Hi All,

Long time lurker as I'm a fan of evo's. I have an e46 m3 as my fun car/track toy and I've just about got it to a place where I don't have to put anymore work into it. I'm finally ready for an Evo 8/9 project but I'm not sure how to focus my time.

For what I want and my budget, I see two options that I'd like forum input on...
1) buy an engine and swap into a clean rust free rolling shell

or...

2) buy a cheaper evo that needs work and bring the maintenance up to speed/revert to stock

I purchased my e46 m3 salvaged and rebuilt it, so naturally I'm looking for another project. What do some of you evo guru's recommend? I don't have a feel for the market yet but seems like engine + roller is the cheapest way into an evo.

Thanks,

 

Hello / Welcome aboard

Yeah, I like your reasoning & it sounds like you have the mechanical skill & devotion to do a roller type build. We have an active swap in progress. It involves a lot work in this particular swap

See here: https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/pr...-8-roller.html

Finding a clean roller is doable but may take some traveling or transporting

Again, Welcome to the group

Joe

 

hey, thanks for the warm welcome. I will read through your build, seems exciting! Doing some research, it seems like used parts aren't as readily available for the evo.

Where is the best place to get a decent engine from? Also, can a 4G63 from a 2003 fit into a 2005, or vice versa? I noticed a lot of JDM engines but they're late 90's and not mid 2000's.

 

Welcome!


Option 2 if you can. All the misc parts you don't think of when you buy a roller can really add up. Plus not having something to reference for parts needed/positioning/routing will be more work on a roller. Option 1 will be much easier to find.

But, here are more tips I have if you decide to pick up a roller:

 

Yeah, Paul is right (DontStopMe). Option 2 is a much safer & cleaner route to take (watch his video & subscribe to his channel)

Finding a EvO w/a failed motor & drivetrain if very doable & would be a good starting point

Also, The component swap between a 2003 & a 2005 or later is all direct w/no frame modifications. But keep in mind their are electrical differences between the EvO8's & 9's (i.e. ACD transfer case, MIVEC engine controls etc)

 

Putting together a shell is a good learning experience if you’re wanting to get into Evo’s. I bought mine completely stripped from a local auction for >$2000. Everything but the exterior was gone from the car but super worth it as it’s together now and I’ll have less than 10k in a running/driving Evo. It’s time consuming and frustrating at times but you definitely appreciate the car more when it’s done.

Also, fwiw I’m using an Airtrek 4G63 in my car. I bought up a lot of stock Evo 4G parts over time and just swapped it all over to the Airtrek engine aside from the head which I built. Parts aren’t as hard to find once you know where to look (eBay, Facebook groups and the classifieds here).

 

How did you manage to build a whole evo with 10k? sounds like an extreme budget build and likely wont perform as an evo should. the engine itself would cost around 10k.

To address Option 2, why engine first? Finding the right rolling shell is priority and you'd build your engine/drive train once you know what you're working with. This will also give you time to prep the shell while you search for the engine. If you do go with that option Looking on ebay/japans yahoo auction might be a good start for engines. However this option may end up costing more than buying an evo straight up as dontstopme mentioned little bits and pieces add up to more than you think. especially if you're going oem.

 

Awfully bold assumption lol. Airtrek engines are fairly cheap, I built the head and left the bottom end stock as I have no interest in making lots of power. No way an engine would cost 10k unless it’s built. You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to put together a stock Evo with cams and valve springs..

 

I am in facebook forums where engines go for 5k to 8k, 8k being built engines, where do you see engines for 10k, is that canadian prices. To the OP there are shells out there posted all the time, just find facebook groups and join and wait on the right one.

 

^ Sorry yes, 10k is alittle high for USD pricing.

Im just not trying not to deceive op with cost. A shell for under 2k like you got is literally going to be a metal shell with nothing at all. Point is to buy a whole interior and put an actual evo 8/9 motor/drive train is going to cost well over 10k no matter what. yes, your evo seems to be a budget build and i dont think thats the advice op is looking for here, but i could be wrong.

 

Airtek engine is 1500$USD. Shell for 2k in USA is gonna be bare bones on steelies at best but absolutely doable, you could get one for 1000$ if rebuilt title was fine(seen the add, couldn't bring it in to Canada). 8 interior is cheap, lotta the plastic is Lancer anyway so inside could be restored for 6-800$ for the patient player who can clean some seats. Axle set complete for 800 or less. Diff could be 600 if patience wins. T-case. Now going Airtek engine may give you problems with transmission...but a guy with some tools and patience can figure it out.
If you own the tools and want a project I strongly am on Team Build Your Own Damn Car! Find an Evo that needs love and be that love. I got cheap parts! Or I should convert a JDM 7 to RHD...hey now...

 

In the subaru community, certain variable valve timing systems and wiring differences prevent the direct swap of engine only into USDM cars. Does anything (seems like MIVEC) prevent the direct swap over of jdm engines into a USDM roller shell?

 

Mivec. Anti-lag seems like the biggest system USDM never got in any models. If you get JDM engine, to save any grief get maybe ECU and wiring harness as well, unless yer good at wiring. USDM never got the lag gear and Mivec showed up for IX's so ROM's vary. As for bolting in it should be smooth operator...mostly. I've found that my 8 roller has spots punched but not drilled for mounting ACD system and other little details like that, nothing insurmountable though. Hell's yeah, get a roller and build another Evo!!!!
I forgot to mention JDM had AYC but we don't care.

 

What you just wrote is the truth you don’t even want to piece together a Evo shell
you would be surprised how many little important parts have been discontinued.

 

People on car forums like to talk big of how cheap they can get everything but i never see this happen. A shell with a whole interior that only needs to be restored for $1k? camon man, be realistic. Do not but a bare evo shell unless you have a donor car to drop parts into it, Ive been through this. It will turn into a nightmare no matter how handy you are with a wrench and the cost would add up so fast you'd wish you just bought a whole evo instead.