Mirage / Colt 4g63t swaps

[mitsunut]

Well I have been searching for a while now and was wondering if someone could steer me in the right direction. What is the easiest car to do ? The early Colts 89 ( too old in my opinion ) to 92, or the 93-96? It seems like the early ones are a little easier and not as time consuming. The later models I like the body style much better but it seems to be a lot more work in sourcing the parts and modifying the car.
Any suggestions??
Thanks, Jim.

[Hemicolt]

The 3rd gen which is 89-92 is cake the 4g is not as easy but not hard either the hard part is the wiring imo, the 4g is lighter and better chassic... But i like the 3rd gen better imo...

[biglady112]

The quickest and fastest dedicated drag cars are 93-96 models.

With that said, I am on my second 89 and it is by far my most favorite car of the 7 mitsubishi's I have owned.

[mitsunut]

I am leaning towards the 93-96 mirage/summit/colts . It looks like they are more work but the end results would be good. I have been searching on mirage performance.com and learning more each time I am there . I am slowly gathering parts for the swap , no matter which one I get .
Jim

[mitsunut]

Today was the day.. 1st thing this morning on craigs list there it is so I went and looked at it then returned with the tow dolly and drug it home. Had to go to Greeley twice to get it but that was better than going out of state I guess. It is a early 94 , has air bag on the steering wheel , automatic seat belt on the passenger but not the driver, and looking under the dash , looks like obd2.
Jim.

[prophecymiller]

Congrats!

Is the 1g getting boring or do you just want another project?

[mitsunut]

No, I just don't want to rebuild the transmission anymore. I will probably do a test n tune next season and call it good for the car. I need to replace the intercooler with a bigger one so I can run more timing and boost. The mirage will be my track car . I also will enjoy the challenge of building a different car for a change. Also my son just picked up a 89 mirage turbo yesterday and we are going to race each other this summer if everything works out .
Jim.

[biglady112]

We knew your son was getting the car before you did. He told us on www.4g61t.org

You will enjoy the FWD world. Way more fun and challenging.

[mitsunut]

Well I do have a pretty good challenge ahead of me , since the mirage I have needs total conversion to 4g63t/f5m33 trans, brake pedal assembly conversion from a dsm, ecu wireing and swap. Also roll bar install too. Glad I got a good start on this project to make it for next summer.
Jim.

[jonvr4]

Very cool Jim. I was just wondering whether you were getting one a couple days ago.

[bzapp]

We knew your son was getting the car before you did. He told us on www.4g61t.org

You will enjoy the FWD world. Way more fun and challenging.

This is true! Now we can have dueling CSM's...

Jim's car is one color and much more modern looking, but smells like barf.

My 1989 mirage looks like a dairy cow (faded black paint) but is fit w/ a 4g63t already. Rather quick, nothing scary, but that will change

[mitsunut]

Did some things today to both cars. Going to get the 94 e tested Friday with a little luck . Fabbed up a new battery tray for Ben's car . It sure is in nice shape for it's age, runs good too. Inspected it a little , has a 2pc driver side axle, also the f5m33 trans from a same year dsm.

Jim

[biglady112]

They come stock with those half shafts.

Throw everything from the talon into your new mirage Jim. Motor, turbo and all. Forget about that dsm. Your first spin in a 400whp csm and you will forget all about an awd car. FWD=Smiles for Miles.

[Cloud]

Can I ask exactly what it is that is so amazing about fwd that has you raving up and down? I have been in a couple quick fwd cars and honestly I don't see your point, not to say you don't have one but why do you prefer it?

[biglady112]

I have been in a couple of quick AWD cars, and honestly I don't see your point.

I have owned two high powered FWD mitsubishis and I can honestly say nothing is more exciting than being behind the wheel of one. And I am not talking about a quick car, I am talking a 135+mph car. A ten second AWD car is not all that exciting. Nor is it all that challenging. Being in the FWD world, especially the mitsu FWD world makes things that much harder and challenging. That and it puts the driver element back in the car.

There is a huge presence of FWD mitsus in colorado and most of them are the fastest mitsubishis in the state. Or at least that do anything with their car.

And I prefer my colt over the five AWD mitsubishis I have owned because it always thrills me to drive it. It always makes me smile, it always makes me want more and look forward to the next drive. I honestly never fealt that with anything other than a super reliable galant I had. But I may be biased as my car is a "race car" that we are working towards a goal with. My car has not been on the roads in a few years and is a track only car. And being different is what makes me proud to not own a AWD. Doing it my way and being creative. It is hard to be creative with a DSM, or at least in my eyes. After 20 years, everything has been done in a DSM. At least with the FWD stuff it is a little taboo still and still a challenge when you dive in.

[Cloud]

I guess I meant more describe the exciting parts? I don't really even know what kind of racing you are talking about, drag, road, top speed, everything is just more fun in a fwd? Just being the oddball/unique?

[biglady112]

I thought I was clear and answered the question you asked again.

ALL AROUND, regardless of chosen motorsport.

I personaly think FWD make the experience that much more fun. Even when it is frustrating with wheel spin, it is still a blast to drive around it.

I have been land speed racing for four years now. I come from drag racing. But have messed a little with road racing at the start of all this.

And being odd and unique is what I am about regardless of the car. One look at my car will tell it all.

[mitsunut]

Well decided to take the mirage apart today , was kinda bored . I did get a pedal assembly yesterday and a wire harness. More fun times and challenges.
Jim

[prophecymiller]

Cool! Take some pics for us if you feel up to it:)

[mitsunut]

Here they are.
Jim.

[biglady112]

Its beautiful

[89FWD]

Man!! That's a great looking shell Jim. Getting traction in a fwd isn't as hard as most people think. You'll have to invest some time and money on your suspension and tires.

Good luck with the build up!!

John

[mitsunut]

Thanks, it definitely is a challenge swapping all the parts in . Acquiring the parts I need is the biggest challenge. The mirage forum/website is most informative , just like the dsm's. It will be cool to have both cars for a while. I might sell the talon...
Jim

[biglady112]

I'll say it again, strip the talon and stuff it all in the mirage. FWD or AWD.

[mitsunut]

I have an engine build in process and trans waiting to be rebuilt also. I will install an awd 2 pc driver side axle also. Since it will have the 2 pc lh axle do I need a phantom grip in the diff?

Jim

[mitsunut]

OK , I have a couple of questions on this swap and maybe someone has done this before and can help me. The engine wiring harness : Do I use the existing harness and swap out ecu connectors or install a turbo engine harness ( which I have on hand).
Thanks, Jim

[Mirage]

Installing the turbo wiring harness will prove to be an easier and more reliable method.

Marcus

[Cloud]

As to the question about the phantom grip, I would avoid it. I have seen a few transmissions grenade from them. I'd spend real money on a clutch or gear type if you are thinking about it.

[biglady112]

I have run a KAAZ and phantom grip/slow boy insert and have had no issues with either. I prefer the KAAZ, but it is spendy. With that said, we have modifed our own phantom insert. We copied the design, installed stronger springs and have had no issues for four years. And recenty went 218mph with that modified copy.

[mitsunut]

Thanks for the input guys, I haven't looked at the phantom grip yet but I did install a locking diff in my old 88 chevy 3500 . It had a dana 70 diff in it , I can't remember what brand but it installed in place of the pinion gears and shaft. It was based on the load of the pinion shaft on the mechanism to side load where the side gears were in the diff.
As far as the wiring harness.. I guess I will have to figure it out on my own. Please don't take offense ..
Jim

[biglady112]

Turbo harness. And you will have to put some work in anyway.