The Evo was due its 2 year inspection...and it failed:



Due to a cut tire...or really a manufacturing defect. Actually three of the tires have similar splits - not uncommon for this particular tire, but inspector couldn't pass it (can't blame him).


Tirerack is shipping out a new set at 25% off - so that was pleasant surprise. These still have several thousand miles (12,500 so far).

Since the car will down for a bit (no registration!)...decided to pull the rear suspension apart. Quite easy as remove and replace with OEM...

Old:


Inwork - loves the impact!:


Getting involved!:


New:


And:


And the big question - how much weight was lost? Old cast iron pieces:


10.5 pounds between the 3 arms per side that were exchanged between OEM Evo 5 and OEM Evo 6 pieces. Likely not cost effective if weight is your goal, but you do get all new joints in the swap - piece of mind!

 

10lbs per side is a nice reduction!

 

RobbieOh: Sadly it is 10.5 pounds total for the 6 arms going from cast iron to aluminum. We expected a bit more, but the aluminum is larger in cross section...

 

Yesterday was a happy day at the post office - car full of BFG Rival rubber!


Made progress fitting the ATP catch can along with my -10 to 10 mm hose barb:


...some tweaking and repositioning the carbon canister - looks factory!


Close:


We'll see how it works on the next track event...Nurburgring opens 17 Mar!!!

 

Had the tires levered on:


Then put on the alignment rack to adjust the tracking to -2.5/-1.5 camber front/rear:


Drives like a dream!


However, I think the custom UK exhaust has to go...had to put a decibel plug in the tail pipe to pass the noise limits. I hate to say it, I like it quiet! Allows more throttle fun without the attention - and local folks give you scowls at the twitch of my big toe, it seems!

May give consideration to HKS Hi Power and/or Silent models...

 

Well, my primary track car is sidelined...so the Evo 5 will be making the trek to Spa F1 track Monday. ~5 hours distant and then 3+15 hours of track time. Crossing our fingers it will be uneventful! Two visits to the Ring resulted in concerns with oil separation. But hopefully that has been addressed with the sizeable ATP piece. I checked today for fluid and zero was present, admittedly - only couple hundred miles and no track time.

Unfortunately, rain (and snow!) is forecasted - the challenge of an early spring track day (of significant cost!). Likely the best car for it, no matter.

Will also be putting in my other assistant engine builder for a go. He has driven this car one time! I think the F1 track will be good practice with wide surface and lots of run off.

Wish us luck!

 

Sounds like an exciting track day for sure!!

 

Driving in the rain on track is difficult even people in the Bay Area immediately sell their track day tickets once they know there will be rain. Makes it easy for me to buy them at a discounted rate.

 

RobbieOh: Will be a lot going on - should make for a good story at least!

deylag: Too funny! Makes a mess of the car too...I know, but with Europe's use of salt and urea spray... Will plan a thorough under chassis wash - yea!

 

Transit day was uneventful - 300 miles skipping from base to base for refueling (food too) and landed at Spa in underground parking! Helpful as we were able get a rinse before calling it a night...overnight temps will be at freezing!

First stop at Ramstein for Panda Express with a bit of Berlin wall in the background:


Yes, we have to drive 2 hours for this delicacy!:


Spangdahlem brought a surprise meeting with an Evo 6! All original and just imported a year ago - nice!:


And finally, clean, fuel of fuel, stiffened Ohlins, and oil topped up!:


I did take advantage of the co-driver driving...and adjusting the cruise mapping - fine tuning the fueling and adding a bit of timing. The Link ECU can be quite user friendly.

Tomorrow's weather is now calling for no moisture! A high of 48 degrees ought to keep all the hot parts happy!

 

Track Day: Success! 144 track miles (@ 6.2 mpg), no lost parts, no blown up 4G63 motor, no oil leaks, not even an overflow on the oil catch can! Thought it was going to be snow and we ended up with IMO perfect conditions - blue sky, no moisture, and 45 degree temps to keep the hot parts cool!


Our prep consisted of - dumping the trunk:


And affixing the big "L" for looser...I mean beginner. I say under sell and over deliver!:


Day started wet - but quickly dried off for session #2. Very slippery it was!


3rd session we let the turbo boost with a bit more gusto. Car is a hoot! Yes it leans quite a bit and it is too soft, but it exeeded my skills with even bouts of oversteer which was fun! Other than a 488 Ferrari, GR Yaris, ZL1 1LE Camaro, and our Evo, it was a sea of P cars. 911, 718, GT3RS, etc. Admittedly, the organizer was working with less than 50% attendance due to the weather, etc, but prefer to see more of a mix.

We drained the catch can after first two sessions with hardly anything to show for it. That ATP unit from Australia was money well spent!


Tires took a beating...showing my fast in/slow out approach (I'm rusty!) But the rears don't look too much better, which in my experience is pretty good with a front heavy / AWD / typical understeering chassis.


Very enjoyable track. The altitude change is thrilling and challenging. Car pulled to 6600 rpm in top gear on the long uphill straight (~140) mph) and never showed any distress!

For comparison, this track day was $708 for the entry fee with fuel at $8 gallon (~$200 total) for 3+15 hours of track time.

I did also offer the wheel to my senior assistant who did great focusing on his lines and getting the shifts correct (did better than I)...recalling this is the first time ever he has driven a high performance car, right hand drive, on a race track, over 100 mph. His head was about to explode!

A simple video:

 

Couple of updates:

Oil separator - went to drain it again after my 'hard' session and another 5 hour drive home...expecting minimal release...well nearly a quart dumped out all over the engine and floor beneath! Wasn't quite expecting that! Guess the system works and I will have to figure another way to catch the result! Heading to car wash...

Additionally, went to drain the oil for refresh and see if any metal flakes are there to greet us...came across a large glob of grease! Traced to a failed inner front axle boot - split! What a mess and I guess we will get a chance to install those boots we've had for few years!


Axle came out easily fortunately:


Having never done this before, Youtube made it look easy...fortunately, it seemed to be. Partially reassembled:


After running 3 cans of parts cleaner and brakeclean thru the bearings since this was the joint that was exposed...Going back together:


Complete:


Note: I had on hand one OEM outer boot and an aftermarket inner boot. The OEM is more plasticy, but fit like a glove with robust clamps. The aftermarket was thicker rubber, but had less robust clamps (easier on the pliers!). I'd prefer the OEM's...I could tell the boots on the axle were not OEM and may contribute to the 'early' failure.

Motul fluid arrived today so will replace all driveline fluids. Fun!

 

I'm certainly not used to the car. I still fumble with left hand shifting, the finicky twin disk clutch with no flywheel along with the the soft suspension (hits the fender liners still after raising the car twice). It handles quite well and the engine just keeps going. Even the catch can is now a non-issue too. Just need more laps!

The water bottle was to provide a reference to the 'g' forces at play ;-) ...(I was monitoring - certainly a foul to have loose items in the car...)

 

Another trip to the Ring before season end...5 laps:

Lap 1: 09:06 Warm Up
Lap 2: 08:29
Lap 3: 08:20
Lap 4: 08:37 Warm Up
Lap 5: 08:18

40 degrees, bit foggy, but the Evo ran like a top! No cautions and low traffic - wonderful thing! My skills are still not up to the car's performance. I'm still not comfortable with the suspension, but the handling is without surprise otherwise. Likely, I just need to use the settings Ohlins recommends...;-)

6.9 mpg for the 66 track miles. 22 mpg for the 415 road miles...along with one blast 155 mph.

Video to follow...

 

One last trip in the Evo before winter...bit risky with fog/moisture/even 32 degree temps enroute. However, this meant nil traffic and a clear track!

Tried a different view point - the camera needs to be higher, certainly!

I enjoyed the great tire/steering feedback the Evo provides - squawking when I exceeded the front stick - very helpful.

There might be an 8:10 with me behind the wheel, but not this year...great fun the Nurburgring is! And Mitsubishi makes a fine product!