Help - disappointing power after mods
11 December 2010, 07:26 PM
#31
There won't be any logging if my offer is taken up, just common sense, systematic thorough investigation working through the car logically, carefully and progressively. The fault is probably not obvious or it may be a series of faults as both Simon and Subaru4U have spent time on this vehicle and I understand that it was already low on power before the current round of mods.
OP's in safe hands...
11 December 2010, 07:50 PM
#32
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But it would help if a compression and/or leakage test were done first to allow some analysis before the spanners come out...
I did mine and it showed the leakage figures were a bit high, but three years on it's still goes like stink.
God only knows what it would go like if it were 100% healthy.
Just pondering...
dunx
I did mine and it showed the leakage figures were a bit high, but three years on it's still goes like stink.
God only knows what it would go like if it were 100% healthy.
Just pondering...
dunx
12 December 2010, 03:29 PM
#34
Thanks for all the responses. Harvey has made me a great offer - no cost if he can't sort it, unfortunately I can't do much about that until after Christmas as I'm working abroad.
The car's history is pretty standard - bought it at 40k miles, FSH etc, went well, now serviced regularly by Subaru4U at Newbury. At 58k had turbo back decat, green panel filter & walbro FP fitted. Mapped at Powerstation, 310bhp, 298ft lbs torque. Not great but not terrible either. The car went well, no obvious issues or S4U would have picked them up. The TD05 20g and Harvey headers and uppipe went on at 73k miles.
Nothing has been done to the car since as I've been too busy. In the meantime JGM has kindly spoken to Harvey and agreed no turbo issues, and to be honest I didn't think there would be.
I want to sort this out but having thrown several £k at the car already I want to start at the less expensive end first and not start ripping the engine apart just yet.
I will keep everyone updated on progress
The car's history is pretty standard - bought it at 40k miles, FSH etc, went well, now serviced regularly by Subaru4U at Newbury. At 58k had turbo back decat, green panel filter & walbro FP fitted. Mapped at Powerstation, 310bhp, 298ft lbs torque. Not great but not terrible either. The car went well, no obvious issues or S4U would have picked them up. The TD05 20g and Harvey headers and uppipe went on at 73k miles.
Nothing has been done to the car since as I've been too busy. In the meantime JGM has kindly spoken to Harvey and agreed no turbo issues, and to be honest I didn't think there would be.
I want to sort this out but having thrown several £k at the car already I want to start at the less expensive end first and not start ripping the engine apart just yet.
I will keep everyone updated on progress
13 December 2010, 02:56 PM
#36
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Hi,
Please can you ask whoever is looking at the car to try and check the neutral position sensor, as this can cause issues with timing. If the ECU fails to detect neutral it wonders what is going one and does some odd things: like refuse to engage the variable valve times and stoping you getting the power you would expect.
This does not always show when remaping, and is worth a look to cross off your list.
Best of Luck
Ian
Please can you ask whoever is looking at the car to try and check the neutral position sensor, as this can cause issues with timing. If the ECU fails to detect neutral it wonders what is going one and does some odd things: like refuse to engage the variable valve times and stoping you getting the power you would expect.
This does not always show when remaping, and is worth a look to cross off your list.
Best of Luck
Ian
13 December 2010, 04:46 PM
#38
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Hi,
Please can you ask whoever is looking at the car to try and check the neutral position sensor, as this can cause issues with timing. If the ECU fails to detect neutral it wonders what is going one and does some odd things: like refuse to engage the variable valve times and stoping you getting the power you would expect.
This does not always show when remaping, and is worth a look to cross off your list.
Best of Luck
Ian
Please can you ask whoever is looking at the car to try and check the neutral position sensor, as this can cause issues with timing. If the ECU fails to detect neutral it wonders what is going one and does some odd things: like refuse to engage the variable valve times and stoping you getting the power you would expect.
This does not always show when remaping, and is worth a look to cross off your list.
Best of Luck
Ian
It should show up on any monitoring equipment showing on or off, normally off if its faulty
It should have no issues in 6th gear and the avcs should still work normally here afaik, only between gear changes will that not respond and cause lag
It does sound more like a compression issue than anything else, the car just needs a full health check, something that should be done before taking up any modifications tbh.
Tony
14 December 2010, 10:20 AM
#40
No Dunx the engine has the usual mild piston noise when cold but that soon disappears as it warms through and the engine is then relatively quiet.
A new NPS was fitted by Powerstation, and the engine was given a general health check by S4U before anything was modded. There was no reason for concern at the time so it was a full service (plugs etc) and a compression test, all ok. This was 18 months ago. Things were then changed and the gradual process began.
As stated before, when time permits these basic checks will be run again, starting at the cheap end first. I don't want to throw a load more money at a car that may have serious problems. I'll update regardless of outcome.
A new NPS was fitted by Powerstation, and the engine was given a general health check by S4U before anything was modded. There was no reason for concern at the time so it was a full service (plugs etc) and a compression test, all ok. This was 18 months ago. Things were then changed and the gradual process began.
As stated before, when time permits these basic checks will be run again, starting at the cheap end first. I don't want to throw a load more money at a car that may have serious problems. I'll update regardless of outcome.
01 February 2011, 06:26 PM
#41
Subaru4U at Newbury have discovered low compression on one bank of cylinders and insufficient valve clearances on that side. So it's engine out to sort this problem, and while it's out new uprated shells and pistons should get the engine back in trim. Fingers crossed.
01 February 2011, 06:32 PM
#42
ACL Race Series mains and bigs, as a matter of course. 
Do you intend on keeping her for a decent amount of time after the refresh?
If so, and if you're gonna replace the pistons, surely now is the time to fit 500bhp+ rated pistons... Plus also stretch (pardon the pun) to 500+ rods too? Bingo! One gorgeous forged motor to get your modding-teeth into......
Do you intend on keeping her for a decent amount of time after the refresh?
If so, and if you're gonna replace the pistons, surely now is the time to fit 500bhp+ rated pistons... Plus also stretch (pardon the pun) to 500+ rods too?
Bingo! One gorgeous forged motor to get your modding-teeth into......
Last edited by joz8968; 01 February 2011 at 06:33 PM.
01 February 2011, 10:16 PM
#43
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Hmm.... mine had poor leakage test figures some three years ago, due to come out next month.
Mine was just a wee bit down on power, and rather poor to spool.
dunx
Mine was just a wee bit down on power, and rather poor to spool.
dunx
24 June 2011, 07:47 PM
#45
Here I am several months on and everyone but me will have lost track of this. With the modified engine on my Newage Sti struggling to make decent power, Subaru4You in Newbury found zero clearance on one valve (which could have been a negative figure) and very low clearances on several others. Compression was also well down on one cylinder and lowish on the other three.
So engine out, and the valves were in very poor shape. The heads have now been completely overhauled. Interestingly (and worryingly) the original conrods fitted to the engine were the less substantial rods from a classic engine - thanks Subaru. The bores also showed signs of wear so the block has been rebored and more substantial head bolts fitted, also forged pistons, manley conrods, uprated mains & big end shells, uprated oil pump, and while in there the cam belt and tensioner were replaced and new plugs fitted. All for less than a grand! (Just kidding ) I was tempted to go for the more expensive 2.1 conversion but in the end resisted - I might regret that eventually.
The engine now sounds great and I'm looking forward to getting it run in. Then JGM will hopefully do his stuff and this time be able to get a decent power figure. I'll keep you posted.
So engine out, and the valves were in very poor shape. The heads have now been completely overhauled. Interestingly (and worryingly) the original conrods fitted to the engine were the less substantial rods from a classic engine - thanks Subaru. The bores also showed signs of wear so the block has been rebored and more substantial head bolts fitted, also forged pistons, manley conrods, uprated mains & big end shells, uprated oil pump, and while in there the cam belt and tensioner were replaced and new plugs fitted. All for less than a grand! (Just kidding
) I was tempted to go for the more expensive 2.1 conversion but in the end resisted - I might regret that eventually. The engine now sounds great and I'm looking forward to getting it run in. Then JGM will hopefully do his stuff and this time be able to get a decent power figure. I'll keep you posted.
24 June 2011, 08:15 PM
#47
...........never heard of classic rods being used in the newage engine from the factory. I assumed they cleared the factory floor of all the old stuff when they started building engines for the bug.
Shaun
Shaun
24 June 2011, 08:21 PM
#48
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Glad you got there in the end. Alan Jeffery and his team are doing a 2.1 stroker conversion mine now... well next week maybe !
Mine made 340 bhp a good few years ago on it's std spec. except for a Sports cat'd TSL exhaust system.
Enjoy !
dunx
Mine made 340 bhp a good few years ago on it's std spec. except for a Sports cat'd TSL exhaust system.
Enjoy !
dunx
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