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Drive-By's UK Starion Two Six Wide


Drive-By
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It's been a long time since I posted here let alone got time on my Starion. But this year things are changing for the better ;)

 

When I started my apprenticeship with a Mitsubishi dealer in 1991 I was pretty lucky to get to work on and drive Starions both 2 litre and 2.6 and when the first car I had airborn was a bright red 2.0 litre that's where the love affair started. Back then they were rare and only saw a handful a year. Over ten years passed still working in Mitsu dealers and in 2004 and now a Mitsubishi Master Technician. I found a 2.6 on eBay needing some work and my eye's grew wide and within a week I was on a road trip to Southampton a good 300miles from where I lived.

 

 

When I arrived in Southamptom the eBay images didn't do her justice, a few poor repairs here and there a cylinder head with a hole you could fit your little finger through but for £600 an absolute steal for such a solid body.

 

Tucked in the corner of a small dark body shop waiting.

 

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73/DriveByImportClub/Starion/MVC-008F.jpg

 

Looking nothing like her former glory.

 

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73/DriveByImportClub/Starion/MVC-006F.jpg

 

 

600 mile round trip and some soap and water revealed a 1989 2.6 Widebody with a fine a** and loads of potential.

 

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73/DriveByImportClub/Starion/Picture003.jpg

 

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73/DriveByImportClub/Starion/Picture002b.jpg

 

 

I got straight to work on her in my garage at home. Out came the motor and so it begins..

 

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73/DriveByImportClub/Starion/Picture025.jpg

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I was doing OK for myself financially back in 2004, refurbing a few junk parts from work was bringing in some steady money on top of my wage so had a little to play with on new bits.

I don't like using really cheap parts as I'd always rather do a job right once than have to do it twice. So the shopping list grew quickly with parts from TEP and Mitsubishi....

 

TEP Stage 3 non jet head and race cam

Stainless valves

Metal head gasket

TEP BSE and uprated oil pump

JE 040 oversive pistons ceramic treated

Pauter rods

ARP head studs, exhaust studs

ACT Extreme pressure plate and full organic friction plate

Fidanza flywheel

Nology HT's

Bosch Red

 

Fast forward a year and then AMAC Engineering did the blockwork for me before I started putting her all together and maybe got a little carried away with the enamel paint.

 

Fully balanced internals right down to the pins being re machined to exact gram for gram. Balance with the Fidanza and ACT pressure plate. Hopefully will limit the chances of a leg out of bed.

 

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73/DriveByImportClub/Starion/DSCN9928rdc.jpg

Edited by Drive-By
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Money was a little thinner on the ground (2006-7) but I set about making the engine bay to make it a little more worthy of its new powerplant.

 

When I got her she had been stood so long the water in the brake fluid had caused the internals of the brake servo to rot and brake fluid leaked all over the inner wing and steering box. Lifting the paint.

 

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73/DriveByImportClub/Starion/ENG006rdc.jpg

 

I gutted the engine bay and wire wheeled off all the surface rust then restored the brake and clutch servo's with new internals and seals to boot. the Steering box got a quick overhaul too and lick of hammerite.

 

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73/DriveByImportClub/Starion/DSCN9932rdc.jpg

 

A few more little changes too....

 

Courtesy of my InitialD fad at the time the addition of a Nardi steering wheel :lol:

 

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73/DriveByImportClub/Starion/DSCN9917rdc.jpg

 

and a David Copperfield ABS pump modification :wacko: Now you see it

 

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73/DriveByImportClub/Starion/eng005ABSCROP.jpg

 

Now you don't

 

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73/DriveByImportClub/Starion/DSCN9956absrdc.jpg

Edited by Drive-By
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Next I modified the air box for now, which should get the air in a little easier and its a mod that cost sweet F.A.

 

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73/DriveByImportClub/Starion/DSCN9915rdc.jpg

 

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73/DriveByImportClub/Starion/22-11-06_1611.jpg

 

Some progress at last in 2007, now that my life was getting back into some kind of order I was able to make some time for my projects.

 

The engine no longer on a stand wass sat where in should be and connected to the tranny via the ACT organic friction plate and Xtreme pressure plate.

 

 

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73/DriveByImportClub/Starion/DSCN0366rdc.jpg

 

I want to try and fit a Mitsu TD05HRA that I aquired through work a few years earlier and it took a while to get someone to be persuaded to cut the flanges for the exhaust/turbo manifold from 10mm stainless, but thanks to AMAC Engineering of Northallerton, the 10mm stainless now has some nice looking holes in it. :unsure:

 

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73/DriveByImportClub/Starion/DSCN0367rdc.jpg

 

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73/DriveByImportClub/Starion/DSCN0368rdc.jpg

 

Now with a cobbled together bracket I have sorted the position the turbo will hopfully finally sit in and now it's a case of mocking up the pipes to fit it all in.

 

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73/DriveByImportClub/Starion/DSCN0429rdc.jpg

 

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73/DriveByImportClub/Starion/DSCN0427rdc.jpg

 

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73/DriveByImportClub/Starion/DSCN0421rdc.jpg

 

Looking at her now and after some good advice on JNC I'm looking into a remote filter and relocating the oil cooler to give more room to the turbo manifold design. So that's next on the list.

 

Here's hoping this summer I'll get the time to get the exit side finished and see some tarmac and tyre smoke in her :)

Edited by Drive-By
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nice car

man i bet that steering box is identical to ours.....

 

can you or do you know of anyone that could hook a fellow starion

enthusiast some RHD parts????dash, ebrake lever,ect...

i have U.S. parts id like to trade???if possible

 

 

lmk

pm if we could work somthing out,,id love to have a rhd

Edited by quikconq
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nice car

man i bet that steering box is identical to ours.....

 

can you or do you know of anyone that could hook a fellow starion

enthusiast some RHD parts????dash, ebrake lever,ect...

i have U.S. parts id like to trade???if possible

 

 

lmk

pm if we could work somthing out,,id love to have a rhd

 

 

Sure drop me a PM with a list and I'll have a ring round for you dude ;)

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Nice to see you got your project on here again baby ill swap you my starion for yours anyday LOL! btw its really your fault i own one lol... we'll get her on the road soon you'll just have to drive mine if you ever need a starion fix :) .x.
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Nice to see you got your project on here again baby ill swap you my starion for yours anyday LOL! btw its really your fault i own one lol... we'll get her on the road soon you'll just have to drive mine if you ever need a starion fix :) .x.

 

 

Thanks Beautiful LoL it's your fault I'm going to be spending money again :lol: Just helping you tinker with yours brought back alot of great memories of driving my white one :blush:

 

 

 

 

 

Nice.

 

I want those tail lights soooooo bad. :(

 

 

Yeah you guys seem to go nuts for the UK spec tails what's up with that? I think ours are just the same as the JDM ones.

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Thanks Beautiful LoL it's your fault I'm going to be spending money again :lol: Just helping you tinker with yours brought back alot of great memories of driving my white one :blush:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yeah you guys seem to go nuts for the UK spec tails what's up with that? I think ours are just the same as the JDM ones.

 

I dunno, I just want rear fogs and amber turn signals. :lol:

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Yeah you guys seem to go nuts for the UK spec tails what's up with that? I think ours are just the same as the JDM ones.

 

The UK specs have rear fog lamps. JDM ones don't have that. I like the JDM style myself, and have imported a set.

 

Get crackin on that nice ride!! I want to see more pics!!

 

-Robert

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Yeah you guys seem to go nuts for the UK spec tails what's up with that? I think ours are just the same as the JDM ones.

 

The UK specs have rear fog lamps. JDM ones don't have that. I like the JDM style myself, and have imported a set.

 

Get crackin on that nice ride!! I want to see more pics!!

 

-Robert

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dude, I dont know if you noticed, but your steering wheel is on the wrong side

Forgive him...he's a honda guy...sorry on behalf of sqc...

 

Nice ride btw and maybe you should consider selling some uk tail lights to help fund your project...

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