figured i wanted to say hi and all after i've been researching and reading through these forums for a couple of weeks now...

my name's Tony, just bought my 2003 lancer es from someone for $5000, it's got 82,000 miles on it, and runs great - whisper quiet...

i just did the timing belt (all belts), water pump, and brakes ... everything looks really good besides that

i want to do a few things, but i'm totally unfamiliar with this car and was hoping for some advice...

here we go:

1. i've come to realize due to fitment issues that i'll have to go SRAI, so is there something preferred? or can i just go and build my own?

2. i plan on doing some exhaust work, i'll definitely go for the magnaflow, but i have no idea what headers to get - i want to keep some low end push, any suggestions?

3. i'm having a hard time finding reviews or anything on like voltage regulators and other products like performance ignition coils ... help?

4. NGK iridium plugs/wires ... which ones are for EVOs and which are for standard NA lancers?

5. is the UDP worth it with these cars?

6. and the last one i can think of right now is - i have an auto, should i invest in a tranny cooler? or are these durable enough?

thanks for any and all input guys!

 

make your own SRI, check out RRM for headers (they might still be on sale), the auto is pretty durable
gratz on the purchase

 

Congrats on your purchase, welcome to the community!
Hope this helps:

SRAI - move the battery to the trunk then you'll have plenty of space for a CAI, or there’s quite a few SRAIs available, I would suggest anything with a heat shied and get a good filter(after all, a pipes a pipe...)

Headers - Look here https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=190209 (very useful, thanks Blacksheepdj)

UDP - Only heard good things, never "just okay" or "not worth it"... I would go for it, in fact I’m saving for one now...

Tranny Cooler - I guess if you really plan on driving her hard, she’s not a race car....

As for voltage regulators, and whatnot, it cant hurt anything but your wallet.

Don’t know about the NGK wires, but I'm sure its been discussed before.

Cheers!

 

+1.

 

Welcome to the forum, now learn to search. All of this info can be found in literally 30 seconds if you just plug in your question (ie. lancer headers or plugs wires lancer) into the search box.

 

1. DIY is best. Or keep the box and get a good filter.

2. RPW headers FTW. RRM are a good choice as well, but I prefer the longer RPW style.

3. There are no performance coils. No one has really found a good voltage mod that I've heard of in the 6 years of Lancers. The stock ignition system is fine. But you can grab a set of NGK or Magnacor plug wires if you'd like.

4. NGK plugs BKR5EIX-11, wires are ME-96.

5. Depends. It's a mod that people either love or don't feel. I say do it because it's cheap and can't hurt.

6. Don't worry about a tranny cooler until you'd added 100whp, at least. The stock tranny is plenty beefy for basic and N/A power.

 

welcome and start posting. then you'll learn alot. congratz btw.

 

1. It depends upon what you prefer, but I like true R&D proven parts, so I went with Injen. Road///Race is another possibility. And now everyone will call me a brandwhore.

2. Road///Race P.S. cuz I'm a pain - the Lancer only has one header. +I hate to be the old guy to bring this up but check your local emissions laws to see if whatever you buy is street legal.

3. I have the magnecor wires and they work great. Other than that, I've never seen performance coils for Lancers. Voltage regulators aren't really advantageous enough to be worth the money on this car in my opinion. The RRM crank pulley is much cheaper and does so much more in terms of power.

4. NGK iridium plugs... BPR7EIX according to NGK's website. I would check an NGK book, just to make sure since I can't find the box top from my Iridiums to confirm.

5. I don't know. Search.

6. Just change the fluid annually and you'll be doing better than most. You won't need a tranny cooler without a lot more horsepower (like maybe with a turbo). And if you're like many of us, by the time you can afford that, you'll want to swap to manual and/or swap the engine with tranny. Or you'll want to go Evo.

Congrats and welcome to Evom.

 

Welcoem!!

 

awesome!

thanks for the replies folks, i really appreciate the help...

i've done some searching (spent the past couple of weeks peeking around threads and "lurking"), it's just that i wanted some personal opinions from you cats to figure this out

i'm not a total n00b to sport compact tuning, just with this car ... had a little experience with hondas and a couple friends with subie 2.5 RS's...

and *gasp* a neon (main reason i asked about ignition/voltage mods - theirs are garbage)

my baby was taken from me by a drunk driver about 6 months ago, spent this time recovering and researching cars and came upon the lancer due to reliability, looks, and possible power output...

...i also just did trans flush, coolant flush, oil change, and fuel system flush - is it okay to change over to mobil 1 and hi octane (92 at the pump) in our cars?

 

Don't use higher octane than you need, there is no point whatsoever.

 

good to know, thanx

 

Yeah, skip the high octane unless you have a turbo.

Mobil1 is fine to use.

 

1. SRI is better if you live anywhere it rains. No point on getting water in your engine for a cool sound.

2. RPW, RRM, or Ebay OBX headers (They revised them from teh mirage ones, they fit now and look beautiful)

3. Voltage regulators do nothing for our cars.

4. Once again they do nothing for our cars.

5. Yes UDP provides good gains.

6. Not needed for the auto, but it is the number one thing you can do to keep an auto tranny running forever.

 

How did you flush the fuel system?