Company Profile: AMS Performance
By Wes Dumalski
AMS Performance... No we are not talking about the knock off CDM version we are talking about the original Automotosport hailing from Chicago Illinois. Truth be told I spent some time at the AMS shop last November and began working on this article. It should have been before your eyes long ago, I should have been able to belt out a piece regaling you with their amazing records in the drag racing, power output, and time attack worlds. I should have been touting their accomplishments in the EVO and GTR worlds. SHOULD is the operative word here. The reality was that I didn't want to write THAT article. Hell every AMS article talks about their accomplishments from 8 Second Evo's and GTR's, to one of the most dominant time attack cars in US history. And while those are the things that AMS is best known for NONE of them would be possible without a key ingredient. That's right I am going to brush those things aside and focus on what makes AMS tick.... PEOPLE.
By Mike Kojima
Since we opened up the back part of our exhaust with Greddy’s 85mm in diameter RS catback exhaust system, it was natural to next look for a better downpipe. After evaluating what was on the market, we decided to use the AMS Wide Mouth because of several unique design features which we felt made it stand out above the rest.
Project Evo X GSR- Testing the Greddy RS Catback Exhaust System
Project Evo X GSR- Testing the K&N Cold Air Intake
We have a bunch of mods planned for Chris’s car, the first being a Typhoon cold air intake by K&N. The Intake worked so well that we decided to make it our first MotoIQ Certified Legit evaluation. The K&N Typhoon intake came with a dyno sheet that proudly proclaimed guaranteed power. Glancing at the dyno sheet we could see that the intake increased power by 20 hp near peak RPM. That seemed like a big gain so we had our concerns, this was a lot for just an intake, was it true or BS? We were going to find out with testing that was a little more in depth than just strapping the car to a dyno for a few quick pulls.
Project EVO X, Keeping the SST Transmission and the engine oil cool!
In the last editions of Project EVO X we worked to get our car's handling and stopping power up to world class standards and eagerly attended our first track event. However we were really disappointed when our car went tilt after just a few laps at Streets of Willow Raceway. When the SST dual clutch transmission in the EVO X MR gets too hot the engine's ECU automatically makes moves to protect the transmission and the car goes into limp mode killing all measures of speed until the temps drop. In our hot Southern California climate, this happens so fast that it’s a frustrating experience and probably not good for the transmission either.
When we last worked on Project EVO X we installed a very comprehensive yet very streetable suspension system from KW and Whiteline. In continuing our theme for building the ultimate EVO X without compromising its daily driveabilty, we now turn our attention to the brakes, wheels and tires.
For more on Project EVO X Click Here!
What does the guy that has the Ultimate Streetcar do for a daily driver? Cheston Chiu is no stranger to building some really sick iron. His super clean, built to the hilt twin turbo 350Z is no show car. The Z placed second, missing first place by less than a point in Sport Compact Car Magazine’s Ultimate Street Car Contest and repeated the performance when the USCC torch was handed to Modified Magazine after SCC’s demise. Since the Z is a bit extreme to be a daily driver, Cheston wanted something nice but not as boring as his Maxima beater. The car still had to have some potential for some nice modifications but nothing that would render the car impractical as a daily driver. After considering several different options, Cheston settled on a 2010 Mitsubishi EVO X. The biggest reason was the twin clutch TC-SST transmission
MotoIQ Proudly Presents Our Partners: