Kracka's GheyrodX - bigger, fatter, gheyer! by Kracka

Quite the busy day today! First of all, huge thanks to Scheides and Spaz for giving me a hand with the mod installs this morning, and second thanks to Shane @ DB for sending me home with yet another great tune! 

This morning we installed the AFE Stage 2 Dryflow intake kit, DB MBC, Nisei 1-piece UICP, and removed the clutch restrictor pill. Then it was off to DB to get a tune from Shane. Yes, Shane is the main reason Janelle and I drove the X up from TX rather than just flying. I'll post up some charts later, but it made 274 whp at 26 psi peak tapering to 18. This is a bit lower than I was hoping for, but still only 4whp below Scheides who does have a FMIC and the WGA arm tightened over my car. Out on the streets the car feels absolutely fantastic and I couldn't be happier with how it feels. Shane also made me a 91-octane alternate map for use when driving between Minneapolis and Dallas since most the country stations don't have good gas. The alt maps are ultra slick, I just hold down the cruise control button for 3 seconds to flip between the primary and alt maps.

As for the mods I chose, I couldn't be happier. The AFE intake fit perfectly as did the Nisei UICP which seriously looks more stockish than the stock UICP did since it's a single mandrel bent aluminum pipe coated in matte black. The DB MBC was coated by Primo in gloss black and also looks good in the engine bay. Although most guys with the X opt for electronic ECU-controlled boost, I chose to go the simple yet effective route. I've had nothing but great lucking using MBC's for the past 10 years so I figured there is no reason to not go with one; especially since I tried all the ECU methods on my IX and ended up going back to a MBC and being much happier. The stock clutch feels much more direct and responsive with that stupid pill removed too. It actually engages when I want it to and doesn't slip the clutch at all during a hard shift. Hopefully this will help my stock clutch live a long and healthy life.

I'll also add that the X is a fantastic roadtrip car, especially with the cruise control and satellite radio. So far I have ~1,700 miles since last Friday and by the time we get home on Sunday I expect to be nearing the 3k mile mark for the trip.

According to the dash computer, 24 MPG driving from Dallas to Minneapolis with the cruise set at 85 MPH and 26 MPG driving from Grand Rapids to Minneapolis with the cruise set at 65 MPH. I expect the open filter and tune should help me get a bit better mileage so I'll update once we're back home. As a comparison, my IX got 27-28 MPG doing 80-85 and touched 30 once keeping it under 65.

7/26/10:

2,752 miles later and GheyrodX is finally back in Texas! Only one broken part too which I suppose is good for a Mitsu... My rear swaybar started making a lot of clunking noises as we pulled into our alley last night and a quick peek under there and it looks like I either broke a rear end-link or the nut just came loose and the bar came off the end-link stud. I'll get under the car tonight after work and figure out what the actual problem is. 

I honestly couldn't be happier with the car though! It ran so perfectly the entire trip, even in the stop n go construction traffic in Oklahoma with 102F temps...not a single hiccup from the intake (or tune) with the A/C on. Hot weather + A/C fan + intakes are a big problem for the X's, but AFE obviously did their homework and properly designed the heatshield and filter placement. 

We left Minneapolis at 3:43 am Sunday morning and rolled into our garage at 6:05 pm Sunday evening for a total of 1,005 miles in 14 hours and 23 minutes which included 3 or 4 gas stops, some rest area stops, and stopping for breakfast and lunch.

I again have to give a big thanks to Scheides and Spaz for assisting with the parts installs before my tune and of course to Shane for tuning this thing so perfectly it can make it across the country with temps ranging from 60F to 102F on everything from BP 93 to ****ty Cum & Go 91 without even a hesitation. After such a long trip my IX would always just feel sluggish and tired, but the X took it all in stride and felt 100% the entire time.

Newb fail!!! The nut holding the bar on the end-link stud backed itself off and the link was able to pull out of the bar. Luckily I had a spare nut/washer in my toolbox and all is well now. While I was under there, I moved the links to the middle adjustment setting.

7/30/10:

The guy who bought my IX came over last night and I was able to snap a few pictures of the two cars. Yes, he is still rocking the MitsuStyle stickers

7/31/10:

Someone on EvoXForums did this and I got a pretty good laugh from it:

8/21/10:

In the name of science, and my anal obsession with having the best possible setup, I removed my WORKS shifter and installed a TWM just to get a feel for the differences. I'll sell the one I then decide isn't my favorite. 

Initial impressions are the TWM has shorter throw, the knob sits lower, and it centers the knob in the shift boot area. It is not as comfortable for relaxed driving (keeping my elbow on the arm rest) though; the WORKS put the knob in the perfect location as far as that's concerned. I haven't done any actual driving yet (just pulled out and back into my garage) so I will know more later today after I give it a good drive.

Comparison of stock vs. TWM vs. WORKS. You'll notice that TWM's knob height is the lowest, but WORKS has the longest lever below the fulcrum ball. The stock angles the knob slightly rearward, TWM brings it to the left, and WORKS does both rearward and left.

TWM in neutral:

WORKS in neutral:

stock in neutral:

8/27/10:

Well, the WORKS shifter is going back in tomorrow. Just the same dislikes as before. The transmission feels to notchy and I feel myself actually leaning forward to get into 5th. The WORKS just seems to be a better fit for me and feels much smoother. I definitely will not call the TWM bad, just not right for me. I'm actually going to be installing it in a local's car tomorrow morning.

8/28/10:

Awesome.

In better news, I did get the WORKS shifter reinstalled this morning and I also completely removed my rear o2 sensor since I had it disabled anyway.

8/30/10:

I already heard back from Whiteline and they're getting a replacement shipped today from their US distributor! It's nice having a product that you know will be backed up if it fails.

9/12/10:

New Whiteline bushings installed along with the new Whiteline saddles. This bushing/mount setup is a bit wider than the original set so it should be a bit heavier duty while providing more bar stability.

9/23/10:

Biggest Evo X intercooler core on the market as far as I'm aware:

MAP prototype FMIC

20"x14"x3.5" = 980 ci

There are much bigger cores available for the VIII and IX, but the X has less space, but does utilize a much more effective endtank in/outlet design.

9/26/10:

Rmondoh semi-debadged my trunk today, removed the "MITSUBISHI" and "Lancer" badges leaving the Mitsu logo and "Evolution."

I think I also finally figured out my exhaust rattle during hard left turns...looks to have been rubbing against an AYC line so I bent it out of the way slightly. We'll see once I get a chance to take a few hard corners.

10/4/10:

Better semi-debadged pic from Rmondoh yesterday.

Strapped down @ Cobb, put down 313whp/300wtq.

Dyno charts! I'm happy with my low-end spool and top-end above 7k RPM, but my midrange is ultra weak so I need to figure out why.

10/25/10 (RE: MAP FMIC):

I still haven't installed it yet, but I did weigh it this weekend. It came in at 20.4 lbs. which is really light considering the size of this core. For comparison, the Perrin (cast end-tanks but a little smaller core) comes in at 22 lbs. The ETS 3.5" is 21 lbs. (sheet metal end-tanks and a fairly small core by comparison) and the AMS is 20 lbs. (cast end-tanks, medium size core).

My pre-install impressions of this thing are great! Nicely designed cast end-tanks, good quality core, and lightweight. Assuming this things fits well without trimming I plan to urge MAP to get this thing into full production.

10/29/10:

More new stuff to install...

I got it uncoated so I can try a coating place in Arlington, TX. Nothing against MAP's coating, I just wanted to try out a local shop since people have been saying great things about it.

10/31/10:

GheyrodX will be going though some changes over these next two weeks: 

intercooler

o2/downpipe

3-port (Cobb won't tune with a MBC)

Cobb tuned

11/1/10 (RE: moving from ECUFlash to AP protune):

Tuner choice...it is what it is I guess. My car just isn't happy right now and whatever it is, all the cars that Cobb tunes churn out great results. I've talked to the guys up at Cobb quite a few times now and I do trust the work their tuner (Calvin) does. 

Nothing against Shane at all; he did wonderful work on my IX and Janelle's WRX and if he wasn't 1,000 miles away I'd be going back to him with my revised setup. I just have no interest in driving up in winter/potential winter conditions on worn stock Advans. I will be sad to lose my ECUFlash/Tephra though!

11/6/10:

MAP FMIC finally installed!

Fitment of this thing was perfect. Since it was made for a 2008 and I have a 2010 (different intercooler brackets) I had to drill a single hole and use a self-tapping screw to secure it to the chassis which was ultra easy. It's mounted rock solid, is even, and almost exactly centered.

Thanks to Tom and Armando for stopping over to lend a hand

11/9/10:

11/13/10:

Lets see, where to start...today was a pretty damn epic day. I honestly don't think I've been this excited about car stuff in a LONG time.

Quick back story:

Ever since I got GheyrodX tuned back in July I haven't been real happy with it. It drove really well, perfectly smooth, etc., but it was really down on power (especially torque) compared to where it "should" be. What really made that apparent and when I realized I needed to do something is at the NTEC dyno-day last month; my car was getting owned by even basic stock intake/stock catback X's. AFR's were spot on, it took a little timing but not much, and I was just sick of dicking with it. 

Last weekend we got the MAP FMIC installed, but today was the big day. First I started it off by installing a Grimspeed 3-port BCS then limped it to Cobb Tuning staying out of boost the best I could. 

Today's plan:

1. Completely retune the car with an Accessport

2. Install MAP o2 eliminator downpipe

3. Retune again for hard back-to-back data on the downpipe

1. Prior tune (stock FMIC w/MBC) vs. Cobb tune (MAP FMIC w/3-port):

2. Downpipe install (please note the care they took, covered everything possible to prevent scratching or damage):

3. Stock o2 housing & downpipe vs. MAP o2 eliminator downpipe:

SOLID GAINS!!! To those who say they're worthless on stock turbo/pump gas setups...eat it

Final runs dyno video:

[youtube]gHcADsKHoyo&hd=1[/youtube]

Drive home impressions: WOW! The car is a whole new beast now, can't believe I've left this much on the table since July! The car runs awesome smooth, but it really kicks you in the pants now when the turbo gets going. It's reminding me more of the original Gheyrod  

1. That's my theory at least. Cobb seems to agree. Calvin did a great job with the boost control via the Grimspeed though. My favorite part is at peak torque though, nearly identical boost and AFR, but +59 wtq!!! That is such an incredible gain it's insane!

3. Agreed. It is rubbing on the chassis at idle; very stupid placement that I will be talking with MAP about. There is no reason not to locate it with stock orientation at 12 o'clock. Other than that though, what an awesome piece! Perfect fitment and clearance everywhere else. Solid gains across the entire curve, torque and horsepower! I was quite surprised at how much tweaking the tune needed to compensate for the o2/downpipe.

4. I too am curious about this. My guess is we could talk Chris @ Cobb (Plano locations manager) into doing this test on your car. Their downpipe and a few quick tweaks to your tune and we'd have solid answers vs. stock and vs. my o2 elim dp. I'm all for any type of hard dyno data possible and would be very interested to see the results; might as well be on your car

weight comparison:

stock o2 housing & downpipe: 14.8 lbs.

MAP o2 elim dp: 8.2 lbs.

12/5/10:

I'm picking up catback #3 for the car today...

Cobb catback installed! Fits much better; a lot more clearance plus less bends and non-baffled/chambered muffler.

12/11/10:

Hankook Ventus V12 evo K110 tires mounted/balanced @ PTP in Fort Worth today! Goodbye howl-monster OEM Advans  I got 10,500 miles out of the stock tires, hoping to get 20k out of these.

12/12/10:

In my quest to make this car less of a pile of **** with it's 1980's Honda interior quality equivalent I went to JoAnn Fabrics today and got a sheet of adhesive felt for $2. I cut various size pieces and placed it at all six glovebox door connection points and at four connection points for the plastic panel that sits under the glovebox. I removed the air cylinder from the glovebox door last week and am hoping this felt will take care of the remaining dash rattles from that area.

12/13/10:

Cobb exhaust + Hankook tires + dash rattles fixes have REALLY quieted the car down during highway cruising! Even above 4k RPM the loudest thing I hear now is wind noise.