Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Tech - Modified Magazine

Any factory turbocharged car can benefit greatly from a cooler charge of air entering the throttle body, which is where an aftermarket intercooler comes in. Though I planned to keep the engine modifications to my Evo simple, an intercooler was definitely on the list of items I wanted to upgrade.

The factory unit Mitsubishi supplies isn't terrible, but a larger core will definitely allow you to run a bit more boost safely and squeeze some more jam out of the 4G63. When coupled with a turboback exhaust and a retune, the benefits are hard to deny.

I chose to go with Japanese tuner Blitz's Type CS front mount intercooler kit, purchased through FRSport.com. Not only did they have it in stock, but it was also on sale at the time, making it too good of a deal to pass up. The Blitz "Chemical Shine" intercooler series features a special coating on the end tanks that keeps the shine from deteriorating over time. In a state like Michigan, this is definitely something good to have.

The kit included hardware, couplers, clamps, and brackets for installation. After the front bumper was taken off, removing the factory intercooler and bolting up the Blitz unit was a piece of cake. Another worthy upgrade to tackle on the Evo VIII is the lower intercooler pipe. My car came with an ETS pipe installed by the previous owner, so I left that in place. If you are still running the factory piping, it's a great idea to replace the lower pipe while doing the intercooler to really make noticeable gains.

I decided to spice things up a bit by whipping up a quick Blitz stencil and spraying it on the core prior to installation. The results? A great looking and larger than factory front mount that allows me to run a bit more boost through the factory turbo without issues. A quick and easy to install upgrade that's definitely worth the cost!