Mitsubishi Nimbus Evo 3 Conversion?

[westharbourkiwi]

Hi guys

Got a baby on the way and have dismantled my CB Lancer with Evo 3 motor in it.
Looking at a 95 Nimbus 7 seater manual .... thinking of dropping my Evo 3 motor in it.
The engine bay with 4G64 is set up the right way, so it will go in there.

Anyone know if the wiring looms will marry up? I mean will my Evo 3 engine loom plug up to the Nimbus dash loom?
I had to splice the shit out of my CB Lancer one (same as VR4) to plug to the later series evo - was a huge mission.

Also, any ideas on brake upgrades etc?

Will the manual gearbox of the nimbus be sufficient or what would be a recommended FWD gearbox to use?


Cheers.

 

[dj_konix]

run brakes off an RVR on the front, they manage to pull them up quite well

 

[BMGTZ]

sell all your bits..then sell car...take money and buy an RVR. perhaps not what you want to hear if you are looking forward to the challenge of the conversion....but cheapest way out!

 

[dj_konix]

sounds like a good idea but remember an rvr is only a 4 seater...

 

[BMGTZ]

mmm....actually I didnt know that.

can the nimbus seats be fitted?

 

[dj_konix]

nope, its a different sized vehicle all together

 

[EVO-00X]

UF Nimbus 7-seater FTW (aka Spacewagon and Chariot). I own a white UF Nimbus I'll be selling within the next month for $2800 (colour coded bumpers, not that silver 2-tone shit). I rebuilt the 4G64 SOHC EFI about 30,000kms ago and fitted a new clutch and cat converter at the time also. Goes great and has been my daily driver to work and back for the past couple of years. It's been really versatile too with transporting the kids and an extra 2 on soccer days :lol: .Fits plenty of items in the back plus folds down like a bed in case you want to go on a long trip B) . Main reason I bought it is because I have a family of 5 and an RVR is only a frikken 4 seater which is their biggest downfall :unsure: Putting a 4G63T in a Nimbus would really raise an eyebrow on the street as it'll be a sleeper B)

The UF Nimbus will take the 4G63 no problem as long as you can use EVO engine mounts, You will need an RVR engine loom and electrics I'd say and then mate it to the existing UF Nimbus dash/interior loom.

The UF Nimbus front brakes are the same size as EVO and VR4 rotors, and Im sure the front caliper is a large single piston design, not twin. So basically its identical to Japspec VR4 brakes up front.

As for the FWD gearbox, no Mitsu FWD box likes the torment of a turbo engine bolted to it. The boxes are not that bad provided you dont treat them like shit. The OEM FWD boxes seem to last longer befind a turbo engine than an AWD box that has had a 2WD locking spline fitted to it. This is because it places a lot of strain on the AWD centre diff spider gears and they can break. A 4-spider centre diff conversion or welded centre diff in an AWD box will be a necessity in FWD trim if you plan to give it some stick. Else, you can use the factory FWD box but they dont like shifting at high rpm as the AWD double synchro boxes do.

There was a sweet UF Nimbus with custom bodykit called 'RE80RN' getting around a while back with a 4G63 turbo in it.
Here's some pics:

 

[westharbourkiwi]

Hi guys.
Cheers for all your advice .... keep it coming!!

So is the RVR engine loom different to the Evo 3 engine loom?

Will the Evo 3 engine loom not mate up to the UF Nimbus dash loom?

Engine mounts: Evo or RVR??

Will the UF Nimbus get a mod plate with drums on the rear?

Anybody know the stud pattern of the UF Nimbus?

I know conversions can cost .... sheesh the CB to Evo 3 conversion was super costly!!
However this Nimbus is only a grand and has a full electric sunroof .... seriously considering the conversion.
Will only be running the Evo motor at no more than 10psi.

Thoughts??

 

[EVO-00X]

So is the RVR engine loom different to the Evo 3 engine loom?
Without comparing the two side by side I would say yes it would be as its suited to the different chassis.
There may be slightly different variations in loom length and location of plugs.
Safer to go with an RVR engine loom over the EVO engine loom for a 4G63T engine converison into the Nimbus.

Will the Evo 3 engine loom not mate up to the UF Nimbus dash loom?
See answer above. Keep the same engine loom as per the chassis of the car = RVR

Engine mounts: Evo or RVR??
Sorry, yes use RVR engine mounts. From memory the EVO front engine mount sat at a slightly different angle to an RVR front engine mount.
They are very close, but it will be on a slightly different angle if you use the EVO engine mount. Stick with RVR engine mounts to put the 4G63T into the Nimbus.


Will the UF Nimbus get a mod plate with drums on the rear?
Some engineer's will want you to upgrade the entire braking system equal to or better than the car that the engine came from.
Some will only require that the front brakes and brake booster/ master cylinder be upgraded and then have a decelleration brake test carried out to determine whether the rear brakes require upgrading or not.
It is entirely up to the signatory signing off on the mod plate.

NOTE: When referring to anything to do with a mod plate or modifications, always refer to the donor vehicle as an RVR!! State that engine is out of an RVR as well. Do not bring other cars like EVO etc into the conversation as basically the EVO III engine is the same as an RVR Hypergear motor anyway. Its much easier for people and especially signatories to understand that all upgraded parts were sourced and substituted from an OEM RVR... which shares the same platform as the Nimbus. You will be better off buying an RVR front cut (less engine if you already have one) and doing the entire swap over into the Nimbus. Take photos etc along the way to show the engineering signatory when going for the mod plate. BEFORE you commence the project, talk it over with an engineer first to see if he will be happy with your intentions. Prove that RVR = Nimbus basically and that all the parts are OEM Manufacturer bolt on replacements to convert the Nimbus to 4G63T turbo. Afterall, the Nimbus is a 7 seater wagon version of an RVR basically and it was available overseas as a 'Chariot' and 'Spacewagon' where it also came out in an AWD version. Think what Lancer is to EVO, as the same goes for what Nimbus is to RVR. Australia got the crappy FWD SOHC non turbo versions where other countries got the performance versions B)

Anybody know the stud pattern of the UF Nimbus?
UF Nimbus is 4 x 114.3..... same as the GSR and EVO.
The latter Nimbus's came out with 5 x 114.3 stud pattern.

 

[westharbourkiwi]

Cheers Evo-00X!!

Now does anyone have spare RVR Hypergear or Sportsgear parts lying around??

RVR Hypergear engine loom?

All in all it sounds like it could be a worthwhile conny. Sweet as.

 

[dokworm]

How did this turn out? I'm on the same journey...

 

[MarzEz]

Digging up an old thread here, but wondering if there was any news on how this turned out, what engineers had to say, etc.
I have an imported Nimbus (the Chariot) which runs the 4G63, so I'm thinking the swap to a 4G63T shouldn't be overly difficult.
Wondering if it's worth the conversion, or whether I should just try and import the Chariot Resort Runner GT - which came with AWD and Turbo.
It's something I've been considering for a while, and I'd love to know if it's been done successfully.

 

[CLuTZ]

Digging up an old thread here, but wondering if there was any news on how this turned out, what engineers had to say, etc.
I have an imported Nimbus (the Chariot) which runs the 4G63, so I'm thinking the swap to a 4G63T shouldn't be overly difficult.
Wondering if it's worth the conversion, or whether I should just try and import the Chariot Resort Runner GT - which came with AWD and Turbo.
It's something I've been considering for a while, and I'd love to know if it's been done successfully.

You can import a Chariot GT, but how are you going to register it??

I only know of 1 in the whole of Australia (mannynz is his username) they are SUPER rare