beaterX project thread

[scheides]

Ok, I'm starting to build some momentum on this thing. This car was abused by the previous owner, so the beginning is going to be all about fixing this thing up and getting it to a level that will be make me happy. I've always said that my ultimate X would be the 2010-spec MR with the Touring Edition package, but with a 5-speed.

My goals for the first part of the summer:
-fix up nasty gashes and major/minor scratches in the body work
-fix/replace rota P45F's from my evo8 and try them on this car (currently it has snow tires on it)
-detail/fix interior, specifically floor, dash, doors, and headliner.
-AWC relocate/factory bluetooth
-ralliart heated leather seat factory option
-a few power mods for the stock turbo: 300whp on DB's dyno
-try leftover evo8 mods for fitment on the X
-ecu hacks for the X

This list will obviously grow with time, but I've got to get more cash out of the parts I had for my evo8 before I can get any 'serious' mods on this thing. I've cut my budget WAY back due to some unforseen problems....needs new brake pads, the power steering issue, needed to buy a new wheel/tire, etc. I'll be keeping the custom 3" exhaust that's on here, as it has a decent muffler on it, and I'll be keeping the FMIC and UICP that came on it: they actually look to be fairly decent quality.

[goodhart]

Any wingless pics? I retract my previous statement about wrinkle blacking that UICP, you should do wrinkle red. That would look mighty nice.

[scheides]

First up, baseline. This is actually from the test drive LOL. I had shane see how healthy the thing was, and this was his idea of the quickest way to know! Red line is as it came off the dealer's lot with a few mods and MBC, green is with literally five minutes of shane's time and two dyno pulls. Black is some other car with similar mods and an intake:




Shane also said to be sure to replace the fuel pump relay, which I had read about previously.



Initial compression numbers were right around 130. Mivec does weird shit to compression numbers, so I was fine with them as-is.

[scheides]

I bought the car on a Friday. When I got to work on the next monday, it had puked out all of its power steering fluid. 20,000 miles of a poorly placed hose clamp resulted in a pinhole in the line. It took four bottles of fluid to limp the car home, and pull it apart way sooner than I had planned.


(black stuff is jb weld I had attempted to put in place in the parking lot at work)

A snap of the FMIC while the front end is apart. Garret core, measures 3 x 18 x 11.5. Endtanks are decent, but nothing amazing. It isn't huge, but should do alright for now.


Bleh. Still oil everywhere.




Dizzle's idea, worked perfect.

[scheides]

The next day I discovered that the 'ok' brake pads I had inspected in the dealer lot were in fact down to the squeel bars and making noise. I guess a few good test drives/rides pushed them over the edge. So, I ordered up a fresh set of ferodos from MAP. Sigh.


Wednesday of that week, lomker came by with some leftovers from his car! I got a smokin deal on an aFe drop-in air filter and a set of Deutschworks 800cc injectors. Doesn't sound like much, but the X fuel system is pretty beefy from the factory. CBRD says he has several cars running 400whp on pump gas, 800's and the stock fuel pump. Me likey!

After installing the air filter, the car feels snapper and smoother through the gears. I consulted several people, and we all agreed that the afr could lean out a bit, but if it did it wouldn't be more than 1 point. Shane had it pretty much set at 11:1, so even if it did lean out a full point, it wouldn't be dangerous.

[Swifty1638]

dumping and dumping more and more money into it..arg.

[awd-drifter]

looks great man. im still surprised at how much hp you've added with some simple add ons.

[scheides]

After a week of ownership, I was ready to start fiddling with the car. I had a pretty empty weekend and decided to devote some time to it.

First thing was to get logging working. Lomker borrowed me his 2.0 tactrix cable a while ago to work on ACD reflashing on the evo8/9. I never got to try it But, logging on the X is pretty easy! First mod was to enable tephra's Mode23, which basically sets up the ecu for performance logging. It works awesome. From the factory, this car has a 3.3bar map sensor, IAT, MAT, and I even figured out how to wire in my LC-1 in place of the rear o2 sensor, so wideband should be working shortly

Once I had logging working, I could do some before/after for my next little power mod for the stock turbo: tightening the wga. Lots of people talk about doing it, I tried it, it works!


Car is starting to feel like it can go now. 27psi at 3100rpm, yay mivec!


Sunday morning I made the plunge! Off with the wing!




I spent the rest of the day working with my buddy tephra, he has just about completed everything for his first round of mods for the X.

[scheides]

Now for some serious bidniz! These took HOURS AND HOURS to install, but have completely transformed the interior:





Note the seat in this pic, about where your right thigh would sit...ugh, IDK what's on it.


Now, a small pile of parts! Off with the steering wheel, apart with the console, power up the dremel! Woohoo it's bluetooth! Also, relocated the AWC controls (tarmac, gravel, snow) to the center console to make room for the 2010-spec steering-wheel-mounted radio controls. Yummy.

I did this while watching HIMYM








I didn't bother taking a pic of the bluetooth module or the mic, they get stuffed behind the dash and ceiling lights. Gonna wire in my valentine1 up there too, just need a few vampire clips!

[Goat Blower]

I'll admit, the X looks better without the wing than the 8/9 do, but I still like the wing better.

[rose0529]

Looking good!!! was the bluetooth install as hard as you thought! Looks really factory how long did it take? Hows it work? Cant wait to check it out in person.

[Kevin 1G Drummer]

In for more wingless pics. Looks like you aren't wasting much time in digging into this thing!

[asshanson]

Wingless FTW.

[craig]

Looking good never liked the X wing.

[scheides]

Originally Posted by rose0529

Looking good!!! was the bluetooth install as hard as you thought! Looks really factory how long did it take? Hows it work? Cant wait to check it out in person.

Pulling the steering wheel and such off was what I thought would be the worst, and it was the easiest. Mounting the bluetooth module and modifying the wiring harness I thought would be the easiest, they were the hardest. Still, the whole job was pretty easy, took a total of about three hours, including me making dinner, eating, watching HIMYM, and about 45 mins of the jbweld drying (attaches the bluetooth controls to the rest of the steering wheel). Oh, and installing the floor mats, that took FOREVER!

The new controls all work beautifully, almost like magic. So cool, I almost wanted to do the peanut butter jelly dance!

[Kracka]

Interior looks great, should have kept the SSS wing though!

[C3L1CA]

Thats pretty sweet scheides. You always do great work!

[A//// Guy]

Lookin good! Ill have to see the wingless look in person but Im actually prefering it as of right now. Which is weird because I like 8,9's with with wings better.

[mlomker]

Originally Posted by Goat Blower

I'll admit, the X looks better without the wing than the 8/9 do, but I still like the wing better.

I think the black looks really good wingless. I'm not as keen about it on my car but I can bolt on the APR monstrosity whenever I want to.

Scheides, will the leather be a DIY install?

[polishmafia]

Nice progress!