utaka

i have to agree with shaun. your wallet dictates your build there is no point going out building an engine and never being able to afford the rest of the kit to bring it up to spec. you need to remember with more power you need new brakes so you can stop, a new gearbox prob jdm six speed, engine management the list goes on and on. i am currently in progress with a time attack build im not going into specifics but my engine build has cost a lot . for 500bhp you will have a race prepped engine to cope with the stresses and strains of running that sort of power, best advice is give a reputable tuning company with a good background. scoobyclinic has been great for me personally and if you are serious about going through with an engine build i definately recommend you give scoobyclinic a call, they cater for everyone with a subaru and offer a variety of power packages at very competetive prices. just a though

Playsatan

iTrader: (2)

I do understand what you're saying. I just don't agree.

You say budget equals what you can and can't do.

I say goal tells you what the required budget is as per the OP's question.

I'd rather get what I want and have to pay for it than spend what I want and get what I'm given.

Lateral Performance

iTrader: (20)

I'm sorry, but I find this comment offensive ! Please don't tar every one with the same brush !

The customer should always be in control of costs, and by stating their budget, they are. This of course may be split over a period of time.

In my experience, the people who don't start with a budget are always the people who end up spending far more than they expected, or intended.



Mark.

Playsatan

iTrader: (2)

No offence intended Mark.

Any conversations we have had in the past have always started with what I needed or you would recommend, the price is the last thing we talk about.

In my opinion if you want over 500bhp you're always going to spend more than you expected ot intended.

Shaun

Playsatan,
The only unforseen expense in reality was the engine strip and refresh last year...... but anyone that run's this kind of power and doesn't have a wedge in reserve for if/when it goes **** up is a fool.

I suspect MANY people do not think or plan for this.

dynamix

iTrader: (3)

The hardest part in going into it without a budget or defined list of things that you 'need' is what I call the 'while it's out syndrome'.

While it's out you may as well do x y & z - very easy way to blow another £3k if you get carried away with it.

Tidgy

scoobyclinics sc450 package is prob the closest you'll get on a budget to a reliable 450, won't need the box, but will need the clutch at a guess so around 10-11k mark.

going above that your talking big bucks

Shaun

Define big bucks as £10-£11k is hardly unsubstantial!

Tidgy

how much more would it cost to get 500? im not talking 500 for 200miles, i mean 500 that will last for 3 years or more?

i bet were talking double that. you know as well as anyone that getting power is easy, keeping it is the tough part and you have to go right the way back to basics of block, lining, pistons, rods, crank, etc etc etc

so in the grand scheme 10k aint mega bucks, considering a car with that power out the box is prob 6 figures price wise

GazTheHat

You're right. Wish i'd of done it this way. Wouldn't of replaced as many parts and saved a fortune.

Aim high and save for it. Don't aim high, shoot low for now and then shoot a little higher as the budget appears.

If i had the money to start again, with what i've spent on mine. I'd have a different spec for sure.

Tidgy

io think once you have a goal yu can do it in certain stages, for example, have the block rods pistons build and if they match, use existing ehads etc, then when you have more cash, replace the heads, then when you have more replace the resst of the bits you need to

GazTheHat

My problem started that i wanted a TSL333 equivalent spec and never thought i'd have anymore money to spend on it. Luckily i did, but it remained that way, bits n' drabs. So i've ended up with 3x exhausts, 2x wheels, 2x Inductions etc. etc..

I should've kept the 333-type of budget until more if/when came available i guess. BUT...i was too impatient and wanted more! NOW!

stevebt

iTrader: (8)

IfI wanted to start a 450bhp power car on a budget I would just stick with your stock engine as it will probably hold at under 450bhp. Bolt on an md321t turbo and use a solaris ecu. Change the injectors and the clutch and a few other bits and pieces. Worry about changing the engine if it blows as there can't be that much resale in an sti block? When you want more power get the engine rebuilt and map on say 20% methanol until you can decide on the turbo you want.

stealthy55

but then you are wasting money by having to buy another turbo, i bought the turbo that i want for my "built" 2.3/4 (at some point) and put it on my 2.0. its quick and reliable

stevebt

iTrader: (8)

Not really as if he maps on 20% meths it would get around 480/490bhp and he is therefore at his power figure for much cheaper. Deciding if he wants another turbo to run on normal vpower is a choice that can be made later. I would of said buy a md321v but I'm pretty sure that would smash the stock engine.

stealthy55

as would most

dynamix

iTrader: (3)

The OE Ecu on the hawkeye will easily be good enough for 450bhp. I ran with that to over 500bhp. There is no benefit of spending close to £2000 on an ecu when the std one will do the job just fine.

My shopping list if I was doing this (again) on the cheap (and for the road) would be using the 100% std sti engine.
- md321T
- aps 3 inch inlet pipe
- walbro 255
- aps cold air induction kit
- modified 550 injectors
- 7 grade plugs
- full 3 inch decat exhaust
- gt spec headers

I would run boost at a low(ish) level so that I can get away with std clutch (which is very good) and the std tmic. This would easily be controlled by the std ecu and no need to go with any aftermarket ecu or boost controllers.

Would make 400-420 without even breaking a sweat and be no harder to drive than the std car but with all the std nice bits in. Perfect for the road.

Probs no more than £4000 all in but budget on an engine rebuilt in the nearish future when/if ringlands decide to fail or if you get greedy with boost.

stevebt

iTrader: (8)

I said the ecu as he wants more power and would need a good ecu so it may as well be a 1st and easy payment instead of wasting money on ecutek maps.

dynamix

iTrader: (3)

The std ecu is very good and there is no need to change it for sub 500bhp on the hawkeye IMO. Mine got 545bhp on the std ecu.

Solaris is a superb ecu but still needs mapping Steve and the extra £2k on that is a great example of spec creep ...

gussy

iTrader: (2)

so taking from that statement Shaun you must have budgeted 3-4 years ago for 50+ grand as for steve B he aint got a budget he just does it and worries about it later btw how are your driving lessons going for this years SS if it goes ahead simon is been very quite and I need to get a new car.

Shaun

Gus,
I just keep throwing money at the car, but I have been in a fortunate position to be able to do that. Don't forget I have had/continue to have very good sponsorship and support as well. This helps a lot, but just doesn't happen.... you have to put a lot of time and effort in to sustain it.

If I knew what I know now would I of done it any differently. Hell yes! That is what you get for being on the "bleeding" edge at times though and I always knew and accepted that. Saying all this though, the car is now as I want it and how it should of been 2yrs ago.

ScoobySprint 2010 is being progressed and venues are being finalised, so expect some announcements shortly! I have not had any further lessons recently, but will get some track time sorted, probably starting next month.

Neil..

iTrader: (35)

So, you would run that spec/power level on a stock 2.5 STi engine...?

dynamix

iTrader: (3)

yes

but as said i would budget for it needing pistons/work when i got greedy with boost

Neil..

iTrader: (35)

So, very soon then.

dynamix

iTrader: (3)

True but that is me

Seriously I still think that is a good option for a cheap 400-420 that has some headroom for not re-spending money when you get bored.

stevebt

iTrader: (8)

I wonder what my car would of turned out like if I did worry about a budget I have people talking me out of wasting money on the car. Since this recession started I have had to watch my spend but once its over it will be spend spend spend

Shaun

The recession has hit me hard.... I have had to spend more of my own money instead of other peoples during 2009. I have undoubtedly spent more of my own money in one go during 2009 then I have ever spent since buying the car in the first place!