Good Afternoon,

I went to power engineering this morning to have a boost gauge fitted and have a power test! The car was found to have a Jap. chip which was allowing me to run 20psi of boost up to 8000rpm without increasing the fuelling....I thought I could hear a bit of pinking! They also told me that they thought it wasn't an STI!

They removed the chip and the car now boost's round to 14psi and then settles at 10psi and only rev's to 7500rpm. With the full cat free exhaust and panel filter it produced 274bhp. Does this sound right for an MY95 WRX STI RA?

I brought my MY95 WRX STI RA about 4 weeks ago, I wasn't 100% sure that it was an STI even thought the owner had a letter from Subaru in Tokyo confirming the chassis and engine number were for an STI.
On the infamous list from iwoc it has the same Model code for both type RA's, GC8C47D. My car has front and rear strut braces, STI stickers in the engine bay, STI logo on the dash diff. lights, STI logo's on the wings and STI on the seats, Aluminium suspension arms and the pink transfer on the ECU!

Is it an STI?

 

Official figures for STi RA is 275ps.
If the letter is genuine, then you can be sure it's a STi. Both the MY95 RA & RA STi shared the same mdl code, as the cars then were all produced as normal RA in the factory. The upgrades to STi spec were added later to completed RAs.
It is only from MY96 onwards (i.e. STi2) that the STi cars were produced on the line.

 

If it is an STI shouldn't it rev. higher than 7500rpm? I thought that all STI RA's had a rev limited of 8250!!

 

Have a look at your vin plate, then check here

Should let you know what you have

 

I've braved the cold weather and had a good look at the VIN plate. The codes match so mine is a version 1 WRX TYPE RA STI version, does anyone else have one of these models as I need to comfirm a few details!!!

Cheer's
Dom.

 

Dominicm,
I've got a mate with a WRX STI 1 4 door, if you want I could speak to him for you and get some info if it helps.

Arron.

 

I have an STi2 Type r/a. Easiest way to get a clue is the roof hatch and the manual centre diff control. The STi type r/a has them, the WRX type r/a doesn't.
simon

 

Arron I need to check mine against a Type RA STI, thank you.

RRH, I know that non-STI type RA's do have roof vents and adjustable Diff's as I saw a couple before I brought mine! I know that not all RA's have the hatch, but I believe that all had the adj. Diff.....I could be wrong!

My main concern is the engine, Power engineering thought it wasn't a STI engine, I have a letter confirming it is from Subaru in Tokyo! They have bypassed the so called chip and know my car is alot less powerful and to be honest I'm very dissapointed as it feels a lot slower!
I am trying to confirm what a standard STI turbo boosrt is and also what it's rev limited is!

Dom.

 

The engine may have been blown up in the past and swapped for a standard one (or pistons may have been shot and swapped for UK ones) - it happens a lot !!

What turbo has it got, and can you see how thickk the head gaskets are ??

 

I've checked the engine numbers and they match the letter I've got from Japan!

How do you tell if it has the closed deck block as I believe that all STI's had these! Also where are the part numbers on the turbo?

Thanx
Dom.

 

the early WRX r/a's had closed deck blocks too!

 

It will be stamped on it somewhere - but exactly where depends on the make - you'll just have to go and have a good look !!

Also - maybe worthwhile moving this thread to the drivtrain section !!!!

 

Arent STI engines painted red and the Wrx not ? My STI RA has the red engine cover.

 

The inlet manifolds are indeed red - but the paint flakes off, I think he needs to verify the internals of the engine as the car appears to be genuine.

 

The Sti 1 and 2 had the phase one engine, ie. pre red-top

 

I have confimation from Japan that the manifolds were not painted red on the first series STI's. I will have a look at the turbo later on, what model turbo should be fitted?

I guess by all the evidence that my car is indeed an STI, thank you all for your input and advice......now were's BRD's number for that link ecu.......

 

poss not the best route for an early sti although am sure some may disagree.
try scoobyecu.co.uk- i have one of there mods and its ace

 

Never seen a WRX type r/a with either the diff control or the roof hatch.

Mine pulls .9 bar as standard, i think thats approx 13psi.

I would imagine it would fly with 20psi- but i wouldn't imagine it would last very long.

[Edited by RRH - 1/9/2003 11:35:44 AM]