Hey guys.. I wanted to post an observation I made recently.. For the past 5 weeks I've had the Buschur tuning S-AFC, open element air filter, and a manual boost controller (Set for 20psi).. The car ran great (FYI I ran a 12.93 with the car bone stock, and have not yet tried again) Felt much stronger and generally quicker after the mods.. I also noticed my gas mileage improved a little.. But wait, this gets better.. This past week I had my Buschur 3" turbo back exhaust (With a cat!!) installed.. and it was like a night and day difference.. the car felt much quicker, part throttle pull improved significantly.. and my gas mileage improved even more.. I just got nearly 300 miles on a single tank of gas.. previously I was lucky if I got 240 (200 was norm) and my driving style has not changed.. I have absolutely no idea how quick my car is now.. but not only are these mods improving performance, but the efficiency of the engine now has made a marked improvement in my gas mileage.. Gotta love technology..

 

The dyno is your friend, make friends with a shop that owns a dyno... that is the only hard evidence of what those mods are doing.

 

Malibu - what's your AFC settings? I have virtually the same setup as you (Buschur is a REALLY great product and company from my experiences), and I ain't getting no where near 300 miles to a full tank. Then again, I get stuck in a lot of traffic, so I guess it might even out. I also "cruise" at around 3200rpm in 5th on the highway.

 

I'm actually running Buschur's settings at the moment.. Since I've only run 2 tanks since the exhaust, one was 280 the other was 270 miles to the tank.. I generally cruise at 70mph which is around 3200 rpm or so.. so your right in the ballpark.. I really think part of my story is the way I broke in the engine, like I said I ran an unbelievable 1/4 time when the car was stock.. But I haven't run again since then.. The bad news is I live on Long Island.. The closest AWD dyno I think is in Conn.. I'm more than willing to flog my car on a dyno and even test out a few prototype parts and some of my own designs.. But its just too inconvenient, I've spent most of my time road tuning, which is actually what many of the other shops around here do anyway.

I really would like to run a standalone aftermarket ECU, I think we can see enormous gains with one..

 

That is a fantastic time for a stock car.... I sure wish I could get within a second of your times... What were the conditions of the track when you ran that time? I ran at 1200 ft with very hot and muggy conditions....

 

I wish I didn't misplace the 3 timeslips I've been looking all over for them, I think they might have gotten thrown away with a bunch of receipts that I tossed a while back.. all were 13.0 or faster.. I did a number on my clutch that day so I am reluctant to try it again with this much more power.. However, it was about 68 degrees the day I was out, and we're very close to sea level where I was, I don't recall the exact elevation, it was fairly cool and pretty dry, but it was threatening to rain that afternoon. I don't recall the trap times, but I remember averaging about 1.8 60' times (slipping the clutch a bit too much) the car runs really strong so I think I could probably run DEEP 12's with the car's current tune.. honestly I prefer the autoX style driving over drag racing so I don't really feel the desire to beat the snot out of my clutch except on an occasional street race.

 

Do you race Solo II? If so are you running in SM(Street Modified) class?

 

Solo.. I haven't really done it all that much.. but its more fun than drag racing.. Since the few times I did it, it wasn't an SCCA event, they didn't have equivalent classes, however I usually ended up with modified cars or corvettes/camaros.. I haven't gone in several years (I had a 82 RX-7 at the time) and I've only gone once recently with this car. I guess my car would end up in SM. I really want to try some wheel to wheel racing but I'm reluctant to drive several hundred miles to get to the nearest track. Truthfully, most of my driving is extremely high speed street driving, around turns, and whatnot.. I wish I had the time (and motivation) to participate in more organized functions..

Before you ask, I don't have times to list, since it wasn't a standard distance or layout, the times would be irrelavant except comparing other cars at the same place.. I did fairly well, but not as well as I could have had I been more aggressive. If comparison helps, I did better than many of the camaros and corvettes, however not as well as the 2 or 3 porsches that were there.

 

Update.. Third tank and got 270 miles on this tank also.. And thats with (avatar) your more aggressive settings.. I really need to log the knock sensor to see if its actually getting any, but it seems to run great and its not pulling timing. I may go back to Buschurs settings for daily driving since under load its a little lean, but not dangerous..

 

How are you monitoring your timing? datalogger? Can you log knock with your datalogger?

 

Yeah, I discovered there was a PID for Knock sensor, however you can also log the timing to look for subtle shifts which is usually an indicator of detonation.. I am using custom modified software for the PocketPC.. I loosely based the code on a sample that someone on www.scantool.net did for his IPAQ.. Right now I'm trying to optimize the code and tailor it specifically for logging boost, O2, timing, Injector duty cycle, RPM, and Knock (if the knock pid actually works) the issue I have right now is that with the more items I log, the fewer times per second I can sample.. and it looks like the port speed on the OBD-II Scantool is whats slowing things down. Again, I'm not certain how accurate this custom software is, so take my observations with a grain of salt.. But on my A/F gauge, it does seem to be a little lean (still in the safety margin according to voltage though)

Its funny, I have this planned upgrade path written out.. and it nearly mirror's AlfriedEsq's mod list.. though I'm still concerned about the CAM profiles since these cars really can use a bit more torque downstairs that is overcome with boost at high rpm..

I really would like to run a header, but I've had two people recommend porting the stock manifold if I want to continue to run the stock turbo.. I may just splurge for the turbo upgrade and intercooler in one shot though (its expensive as hell)

I am wondering when I'll get an opportunity to get to the track, but I'm really concerned about burning up the stock clutch since I seem to feather it a bit too much on a hard launch.. I actually think the next thing I'll be doing is the clutch upgrade, then injectors/fuel pump in preparation for the cams etc.. I'm waiting for a standalone engine management system thats plug and play for the Evo before I go too much further, I'd like to break into the 11's without NOS (a friend of mine is going to set up a NOS wet kit in my car, but I'm reluctant to consider using it until I can take care of the clutch)

 

Just so you know.. There are several model specific PID's that arent documented anywhere for some cars.. even the ability to temporarily modify settings.. Its just not common knowledge and I'm still trying to decipher what the ones for the LanEvo are..

 

Anyone try to port / polish the exhaust ports on the manifold ?

Typically forced induction cars show really nice increases in hp / tq with a port / polish on the exhaust side ( not so much on the intake, I guess because its 'forced induction'.)

 

I haven't yet.. But I do plan on it if I don't go with a header.. I'd hate to spend money twice if I'm already going to go with the upgraded turbo (then the header is a waste because the new turbo isn't a twin scroll so the kit comes with its own new header)
Also, the 02 housing on my car is still stock, I was waiting for Buschur to release their upgraded 3" housing but I haven't seen it yet (Correct me if I'm wrong and I'll buy one today!) I plan on buying a wideband o2 sensor so I'd add a second o2 bung to it (or even offer it with a second bung but have it plugged)

 

I do plan on extrudehoning the intake manifold and machining the throttle body (and new throttle plate) , unless someone already offers the upgraded throttlebody (Works??) then I'd at the least port match the intake to the new dimensions.. I'd really like to get a new intake manifold, and new exhaust manifold, extrudehone them try them out.. and then I have my original stock parts to put back on if it doesnt pan out.. I'd also like to get a head assembly from Mitsubishi to have put on a flowbench and they can then look at the ports, bowls, and other flow restrictions, without rendering my car unusable.. I just don't want to spend 3k for a head assembly (if thats the going rate)

Ultimately I'd like to salvage an entire engine/driveline from a wrecked Evo and do everything off the car and swap it in later.

My issue now is I don't have the unlimited funds to try these things out, nor do I have any shops sponsoring my modifications or throwing parts my way.. So it'll take a bit longer.. but I do have a goal in mind.