First mods

[xXLOUROXx]

What would you guys say the first mods people with RA's should do like stage one mods

[MikeW-RRE]

I am having good luck with an axle back exhaust, a used EVO X intercooler and a tune. I am seeing 40-50 additional hp at the wheels for about $1200.

You could do an intake and a full cat back exhaust too along with intercooler piping. But with the small turbo I dont think the gains would be there to justify the additional expense. The turbo really is holding things back the most. If you will be upgrading the turbo for sure, then by doing the bogger piping is laying the groundwork for the additional mods later and isnt necessarily a waste.

You could also get a tune with no other mods and get possibly the same 40 hp too. Especially if you have better than 91 octane gas available to you. But then again an axle back exhaust will sound better, still flow better and the intercooler will keep intake temps more consistant on multiple pulls.

Correct answer? There isnt one :-P Ask 10 people and you will get 10 different answers. In the end it depends on how far you are going with the car, if there is a Mitsu specialist shop with in driving distance, or maybe local gurus that can load a generic map and do a little data logging and tweaking for you. Regardless, ECU tuning will absolutely be on your list of mods if you will be having any safe fun with the car.

Mike W

[MTZL]

^I Agree with Mike. You should either get EVO X Turbo and Tune or just current mod with Tune. Tuning will be your biggest gain without a big budget.
Up to you since you got EVO X IC and Piping done, get yourself EVO X Turbo and Tune for +150whp :D. More power = less MPG. Are you modding for Track or Street?

My first step was Custom ECU flash and Dyno Tuned.
Which got me from STOCK 193-202whp to FLASH 215-225whp got rid of the "Dip" on power band around 4-4.5k rpm around 5k rpm is where the most power gain is compare to stock vs Flash. My tune was done by Bryan @ GST Motorsports in Hayward, CA

But with every upgrade you should get a custom Dyno tuned unless you get all your upgrades bolt em up and get Custom Dyno Tuned .
I didnt plan on Big Budget modding til Im done paying for it.

I tried to post pictures as an attachment but my .tiff file is not support.
and adding picture is only http:// add your URL? Howd you post your picts in your thread?

[xXLOUROXx]

Thanks guys yeah everyone is telling me reflash... I still have my RA stock but like i was thinking do intercooler, BOV, intake, exhaust first then tune.... My only concern right now is my warrenty i dont want to void it for anything stupid u know this car is my baby

[MikeW-RRE]

If you go to a dealer for a hole in your piston with an intercooler, intake, BOV exhaust and flash tuned, they probably will not fix it for free for you.

If you wanted to help drive Mitsubishi into the ground after getting a hole in your piston with an intercooler, intake, BOV exhaust and flash tuned, you could put it all back to stock and go in to a dealer with your angel face on. People shouldnt do that but it happens.

If you go to a dealer for a leaky trunk or a power window that wont roll down and your car has an intercooler, intake, BOV exhaust and is tuned, they probably will fix it with no questions asked.


Once you install the intake, dont go mashing on it much until you get the car tuned.


Mike W

[xXLOUROXx]

thanks deff i honestly dont want to mash on it at all i mean i have the few si's who think they are hot shots that i have to play with and show them who is boss but i jst dont want warrenty to get in the way because every effing thing is marked

[TheBlackBeast]

What would you guys say the first mods people with RA's should do like stage one mods
Seriously, start with the axle back exhaust, intercooler and tune like I did for mine ( http://www.clubralliart.com/showthread.php?t=248 ). Its mild as long as you stay off the gas. Once you get on it, it turns into this, this, this thing that wants to eat children alive. :D I can't quite express with words how this exhaust sounds when you get on it. Its like your brain is aware of exactly how much air flows through it at the same time as processing the rapid increase in road speed. Its especially nice going through certain tunnels in southern cali... amplifies it times ten at least. :D

[MTZL]

Ralliart ////////// JUST TUNE IT! drive & smile. Most reliable upgrade, Best bang for the buck. Will not void warrenty, just have to reload stock ecu map for warrenty. JUST TUNE IT! like NIKE

[xXLOUROXx]

lol is there any systems i should get with maps like how mazda got the cobb

[MikeW-RRE]

With something like the Cobb AP you are getting some mail in flashes to play with. Might be cool for a guy in Siberia or Nicaragua. But I see you are in NJ? Turbotrix and more are close by you. You can get the car tuned specifically for what it needs on a dyno.

Mike W

[xXLOUROXx]

thanks i mean i dont know much about this stuff im seriously a newbiee... i jst got some speed 3 friends id like to shut up =]

[TheBlackBeast]

lol is there any systems i should get with maps like how mazda got the cobbYes there are but if you are really new to tuning, go to a shop like the one Mike recommended. Its best for you and your car - especially if you are worried about warranty stuff. EcuTek is what RRE uses to tune the Ralliart maps and such but from what I've seen, there is a steep learning curve!

[xXLOUROXx]

yeah i no i mean i know my stuff with honda's and basic parts i do work at a auto part store but idk im jst worried about warrenty and stuff like im thinking about getting the ultimate racing intake and exhaust first.... then bov and intercooler when i do that ima get the tune... does that sound fairly smart or no

[Ladogaboy]

thanks i mean i dont know much about this stuff im seriously a newbiee... i jst got some speed 3 friends id like to shut up =]

Want to shut them up? Ask them to go with you on a track day or autocross. :D

Seriously, though, most of the mods that have been mentioned so far are power. ECU tuning is the best bang for the buck in that area. In fact, GST is giving out a free base tune, so all you would need to do is buy a tactrix cable.

Many mods that the RA is in needs of, however, don't involve a tune at all. I would say that number one on that list is new rims and tires. The stock rims weigh in excess of 25 lbs each and can only hold 225 wide tires. My suggestion, if you want to stick with 18s is to go with OZ Racing Alleggerita HLTs. You'll be saving about 7 lbs of weight per wheel, and you can mount them with good 235 wide tires.

Also, RRE has some good springs that you can get to lower your car's profile a bit and increase the handling TREMENDOUSLY.

Robispec also has some springs, and they also have swaybars for the car (though they might need to be installed by someone since they require dropping the diff).

Finally, if you plan on beating your car, and even if you don't (it doesn't sound like you do), a transmission cooler might not be a bad investment. Even in everyday driving, I have smelled some burning clutch and have worried about the longevity of the TC-SST. :(

Anyway, you'll find that a lot of guys here are going through the same thing as you: Debating what mods to go with first, and (in my case) the most cost-effective mods available.

[Ladogaboy]

yeah i no i mean i know my stuff with honda's and basic parts i do work at a auto part store but idk im jst worried about warrenty and stuff like im thinking about getting the ultimate racing intake and exhaust first.... then bov and intercooler when i do that ima get the tune... does that sound fairly smart or no

I would hold off on the intake until you are ready for the tune. Everything else should be OKAY without a tune (though you won't see the gains you would with a tune), but the intake should not be installed for too long before getting a tune. And if you do install an intake without a tune, as Mike said: take it easy and try and stay out of boost until tuned.

[xXLOUROXx]

waiitttt thats the smelll i smell when like u take off...... burnt clutchhh nottt coollll at alllllll

[TheBlackBeast]

yeah i no i mean i know my stuff with honda's and basic parts i do work at a auto part store but idk im jst worried about warrenty and stuff like im thinking about getting the ultimate racing intake and exhaust first.... then bov and intercooler when i do that ima get the tune... does that sound fairly smart or no
Save your money and get intake, exhaust, intercooler and tune all at once. Much more cost effective. SKIP the BoV - its a waste of money unless you plan on dropping in a huge turbo. injectors, cams, EMS, etc. Since it doesn't sound like you will ever do that, save the money you would spend on the BoV on a tune instead. If you want a BoV to hear the woosh sound, you will hear it once you go with an open element air filter.

[MTZL]

^ Stock Air filter in our RA is the same as in All other Lancer.
First Upgrade replace Air Filter.

[xXLOUROXx]

ok guys so so far i believe im going for the exhaust first.... a little bit down the road im going for intake and front mount with tune does that sound like a good start ?

[MTZL]

^ you should do those all at the same time. Sounds like you should keep it stock til you got money to spend. Best advise.

Stock Exhaust is tuned to stock power. Replacing Exhaust alone wont make power just noise. You should put intake and exhaust at the same time Which intake and which exhaust? I really dont know.

Mine is stil stock (bad economy is kicking my @$$)

[Ladogaboy]

Even without a tune, most aftermarket exhausts will make *some* power. The trick is weeding out the exhausts that are all show and no go (kind of hard to know since it is so early on with the Ralliarts).

The one mod that I would say you can't really go wrong with would be an I/C and piping. An EVO X I/C with aftermarket or custom piping will do wonders, with or without a tune... especially on hot summer days.

Also, on a side note, Mike from RRE had done some messing around with aftermarket panel filters, and he said that he didn't feel that they made much of a difference. Some people have reported slightly better gas mileage, but Mike's dyno read little to no power gains. I'd have to dig up the thread where he posted the numbers, but I'm too lazy right now. :p

[MTZL]

Too lazy to move your fingers??? hahahha