Anyone who's still under the impression that it takes a well-built large displacement V-8 to cover the first quarter-mile of a racetrack in less than 11 seconds is due for a reality check. Even those whose allegiance sides with road racing should find the sub-10-second dragstrip accomplishments of any turbocharged 2.0L small displacement inline four-cylinder engine nothing short of amazing. Especially when considering such vehicles retain stock interiors and AWD drivetrains that aren't exactly weight-conscious, like Jarrod Barnett's street-licensed gem.
The '04 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII most recently sparkled with an 11-second e.t. in its "show car" trim on C-16 race gas. Not even a '69 Camaro SS with its normally aspirated 350ci 5.7L engine with twice the cylinders and almost three times the displacement is capable of such feats. Let this be the obligatory textbook lesson for any impending V-8 bound contender stumbling upon the unsuspecting four-banger with the shiny big wing and Buschur Racing emblems.
David Buschur, a premier DSM and Mitsubishi tuner from Wakeman, Ohio, has spent his life developing high-performance upgrades for all things Mitsubishi, including the EVO VIII. This has allowed Barnett, Buschur Racing's sales manager, to accelerate his personal EVO to 133 mph over the quarter-mile.
Perhaps the most significant option for this EVO is its Forced Performance turbocharger assembly that, in the past five years, has been used successfully in DSMs making between 520 to 560 whp. The FP3065 is based on the Garrett Ballistic Concepts ball bearing turbocharger, the GT3082R, that is a hybrid of sorts, matching a GT30 turbine wheel with a 82mm exducer diameter compressor wheel from a GT3582R. The GT30 turbine wheel's smaller diameter and weight allow quicker turbine spool-up in comparison to the larger turbine found in the GT3582R. Interestingly, the smaller turbine doesn't become an obstacle for exhaust gases traveling through the volute until the compressor reaches upwards of 33 psi. Such turbochargers are well-suited for drag racing applications because of the 0.67 A/R proprietary turbine housing developed by Forced Performance. This comparatively smaller opening increases exhaust velocity, which is then harnessed to drive the turbine wheel and the connected compressor wheel; both of which will rotate at higher speeds, thereby increasing boost pressure at lower engine speeds. However, what works in favor of the turbine wheel at lower engine speeds can also work against it at higher ones. In general, the smaller A/R causes exhaust gas flow to contact turbine blades more tangentially, thus reducing flow capacities through the turbine housing and increasing power-robbing backpressure. In fact, the supremacy of the FP3065 is achieved by the delicate balance of these very aerodynamic variables.
The same concept is applicable to the compressor side of the turbocharger although to a lesser extent. A relatively smaller compressor housing, like the popular Garrett T04S used on the FP3065, facilitates higher boost pressures by reducing the area where the charged air is allowed to flow through. The housing is machined with ports to prevent compressor surge when the turbo spools up quickly. This potent combination of parts in the FP3065 permits boost to come on sooner and harder than the stock turbocharger.
Thanks to Buschur's entrepreneurial aptitude, this versatile medium frame DSM turbocharger could be bolted on to the EVO VIII's reverse-mounted, transverse 4G63 platform. The full bolt-on Buschur Racing FP3065 turbo kit is available to purchase for anyone with the desire to go fast. The kit includes many of the components used to prep Barnett's car. The quintessential ingredient in adapting the FP3065 to the EVO was the Ni-Resist cast manifold that's flanged to accept other DSM turbochargers. This manifold features an external wastegate mount paired with a TiAL 44mm wastegate.
Before running the car on the dyno with the FP3065, Barnett replaced the stock camshafts with HKS ones, the stock clutch with an Exedy twin-plate piece and a previously installed A'PEXi Power FC unit with an AEM engine management system. With a conservative tune and 22 psi of boost on 94-octane gasoline, the dyno returned 342 whp and 287 lb-ft of torque. A bit more radical tune at 28 psi matched with C-16 race fuel put down 462 whp and 367 lb-ft of torque, enough to easily beat a 5.0 Mustang. In 2006, Barnett recorded an 11.04-second run with a top speed of 128 mph at Norwalk Raceway Park.
The heavily modified EVO also sports a series of Buschur Racing upgrades including a manual boost controller, 3-inch turbo-back exhaust, front-mount intercooler, upper and lower intercooler piping and mass air pipe, TiAL blow-off valve, large open element air filter, mini-battery kit for reduced weight and size, rear strut tower brace and a carbon-fiber front lip.
Other sources also enhance this gem of an EVO, including an Agency Power fuel rail and front motor mount, as well as Ralliart spark plug wires. The stock suspension components are complemented with Tein S-tech springs, which offer a 1.5-inch lower ride height. Evodave blacked-out headlights, APR carbon-fiber mirrors, JDM MR taillights and a JDM EVO IX rear bumper fashion the aesthetic look to suit Barnett.
Seeking more power and a better e.t. in 2007, the car underwent more modifications during the winter. The Exedy twin-plate HD clutch was replaced with a triple-plate HD Cerametallic clutch, while 1,000cc PT&E fuel injectors and a Buschur Racing ported fuel pump were introduced. Buschur BF272 custom ground camshafts with 11.8mm lift also replaced the HKS setup along with a GReddy Kevlar timing belt upgrade. The Buschur camshafts are specifically designed for the GT30 series turbochargers, like the FP3065. A ported stock intake manifold is attached to the lightly modified stock cylinder head where Buschur Racing valve springs and retainers in conjunction with ARP head studs replace the stock setup. Buschur-spec, 8.8:1 compression ratio, standard-bore JE Pistons and Crower billet rods were also dropped in and bolted to the balanced stock crankshaft with ARP rod bolts for added durability. The engine retains its original displacement but shows significant improvements on the dyno by way of 398 whp and 303 lb-ft of torque on 94-octane fuel at 22 psi. On race gas and at 29 psi, the dyno reported 502 whp and 403 lb-ft of torque.
Before the Ohio snow melted in the spring, Barnett upgraded to 18x9 Advan Racing RS chrome wheels. These could carry the added width of BFGoodrich G-Force T/A Drag Radial 245/40 tires, while shedding a substantial amount of mass, weighing just 40 pounds per corner. At the first outing of the '07 season, Barnett ran 10.83 at 133 mph at 29 psi. Turning up the boost to 32 psi on a subsequent run generated enough force to break one of the rear halfshafts preventing him from clocking the attainable, but temporarily elusive 10.5 e.t.
Although the outing proved to be bitter sweet, the ride home confirmed that racing in show car trim had its distinct advantages, like watching the record-setting run replay on the Pioneer 6400CD stereo/DVD head unit's 6.5-inch LCD display as the sunlight gleamed off the weightless white finish that resembled light reflecting off a polished gem.
2004 Mitsubishi Evolution Viii
Power: 502 Whp @ 29 Psi Torque: 403 Lb-Ft @ 29 Psi
Engine
Buschur-Spec Je Pistons
Buschur-Spec Crower Rods
Buschur Racing Camshafts
Buschur Racing Valve Springs And Retainers
Arp Headstuds
Greddy Kevlar Timing Belt
Buschur Racing Ported Intake Manifold
Buschur Racing Fp3065 Turbo Kit
Tial 44mm Wastegate
Buschur Racing Race Front-MountIntercooler
Buschur Racing Intercooler PipingTial Blow-Off Valve
Buschur Racing Mass Air Pipe And Filter
Buschur Racing 3" Turboback Exhaust /Bullet Mufflers
Buschur Racing Modified Fuel Pump
Precision 1000 Cc/Min Fuel Injectors
Agency Power Fuel Rail
Buschur Racing Manual Boost Controller
Aem Ems With Uego
Buschur Racing Mini Battery Kit
Agency Power Front Lower Motor Mount
Ralliart Plug Wires
Buschur Racing Billet Spark Plug Cover
Hks Oil Cap
Hks Radiator Cap
Drivetrain
Exedy Triple-Plate Cerametallic Clutch
Buschur Racing Shifter Bushings
Bushwacker Transmission
Suspension
Buschur Racing Rear Strut Brace
Tein S-Tech Springs
Exterior
Jdm Evo Ix Rear Bumper
Buschur Racing Carbon Fiber Front Lip
Apr Carbon Fiber Mirrors
Jdm Evo Mr Taillights
Vortex Generator
European Rear Badge
Evo Vi Rear Badge
Evodave Blacked-Out Headlights
S2000 Antenna
Johnson Window Tint
Interior
Pioneer 6400cd 6.5" Flipout MonitorWith Dvd
Stewart Warner 40psi Boost Gauge
Raptor Performance Shift Light
Greddy Shift Knob
Sparco Harness Bar
Camera Mount
Wheels/Tires
18" Advan Rs (+29 Offset)
245/40/18 Bf G-Force T/A Drag Radials