In 2000, Mitsubishi announced the specifications for the latest version of its popular Eclipse sports coupe. In that instant, the blood of thousands of passionate Eclipse fans suddenly went cold. Mitsubishi was taking the car "up market." The car would grow in size and weight. The beloved all-wheel-drive system would be scrapped. But the biggest blow was the announcement that the legendary turbocharged 2.0-liter 4G63 engine, the same one shared with the Lancer Evolution and refined in the grueling WRC, would also be replaced. It was a soul-crushing announcement that soured many of the Eclipse faithful; the hardcore refused to accept the new version, let alone modify it. If anything was to be made of the third-gen Eclipse, it would have to be from a new generation of enthusiasts.
One of these newcomers was Mike Rule, owner of this 2000 Eclipse GT. Rule wasn't just new to the Eclipse, he was new to import cars and aftermarket modifications in general. He picked up his Eclipse in January of 2002 as a replacement for a Camaro that always seemed to be broken down, and adding performance parts wasn't part of the original plan. "I never had a car that I modified before and was not into the whole 'car scene.' It was a good car to have at the time and I enjoyed it in stock form. However, after owning it for a few months, I started to get little things, like an intake, exhaust, etc. I began to try and set it apart from the others."
These personal touches included an Injen cold-air intake, a GReddy cat-back exhaust, Deyeme Racing motor mounts, an A'PEXi S-AFC, and a B&M short shifter. The suspension was also upgraded with KYB/AGX adjustable struts paired with TEIN S-Tech springs and a Suspension Techniques anti-roll bar in the rear. Additional carving ability came from Road Race Engineering in the form of front and rear shock tower bars.
Rule entered a road race to test his new setup and driving skills, despite little experience in the sport. He managed an impressive 7th place finish in a field of 20 cars littered with Corvettes, Porsches, and Audis. Not only that, the comfort-to-cornering compromise was balanced enough to safely transport asses on road trips over hundreds of flying miles.
At this point, Rule had hooked up with Club3G, an online alliance of third-gen Eclipse owners. Rule and his new car buddies would visit the dragstrip every weekend, ripping down the 1320, hoping to eke every last tenth out of their beloved Mitsubishis. "As time went on, I eventually started breaking record times for naturally aspirated third-gen Eclipses, and at one point had the fastest pass in all of Florida and the third fastest in the nation. My car had become a huge part of my life."
Rule's modest modifications had rendered a 14.5 e.t. at 94 mph on street tires - not bad for 187 horsepower at the wheels.
Like a junkie, Rule was hooked but wanted a bigger rush. The hunt for power adders began, but it wasn't easy finding boost for the 6G72 3.0-liter V-6. "Turbocharging had been tried before but with little success. In my mind, real power lay in turbocharging, and I was determined to make it work, not only for myself, but for the whole Eclipse community."
With his sights set squarely on his objective and the support of his car buddies behind him, Rule boldly ventured into unknown territory. After purchasing a "bare bones" kit from the now defunct company, X-Tech, Rule realized he was in no-man's-land. The kit was designed for low-boost applications (5.8 psi max) and included only what was necessary to make the T3/T4 Precision turbo breathe. Realizing that a few more pounds of boost was necessary to achieve anything near his power goals, Mike's Eclipse went from track rat to experimental guinea pig.
Turning up the boost calls for a cooler charge, so Rule's first addition to the kit was an intercooler from Boostn.com. Originally designed for an Integra, the intercooler turned out to be a perfect fit for the front of the Eclipse and mated well with the intercooler piping from Accelerated Autosports. Diamante generously donated its intake plenum to the boosted cause, as well as a larger-diameter Proflow 62mm throttle body. Magnecore spark plug wires and ZEX spark plugs provide a hotter spark, while a 2.5-inch turbo-back exhaust system routes the hot gases out from underneath the car. Protecting it all are Thermo-Tec exhaust wraps, a CSF radiator, SPAL 11-inch fans, a GRreddy Type-S BOV, and a Tial 38mm wastegate.
At 8 psi, Rule's newly turbocharged Eclipse spins the dyno to 295 hp and outputs 320 lb-ft of torque. All this muscle in any platform is enough to shred some rubber, and the Eclipse does just that through first and second gear at the track. On street tires, Rule's Eclipse makes 13.2-second passes at 106 mph.