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So, I had to sell my Evo 8 SSL (built motor, big turbski, etc) back in 2019 due to financial issues and family things. Did not think I would be able to get another Evo, at least not anytime soon.
I have a buddy who is military and he had a stock silver Evo 8 GSR and when I had my red Evo, we always used to roll around together.
Right around the time I sold my red Evo in 2019, my buddy was going to upgrade his silver Evo and I helped him take it apart (took off turbo, intercooler, injectors, etc) and he had plans to upgrade to a bigger turbo, fuel, etc.
Well not long after (maybe a few months) he got orders to go overseas and was going to be there for several years. He stored his silver Evo at a family members house and it pretty much sat for 3-4 years.
Fast forward to about a month ago, dude gets back to the states and randomly hits me up asking if I want to buy his silver Evo 8. Without hesitation I just said yes lol.
We spend a few weeks just chatting about details and etc. I'm not gonna put his personal business out there but basically he needed the Evo gone ASAP.
We finally get to price, and this dude tells me to just give him $1,000. I about had a heart attack lol.
Fast forward to 3 days ago, we meet up. I hand him $1k and get a tow truck to pick the car up to take back to my house. Clean title and all.
The car was REALLY nasty. It was covered in pollen crust and algae from sitting outside. It looked like it had been sitting at the bottom of swamp lol.
I was really worried about the paint, and obviously really really worried about the shape of the motor, but for $1k.. MEH.
Get it back to my house, and it cleans up NICE. I'm talking the body and paint are like 8.5/10. A few tiny minor scratches in some spots but nothing that can't be fixed with a touch up pen.
Get to the motor, pull the valve cover and the valve train is CLEAN.. like what in the...
I still have to pull the oil pan to check the rotating assembly, but from what I saw in the head, my hopes are high.
The interior is great. no cracks, tears, nothing. Aside from the steering wheel being crusty from being old, everything else is MINT.
Engine bay- some surface rust in the typical spots but nothing a wire wheel and fresh paint can't fix. All the strut towers are fine and motor mount points are good.
Under the car has typical surface rust in some spots, but again, nothing bad and nothing I'm worried about.
No rust on any parts of the exterior surprisingly.. well, there's some rust on the window wipers.. big deal lol.
So to get the car running, obviously I have a lot to do. I need to get a turbo, turbo manifold, downpipe/02 housing, injectors, 272 cams, intercooler/pipes, fuel pump, COP kit, speed density kit, clutch/flywheel, coilovers, etc. I already have ARP head studs, head gasket, timing belt, balance shaft belt, tensioner, tensioner pulley, water pump, etc.
So while the hard work is still going to have to be done, and I am sure there will be other things I'll discover later on I need to replace or buy... I got a nice Evo 8 GSR with motor, trans, t-case, etc.. for $1k...
Yes I know, I'll be buying a lottery ticket later lol.
I'll be updating this thread as the build goes on. I'm hoping to have it up and running this year. We shall see. I'm going to take my time and do everything right with quality parts.
I am hoping I can run the stock block for now and will build the motor later on down the road.
Stay tuned...
Here is some pictures after I gave it a good wash.
Last edited by oohdahloop; Apr 28, 2023 at 01:12 PM.
He must haven known how much cash he was giving up. If he wanted $1k fast he could have sold any part and got that much in a day. The price just seems like a more of a joke, your friend gifted you an evo. I wish I knew people like that lol
Yea I agree with you. He's only been in the states for a few weeks and got orders to somewhere overseas again and it was going to just sit for who knows how long. He knew how broken up I was about selling my red Evo and yea.. Before we got to price he told me he was basically going to give it to me and I thought he was joking. Apparently not lol.
EDIT* He is currently in another state, pretty far from where me and the car were and he flew down to get some things from his ex-wife and was only here for like 2 days so the deal happened quick lol. Now that you said that, I'm pretty sure he had this whole thing planned and was just being a super amazing dude.
Last edited by oohdahloop; Apr 28, 2023 at 01:28 PM.
This looks just like my 03 Evo 8. I got mine for 6k 😁. Runs and drives but needs work. It was pretty much a barn find. Drove it home from NH to MA. So far ive I got rid of the misfire and the tranny oil leak. You mentioned the "usual rust spots" on your car. What are the usualy rust spots for evos? This is my 1st time with this platform. Im used to Hondas 🙂
This looks just like my 03 Evo 8. I got mine for 6k 😁. Runs and drives but needs work. It was pretty much a barn find. Drove it home from NH to MA. So far ive I got rid of the misfire and the tranny oil leak. You mentioned the "usual rust spots" on your car. What are the usualy rust spots for evos? This is my 1st time with this platform. Im used to Hondas 🙂
Lucky, but summed up: The whole car.
Specifics from front to back:
-Lower Radiator Support behind Intercooler (visible when removing bumper)
-Upper Radiator Support
-Front Strut Towers (check edges, remove strut bar)
-Front frame rails (usually under battery)
-Front Subframe (recall)
-Rockers (towards front)
-Gas Tank (top of tank)
-Rear Trailing Arm Pockets
-Rear Subframe and Rear Frame Rails (where the upper control arms attach to, channel for the rails runs above them)
-Rear Wheel Arches (moreso if fenders rolled)
Most common and important spot is the rear subframe/frame rail spots, followed by wheel arches and front strut towers. This is on a Evo 6 but its the same for Evo 7-9s.
Lucky, but summed up: The whole car. Specifics from front to back:-Lower Radiator Support behind Intercooler (visible when removing bumper)-Upper Radiator Support-Front Strut Towers (check edges, remove strut bar)-Front frame rails (usually under battery)-Front Subframe (recall)-Rockers (towards front)-Gas Tank (top of tank)-Rear Trailing Arm Pockets-Rear Subframe and Rear Frame Rails (where the upper control arms attach to, channel for the rails runs above them)-Rear Wheel Arches (moreso if fenders rolled) Most common and important spot is the rear subframe/frame rail spots, followed by wheel arches and front strut towers. This is on a Evo 6 but its the same for Evo 7-9s. https://www.autotorque.net/chassis-leg-replacement/
Sweet. Thanks for sharing. That article is very helpful. I will have to check out these spots and see how much of it I can do myself.
You could probably do it all yourself if you can weld. If you can't weld then it gets expensive. Ross Sport UK still sells the rear chassis legs and gas tanks if you can stomach shipping to USA. I should clarify the gas tanks don't rust out as much as the studs holding the fuel pump in break off so be careful when removing them (maybe use a nut splitter/dremel? definitely lots of penetrating fluid sitting overnight).
Lancer Register (UK Evo Forum) has a ton of pics/build threads showing people doing rust repairs/underbody restorations/chassis leg replacements on their cars if you want to kill time and get a idea as to what it takes...some people there have done frame-off restorations on their Evos.
