Mitsubishi Repair: Cold Air Induction, mitsubishi eclipse spyder, cold air induction

Question
Anthony,
    I currently own a '99 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GS. When i went to my local performance shop to have a cold air intake installed, the guy behind the counter said it wouldn't fit because my engine is different from the engine in the standard GS. He also said that I might need to have something "custom" done to make it fit. Is any of this true? And can you point me in the right direction?

Thanks,
Ben Berman

Answer
Ben,
Indeed, the guy at the performance shop was correct.  For some reason, Mitsubishi used a 2.4L Chrysler engine in their non-turbo convertible Eclipses.  It was only in the turbocharged 2.0L convertibles was a Mitsubishi engine used.  Though in all non-convertible Eclipses, a Mitsubishi 2.0L engine was used (turbo and non-turbo).

Because of the non-Mitsu 2.4L engine in your car, the normal cold air intake for an Eclipse cannot be used.  Though you can ask the shop what type of cold air intakes will fit on a Chrysler 2.4L engine.  I believe the PT Cruiser, Stratus, Breeze, Cirrus, and Sebring used that same engine.  But don't quote me on that.  You can ask the folks at the performance shop if it would be possible to directly bolt on a system from one of those styles.
Good luck!