Unless a starting player gets injured, a second string player rarely gets a chance to shine. However, if the opportunity presents itself, a second string player must rise to the occasion for the team. When Insane Speed's owner Todd Allen received a last minute invitation to compete in an EVO vs. STI tuner shootout, he looked around the garage and felt the same pressure a coach experiences when the game is almost over and the star player is injured on the bench. Todd's wide-body EVO was disassembled in preparation for a new paint job while the dedicated time-attack EVO was being extensively redesigned. The only functional machine in the shop was the company's new test mule, this 2005 EVO VIII. The decision was made to take the streetcar out to the competition in full-weight, street trim. With only three weeks to complete a competitive build, Todd and his staff got to work, whipping their second string player into shape.

MASS BUILDING

Insane Speed (IS) builds insane cars, like 700-to-1,000 horsepower EVOs and Supras that generate well over 1,300 horsepower. With a history of high-power builds under belt, knocking out this project in short order would be a challenge, even if a familiar one. The foundation for this contender, the Insane Speed EVO Program Engine #1, is the shop’s ultimate street engine. The iron 4G64 block was built by IS’s Mike Angel, formerly of Factor X. He filled the block with Insane Speed-spec JE Pistons, GRP aluminum rods and a Winberg stroker crankshaft. These custom internals rely on highstrength ARP L19 fasteners to stay together. Up top, the cylinder head received IS’s Stage-1 CNC-head program before being filled with a complete Xceldyne valvetrain including titanium valves and retainers.

CONDITIONING

With the engine internals assembled, attention shifted to aspiration. A Precision Turbo & Engine 6265 turbocharger and an IS equal-length manifold combine to provide enough boost pressure to achieve ultimate streetcar horsepower levels. A customized Extreme Turbo Systems intercooler chills the aircharge before it reaches the Boomba throttle body and AMS F1 intake manifold. As the chilled aircharge reaches the intake ports, Injector Dynamics 2,000 cc/min injectors saturate the airstream with E85 fuel. To achieve race-gas performance from E85, the fuel system was upgraded with a pair of Denso in-tank pumps, an IS billetaluminum surge tank and dual Bosch 044 in-line pumps. Mike optimized the fuel and ignition tables on the MoTeC M800 engine management system. At 38 psi, the EVO VIII generated an impressive 815 horsepower and an even more remarkable 791 lb-ft torque.

GOOD FOOTING

After completing the powertrain, Todd shifted his focus to the driveline. To handle the abuse of almost 800 lb-ft of torque, a Tilton Engineering twinplate carbon clutch and lightened flywheel were installed to transfer power from the crankshaft to the Sheptrans Stage 2 gearbox. A Driveshaft Shop propeller shaft ensures that the CUSCO rear differential is turning while a Quaife ATB differential splits the power up front, turning all four Hankook tire-equipped XXR 522 wheels. To keep the rubber on the road at all times, IS worked with KW Suspension to develop a specially-valved damper/spring combination that helps the EVO hook up off the line, handle well in the turns and retain street drivability for the commute around town or to work. To get the Hankooks to bite into the asphalt, Stoptech calipers squeeze Hawk pads to deliver shorter stopping distances.