I've been reading a few threads around here and figured I'd register and say hi.

I currently own a 97 Mustang Cobra that runs mid-high 12s in the 1/4th with a 100% untouched stock motor from air filter to exhaust tips. I've completely gutted the car removing carpet, back seats, trunk linings, doors, center console, strut tower bracing and rear sway bar.

Car as is weighs about 2800-2900lbs and gets 22-25mpg city, and 30-34mpg highway. Not bad for a 4valve 4.6 liter V8 making 305hp/300tq and redlining at 7000rpm.

Thing is the handling although good, is mostly due to the weight loss and not because its a sound design. I wanted to swap to the Mustang IRS but they dont hold power too well and have wheel hop issues I dont care to mess with.

My goals were originally to go single turbo with a forged rebuild which makes nice power, and another 200-300lbs weight reduction with fiberglass dash, and painted back to stock cf body panels.

Then along came an SRT4 making 350fwhp and destroyed me. Prior to that I've stomped most cars but I was embarrassed to lose to a boosted 4banger. I always felt they were the "cheaper" option and didnt have much looks or capacity for power.

I checked out a bunch of cars trying to see how easy they were to make fast without spending more money than a V8 car like mine. I bought it for 13,500 in new condition with 30k miles. I was never impressed until I found the EVO. Prior I never thought that a 2.0 could make such nice bolt on power. I'm also now getting interested in tuning it myself since thats much harder in the mustang world and theres not much going on to tweak.

The last week or so I've been realizing my choice of the lighter V8 might have not been the best idea and now I'm thinking I want an EVO since it also can handle the Detroit winters.

I dont mean to bash or insult anyone here, but I always hated ricers and boosted small engine cars in general. Now I'm starting to like the Evos and I want to get one but I am only half way convinced. Of course I'd remove the wing, any reflective shiny lights and such, and get as quiet as possible on the exhaust. Rice isnt for me but I like the car. Mine would be subtle.

I swear this must be what a gay guy feels like coming out. I'm starting to like the very thing I used to dislike and that damn Evo is looking like a car I want pretty bad now.

So I've already started putting the interior back into the Cobra and bringing it back up to show quality in case I decide to trade it in for an Evo. Waiting on a couple dealers to call me back and we'll see where it goes from there.

 

LOL! Welcome to the DARKSIDE! EVO FTW even though I hate it sometimes...

 

LOL WELCOME TO THE BEAST 4 BANGERS... GLAD TO SEE YOU COMMING OUT THE V8 AND GETTING INTO A EVO

 

I completely understand.

After beating Trans Am ws6 (my brother's car) Mach 1, GTO 6.0 and various others, on the track that is, the evo just seems to feel right.

I also got a place for you if your looking for stand up guys and american built performance parts. www.buschurracing.com

 

well, I used to own an evo now I own an 03 cobra. Well, iff you are looking for a potentially fast car that can handle well, the evo is #1.

 

The evo has less displacement and thus less low end grunt. The turbo helps out for midrange and top end power though. AWD is killer on the street, in the snow, and in the rain. It is however complicated and for straight line use only rwd is simpler and lighter.

 

I have always been a raw performance over style/comfort kind of guy.

That being said I want either an 8.5, 9, or 9.5 Evo. Sounds like the X isnt for me as I want something raw.

But of course 8 lacks MIVEC which sounds like something I want to play with considering it allows for longer powerbands and better spool.

X gets the yaw control which I would *really* have wanted on a 9. Assuming that cant be backported right? As well as the exhaust MIVEC due to 4b11 vs 4g63 right?

My ideal EVO so far would be the IX 5spd since I plan on lots of power, ACD (or tell me why not), intake&exhaust MIVEC, and yaw control, in a stronger 4g63 block.

What do you guys think. I got the Cobra due to the 4v engine having wicked potential and I dont want to build the car only to be 100% unable to get a feature I want. I liked the mustangs due to tons of swapping from year to year being available.

What do you guys think? I've been searching I promise

 

Check out an RS. You won't be disappointed.

 

I'm going to shoot for 330awhp if I get one then eventually try to hit 11s in the qtr though I'm not a big drag race guy. I want it to handle but have sweet pull.

My na 4valve with B heads already has a bad low end until about 3500rpm or so when it starts breathing through the other intake valve. It feels like a turbo kicking in with a very noticeable jump in pull.

I dont think the EVO will be that far off from what I'm used to driving. The lack of needing another snow vehicle is also a bonus.

Insurance looks to go up a bunch though not looking forward to that.

 

Dam, you got beat by a four banger!

I guess if you can't beat em join em!

 

if you're going to strip it down anyway, definitely look into an RS it''ll save you some time tearing her apart.

Short of redesigning the top end of the engine, you won't be getting an exhaust mivec into a 4g63. You'd be better off trying to swap an entire 4b11 over (I don't know of anyone who has tried this yet, but someday it's bound to happen).

AYC on a 9 is atleast theoretically possible, but it'll require jdm or edm parts including a new ecu I believe. There's also anti-lag on jdm cars that we don't get, so one more toy you'd have to live without (sorry for telling ya). But none of that really matters since the evo is still a night and day difference from a mustang. Before i modded my evo I always wished it had the ls1 from my firebird, but a few mods fixed that too

 

Welcome, you will absolutely love this car, it has almost limitless potential.

 

I've never heard of anyone installing AYC from a JDM Evo IX to a USDM car. It has been brought up a couple of times, but I can't remember why no one ever pursued it. The parts are expensive and hard to come by and Evos handle awesome anyway, so that may be the case.

And it is impossible to put a 4b11 mivec head on a 4G63, so you can't get exhaust side MIVEC on an older Evo.

 

Welcome man! you won't be disappointed in the Evo man!

 

You can make 330 whp with less than $1500 in an evo. Tuning capability of the evo is limitless.