I had just about convinced myself to sell my P1 and buy a Litchfield spec C. The things I loved about driving the spec C were:

throttle response
braking ability
turn in and general agility
6 speed box

However, I calculated the cost of owning the P1 which is all fine apart from the depreciation. It is worth around 15k which is a loss of 16k in 3 years - ouch. I don't really want to do this again and spend ano 15k extra to get the spec C.

So, what can I do to the P1 to get it closer?

Equal length headers?
Twin scroll turbo - is that retro-fittable?
6 speed box - will that fit?
DCCD-A - will that fit?
What about diffs?
Brakes - how?
Anything else?

So then, when I have got a package of upgrades, what does the ins co think? What are peep's experiences when they tell their ins co that 276bhp has turned into 320bhp?

Ta
Graham

 

You could drop a complete MY03/04 Spec C powertrain into it if you wanted to. Simon Lines is doing this and more in his thread on the Projects forum.

Yes, I've got the MY03 sump pan, headers and turbo. All the bits just bolt on, only tricky bit is getting a downpipe made. You can either get an MY03 twinscroll downpipe from the likes of Milltek and then get a spacer pipe made to mate to your existing mid section, or get a complete custom downpipe made. Then it's a remap. Bob Rawle's already got experience mapping these turbos and I daresay others now have as well.

You could get all these as a unit out of a stacked JDM STi. They'll all fit with minor work necessary to get the propshaft shortened (or you could fit an '03 one). Difficulty would be integrating the -A component of the DCCD into your car. To do that you'd probably need the MY03 loom, steering column, pedals, transmission control unit and engine management system.

All this is going to add a lot to the cost and complexity of the job. Speaking of which, getting a complete MY03 gearbox, prop, rear diff, shafts and so-on is going to take some tracking down, and it'll also cost a fair bit.

Easily.

Varies, you'll have to ask whoever you're with.

Could easily be a little more power than that. As to how they'd react, a lot depends on how they deal with mods. If you have to detail every single change you've made it's going to be a long list and that might stack the premium. If OTOH they simply ask how much of a percentage power increase you've got and don't care how you achieved it, Bob could be your uncle.

 

Don't we all !!!

How easy is it to re-fit the Type-R DCCD on a P1 ?
What approx. cost would this be ?
Would it be possible to retain the P1 gear ratios ?

 

yes you can retain P1 ratios, it has the same front and rear final drives and 1:1 drop gears, so you can just fit a DCCD in by buying from somewhere like townend garage.

You will need to wire up the control unit which is harder to come by but still easily done.

Brakes on the spec c are not that amazing, and can easily be improved on by buying an aftermarket AP kit, which you wont lose money on if you sell the car in standard form after and take the brakes with you.

The six speed is just a six speed, and with a decent power hike, personally I prefer the 5 speed, so long as it can handle the torque. if you are talking about 320bhp then it shouldn't be an issue. Ask harvey!

turbo already covered, but don't be taken in, the twin scroll is good but is not the be all and end all. get yourself a garrett gt cored unit and you will be surprised what they can do across the rev range, especially the smaller units.

Might save you no end of hassle.

Insurance,

try privilege, they can cover any power increase and load your policy on the basis of power output only. The mods make little difference.

In your case I would sell the P1 and put the money into a type r. You will get yourself some money back most likely, and will have £1000 worth of dccd and controller to boot, as well as a more chunky rear diff and better rear brakes, and the chance of a quick rack which I believe the spec c comes standard with. This will probably be a big part of the improved perception of steering feel.

 

Excellent idea

 

The only reason I didn't go for the type R was I can't really live with 4000rpm = 80mph in 5th. Hence the requirement to maintain P1 ratios.

Isn't the rear diff and rear brakes the same on a type R / P1

 

No. Type R has R180 mechanical rear LS diff, different driveshafts, uprights, hubs and two pot calipers. P1 has R160 (viscous I think) LSD with the regular UK spec bits, including the single piston sliding calipers.

 

Just got depressed phoning insurance companies! Very few can cope with more than 1 or 2 mods and a 10% increase in power! Time to re-think I reckon.

Now a really stoopid question, what's a type-R?

Graham

 

The STi5 Type R is the Japanese market car that the P1 (nominally at least) was based on. Think of a P1 with stiffer suspension, shorter gear ratios and the DCCD and you're in the ballpark.

 

Hee Hee! You could've had my 400+ hp Type R for much less than the value of your P1.
Darn It's gone!(Today).

 

Nice car. Missing it yet???

 

No not at all G.M.



Brand new me....

 

so what you replaced it with?

 

gridgway: Have you tried L+V?
I insure my UK car with them.. now has in the region of 350bhp/300lb ft and its cost me an extra 150 quid a year on top of a grand when it was standard (im 26 btw)

L+V LOVE mods, just dont change engine size -they wont cover a 2.5 conversion I checked!! LOL

 

i think you now have to be 30 to get a brand new policy with L&V (least that's what they told me...) - so I think you might have been lucky chrome

 

I think it depends on the car as I've not long turned 29 and insured with L&V. MY99 RB5.

 

Greasemonkey,

fyi the rear diff on a P1 is a plate R160.

I believe they changed the rear end because dccd equipped cars from the factory tend to be combined with the r180 rear end which is for some reason incompatible with abs.

The closest comparison is actually the wrx version 5 type r (non sti) which apart from the engine is identical to the P1's drivetrain.

 

Ta Adam, noted!

Reason for that was, IIRC, that it wasn't practically possible to fit wheel speed sensors on the hubs.

 

now that is interesting.

I was once informed that the rear hubs on the 22b were lifted straight of an SVX which does have the possibility of fitting wheel speed sensors.

If this is the case, perhaps I can retrofit it after all.

second point: should I bother? probably not.

 

Have you tried Schofield Insurance. My car has a lot more than 10% extra and a 2 mods!! And the premium is very good.

Speak to Tom - the number is 0113 2500377 - its a broker so Mon-Fri is normal hours.

Rannoch

 

Rannoch - Are you sure you have 10%+ more power..........where's the proof

Adam - The SVX has different hubs from the Impreza, not just offset but the wheel mounting PCD is far larger. I know, I tried to fit an Impreza wheel on my one when I had a puncture !!

Andy

 

Just out of interest, if you read the subject of this thread from the main bbs screen it said 'I want my P1 to be more like.... Andy F'



Dave