Hi everyone, just got a used 30,000 mile evo ix with no mods on it. I feel very fortunate to have found a car like this and hope to keep it for a very long time. I plan on adding a few things starting this weekend. Here's a list of mods that I am considering for it:

-Tanabe touring medalion catback
-Injen intake with intercooler pipes
-AMS tune (via emails)


Would I be able to expect a reasonable increase in power and response from this? I know it looks like some pretty conservative mods and I probably won't get any kind of crazy power out of them. Unofortunately, I live in Cali and I just don't feel like changing out parts or getting a re-tune every time I have to go get a smog check or get sent to the state ref.

Thanks!

 

Your in a similar position to me a few months ago. I picked up a pretty much standard Evo 9 and had similar ideas to you as far as mods go. The route I took was-

Litespec full titanium exhaust
3" front pipe
100 cel metal cat
K&N Pod filter (to replace crappy filter previous owner had installed) attached to a metal suction pipe
Grimmspeed EBCS
ETS licp
And most importantly

TScomp tune (you will need to buy some cables for this)

I spent months mucking around with my tune, Tom from TSComp had it running better with his first map. Now with 29psi and no knock the car really shifts, and most impressively is more driveable than before.

This is what I've done and I'm more than happy with the mods and their effect.

Cheers

Sorry missed the Cali smog thing, the 100cel cat is Aussie emissions ok but I wouldn't imagine it would pass californian laws. Pity cause the higher flow did make a diffrence in power output above 6000rpm.

 

The only things you need to uncork the motor on a IX are boost control (up to your tuner) and a tune. A TBE exhaust is optional. That's it. The less parts you change, the better off you and your car will be.

(FWIW, all noobs ask about the Injen kit. It'll do nothing (positive) for your goal. The Tanabe exhaust isn't a whole lot better than stock. Why an AMS tune? As you're in CA, choose a local tuner you can work with face to face. Good luck.)

 

I have a 9 motor, my first mods were a Hallman mbc, Megan downpipe, test pipe, Buschur cat-back, vibrant filter, air box delete and a tune. That really woke my car up, got me around 80hp/tq.

I agree with FJF don't mail in your ecu, take it to a well known shop with a good reputation and get it dyno'd.

 

depending on where you live I'd just go to a shop and get a tune I'm sure e-mail tunes work great sometimes but honestly have it done on a real dyno.

go with a

HKS intake

JIC TI or HKS TI catback

Greddy Downpipe/ any solid 3 inch downpipe

Greddy/megan/Map o2 dump

hallman manual boost


honestly the first major thing I would do is a clutch. (exdy twin)

GL

 

I had Apexi air filter. Lower IC pipe, Megaon's o2 housing, test pipe and B&B cat back wich is pretty quiet cause it's not a straight thru design, 25psi on a tune and made 336whp/328wtq on a dynojet. Then upgraded my IC, fuel pump and injectors and switched to E85 and made 400/400 on 30psi.

My stock clutched handled great on pump gas and even did a few track days. Then I had my transmission upgraded by Jacks Transmission in CO and put in an ACT HD strett disc before I made the switch to E85. I love the clutch. I have at least 100 launches at the drag stip on it (best 1.61 60' 11.80) Neither clutches like to be slipped very much though. I just happened to find a way to launch without burning them up. I did blow up my LSD in the transfer case from to much wheel hop in my "learing to launch" days. I switched to a Wavetrac and had JT rebuild the transfer case.

I bought my car brand new in 06 and started moding it a year later. I'm almost at 80k miles and probably 1/2 of them have been at E85. My car has been very reliable for me. I've seen freinds blow their stock motors at 450wtq so I've decided not to go any further untill I can build the motor. I don't beat on it every day but for a couple years I was at the drag stirp a couple times a week.

Have fun! Car is night and day from stock to just a tune. Then add some parts and watch out!!

 

I shall be staring my first round of mods this year too. My plans are

Buschur mangaflow turboback without cat
Buschur intake
Buschur manual boost controller
Aem boost gauge and wideband
And a tune

 

Just recently added a TBE on my ix along with a walbaro 255 and a greddy EBC it's a night and day difference and I haven't even been protuned

 

When i first bought my ix, my mod list was mbc, front mount/lower piping, turbo back exhaust, air intake, and walbaro 255, boost and afr gauges. had a street tune for awhile. later on i put in cams, act street clutch, 1,000cc injectors, and ran meth. i decided to get a dyno tune, made 404hp, 398tq on dynojet, 25psi/93 octane. stock ix turbo, stock ix bov.