Ride of the Month

Have you ever taken the time to look over a Mitsubishi Evolution? I mean really look at it. The AWD Rally vehicle is closer to perfection in stock form than most cars after heavy modification! The time and effort of those unknown engineers who have toiled countless hours to mate the precision of a racecar with the manners of a street-car are evident in the many uncompromising choices that make this one of the premier cars on the entire planet. Almost every part selected was chosen to give the car exhilarating performance.

There is hardly anything that one can improve upon. OK, OK, I can think of one or two things if pressed; and so could Ryan Gonzales, proud owner of the spotless example shown here. First off, the stock turbo isn’t a Garrett turbo now, is it? Out went the OE turbo that only supported less than 300 HP and in went the popular GT3582R with a .82 A/R turbine side. Connect that to a Full Race exhaust manifold and intercooler and we can see where teensy little room for improvements can be found. Oh, and the stock 4g63 2.0L engine just wasn’t big enough. Instead, Ryan decided to utilize an IA Performance 2.3L stroker kit. So now that factory 276 HP @ 6500 RPM power has jumped up to a more reasonable 580 HP @ 6600 RPM.

While the block was out and the power was being upgraded, Ryan decided that he might as well throw in some Darton Sleeves and modified oil squirters to work with the sleeves and fully balanced and blue printed crank.

The camshafts in the 4g63 are superb! But you know what? A nice set of 272/280 HKS camshafts seem to work even better. While Ryan was at it, he went ahead and upgraded the valves, springs and retainers to Buschur Racing units. Buschur Racing also provided the Stage 3 head. As added insurance, ARP head and main studs were used to keep everything in one piece.

Just to make sure that the engine would be fed enough air, Mitsubishi’s top-of-the-line intake manifold and throttle body were overbored to 65mm. With all that extra air, the stock fuel injectors were replaced by massive 1000cc squirters. These are fed by twin in-tank Walbro modified fuel pumps delivering 500 liters/hour through an Agency Power fuel rail. Putting spark to the massive explosions is an HKS Twin Power Ignition Amplifier DLI2 and NGK 8es copper spark plugs.

Obviously, at this point, the stock ECU is not going to handle the power that Ryan has been dumping into the engine bay. However, an AEM EMS with Uego wideband has proven to do the trick. Keeping the airflow in check are a TiAl 48mm wastegate and 50mm blow off valve. To relieve back pressure and improve the throaty growl of his Evo, Ryan had an Apexi cat-back exhaust system with an Invidia catalytic converter deletion installed underneath.

Protecting Ryan’s investment from overheating is a PWR IA Performance custom radiator while GReddy gauges monitor boost, EGT, and oil pressure. Mitsubishi’s gauges were sufficient for watching over voltage, vacuum and oil temp.

So now the engine was just about the way Ryan wanted to see it! Obviously, he varied a little bit from the stock components, but it was all in pursuit of more power. This is common for racing. But one of the points that automotive reviewers have dwelled upon is the Evo’s suspension; the way it handles the road like a hunting tiger. What could possibly need changing there?

If you're Ryan Gonzales, just a couple of things.

Starting at the suspension, the stock springs and shocks have been tossed and have given way to Tein Mono Flex Coilovers at all four corners. Since the suspension still wasn't stiff enough, front and rear strut tower bars have been installed.

Putting power down to all four Volk CE28N 18x8.5" wheels wrapped in Dunlop FM901 235/40 18 rubber is a Shepherd Racing Built 5 speed transmission that has been re-shimmed to hold up to 1000 HP. Getting power to the AWD transmission was another story. Since the stock clutch and flywheel could no longer be trusted to grip, a solution was needed. A Cusco twin cerametallic clutch may have worked, but Ryan worked with Exedy to make a custom triple cerametallic that holds up to 900 HP. The Shepherd-built transfer case is a Ralli-art Helical limited slip differential. In all fairness to Mitsubishi engineers, the driveshafts and axles have been left just the way they intended; so have the stock Brembo brakes even though the pads have been switched to Hawk HPS stoppers.

A tasteful interior displays the Mitsubishi stock race seats coupled with Sparco harnesses. In case the sound of the 580HP engine isn't enough entertainment, Ryan also has a Kenwood DVD player.

So it seems that almost everything in Ryan's Evo has been drastically modified. The exterior, however, is almost entirely stock; though much of it comes stock on a different vehicle. The bumpers are Mitsubishi pieces from a JDM Evo 9 while the headlights and taillights actually come from the Evo 8, but again are the JDM MR versions. Mirrors, emblems, the grill and side spats all sport carbon fiber to match the Seibon carbon fiber hood and Street Concepts lip. The spoiler, though, that has actually remained unaltered.

So after close examination of Ryan Gonzales' Mitsubishi Evolution VIII, you can clearly see that there were several highly engineered parts on this immaculate vehicle that didn't need upgrading; items like the seats, the oil cooler, the wing... the um... I don't remember hearing anything about the trunk hinges...

Congratulations to Ryan Gonzales and his Mitsubishi Evo VIII on being the Garrett GT Ride of the Month!