aNAlUBé, a tribute profile Options

[SCCA Stang]

glad to see that you got a functional wiring harness in that thing... I know the old one was plagueing you for quite some time...

BTW... good write up

[akamiami]

The car has been running very well, serving as a daily driver as the evo has been garaged pretty much since I put 275 azenis on it. Who says dsm's can't be reliable?

Aw shizzle, more goodies for analube.




I'm not one for suspense so I'll say it's a set of FP 2x's and a flywheel bolt kit for aluminum flywheels from FP. I'll probably wait to install the latter until something makes it convenient for me to drop the trans. ::knocks on wood::

[eclipgst]

ohhhhhhh shitttt that car rules!

[akamiami]

Well, over the weekend, I decided to perform some much needed work on the car to prepare for the 'season'.

I had several issues which needed to be addressed.

1. fp2x cam installation
2. intake pressure test
3. mysterious oil leak (presumed front case or oil pan)
4. new oil filter backet installation
5. gear fluid changes
6 oil leaking from exhaust manifold studs
7. reinstallation of timing belt covers

As can be seen, 2,4,5, and 6 are easy fixes, but the rest require considerable work. This has been a definate problem of scope creep a.k.a. 'while I'm at it'-itis. But I can't ruin all the fun. There's plenty of good weather for laying on my back under the car with oil dripping in my face and hair to be had in the coming months. No need to deprive myself of that joy now.

I'm still not done at this point and have the oil pan off the car with the timing side completely disassembled. I have a tube of silicon to seal the pan with and I certainly hope it works out better than the 'Import Grey' tube of junk I bought from Autozone for the last time. When I took the pan off, it was clear that the adhesive quality was of little use as it pretty much fell off by itself. There was oil covering everything in the vicinity of the oil pan, which is a big mess.

I chose a forward facing oil filter bracket, which is common in 4g63 RWD applications, to give me the most clearance with the downpipe. I've never liked having the oil filter so close to such a source of heat, and I most certainly don't like the idea of 'cooling' oil with 200+ degree coolant.

The stock timing belt covers needed to be replaced as well, and I'm not sure what possessed me to remove them in the first place in favor of a cut off portion only retained to use in timing the car. It was a poor decision, looking back. It made diagnosis of the oil leaks all that much more difficult.

The cam installation went very smoothly. I was pleased to see the cam journals look good as I have always been paranoid about excessive wear after ruining my head and 272 intake cam once when I swapped the cam caps in error, once.

I'll take some pictures of the car and more to say when the work is complete early this afternoon, if all goes well. I 'badged' the car with it's name as well, a very nice touch, I think. Pretty sad that my major motivation for all this work was simply to have the car not leak oil continuously.

[awd4kicks]

That is an interesting thought on the oil filter housing Kris. I also went to the forward facing housing to get away from the down pipe. I still would like to use an oil cooler on the system and this housing has no access point for cooler lines.

Sounds to me you feel keeping the filter away from the heat of the exhaust is as good as having an oil cooler. I like the thought, but what is your opinion for the riggors of a road corse.

[akamiami]

I've always used a cooler of some type on the car and I think this is necessary for a street vehicle that isn't strictly drag. Right now, I have an external trans cooler from Autozone on the car and I've been running this for the past 3 years. However, I plan to upgrade soon to -10 AN lines (running -6 now) and a setrab cooler that is more efficient. Should run about $250 but that is only becuase I already have the oil filter relocation kit and oil bracket already. The costs definately add up quickly when using AN fittings, but in the long run, they're very nice and durable.

[awd4kicks]

Where are you hooking the cooler lines up to then? There is no access for lines on the forward facing oil filter housing I have. Did you install the stock oil cooler puck or are you hooking in somewhere else?

[akamiami]

pictures will illustrate this better, of course, but I'll do my best and promise that pictures will follow soon.

I have a spin on adapter that came with an oil filter relocation kit I bought through Summitt Racing. I have this on the front of the filter bracket, and -6 an lines (soon to be upgraded to -10) running to both an oil cooler and an extra large oil filter in a series fashion. It makes for a lot of plumbing, but it's really a clean setup and makes things easy and durable.

Right now I'm debating between using a stock DSM external oil cooler or springing for an Earl's or Setrab cooler. Hard to justify the extra 150 or so for a cooler when it can easily be added in the future should I determine that the stocker is insufficient. I'll probably rock a stocker till my wallet cools down. I've managed to drop nearly 2K on the car in the past two months and all I have to show for it are a set of cams, new tires, and a bunch of parts still waiting to be installed at some undetermined later date. So much for cheap speed. This thing is neither inexpesive, nor fast.

[akamiami]

The first pic shows when I was using a 90 oil bracket. I'm sure my parents appreciated me using their garbage can lid as an oil pan.

[awd4kicks]

Ahhh... A basic oil filter relocation kit that you added lines and a cooler to. Excellent idea Kris. That is not too much plumbing a tall. Looks good.

[akamiami]

Sold the car on Sunday. I've had my fun and problems with the car, so it's somebody else's turn. The kid who came and got it is from the St. Louis area, and seemed like a good knowledgeable guy. He was smart enough to recognize that I was letting the car go for a good price, as most people wouldn't pay that much money for a 14 year old car with no ac, ps, etc etc....

I'd like to say that my days of spending far too much money on my automobiles are over, but I still have my evo, so some part of the DSM remains in the garage.

[turbohcar]

At some point we all have to let go Kris. Congrats and good luck with the EVO. Coming to Vicary Day?

If so I'd like to take an opportunity to call you out. What say you to an LT1 on the roids?

[AWD DSM 1]

It seems to be a sickness that's spreading like wildfire lately....

[natedogg]

Congrats on the sale, bud. I'm not sure how long mine is going to remain in the stable either.

[Kazz5]

What, you guys gettin' too old and responsible for this stuff anymore? You'll just be lookin' back in despair in another 15 years wondering why you let 'em go ... heh.

[turbohcar]

Eh, I sold mine for different reasons. There are more vehicles out there that I want to own over the span of my lifetime than just a 1G DSM and not all of them are built by Mitsubishi.

[awd4kicks]

Yeah, congrats Kris. I know you haven't had much time to spend on the old GSX over the past few years so it makes sense.

And I don't consider myself in this sickness yet either. I haven't decided to sell yet, and if everyone keeps jumping ship I will have to remain just to keep the beacon on for all those that venture this way.

I think the platform is a great one. Myself and a few others have just been overbuilding it lately. Backwards you might even say...Drive around in a V6 or V8 DD then try to build up the 4 cylinder for an all out race car? If we were trying to win money at these national events it might make more sense, but for an all around fun a$$ car these things are it with 200-400HP. I may go back to the high 300 level and keep her as a DD, then get a heavy duty car to make into a racer.

[black92_tsi_awd]

I may go back to the high 300 level and keep her as a DD, then get a heavy duty car to make into a racer.

Glad to hear that!

[AWD DSM 1]

I may go back to the high 300 level and keep her as a DD, then get a heavy duty car to make into a racer. 

Glad to hear that!

I like that idea also...

[natedogg]

My reasons are bit different. The only cars I've ever had any racing/modding experience with are AWD turbocharged 4G63T's. Not that that's a bad thing, but I want to broaden my horizons a bit. There are so many options out there in the world of motorsports its gets a bit suffocating to limit yourself to a single platform no matter how versatile that platform may be.

Right now its especially difficult for me to find the time and the money to do much of anything with my expensive hobby. Between long hours at work and spending time with the wife and the little one its damn near impossible. I love cars (esp. DSM's)...I always will, but I'm trying to keep my priorities straight.