Soon to be EVO owner? Some questions inside
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Joined: Dec 2001
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From: Detroit MI
Soon to be EVO owner? Some questions inside
Since I miss the power of my last fast car (JDM STi swapped Impreza wagon putting out 285 WHP - 12.6 was my fastest 1320 time) I've set a goal to get myself another fun commuter by my birthday of '07 (Feb 11.)
It's down to either a used EVO VIII (hopefully RS) or an '04/05 STi.
As I'm an EVO n00b, I've got some questions for you seasoned folks.
What's the best set of basic mods to make this car a bit fast and handle just that much better than straight stock. My requirements for mods are:
Power improvements
1) MUST be fairly quiet. No droning exhaust or loud suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuk of an intake. A nice aggressive sound is good to let the douchbag in the ryced out Civic or POS Grand Prix GTP that you've got something to fight back with.
2) NO huge 5" fart cans hanging off the back.
Handling requirements
1) NO coilovers. I've suffered enough w/Ground Controls on my wagon and Tein Flex (12k/14k springs) on my old EP3 Civic Si.
2) I don't want to drop the car on lowering springs either. > 20mm drop wouldn't be that bad but no slammed ride for me.
What I've got in my head is this:
Red, black, white or silver EVO (hopefully a red RS)
35% tint all around
18x9.5 Enkei NT03M wheels wrapped in Falken Azenis RT 615's.
Helix outlet pipe
Quiet TBE
Front camber plates
Adjustable rear sway bar
Basically I want a semi-sleeper EVO that will be fun to drive on a daily basis on my 20 min commute to my cubicle @ work. Something that will be fun to take out in the twisties and perhaps the occational autocross. Am I on the right track w/my thinking???
Can you guys shed a bit of light on the world of EVOs to my n00b self???
It's down to either a used EVO VIII (hopefully RS) or an '04/05 STi.
As I'm an EVO n00b, I've got some questions for you seasoned folks.
What's the best set of basic mods to make this car a bit fast and handle just that much better than straight stock. My requirements for mods are:
Power improvements
1) MUST be fairly quiet. No droning exhaust or loud suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuk of an intake. A nice aggressive sound is good to let the douchbag in the ryced out Civic or POS Grand Prix GTP that you've got something to fight back with.
2) NO huge 5" fart cans hanging off the back.
Handling requirements
1) NO coilovers. I've suffered enough w/Ground Controls on my wagon and Tein Flex (12k/14k springs) on my old EP3 Civic Si.
2) I don't want to drop the car on lowering springs either. > 20mm drop wouldn't be that bad but no slammed ride for me.
What I've got in my head is this:
Red, black, white or silver EVO (hopefully a red RS)
35% tint all around
18x9.5 Enkei NT03M wheels wrapped in Falken Azenis RT 615's.
Helix outlet pipe
Quiet TBE
Front camber plates
Adjustable rear sway bar
Basically I want a semi-sleeper EVO that will be fun to drive on a daily basis on my 20 min commute to my cubicle @ work. Something that will be fun to take out in the twisties and perhaps the occational autocross. Am I on the right track w/my thinking???
Can you guys shed a bit of light on the world of EVOs to my n00b self???
Last edited by mykrrrr; Nov 8, 2006 at 04:36 PM.
hmmm... well if I wanted what you want out of an evo then this should be a good list.
-Fujitsubo RM01A (quiet) 3" catback
-TTP 3" DP
-3" HFC
-Forge MBC
-Boost guage of your choice
-custom tune
-MR Bilsteins
good luck
-Fujitsubo RM01A (quiet) 3" catback
-TTP 3" DP
-3" HFC
-Forge MBC
-Boost guage of your choice
-custom tune
-MR Bilsteins
good luck
I really do not see how you are going make your suspension perform better without adding a good set of "real" coilovers. Were your old Tein FLex valved for a 12k/14k spring setup? Most likely not because the flex shocks are meant to use street rates of 6k~10k. My other car is a turbo DC2 that sports Zeal Function S6 that are valved for 20k/16k that I run on the street. Yep, on the street. Most people do not realize my springs are that hard until I tell them. My EVO IV came with GAB shocks and Deck -30mm 6.5k/5.5k springs that perform decent. I like the tune-ability of real coilovers so I think the Zeal Function S 12k/12k that I have been eyeballin' a local used parts store will work nice once I get them overhauled, upgraded to S6 and then revalved for Gymkana/street usage. Gymkana is similar to Auto-X in the US.
The easiest way to improve power o a turbo car is to utilize a free-flowing large diameter mandrel bent exhaust system. A sport catalyzer and an exhaust that uses a good submuffler will keep the noise levels down but a straight-through main muffler will always make more power than a chambered muffler.
Sleeper EVO? Hahahahaha... that was funny
Good luck with your build!!
The easiest way to improve power o a turbo car is to utilize a free-flowing large diameter mandrel bent exhaust system. A sport catalyzer and an exhaust that uses a good submuffler will keep the noise levels down but a straight-through main muffler will always make more power than a chambered muffler.
Sleeper EVO? Hahahahaha... that was funny
Good luck with your build!!
Thread Starter
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 27
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From: Detroit MI
Originally Posted by Rutt
I really do not see how you are going make your suspension perform better without adding a good set of "real" coilovers. Were your old Tein FLex valved for a 12k/14k spring setup? Most likely not because the flex shocks are meant to use street rates of 6k~10k. My other car is a turbo DC2 that sports Zeal Function S6 that are valved for 20k/16k that I run on the street. Yep, on the street. Most people do not realize my springs are that hard until I tell them. My EVO IV came with GAB shocks and Deck -30mm 6.5k/5.5k springs that perform decent. I like the tune-ability of real coilovers so I think the Zeal Function S 12k/12k that I have been eyeballin' a local used parts store will work nice once I get them overhauled, upgraded to S6 and then revalved for Gymkana/street usage. Gymkana is similar to Auto-X in the US.
The easiest way to improve power o a turbo car is to utilize a free-flowing large diameter mandrel bent exhaust system. A sport catalyzer and an exhaust that uses a good submuffler will keep the noise levels down but a straight-through main muffler will always make more power than a chambered muffler.
Sleeper EVO? Hahahahaha... that was funny Good luck with your build!!
The easiest way to improve power o a turbo car is to utilize a free-flowing large diameter mandrel bent exhaust system. A sport catalyzer and an exhaust that uses a good submuffler will keep the noise levels down but a straight-through main muffler will always make more power than a chambered muffler.
Sleeper EVO? Hahahahaha... that was funny
Good luck with your build!!You'd be amazed what some minor tweaks to a good suspension set up will net you. I autocrossed a friends' '04 STi w/a big front sway bar and beat a fairly competent driver running an Ohlins (@ the time) equipped 300+WHP EVO by over a sec. I want to be able to do this again with my next car. {thumbsup}
Yes I agree that the Tein flex struts were probably over sprung but that's what Tein set them up as. Not my 1st choice but they were pretty cheap.
IMO, an EVO RS (wingless) would be a semi-sleeper.
JDMevoBOOST - thx for the suggestions.
Power wise I would say a tb with high flow cat(I have a full 3" tb w/ h-flow cat and it is not that loud even with the Invidia N1 cat back), drop in filter, lower ic pipe and a boost controling flash.
Handling, MR struts and a rear sway bar. Even just the Bilstein's would be good.
My 2 cents....
Handling, MR struts and a rear sway bar. Even just the Bilstein's would be good.
My 2 cents....
Evolving Member
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 463
Likes: 0
From: Simi Valley, CA
Originally Posted by mykrrrr
Since I miss the power of my last fast car (JDM STi swapped Impreza wagon putting out 285 WHP - 12.6 was my fastest 1320 time) I've set a goal to get myself another fun commuter by my birthday of '07 (Feb 11.)
It's down to either a used EVO VIII (hopefully RS) or an '04/05 STi.
As I'm an EVO n00b, I've got some questions for you seasoned folks.
What's the best set of basic mods to make this car a bit fast and handle just that much better than straight stock. My requirements for mods are:
Power improvements
1) MUST be fairly quiet. No droning exhaust or loud suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuk of an intake. A nice aggressive sound is good to let the douchbag in the ryced out Civic or POS Grand Prix GTP that you've got something to fight back with.
2) NO huge 5" fart cans hanging off the back.
Handling requirements
1) NO coilovers. I've suffered enough w/Ground Controls on my wagon and Tein Flex (12k/14k springs) on my old EP3 Civic Si.
2) I don't want to drop the car on lowering springs either. > 20mm drop wouldn't be that bad but no slammed ride for me.
What I've got in my head is this:
Red, black, white or silver EVO (hopefully a red RS)
35% tint all around
18x9.5 Enkei NT03M wheels wrapped in Falken Azenis RT 615's.
Helix outlet pipe
Quiet TBE
Front camber plates
Adjustable rear sway bar
Basically I want a semi-sleeper EVO that will be fun to drive on a daily basis on my 20 min commute to my cubicle @ work. Something that will be fun to take out in the twisties and perhaps the occational autocross. Am I on the right track w/my thinking???
Can you guys shed a bit of light on the world of EVOs to my n00b self???
It's down to either a used EVO VIII (hopefully RS) or an '04/05 STi.
As I'm an EVO n00b, I've got some questions for you seasoned folks.
What's the best set of basic mods to make this car a bit fast and handle just that much better than straight stock. My requirements for mods are:
Power improvements
1) MUST be fairly quiet. No droning exhaust or loud suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuk of an intake. A nice aggressive sound is good to let the douchbag in the ryced out Civic or POS Grand Prix GTP that you've got something to fight back with.
2) NO huge 5" fart cans hanging off the back.
Handling requirements
1) NO coilovers. I've suffered enough w/Ground Controls on my wagon and Tein Flex (12k/14k springs) on my old EP3 Civic Si.
2) I don't want to drop the car on lowering springs either. > 20mm drop wouldn't be that bad but no slammed ride for me.
What I've got in my head is this:
Red, black, white or silver EVO (hopefully a red RS)
35% tint all around
18x9.5 Enkei NT03M wheels wrapped in Falken Azenis RT 615's.
Helix outlet pipe
Quiet TBE
Front camber plates
Adjustable rear sway bar
Basically I want a semi-sleeper EVO that will be fun to drive on a daily basis on my 20 min commute to my cubicle @ work. Something that will be fun to take out in the twisties and perhaps the occational autocross. Am I on the right track w/my thinking???
Can you guys shed a bit of light on the world of EVOs to my n00b self???
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Evolved Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 532
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From: Illinois
Originally Posted by nicksalerno80
Power wise I would say a tb with high flow cat(I have a full 3" tb w/ h-flow cat and it is not that loud even with the Invidia N1 cat back), drop in filter, lower ic pipe and a boost controling flash.
Handling, MR struts and a rear sway bar. Even just the Bilstein's would be good.
My 2 cents....
Handling, MR struts and a rear sway bar. Even just the Bilstein's would be good.
My 2 cents....
How much does the lower IC piping add in performance? That's something I never did, so I don't know what I'm missing. Good luck, bro.
Originally Posted by Rutt
Sleeper EVO? Hahahahaha... that was funny Good luck with your build!!
Good luck with your build!!As for your mods list, I think you are on point with the rear anti-sway bar, and exhaust mods in general. Ask around to see what has a mellow exhaust note. MR suspension might work for you from what I have read around here. NT03Ms would be a nice touch too yeah.
If you value daily drivability though, you may wanna take a closer look at the used STi as well, because they definitely are more comfortable for real world driving. Also, if you buy an RS, you'll quickly make a habit of circling your car and checking if all the doors are locked 'cause no passengers lock their own doors these days.. Good luck.
For Exhaust I went with RMR cat back is legal in all 50states and only registers at 95db full throttle. Gives a Deep tone but not like a civic with a fart can. Also went with HKS downpipe would have gone with HKS for exhaust to but the pipe tip is huge like 6 inches and Ultimate racing high flow cat. For handling I upgrade all the strut tower bars with Cusco parts and on the rear added a v-brace also to the mix. Also went with all the Cusco under braces up front and rear Cusco 23mm 3-way adjustable sway bar(which by far was the best suspension mods I did.) For intake the stock system really works well just went with a K&N drop in. All this is good for 300whp and 318tq with MBC and pump gas at 21psi with Dynoflash tuning.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 27
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From: Detroit MI
Thx for the great replies everyone. 
I'll probably do a exhaust collector and DP mated to the OEM catback. Yeah I'll be giving up a few HP to a full TBE but I want quiet over max power. I've been reading about the WORKS ECU flash. It seems pretty well thought out. I'm not looking to be tuning it over and over, this will be a "set it and forget it" car.
As for suspension, the WORKS springs coupled with some camber plates and rear sway will be the ticket. Perhaps a rear STB if I feel its to "flexy" in the rear. I think those in combination with some 18x9.5 Enkei NR03M's and Azenis will make it stick like glue.
Oh...as for interior mods, what do people think about the gauge mount that moves the radio to the bottom of the IP. Is the radio too low when driving? How about moving the AC controls to that lower location and putting the radio below the gauges?
DAMMIT...why can't it be Jan already??? haahaahhaaa...
More opinions/suggestions on parts are welcome/wanted.
I'll probably do a exhaust collector and DP mated to the OEM catback. Yeah I'll be giving up a few HP to a full TBE but I want quiet over max power. I've been reading about the WORKS ECU flash. It seems pretty well thought out. I'm not looking to be tuning it over and over, this will be a "set it and forget it" car.
As for suspension, the WORKS springs coupled with some camber plates and rear sway will be the ticket. Perhaps a rear STB if I feel its to "flexy" in the rear. I think those in combination with some 18x9.5 Enkei NR03M's and Azenis will make it stick like glue.
Oh...as for interior mods, what do people think about the gauge mount that moves the radio to the bottom of the IP. Is the radio too low when driving? How about moving the AC controls to that lower location and putting the radio below the gauges?
DAMMIT...why can't it be Jan already??? haahaahhaaa...
More opinions/suggestions on parts are welcome/wanted.
Evolved Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 532
Likes: 0
From: Illinois
Originally Posted by nicksalerno80
Lower IC pipe is something like 5-10 hp, the main thing that it helps with is spool time, that is what I noticed the most. I agree about the boost contoller, I use one.
Originally Posted by mykrrrr
Oh...as for interior mods, what do people think about the gauge mount that moves the radio to the bottom of the IP. Is the radio too low when driving?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 27
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From: Detroit MI
Originally Posted by FJF
It took me a few weeks post-purchase to switch the radio with the gauges in my RS. It worked out so well that I did the same on my SE the day I brought it home. The lower radio position is actually more ergonomic, as the effort/reach for the controls is almost the same as it is for the shift lever.
I wonder if the couple EVO friends I've got have this mod. I've never noticed...
I did see a cool double DIN solution in the classifieds section on here. Moves the HVAC controls down to where the radio would be relocated. Very clean looking. Mount some 52mm gauges above the radio and I'm set.