AWD FTO

[spetz]

The fuel tank wouldn't need to be half size
It just has to have an indent in it so that the axle thing goes to the rear diff

When converting a lancer coupe, mirage or sedan to AWD, they just use evo fuel tank
Should be same with FTO


really guys it's not that hard to do the conversion. In fact, I think the only reason this isn't extremely popular is simply because Mitsubishi does not seem to be the pick of cars to heavily modify

[FTO338]

I think there are more to it, if you seriously think about it.

*The amount of your original car then add the cost of conversion can easily buy a EVO that is 4-5yrs younger.

*Insurance on it would be much higher then any FTO or EVO.

*EVO might not look better but it had more street creed.

[Nacho]

Realistically though just imagine if everything they built for the EVO was placed in the FTO wouldn't it give the EVO the run for its money. From what I've heard the FTO has a better weight distribution all round and all you need is a stiffer chassis. Any thoughts?

[FTO338]

Yes you do need a stiffer chassis, the EVO chasis have at least 200 more welding point then the standard lancer.

A FWD chassis to retro a AWD gear, its going to be a lot of work, which most people wouldn't be bother. They just thought about slapping the gear in and worry about the chassis later.

[SG]

FTO would have a much better Center Of Gravityi reckon than any EVO and it has 2 doors less and a smaller roof, and u gotta admit the seats are pretty low down...

its easier to stiffen up a chassis than to change the C.O.G. on a car, i reckon a AWD FTO could match or beat a similar AWD EVO for corners and grip aslong as the FTO has the same EVO motor aswell... but then its more EVO than FTO

you can still make a fast FWD handle well, just need a lsd, and a stiff rear end, etc and you could at least match a AWD on tarmac

[RichardH]

you can still make a fast FWD handle well, just need a lsd, and a stiff rear end, etc and you could at least match a AWD on tarmac

No, I'd have to say you can't quite match 'em! And I've tried!!!

Right from the launch, the AWDs pick up half a second - and in a 50-odd-second course, that's a lot. They get out of the blocks damn fast, whereas a FWD is severely penalised.

Also, the sheer grip of the AWD cars under power is awesome. In the FTO, on a 2nd gear corner exit, there's really not much more you can wring out of it as you unwind the steering. Until the wheel is straight, the front tyres are pretty well at the limit (and that's with an LSD and sticky comp tyres). Like, there's often no point downshifting to 1st, even though the revs are well in 1st gear range, because the extra torque wouldn't get you out of the corner any quicker.

I have to say, a hypothetical AWD FTO would be very interesting to drive competitively, even without any EVO engine transplant added to the mix. Launching would pick up "free" time & corner exits would be transformed. Would be a weapon, for sure.

And it wouldn't be ugly either! Why are the two best AWD performers on Aussie roads so visually unappealing? Sigh...

- Rich

[spetz]

I don't think people would primarily do this conversion to be an evo beater, but rather to have a unique FTO, love their FTO and want to mod it, or just want something uber quick in the straight line

I see how the FTO on paper might have some advantages over the evo, but something tells me that Mitsubishi did one hell of a job making the evo, and that just using it's parts, gridning, cutting, welding etc into another car just wont net the same results


PS. Evo's are BEAUTIFUL cars, I don't want to hear anyone say otherwise!

[DeFunkeD]

...In the FTO, on a 2nd gear corner exit, there's really not much more you can wring out of it as you unwind the steering. Until the wheel is straight, the front tyres are pretty well at the limit (and that's with an LSD and sticky comp tyres). Like, there's often no point downshifting to 1st, even though the revs are well in 1st gear range, because the extra torque wouldn't get you out of the corner any quicker.
- Rich

that's true to a certain extent, but only if you're limiting yourself to grip driving.

if you had a stiff enough rear end like SG suggested it's possible to kick out the back end around the corner, stay close to full throttle and use the throttle in combination with steering to pull/guide your cornering instead of relying completely on the steering. basically it's the closest thing a fwd can get to drifting, and probably sounds a little far-fetched. i'm no incredible driver and my fto doesnt have an ultra-stiff rear end, but it's worked for me in the past.

having said that though, i dont know if i'd try it on anything but tarmac...

[Bennoz]

...In the FTO, on a 2nd gear corner exit, there's really not much more you can wring out of it as you unwind the steering. Until the wheel is straight, the front tyres are pretty well at the limit (and that's with an LSD and sticky comp tyres). Like, there's often no point downshifting to 1st, even though the revs are well in 1st gear range, because the extra torque wouldn't get you out of the corner any quicker.
- Rich

that's true to a certain extent, but only if you're limiting yourself to grip driving.

if you had a stiff enough rear end like SG suggested it's possible to kick out the back end around the corner, stay close to full throttle and use the throttle in combination with steering to pull/guide your cornering instead of relying completely on the steering. basically it's the closest thing a fwd can get to drifting, and probably sounds a little far-fetched. i'm no incredible driver and my fto doesnt have an ultra-stiff rear end, but it's worked for me in the past.

having said that though, i dont know if i'd try it on anything but tarmac...

Keep in mind Rich does race his FTO....

[FTO338]

PS. Evo's are BEAUTIFUL cars, I don't want to hear anyone say otherwise!

EVO use to be a BEAUTIFUL cars, until every L to P plater slap on a EVO look alike kits on their GL, or what ever the low rent spec called now. Chuck on a 5" exhuast tip cause it look siccccckkkkkk matteeeeee.
Put one of those fake BOV cd in the player and then cruise the rd up and down all night and pretend to be tough cu*t

Now tell me, how BEAUTIFUL is that

[DeFunkeD]

Keep in mind Rich does race his FTO....

i didn't mean to offend or suggest that Rich isnt a good driver (obviously if he races he's good). sry if i have done that. i dont personally have track experience yet, only road, and can only really put in my 2 cents based on what i've experienced.

btw, would really love to be kept in the loop if any fto's are racing (track, etc) near sydney, am really interested in seeing how they run in comparison to other cars in a legal race.

[Bennoz]

Keep in mind Rich does race his FTO....

i didn't mean to offend or suggest that Rich isnt a good driver (obviously if he races he's good). sry if i have done that. i dont personally have track experience yet, only road, and can only really put in my 2 cents based on what i've experienced.

btw, would really love to be kept in the loop if any fto's are racing (track, etc) near sydney, am really interested in seeing how they run in comparison to other cars in a legal race.

No worries Keep an eye out in the motorsport section for track events. Kaveman & Teania run in the super sprints & Boris is often running at Wakefeild with Ciruit Club. When I get back from OS I plan on getting some more track time in as well

[SG]

richards comment was spot on but his car is only modded a bit i think compared to some of the other drivers he races against(?). I stick by that going around a corner with the inside rear wheel far off the ground in a fwd is the fastest setup

but you could beat anyone if the other drivers awd/fwd/rwd couldnt drive too well or had bad tyres. last time i raced i beat 2 r33 gtrs and a r32 gtr for lap times, but lost to 2 other r32 gtr's. a wrx came second, and a vz ss ute had the fastest time

[spetz]

PS. Evo's are BEAUTIFUL cars, I don't want to hear anyone say otherwise!

EVO use to be a BEAUTIFUL cars, until every L to P plater slap on a EVO look alike kits on their GL, or what ever the low rent spec called now. Chuck on a 5" exhuast tip cause it look siccccckkkkkk matteeeeee.
Put one of those fake BOV cd in the player and then cruise the rd up and down all night and pretend to be tough cu*t

Now tell me, how BEAUTIFUL is that

Doesn't matter
The evo mock ups never look like an evo, just shows how bad everyone wants one!
And an evo 9... god I cream my pants when I see them!
And anyone who drives a WRX wants an evo!
Subaru = Poor mans mitsubishi

[RichardH]

if you had a stiff enough rear end like SG suggested it's possible to kick out the back end around the corner, stay close to full throttle and use the throttle in combination with steering to pull/guide your cornering instead of relying completely on the steering. basically it's the closest thing a fwd can get to drifting, and probably sounds a little far-fetched. i'm no incredible driver and my fto doesnt have an ultra-stiff rear end, but it's worked for me in the past.

Yeah, that can be done. Looks and feels great, but it's a whole lot slower!

I've also noticed a tendency to rip up the outside edges of the front tyres doing that, which undoubtedly means I sink the boot in too far for additional fun factor, hehe. Really hard on the front tyres.

I make sure I keep old, dead street tyres for the occasional handbrake sideways driving training session. Getting the trainer to randomly stab the handbrake mid-turn is a real adrenaline workout! I get an even bigger smile on my face after one of those than trying to find grip and speed. F.U.N.

- Rich

[Nacho]

So you're purposely oversteering the car to pull you around the corner? I'm confused again....

[jonowong]

that makes it slower,

your meant to go from the outside and point your car towards the turn in the corner and then power on!!!! when u see the straight, the aim with this technique is to find the straight as soon as possible with steering?

its all theory ive never tested it though

[RichardH]

So you're purposely oversteering the car to pull you around the corner? I'm confused again....

Nah. You're purposefully oversteering the car just so you can get an oversteering car!!!!

It's really only useful as a training tool to get in tune with the car, so you can learn how to not completely screw up when you find yourself in an unexpected tail-out situation.

For me, those "unexpected tail-out situations" are almost always due to throttle-off oversteer (ie. a moment of ham-fisted car control). Catching the slide means the difference between a small time penalty or a "wrong way" due to a total course stuff-up. So training for it is good!!

- Rich

[DeFunkeD]

Nah. You're purposefully oversteering the car just so you can get an oversteering car!!!!

It's really only useful as a training tool to get in tune with the car, so you can learn how to not completely screw up when you find yourself in an unexpected tail-out situation.

For me, those "unexpected tail-out situations" are almost always due to throttle-off oversteer (ie. a moment of ham-fisted car control). Catching the slide means the difference between a small time penalty or a "wrong way" due to a total course stuff-up. So training for it is good!!

- Rich

yeah, good fun, eh?

i personally would only use it in a serious nature when approaching a very sharp hairpin. it allows me to keep up the revs and guide the car around the corner with a better exiting speed. it's good for those really tight and windy forest roads for example, but i'd imagine it wouldn't do much good on a track.

apart from that though, just a wee 'little bit of fun!

it's a great feeling knowing at the beginning of a corner that you've set yourself up for the corner just right to gain about 100 to sometimes 200 or more metres on another car because they dont know how to use the technique.

in my opinion it takes much more skill to recover from a slide/mistake in a good position then it does to avoid one. but that's just me