I got my Evo from a forum member in early 2015 but lost the progression of modifying it through old phone backups and old laptops, so most details or photos are from within the past year. I daily my Evo so I never had the idea of modding it with fancy, track-driven parts. It originally had a Cobb AP OTS tune on stock turbo that would taper boost at high RPM like expected, but it was fun regardless. My first few mods consisted of an open dump downpipe, fmic, test pipe, and a tune at IveyTune in North NJ. It was fun an fairly reliable for some time (a misfire here or there, easy fixes).
I did actually take it to the track once at NJMP lightning and man, was this car cheat codes. I didn't think I'd be getting point-bys from Corvettes and M4s.
![Wheel Tire Car Vehicle Hood]()
Shortly after, my stock turbo started acting strangely. I normally like to upgrade as opposed to replace, so I bought a used FP red (not buying a used turbo ever again, or any used air/fuel parts for a turbo car). That really changed the car and kept the relative spool characteristics compared to stock and gave me a taste of what a turbo car can do. Unfortunately it blew a turbo seal in the middle of nowhere and I needed a tow. At that point, I became serious with modifying the Evo by avoiding sourcing used parts on Facebook group pages. I had CBRD in York, PA install and tune their BW EFR8374 kit (.92 a/r, IWG). The transient response with the turbo was incredible and it held boost without tapering.
I'd get my valve cover powdercoated some time after by a reputable company in the Philly area and due to my ignorance, I didn't check whether the baffles were cleaned (I assumed they were cleaned by the company) and some tens of miles shortly after, my oil pump got clogged up and I experienced rod knock for the first time. It was faster to throw in a new 2014 crate engine, so I went that route and got it re-tuned. At least now I didn't have to do the timing chain service on an old 08 engine.
I did actually take it to the track once at NJMP lightning and man, was this car cheat codes. I didn't think I'd be getting point-bys from Corvettes and M4s.
Shortly after, my stock turbo started acting strangely. I normally like to upgrade as opposed to replace, so I bought a used FP red (not buying a used turbo ever again, or any used air/fuel parts for a turbo car). That really changed the car and kept the relative spool characteristics compared to stock and gave me a taste of what a turbo car can do. Unfortunately it blew a turbo seal in the middle of nowhere and I needed a tow. At that point, I became serious with modifying the Evo by avoiding sourcing used parts on Facebook group pages. I had CBRD in York, PA install and tune their BW EFR8374 kit (.92 a/r, IWG). The transient response with the turbo was incredible and it held boost without tapering.
I'd get my valve cover powdercoated some time after by a reputable company in the Philly area and due to my ignorance, I didn't check whether the baffles were cleaned (I assumed they were cleaned by the company) and some tens of miles shortly after, my oil pump got clogged up and I experienced rod knock for the first time. It was faster to throw in a new 2014 crate engine, so I went that route and got it re-tuned. At least now I didn't have to do the timing chain service on an old 08 engine.
