My Mirage of Dooom (a work in progress)

[MoD_Scotty]

I probably seem to never shut up about this car, so I figured I'd finally make a thread about it for everyone to see.

It's a 1989 Mitsubishi Mirage Turbo, one of only 1500 ever brought to the US. It came stock with a 1.6L 4G61T (essentially 4G63T with smaller bore and stroke), 11B turbo, and about 135hp at the crank. When I bought it, it already had a 14B turbo, a 3" turbo back, and a old school Greddy turbo timer (that "sings" when it's activated).

Since then, I've done the following mods:

2G MAF w/2G intake pipe and generic cone filter
A'PEXi AFC (old school knob type)
removed cat
KYB AGX up front, GR2 in rear
Tenzo R springs (highest spring rate I could find)
Front and rear strut tower bars
Relocated battery to trunk, used Miata-style battery
installed DSM sidemount intercooler
Lancer OZ Rally 15" wheels w/Kumho 711 195/50-15 tires
Second set of OZ Rally wheels with 205/50-15 Hoosier road race slicks
450cc injectors
Devil's Own alcohol injection kit w/progressive controller
Autometer boost gauge
Decided one night at 10PM that it was time to rattlecan it. It was done by 9am the next morning!

Right now, I'm in the process of installing the following:
JDM!!!!!!! Galant VR4 RS 4G63T engine w/big 16G turbo and 510cc injectors
Prothane engine mounts
VR4 RS FMIC
ACT 2600 clutch
VR4 RS AWD tranny w/viscous coupler eliminator (now essentially a FWD tranny)
EVO 1 OEM Recaro seats
Walbro 255lph fuel pump
A'PEXi SAFC2
EVO VIII 560cc injectors (right before it gets tuned)
Aeromotive FPR (still need to order this)
225/50-15 tires (need to find some 15x7 114.3 rims!)...although I have extra OZ rally wheels that I might mount them on (6" wide though)


The last time I dyno'd it, it made 215whp, and the OEM fuel pump couldn't keep up, so I was limited to only 15psi. The new setup will have .4L more displacement, a much bigger turbo, bigger injectors, bigger fuel pump, bigger intercooler (which will actually see airflow, unlike the SMIC), and the pressure on the alcohol injection setup will be cranked up. I'm shooting for 300whp. It weighs about as much as a Miata :)

Here are the pics:

What it looked like when I bought it for $1800:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/MVC-008F.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/MVC-009F.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/MVC-910F.jpg

Interior:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/IM000142.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/IM000146.jpg

Boost gauge mounted where the cig lighter used to be (and I've replaced that tape deck with a Sony MP3 CD player)
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/IM000147.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/P1000917.jpg

ready for paint
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/IM000199.jpg

Painted
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/IM000206.jpg

[caseyfoster]

Lol wow its about to be a sleeper.

[MoD_Scotty]

SMIC installed
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/IM000100.jpg

On the dyno:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/dynopic.jpg

Getting rid of old tires
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/DSCN2470.jpg

OZ wheels w/huge tires and no drop!
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/IM000298small.jpg

Slammed and wet! (I later replaced the rear shocks with appropriate ones, so it looks even now)
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/dumped2.jpg

4G63T almost ready to go in:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/P1010032.jpg

FMIC and oil cooler
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/IM000026.jpg

Waiting for me to come pull the stupid 4G61T out
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/P1000908.jpg

[MoD_Scotty]

Taking apart the AWD tranny
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/P1010040.jpg

viscous coupler vs viscous coupler eliminator (VCE)
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/P1010043.jpg

now it's a FWD tranny!
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/P1010044.jpg

back together!
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/P1010046.jpg

[scandmx5]

i see a GT mtbike FTW!!!!!!!!!!
lol scotty i wont lie, the car is ugly as a geriatric's twat
but hella fast im sure :lol:

[MoD_Scotty]

Took off the valve cover to replace the seal and clean it up a little:

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/P1010036.jpg

back together and cleaned
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/P1010038.jpg

[MoD_Scotty]

i see a GT mtbike FTW!!!!!!!!!!
lol scotty i wont lie, the car is ugly as a geriatric's twat
but hella fast im sure :lol:

LOL! Yeah, that's a '91 GT Zaskar that I bought off a crack head in Gainesville, FL for $80 (in 1996). I just put a new susp fork on it, and it's got a Thudbuster for my fat ***!

[simontibbett]

******* bad ***.

[redrumracer]

how much harder is it to make it awd?

[MoD_Scotty]

AWD conversion will require the following:

1) make tranny AWD again (easy), reinstall transfer case (which I have)
2) get driveshaft (already have it), and have it shortened
3) get DSM rear subframe (preferably more expensive and stronger 4-bolt/VLSD version)
4) remove fuel tank and cut out spare tire well
5) mount/weld in rear subframe
6) re-install fuel tank, fabricate sheetmetal piece for gigantic hole in trunk
7) fabricate lower engine subframe (current one runs where the transfer case will go)
8) get 1G DSM front 5-lug hubs to match rear 5-lug setup that came on the rear subframe

So it's not an overnight job! There's a guy that did it in a week, and that was the second time he had performed the modification. Personally, it's an option I'm going to leave open for the future. Right now I just want to drive my car again!

[Jecht]

Nice sleeper!

[wildfire0310]

AWD conversion will require the following:

1) make tranny AWD again (easy), reinstall transfer case (which I have)
2) get driveshaft (already have it), and have it shortened
3) get DSM rear subframe (preferably more expensive and stronger 4-bolt/VLSD version)
4) remove fuel tank and cut out spare tire well
5) mount/weld in rear subframe
6) re-install fuel tank, fabricate sheetmetal piece for gigantic hole in trunk
7) fabricate lower engine subframe (current one runs where the transfer case will go)
8) get 1G DSM front 5-lug hubs to match rear 5-lug setup that came on the rear subframe

So it's not an overnight job! There's a guy that did it in a week, and that was the second time he had performed the modification. Personally, it's an option I'm going to leave open for the future. Right now I just want to drive my car again!


AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD :biggrin::biggrin:


I can't wait to see this running man. 4g63 will always be my favorite 4cyl motor. No matter how many issues I had with my DSM they make some crazy stupid power. I still want to swap a 4g63 into a miata one day. :biggrin:

[RotorNutFD3S]

Awesome sleeper! Good job!

[MoD_Scotty]

BTW, the current goal is to have the car road ready for spring break (basically April 3rd), so that I can use it to ferry parts to my bro in Orlando. Now if only I could tell all of my professors to quit giving me assignments!

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

Cool sleeper, good luck with the deadline! I tried getting mine done over the course of spring break. Got it running and working but not quite aswell as needed just yet!

[MrVito]

Do I need to come over again so you actually do some work?

[MoD_Scotty]

Do I need to come over again so you actually do some work?

Yes! Like right now would be good.

[Gotsol]

these are cool sleepers. what do you plan to do with it?

[MoD_Scotty]

Embarrass expensive cars on the highway!

Seriously though, the more I think about it's potential as a track car, versus the Miata's, I'm starting to lean toward the Mirage being a 300whp, turdbox-looking daily driver.

Otherwise, it'll be used to autoX, occasaional drag, and hopefully some actual track time.

[dundunskeert]

My dad used to have one... bought it new, drove it for about 170,000 miles sold it for $500!!!??? and got a tenth anniversary edition miata. I really wish we had kept that car.

[MoD_Scotty]

I've been neglecting this thread! Here's the latest:

4G63T is in the car (with new F&R crank seals, all new belts, new water pump, new idler pulleys, etc). FMIC is bolted up. Pass side axle is back in, pass side sway bar bushing upgraded. Figured out that the GVR4 cold pipe will work perfectly. I may need to modify the hot pipe setup, but it should work as well. I'm having a little issue getting the GVR4 shifter cables to work (the Mirage ones were trashed and held together by zipties). I also realized I'm going to have to slice in some of the connectors from the GVR4 wiring harness. But there is really only a couple days left of work on the car before it's on the road again. Then I gotta figure out WTF I'm gonna do with the tank full of 3yr old gas.

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/P1010550.jpg

[sharkythesharkdogg]

Drain it into a jug, find a likely victim, AND SETS THEM ON FIYAHS!
















Preferably not me.

[wildfire0310]

Sweet mirage of doom will be road worthy soon. :D:D



Drain it into a jug, find a likely victim, AND SETS THEM ON FIYAHS!


I have an idea, and I even think some board members would help pay for the cost to drive to "their" place :D

[MoD_Scotty]

Been getting a ton of work done on the car. The engine and wiring are almost completely hooked up. I need to swap out the Galant coil pack for the Mirage one. Other than hookin up a couple random lines, the **** is done. All of the intercooler piping is done. The Infiniti G20 bumper is mounted and secured.

All the car really needs is to have the clutch bled, change the oil and tranny fluid, and just tighten a few bolts. I should be attempting to start it tomorrow.

Civic radiator (freed up room for intercooler piping)
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/CivicRad.jpg

Ford fuel injector clips (they replaced crappy broken Mitsu ones that have the little metal clip)
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/P1010558.jpg

510cc injectors (I have a set of 560s I'll eventually upgrade to)
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/P1010559.jpg

it looks messy, and I'll be cleaning up the wiring a little bit tomorrow.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/P1010565.jpg

FMIC FTMFW
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/P1010560.jpg

like a damn glove. It's only being held by two bolts...but it's on there pretty snug.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/P1010562.jpg

[RotorNutFD3S]

Sweet! Good progress!

[MoD_Scotty]

I drove the car tonight! It's completely badass. But I have some stuff to sort out before I can drive it to Tampa. Like getting a radiator fan that works! Then I'm going to need to bleed the system big time. Then get the A/C working. Then get an alignment.

So yeah, I'll have my work cut out for me tomorrow!

[MoD_Scotty]

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/P1010567.jpg

[Reverend Greg]

Now all you need is a fresh coat of the black stuuf to get it road worthy.Looking real good man!
-G-

[wildfire0310]

Wow great work man. Glad to hear that you got it running.

[MoD_Scotty]

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/P1010571.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/P1010572.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/P1010573.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/P1010574.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/P1010576.jpg

[MoD_Scotty]

More progress this weekend. Installed the G20 blinkers. Tightened up the alternator belt (was squealin like crazy). Also figured out the $40 fan I bought from Autozone only pushes 650 CFM, and I need at least 1200CFM for the Honda radiator to cool enough (the car starts to overheat on the highway unless I have the heat on!). So I ordered a new 12" 1250CFM fan (which will replace the 10" 650CFM one).

I also converted the car to R134, but I haven't tried to charge it yet. I know it's going to need a receiver/drier, so I'm not even wasting my time until I have one on there.

Oh yeah, finally sorted the timing out. It needs to be at 5....it was at 12. Ouch. Fixed that.

Also, for some reason an Audi R8 didn't want to mess with me on the highway. He was in too much of a rush to weave through traffic...didn't want to get pwned I guess ;)

YEAH RIGHT.

[simontibbett]

I love these. Someone just offered a trade for a Colt turbo for my E30, it has bolt ons, FMIC, lots of other mods.

[MoD_Scotty]

Finally was able to replace the worn out ball joints on the front lower control arms, which meant I could finally get an alignment, which meant I could finally mount the new(ish) and WAY wider wheels and tires! It still looks like crap, but going from a >5yr old 195/50-15 on a 15x6" wheel to a fresh 225/50-15 on a 15x7" wheel is a HUGE improvement!

Before:

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/P1010574.jpg

Now:

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/icanhazgrip/IMG00026-20100420-1611.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/icanhazgrip/IMG00023-20100420-1610.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/icanhazgrip/IMG00027-20100420-1622.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/icanhazgrip/IMG00024-20100420-1611.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/icanhazgrip/IMG00025-20100420-1611.jpg

[RotorNutFD3S]

Looks good! And I thought that the 205s looked beefy on my 15x7.5s.

[Beastinthebushes]

God that car is hideous. Sorry Scotty, but I say keep it that way. I'm sure the looks on peoples faces will be priceless when you pass them.