With every 'off-season' in the midwest comes a host of new parts for the car! Last year my single biggest complaint related to my suspension. Mid-year I had the car professionally aligned at AMS which did vastly improve the feel, but I still did not think it suited my driving habits or abilities. So, a large portion of time was spent researching and talking to the suspension guru's in the Evo land! I ended up selecting John Mueller's custom JIC's. These were at a very reasonable price-point, were already proven in TA competition, and used the correct amount of 'mod-points' for my series. Best of all, John and his staff agreed to work with me and further dialing in my setup as the year progresses. They also recommended a few bushings to upgrade as well.
Complaint #2 was that the car was running hot at the last 2 events. I talked with AMS about this issue and we believed this was probably related to high boost and added stress. To play it safe, I decided to accelerate some maintenance on the engine, add ARP headstuds and go with a larger radiator.
So listed below are the highlights of my changes for 2009. Note that to slide down to group TTB, I had to demod in a few areas to shed some of my 'mod-points'. I talked extensively with Mueller and AMS to get recommendations.
Suspension:
- Muellerized JIC Coilovers
- Remove Hotchkis RSB - re-install stock swaybar
- Install Energy Suspension Rear Trailing Arm Bushings
Engine:
- Remove HKS Air filter setup - re-install stock airbox
- Remove aftermarket UICP & LICP - re-install stock piping
Misc (not including basic maintenance):
- Install ARP Head Studs - This will allow me to safely run higher than stock boost when needed
- Install STRi Oil Temp, Oil Pressure & Boost gauges - For safety and analysis
- Install AMS 5 speed shifter bushings - For improved shifting
- Install Mishimoto radiator - For safety as it provides more cooling ability than stock
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