Hey guys, I now have 750 miles on my evo an have enjoyed running it hard after the obligatory 600 mile break in!. The car still feels fast, but I used to own a 1990 eclipse gs turbo front wheel drive ( same block) and it "felt" faster. Now before I get flamed, I also notice that under hard acceleration, our car does not squat as much as the crappy suspension on my old eclipse thus making the "thrust" feel not as great imho. I did end up replacing the eclipse suspension with eibach springs and GAB adj. struts, however the ride was no where as stiff as my evos so that is where I think the difference in the way the acceleration feels occurs. I got my eclipse to run a 13.4 @ 106 after new intercooler, fuel pump, intake, exhaust, mbc set at 17 psi centerforce dual friction etc... The reason for this post is that I wanted to keep this car stock ( the wife wants it that way), but damn she is starting to feel slow and I know the car runs hard. Oh well, I suspect soon I will be like anyone else who gets high on horsepower and start the modifications! I just need to get to the track to baseline my car, I hope to pull a 13.4 like the eclipse when the evo is stock, then 12's it will be! Everyone stay safe and stay cool!
Punisher

 

one simple almost unnoticeable mod to greatly improve a stock evo is some sort of a/f regulator (greddy e-manage, apexi super afc II), one of the biggest problems with a stock evo is that the a/f ratio becomes too rich above 5000rpms, get one of these systems to lean it out, you will find that it will pull more true all the way to redline if tuned properly!

my 2 cents

 

Thanks man, I am only 10 minutes from Prunven in Milford and am considering a dynoflash. I met Al and he is a great guy, so maybe....... Man, I don't get why they made the evo so rich, I can feel less pull on top due to richness and boost bleed, but I don't remember 1st gen or 2nd gen eclipses running that rich. Like I said, the car still pulls like a son of a *****, but due to getting use to it my evo feels slower. I know this process oh to well because after every mod I did on my eclipse, it would feel slow soon after yet run a faster time at the track, go figure; I guess that is the price to pay to play! Still loving this car, 4g63 has to be one of the best motors around, esp. for tuning.

 

that should read Pruven in Milford, Ct.

 

the car runs so rich because only a limited number of evos were sent to the u.s., all set to california emissions, the most strict in the country. in japan this monster runs happily on 98 octane!

 

98 ron that is ~94oct. it's running rich so when someone puts in 87oct the engine won't blow up

 

btw a dynoflash would be perfect for you if you don't plan anymore mods, i have heard great things about the flash from fellow evo drivers who have had it done

 

evo 542 is correct my mistake i meant 98 ron, sooorrryy.

 

if I add an afc unit, do I have to cut wires or can I plug it in to piggyback? I would rather use one of these than a flash, because you can change it back to stock to take it in for service. Please help, the only fuel mods on the eclipse were upgraded bosch in tank fuel pump and cartech fuel pressure regulator, I kept the stock ecu's readings and basically manually adjusted the fpr for correct exhaust gas temps. So, with a afc unit, can I simply plug it in or do I have to cut and splice wires? Btw, I am oldschool (almost 33 yrs old) so please forgive the lack of current knowledge, my last car was a toyota camry v6, man was that thing a rocket lmao!
Thanks,
Punisher

 

yeah, the eclipse pulled hard to redline, this car has adifferent feel. I can tell the boost drop off and enrichening above 5000 rpm in any gear except first (too damn fast), but if the afc will take care of that, I may do it. Damn evo, makes me want to go faster. Btw does anyone know optimal rpm to shift at on the track with the stock engine? I think 6500 is where to shift but not sure, if I get ideas now I can go to the track and make less runs so maybe I can save the clutch a little longer.

 

its ok to be old school, welcome to the new school! the safc II from apexi does in volve some splicing, however if you get it with the wiring harness, you don't have to splice into the stock ecu, just into the harness then the harness just plugs into the ecu, highly recommended, the harness

 

if you shift at redline you will oftentimes grind, this has something to do with how the gear ratios etc.. are set, the tech guys would know that better than i

 

Probably feels slower due to the AWD, and like everyone said, a dynoflash or SAFC II would be a smart mod.

 

I currently have no grinding at 6500 rpm shifts (knocks on wood), which is 500 rpm ~ shy of redline, I also know my eclipse HATED power shifting, so a extemely quick depress of the clutch all the way to the floor, then shift and pop it out within .5 second and it seems to work well. Like I said, the eclipse even had problems with going to second at redline ( the synchros) however, with practice you can minimize it. I can't wait to go to the track and see how rusty I am, it has been 10 years since I made a quarter mile pass, damnit!

 

I agree mitch, awd makes it feel slower, however I think the stiff suspension plays a large part in it as well. My eclipse would unweight more under acceleration, thus feeling as if it were pulling harder. I know of the awd slow feeling as well because a buddy back in 1992 had a eclipse gsx that ran 12.8 and it actually felt slower than my car with identical trap speeds of 106, so I understand what you are saying.
Punisher