2014 Mitsubishi Mirage 5 speed build thread

[19bonestock88]

Originally Posted by Daox

A little while back I drew up an exhaust header for the Mirage. The stock one just looks awful from a flow perspective. Here is a picture of it.





I wanted to see if it was even possible to cram something in there that would flow a bit better, and drop right in to the OEM exhaust. It would bolt up to the piece with the CAT on it. This is roughly what I came up with.

That’s a nice looking header! You should get someone to fabricate one for you lol

[Daox]

Thanks. As mentioned, its only a really rough draft. I think the outlet has to be closer to the flange, and the whole thing has to be sucked in closer to the flange to clear the firewall. However, if I decide to make it, I will be fabbing it up myself. I have all the tools to do it. Its mainly just the time and money aspect. I've always wanted to fab up a header though. I've designed a few of them now, but never finished any.

[Daox]

So I've had the Mirage on the road for a while now. I am really liking it. I must say the sway bar adds a LOT to the driving enjoyment. I really like how the engine just chugs along. It doesn't shudder when shifting early at all. It can take a heavy load at 1300 rpm like a champ. My 04 Civic did not like those kind of rpms at all.

I am really looking forward to warmer weather to see what this car can really do when not inhibited by freezing temperatures.

[19bonestock88]

That’s partly why I like the engine in my Saturn, it gladly pulls smoothly from about 1200 RPM... sometimes if I’m near the top of a hill I’ll let it bog down to 1k or so, it doesn’t seem to complain too badly... I’m gonna draw inspiration from your build and build my own rear sway bar... they sell them but I hadn’t seen one under $130 and I figure I could make my own for much less

[jcp123]

I don't know about the myriad VTEC Hondas, I know my (non-VTEC) Civic will cruise at 1200 just fine but balks at the first sign of a real load. I wish I'd experienced my Echo with stick to see if it felt as versatile at low revs as I think it was. Modern engines don't get enough credit for widening the useful powerband as they should.

Heck, my wife's minivan is within whispering distance of 5000lb and the transmission actively seeks out 1000 or 1100rpm for a cruising rpm around 40mph.

[Daox]

Originally Posted by 19bonestock88

I’m gonna draw inspiration from your build and build my own rear sway bar... they sell them but I hadn’t seen one under $130 and I figure I could make my own for much less

Cool, can't wait to see what you come up with. I think my materials cost about $40 for the bar plus hardware. If you can weld, you're set. Just make sure to do your homework up front and you'll end up with a good product. The only concern I have with mine is longevity. I think it'll be fine, but I'd be bummed to have a weld crack in a year or so. But, I kept my weld 2X the size of my pipe wall thickness. I hope that is good enough to hold up to time and the cyclic stresses.

[Daox]

Originally Posted by jcp123

I don't know about the myriad VTEC Hondas, I know my (non-VTEC) Civic will cruise at 1200 just fine but balks at the first sign of a real load.

Yep, my 04 Civic is non-vtec too. It will handle cruise at lower rpms, but if you put it under any load it starts to shudder.

[steddie]

Originally Posted by chefdave

Slightly off topic but relates to gearing post above. My peugeot 406 estate is fitted with a 4 speed auto box with lock up. 2000 rpm is 62 mph which is quite high for a 2.0 weighing 1800kg. Manage to get 40 mpg in summer with a few mods which is 3mpg over government offical figures. Deffently on a par with manual box.

G'day, my last car was also a Peugeot 406 diesel but a 5 speed manual from the year 2000, the best car ive ever had, I got over 47 MPG, but here the road tax of 10cents a mile made it much more expensive than a petrol car, diesel fuel was then about $1.50 per liter =$5.70 per Gallon and petrol (gas) about $2.10 per liter =$ 7.95 per gallon, also the yearly registration was $140 more than a petrol, so it made no sense to keep the diesel.
Greetings,
Eddie.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by jcp123

I wish I'd experienced my Echo with stick to see if it felt as versatile at low revs as I think it was. Modern engines don't get enough credit for widening the useful powerband as they should.

In the short amount of time I had my Echo 5-speed, I seem to recall the engine being willing to live at low revs quite happily.

The modern miracle of variable valve lift/timing!

Meanwhile, putting an XFi cam into a garden variety Metro is also an eye-opener in terms of how it behaves at low revs vs. the stock cam. There's no "maybe it's better, or it might just be my imagination." It's quite obvious.

[jcp123]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

In the short amount of time I had my Echo 5-speed, I seem to recall the engine being willing to live at low revs quite happily.

The modern miracle of variable valve lift/timing!

Meanwhile, putting an XFi cam into a garden variety Metro is also an eye-opener in terms of how it behaves at low revs vs. the stock cam. There's no "maybe it's better, or it might just be my imagination." It's quite obvious.

Ooh, I remember that now.

I should write something up about the Echo vs. my Civic while my memory is still fresh enough. They compare very interestingly.

How's that three cylinder sound? The same enthusiasts who liked to trash the Mirage also tended to like the sound of the triple. They seemed to like it in the 1.0l Ecoboost as well.