2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8 - A-Spec's Time Attack Evo - Engine Build

With a golden ticket to the magical land of Buttonwillow, A Spec outlined a plan using only the best that money could buy. That's right, no low budget street car build-up here, that is, unless you consider shelling out $60k for mods a drop in the bucket. Therefore, any haters in the crowd flossing their PhDs (read: playa hating degrees) ought to stop reading from this point and skip on over to the budget-build section of Readers' Rides (check out my ride of the month!). For those that like the taste of pie from the humble variety and want to see what it takes to build a Time Attacker, read on.

The first step in order to build a competitive Time Attack car is making sufficient power. So, when it came time to building their block, A Spec handed it over to the legendary F1 engine builders over at Cosworth to perform their magic. Wand in one hand, tools in another, Cosworth tore apart the stock 4G63 and replaced the internals with 85.5mm bore CP forged pistons, piston rings, and H-beam 4130 chromoly rods. Cosworth then balanced and blueprinted the assembly to a stock crank, removing the balance shaft, and bolted the block to their ported head stuffed with Crower stainless steel valves, springs, titanium retainers, Stage 4 camshafts, and cam gears. Afterwards, A Spec sprinkled some JDM garnish by way of adding an ARC aluminum radiator, spark plug cover, oil cap, and radiator cap.

Upping the forced induction, an ATP Garrett 3071 turbocharger was bolted up to a custom A Spec intake and intercooler kit with an ATP blow-off valve on the compressor side. Mounted to the turbine half, an anti-boost creep TiAL wastegate was paired to an ultra-light A Spec titanium manifold and exhaust. Harman Motive out in Torrance, CA manipulated an AEM EMS to adjust both fuel coming in from RC injectors and the ATL fuel cell, and ignition sparked by a Sun Automobile X-power and HKS plugs, to extract a track-sizzling 465hp with 389 lb-ft of torque.