Now that I do not know mate. I can only tell you that the the particular one that came off my car was blooming awful; and everyone was very surprised!! The Perrin one was much better quality!

 

Absolutely brilliant write up, especially as I’m now in a position to go a very similar route with my 07 Type UK Hawkeye! Your thread has certainly whetted my appetite!

I bought the car a year ago, as a ‘weekender’ so to speak with a view to fast-road and track it and enjoy it as best I could. Engine-wise it has already been sensibly modified and remapped by Bob to circa 350 / 390, which I thought, until last week, was going to be plenty quick enough for me!

I was however concerned by the ‘reputation’ of the UK 2.5, so spoke to David at API at the end of last year and along with excellent advice, he gave me a similar spec to strengthen the existing engine, improve cooling etc and take it over 400 / 400, at which point he sold me the benefits of the SC46! However, whilst I could have had it sorted over the winter, I made the decision to get all the suspension, handling, geo and brakes done first, so left my car with Chevron Motorsport in Stafford instead, to work their magic.

Then last week, I took the car on my and its, first ever open-pitlane track day to Silverstone International and was blown away by the experience. The balance, handling and grip were incredible, with no drama whatsoever, even when things got hairy and out of shape. I’d never experienced anything like it before and got to enjoy the car, as I suspect it is truly meant to be experienced, even though I was and still am a complete track novice. The car was so precise, had so much control and the feedback it provided gave me so much confidence that, at the end of the day, I came off track wanting more power, especially as I could tell that the chassis and the set up Chevron had given me, was capable of so much more.

However, the day taught me is that I’d need to seriously look at the engine, oil management and the cooling as it didn’t take more than 4 or 5 hard laps before temperatures caused the Defis to tell me to take it a little easier and to come in and cool down, which I did religeously, even though it was so tempting to have just one more lap!

So I got home, dropped Bob a few emails to check a few things out and get his usual excellent advice and then looked up the quote David had given me last year! Things are going to get expensive and soon!

Quick question and my apologies if it’s in your thread, but have you gone fully-forged in order to safely take all that power, i.e. a full replacement engine? Reason I ask is that, so far, I’ve only spoken to David about dropping the Supertech pistons, rings and bearings etc, in to the existing engine, along with supporting mods and I’m not sure if that would be enough to safely allow me to explore the full benefits of the SC46! Like you, I want to enjoy the car, reassured that it’s going to be as reliable and robust as possible!

I have a feeling your going to say “you need to increase your budget”

Cheers,

Steve

 

A great write up in true inimitable NS04 style. I hope David at API looks after you as you can't buy advertising like this, a job well done and a great result.

 

If you are still interested in buying a white 07 STI send a pm to Big Fud , he may have just what you are looking for .

 

Hi Steve,

No need to apologise; the reason I do these threads is to try and provide info that might be helpful!

To put in the pistons you're gonna have the engine open, whilst you're going that, you may as well see to the rods as well. Opinion seems to be divided on whether this is a necessity at 450ish, but most would agree it's a wise precaution! Cost ya about £400 extra for APis forged rods. If you're tracking the car, I would!!!!! Ditto FMIC, Ditto Oil cooler, Ditto parallel fuel lines, ditto tufnol inlet spacers, Ditto Baffled sump! Whilst the engine is out, replace the clutch (standard one no good at that level, AP more than up for it and lovely to use and because the engines out, you're not paying 4 hours for the labour to fit).

Soon mounts up doesn't it!

Happy to have a chat over the phone if you would like to know more.

Best

Paul

 

Congratulations on a fantastic write up Paul. Now just relax and enjoy the experience the car will bring to you. Well done.

 

Hey Paul,

How are things?

Your post caused me to go back and look at my old PMs - I still have one from you from 2007, which i keep as a bit of a reminder of past mods, where you advised me on the merits of Vf35s (even though I ultimately went for the Td04H - both are good). Anyway, what I'm getting at is that I've benefited from your advice on SN for a number of years and as a result I'm genuinely delighted to see what a wonderful Scoob you have created (well, with some help from Subaru and David and the guys at API!).

Is it worth it? Well, I reckon if the funds can be found, definitely!

I think it's not a bad idea at all to rebuild the 2.5. There are the odd HG ringlands problems and, whadyaknow, you also end up with the opportunity to stick on a whopping turbo and take advantage of all that torque!

Well, I'm actually looking at Hawk Sti's now (ie I have the cash in the bank!), so, although I won't end up with 460bhp, I know I'll have a great car. May soon be doing a review of my own (ever think of taking up journalism btw Paul, yours really was well written! .

Watch this space............

Andy

 

Hi Paul,

Thanks mate. Will PM you and we can arrange to have a chat.

Steve

 

Love it !!!!!

 

Is Paul on a long weekend away?

 

He's prob doing what I did earlier... Ergo, non-stop hooning round my local roads for 3.5 hours!!!

**** the V-Power!

 

lol! 12mpg?!

 

Probably!

 

I've been *ahem* doing some testing....all in the interests of science you understand!

 

I was right, then?

 

Great read. Steve

 

Some good advice there about thinking about what else to do while the engine is out- API did my gearbox etc, and so did a load of other work including a lovely baffled sump!

So now I dont lose oil pressure on track, so that just leaves fuel surge!

I just want your engine and box in my classic!

Grant

 

Incredible Build! I am trying to accomplish the same power band in my GR. Is the exhaust housing a milled out VF37 or a custom casting? I am looking for a twin scroll option to handle the 2.5L exhaust flow. Basically duplicate a JDM 2.0 but with a rev happy Cossworth 2.5L.

 

I have a Hybrid twin Scroll turbo off a Type 25- just need to fit it and get it mapped to see the difference with a standard one, on a 2.0 non AVCS

 

Great read + great figures - very interesting you didn't suffer the phantom det I have
Wonder if its because the Cossy pistons I used are noisier.

 

Very good write up, and an awesome car, api have done you proud!!!

 

Cracking write up!

The APi / Bob Rawle combination is tough to beat.

 

I suspect Bob might be better at finding oil leaks than we are

Private joke folks.

David

 

Phantom Det? Sound like det, but isn't? You have had it confirmed by the mapper haven't you?

Knocklink stays on Green at all times. You can get a brief flash up when changing gear rapidly at higher rpm, but I understand this is just an artefact of the sudden change in engine volume that accompanies this scenario. Bob commented that it was very quiet when mapping it! APi engines are reputed for that though *shameless plug* and those supertech pistons really are somthing else. Sometimes when I start the car from cold, I really do get the urge to phone David to confirm he acutally replaced the OEM items ..... then I remember, I'm running 1.75 bar on the SC46 so of course he did....

 

Music to my ears!

 

Blimey, has it been over two years!

Recently bought a house so went though the usual thing of

"Would be it more sensible to sell it and use the money for the house"

Went for a drive ....... Answer was immediately apparent!

I'll just have to put up with having no furniture

 

Time flies when your having fun

 

Time flies indeed, but not as fast as a 2.5 with an SC46 ..... as you know!