Installation 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII
For many of us like Johnny Almaguer, customizing our vehicles is a form of self-expression. That being said, it is no surprise that someone with a nickname like "Rocket" would be the proud owner of this full-tilt custom 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII. With a laundry list of performance and cosmetic upgrades, and a one-of-a-kind multimedia installation, Almaguer's Evo is definitely "all show, all go"-or as he describes it "the full meal deal." Practically every component has been upgraded, enhanced or modified for better performance, better aesthetics or both. Louis Gonzales of Bay Area Audio Visions in Corpus Christi, TX, was called upon to perform the installation, which equated to approximately four months of work spread out over the course of a year.
Although the Evo is already a pretty tight car right from the factory, preventative measures were taken to avoid any resonance or rattles induced by the audio system, or the wicked exhaust note as it exhales over 400hp. The interior was completely gutted and treated to a combination of Dynamat Extreme sound deadening mat and Dynashield spray. With an empty shell, Gonzales seized the opportunity to route the multitude of Stinger power, speaker and signal cables, and to add the second of two Stinger SPV35 batteries in the trunk to power the audio system. The other SPV35 replaces the factory battery under the hood to supply the rest of the vehicle.
The core of the multimedia system is the Kenwood KVT-915DVD receiver/DVD/CD/MP3 player that also features a motorized 7-inch touchscreen monitor. For Almaguer, the Evo's factory radio location was a bit too high on the dash for the fold-out monitor to look right, so the unit was installed in the pocket below the climate controls. The brain of the source unit resides under the passenger seat for easy access.
A JL Audio XR653-CS 3-way component set creates the front stage. To accommodate the midbass drivers, Gonzales fabricated a set of custom door panels that secures them in the vicinity of the factory locations while still keeping them recessed into the panel. This proved to be quite a challenge for Gonzales and required the reconstruction of almost the entire door panel. Custom blue mirror and clear acrylic inserts were created and flushed into the door panels. Finishing touches include LED illumination and the addition of both the triple diamond Mitsubishi and Evolution VIII logos that have been painstakingly incorporated into elaborate trim panels. The midrange and tweeter now reside in a set of custom kick panels that were fabricated in a similar fashion as the door panels using MDF and fiberglass. Minimal intrusion into the foot wells was achieved by trimming the sheet metal to allow clearance for the magnet structure. Matching blue acrylic inserts were also created to match the door panels.
For the rear stage, Almaguer opted not to use the rear deck factory speaker locations but instead chose to fabricate custom pods to recess a 6 1/2" midbass and 1" tweeter into the C-pillar. Matching blue acrylic inserts trim the rear components, while the factory grilles in the rear deck remain intact (without the factory drivers, of course) to allow the subs to vent into the passenger compartment. Even with the added depth of the pods, the C-pillars are only 3/4" thicker than stock; thus, rear visibility is not compromised.
Lifting the carbon fiber trunk lid reveals the business end of the Evo's installation. The entire trunk is consumed by a silver fiberglass "tub" that trims the amprack and subwoofer enclosure. A second fiberglass panel trims the JL Audio XR525-CSi components, AVS 10.2-inch monitor and Sony PS2 game system that were integrated into the underside of the trunk lid for demo purposes.
Handling the low-end duties are two JL Audio 13W6V2 subs in a sealed enclosure nestled beneath the rear deck. The enclosure fits around the strut tower brace that spans the width of the trunk, which proved to be quite challenging because the inside is completely finished and viewable through the 3/4"-thick sheet of acrylic used for the rear wall. The fiberglass "tub" has two windows that offer a view of the subs through the rear of the enclosure. Two of the three JL Audio amplifiers that power the system are mounted in a V configuration just behind the sub enclosure.
The third video source in the Evo is a Hans Electronics rear-view camera mounted on the rear deck that activates automatically and displays on the dash screen when the Evo is shifted into reverse. It can also be selected manually as a source. A Viper 791-XV security system was added, along with a 556T temperature, timer and remote start controller that was molded into the passenger side of the dash along with the Blitz turbo timer. These panels and others that surround the instrument cluster were also painted silver to match the exterior and round out the installation.
Almaguer's latest creation represents his first example of a full-blown custom system that was completed all at once, as opposed to being spread out over the life of the vehicle. The "Rocket" loves building cars such as the Evo for "the sake of being able to enjoy showing off." Needless to say, there is plenty to show on the Evo. He admittedly puts the 404hp at the wheels to good use when he drives the Evo to work while enjoying a variety of music from rap to country.