This record-smashing machine uses a Frankenstein drive train-a Mitsubishi gearbox with a PPG aftermarket gear set. The transfer case and yoke both come from four-cylinder AWD record holders Shep Racing. A custom twin-plate clutch and drag-spec flywheel, a custom two-piece driveshaft, plus billet front axles with custom hub assemblies to fit more splines round out the details. To see just how much punishment these take, check out the picture of Nick's timesheet and the now-famous seven-second shaft. Even after making up custom hub assemblies to fit more splines, the splines on the thrashed shaft are radically twisted, bearing the brunt of the launch velocity. The full-time four-wheel-drive set-up and the likelihood of some components not hanging on for the whole ride means Nick doesn't bother with pre-run burnouts, yet still managed an amazing 1.185-second 60-foot time to go with his record ET.
Toyota's parts bin was pillaged for the rear axles and diff-which combines a Hilux (Tacoma) housing with a Romac spool and a custom ring and pinion set that matches the factory front diff's ratios.
In the never-ending quest for back-end stickiness, Nick chopped the floorpan out from behind the driver's seat to accommodate a four-link rear with a steel scatter shield and two driveshaft loops. Strange Racing double adjustable rear coilovers with 280-pound Eibach springs are fitted at the rear, with custom dampers, and King Springs are used at the front with Noltec camber plates. The whole car sits 15mm higher than the factory EVO on top of Weld Racing rims.
Nick says that the AWD system was the biggest drama during the build: "We made the horsepower years ago; the challenge was to get the car down the quarter without breaking. It was extremely difficult, and at times I wondered why I didn't build a rear-wheel-drive car."
Despite the difficulties (and after admitting that next time he'd probably start with a car that has the engine facing the right way and a 9-inch diff) Nick says the process was a great experience and he wouldn't change any of it.
"It's now greatly rewarding after persisting with it."
Ben Bray from Team Bray Racing provided the final motivation to get the record, by telling Nick that he drove like a girl. "Sevens are not possible without being told you're a girl," he says.
And plans for the future of APC's lightning-fast Evo? "Go faster, maybe add NOS to the current engine combination and then replace the engine with a new combination I've been working on over the last couple of years," says Nick. "Changes to the chassis will also be required for safety reasons."
Behind The Build
Head to the message boards at www.importtuner.com to chat about this feature Vehicle
Name.
Nick Zervos
Age.
36
Hometown.
Queensland, Australia
Occupation.
Owner Of Advanced Performance Centre (APC)
Hobbies.
Building Fast Cars
Build Time.
Plenty Long
Feedback.
sales@apc-racing.com.au
Quote.
"Home Of the world's quickest evo!"
'94 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 2
Output 915 AWHP @ 34 PSI
Engine APC 4G63 custom methanol Race engine: ARP harmonic balancer; HKS cam gears; Gates Racing timing belt; Eagle 4340 crankshaft, reworked by APC; Crower I-beam rods; Custom JE pistons with Pro Series pins; Sealed Power piston rings; APC DR spec camshafts, 4G63 EVO/2G DR Series heads, valve springs, titanium retainers, 1mm oversized valves, turbo beanie, intake manifold with extra injector bosses, 87 mm throttle body, oil catch tank, water overflow tank, ARE liquid-to-air intercooler w/ ice water tank mounted on passenger floor, radiator, 12-liter fuel cell; Garrett GT42R turbo; HKS waste gate; TiAL blow off valve; CES turbo exhaust manifold; Motec M880, CDI-4; Bosch direct-fire T-coils (4), 1680 cc injectors (12); Kynsler mechanical fuel pump, FPR; Speed Flow hoses and fittings; custom four-inch downpipe, 2.5-inch wategate dump pipe.