Name is Sean. I've lurked on this forum for quite some time now and just figured i'd do my intro. I bought my Evo about a year ago. It was bone stock besides Injen Intercooler charge pipe kit and loud *** Greddy exhaust. It came with a "GT500" widebody front and no rear (thank god), megan drop springs, and konig wheels. I didn't care I always wanted an evo. When i test drove the car at wot it would hit what felt like fuel cut. The previous owner stated it needed a retune. Basically... He didn't know ****. Car idled high and inconsistent. But I got it for a steal and everything worked minus the sunroof.

When I first got it:


Upon later inspection, there was no bcs or boost controller. 2 vacuum hoses from the turbo just dangling. *sigh* The previous owner was driving the car around with the turbo spooling to whatever it felt. On went a Hallman MBC. Instantly better. Searched for the idle issue. IACV. Changed it out. Idle drops to normal after warm up and boom, I hear a cam lope. Sure enough there are aftermarket cams. After looking thru the car in and out it seems like the car had its glory day before. Traces of Rexspeed dash pod mounts, boost gauges, ebc, are all there. Some DMV research shows that the immediate previous owner didn't own the car that long. He probably pulled all the parts he could off and just wanted to dump the car. I didn't care it was all gonna get replaced anyway. Fast forward to the Friday after Thanksgiving. Having a BBQ with some friends, and my good friend asks to take the evo out for a spin. I throw him the keys and he goes for it. Meanwhile 1/4 mile down the road...





Basically he tried to negotiate a banking left turn in 4th at WOT. Car kicked out and instinctively he lifted the throttle and countersteered. Wrong move in a AWD.

Luckily the BBQ was at a friends heavy machinery shop. How we got it off:


The next day we flatbedded it to my shop: Damage looked a lot worse in the day.






After almost 2 weeks of talks with my friend, his insurance (screw you Progressive), and my body shop, the Evo was totalled. Gone.


Forget that. Not in my book. I brought her home...


It took 3 month, a lot of blood, sweat, and straight luck with vendors, junkyards across the country, and local Evo enthusiast but finally she was road worthy. Every damaged part was sourced and shipped to me from places like Florida, Oregon, Maine, Cali, Nevada but eventually I had all the parts. Threw the car on the frame machine everything was in check. R&R every bad part. Front end was replaced with an OEM 8 front. Took the car to get aligned. Everything fell into OEM spec. Yes. She's back.




I've since added/changed out things I found to be a necessity or out of necessity:
-18x9.5 Ray's Engineering 57G Pro
-BC BR Coilovers 7k/8k
-Cobb TBE w/ Hi flow cat
-AMS FMIC
-AEM UEGO and Autometer Boost Gauge
-Memoryfab Carbon Seat
-Competition Clutch Stage 3 Segmented Ceramic Disc
-Agency Power Adjustable DV
-A lot of carbon from Rexspeed LOL
-Reflash

On the side I have an AWD motorsports T3 Mani, Precision 6262 BB, Tial 44, and FIC 1200cc injectors. Waiting for time to drop in the headstuds and FP.


Sorry if that was too long haha. But that's the journey my car and I have been thru. I love this car too much to let it go.

 

This is a bitter sweet story! Glad you got all the problems fixed & she looks even better than before! I bet you won't ever let another friend drive her again lol

 

LOL i've let 2 others. One has a single turbo FD and the other has a GT35R STi. My closest of friends. AND i was still slightly apprehensive about it LOL. Oh and in case you were wondering, my friend who crashed it, drove/drives an automatic slammed matrix.

 

Great story!

 

Tell your friend thanks for helping to make the insurance premium on my Evo the highest of any of my cars! Hope it was worth his 30 seconds of fun.

On the other hand, nice job bringing her back.

 

Haha seriously right. He's well aware of his stupidity.

How she sits now. 18x10 +18 Work XD9's w/ 255's all around.

 

Great story and I'm glad you were able to save your car

 

car is looking good bro. glad you dident let it get scrapped!

 

Thanks. Traces of the accident are still visible on the driver doors and front fender.

 

I fought Progressive for 103 days to get them to total our CRV. What a mess that was.

I'm from Kailua too, but live on the mainland now, or else I'd help you with the fender/door stuff, but still, car looks great. Welcome to EvoM!

-mahalo (had to)

 

Lol u can take the guy out of Hawaii, but u can never take the Hawaii out of the guy. Thanks for the support guys.

 

Man I'm lovin how she turned out. Good work on saving her. Hope your friend helped fix her back up.

Personally when it comes to peoples stuff I go with one rule with borrowing. Friend, family, neighbor, and myself included if you borrow it then it comes back in the same condition. Whoever tears it up fixes it. LOL

 

I let a friend drive my evo also. Here was the result:







Took some time, but shes all back together now. I feel your pain...

 

Great story!