Stage 4 with AEM EMS (SAFC2 $1500 savings) + Stage 3 Head + 10.5CM FP Exhaust Housing, and Sheetmetal 02.
You will get the most power out of this setup without the added lag of a larger turbo. The larger the turbo the more practice and driving modifications you'll need to keep it spooled up. The BR Stage 4 with these additions, tuned by RRE will make very good power on 91 and on race gas it will make exceptional power. You could consider one of the BR Turbokits with the ball-bearing option, but remember any turbo upgrade without increased displacement will add turbo-lag. (If you have substantial funds consider the BR500BB with a built 2.3L engine)

 

metaphysical -

That's all very interesting. I can run about 95 octane all the time, since there is a gas station near my house that sells 101 octane race gas for $4.25/gal. I mix it with 91 oct. to maintain about 95 - 96 oct. in my (totalled) 350Z and Audi S4. Since I will be running the EVO as at the racetrack and as a weekend car, fuel ain't a problem.

I'm looking for lots of power and improved handling. I had the Tein Flex coil overs and EDFC in my 350Z, and they were great. Understand they are available for EVO. Would probably go with Tein suspension. What about the clutch.? I have heard bad things about the EVO stock clutch. Is there a lighter weight flywheel available?

Thanks.

 

When is the 05 RS coming out?

 

haha, good to see all you guys from my350z.com
I was Dom

...awaiting my EVO in febuar