I’m sure we have all had bad service experiences at times… and told others about how we were treated and how we felt…. And I would put money on the fact that we told our mates… we probably put it on ‘the net’ and warned others against falling into the same trap? Or into the hands of the unscrupulous flea bay and fly by night traders that come and go..

On the other hand
We are sometimes surprised how well we are treated and how our hard earned cash is easier to part with when we receive service way beyond what we expected…

Well this is my story of how disaster and tears have turned into smiles and an empty wallet..

A few months back, I decided like many of us to modify my classic Scooby… as you do!
It all started by talking with other owners and sending e-mails and posting on web site blogs… what are the best ways to modify my classic Impreza?
The advice, pointers, contacts and experiences others had received came back at me like an avalanche and it was interesting and informative to get the views of others at the grass roots, who had voted with their cash… but I needed to ‘pick the bones’ out of the masses of help that is out there… Thank you to all who gave

So armed with some of your experiences I decided to do the following
·Change TD04 standard turbo for VF28 ball bearing Turbo
·Change 380 injectors for 440cc injectors
·Tubular unequal length header pipes
·Full de-cat exhaust system
·Up rate the fuel pump to Walbro 255L
·Green panel filter
·Change anti roll bars for Whiteline items
·Fit anti lift castor kit
·APEX lowering springs
·Fit Ferrodo DS 2500 pads
·Fit braided brake hoses
·Fit lightweight sport Radiator
·Get a re-map

Having done all the above…except re-map… I booked my car in with Mapping Guru and all round top bloke Bob Rawle of BRdevelopments wanting an ECUTEK re-map, but… Bob informed me I would require a replacement ECU due to the model year of my classic Impreza… no problem, apart from extra money required, Sim Tek’s brilliant dual map and MAF less ecu was ordered

DISATER STRIKES
Then it happened… 7 days exactly before the car was due to be re-mapped… the engine let go… two, yes two! Con-rods decided to punch two large holes through the top of my engine…. Eeek!
I could not believe it… I had kept it off boost religiously… and one mistake had demolished the internals.. you have been warned… I ventured above 4k revs when pulling away from traffic lights and clank clank clank… engine RIP… and tears as the engine had topped itself!

WHERE NEXT?
I had some thinking to do… I contacted Bob Rawle of BRdevelopments and gave him the bad news, he gave some good pointers, he said, it may be an opportunity to get a better stronger engine… future proof for future upgrades

I also contacted Harvey Smith in Darlington, whose services I cannot recommend highly enough, he gave very sound advice on how to proceed although there was not a penny of gain in it for him


Then my brother and fellow Scooby owner (Spec C type 20) found an engine builder in North Wales, a phone call to Andy of Williams motor sport (rally team and engine builder) and it was arranged… Andy Williams would replace original engine with one built on a Version 4 STi Block… Andy offered ‘bespoke’ engines re-built to customer needs, and so I took the opportunity to have the engine built to the following spec after more excellent advice from Bob Rawle and Harvey Smith… so I had the following re-build


·Forged pistons
·H section steel con-rods
·Cometic head gaskets
·Raised compression ratio to 8.4
·ACL bearings
·High flow up-rated oil pump
·Modine oil cooler
·Exedy sport clutch
·Harvey Smith supplied 6.1 kg lightened flywheel by ACT

THE ECU FIT
We, my brother and I turned up at Bob Rawles place on a damp Saturday morning.. Bob was already at work on a classic Impreza, he had just re-mapped it, the fellow Scooby owner waved and smiled as he pulled away from Bob’s HQ, we waived back and Bob called us into the garage..
Bob started to work by removing the original ECU and fitting the Sim tek, he then put lots of leads onto various locations under the bonnet, Bob was very happy to answer our questions and after a battle removing a sensor from the down pipe, and fitting a switch for the dual map ability of the ECU… we hit the road… Bob Maps on road… an interesting experience… after some initial set ups the power runs began, a problem was detected… we were not getting a full quota of boost… So back to Bobs HQ and replace some turbo actuator pipes and check turbo connections etc
Second run… still not getting full boost capability… suspect culprit the turbo! It was boosting to 1.2 bar max
So back to Bob’s and some more checks and third run… still no joy… so a very frustrating end to my session… Bob apologised but said the subsequent map when the turbo was replaced would be at a reduced price… No rest for the wicked?

TURBO SWAP
I did a lot of research again and the advice and experiences of others came flooding in… buy a VF this, buy a TD that… etc but at the end of the day, I made my own mind up… I also had some very poor advice from more than one established trader… very disappointed and treated poorly by 'couldnt care less attitudes'… buyers beware!


I contacted Harvey Smith, he had given his advice, encouragement and help for free and now I was back as a paying customer… Harvey specialises in Exhaust manifold porting… and also does a very good deal on ported TD05 turbos, there are three main options… 16g good early spool but limited power, 18g Fair early spool and good power and 20g a bit on the laggy side… but very good power gains with right mods… and all of them are very tough


I picked the 18g enough potential for 360 + HP and good spool up… and good off boost characteristics, also a very competitive price fitted

As Harvey’s garage services are run by his business partner Darren, DLM in Darlington County Durham, I would also want a re-map asap after the new turbo was fitted, I did not want to destroy another engine!
Harvey said he and Bob Rawle had regular mapping days, why not time it to coincide with Bob’s visit?...
Darren of DLM fitted the Turbo TD05 18G and all was set for mapping the next day

I rolled up to Harvey’s HQ to be greeted by Dawn, Harvey’s other half and their amazing dog Tess… Dawn said the kettle is on and made me coffee… Dawn also lined up the Bacon butties. A very warm welcome from Harvey and Dawn, thank you, a more friendly welcome would be hard to achieve (customer service at it’s best)


Bob set up the car as he had the last time… we hit the road and initial set up was completed, Harvey did the driving I was the passenger in the back… the experience was very interesting

When I drove the car after the mapping… it was so different, the power delivery is astonishing… pulls your face off all the way to the increased red line… presses you back into the seat as if you were a F16 pilot.. and it’s smoother off boost… a great result all round


I’m still amazed how so much torque and power can be produced by a 2 Litre engine and how… The car is destined for track day use… and I also use it for my everyday ride, it is a Q car, a stealth fighter… no graphics and no clues to what lurks beneath… just a plain Jane Impreza, it’s lots of fun,

So praise is due to the following persons who have made this possible
Bob Rawle
Harvey Smith
Andy Williams
I not only recommend them for their great old fashioned customer service, I also recommend them for their expert knowledge, positive outlook and bacon butties (Thank you Dawn)

Service is about the experience…
No animals were harmed in the telling of this tale
All the best Nobby Clark

 

thats a good read dude and im glad you got there and i have to heard of these people who have built and mapped your engine nd i no that feeling of customer service is a thing that is rare these days i must say the compnay who built and mapped my car are also very good and have great customer service Trition Motorsports

 

Good post, glad you are happy!

 

Bet all that cost a pretty penny mate

 

Glad to hear you got there in the end , I use Bob myself and he is truly one of the nicest, most helpful and respected people on the planet of Subaru.

He is mapping my car an S202 in December and I can't wait to see the results, he mapped my previous 2.5 WRX and got spectacular results out of the standard engine and turbo plus a few choice recommended upgrades from Bob.

If anyone else is interested in using Bob's services I am running a GB at the moment with good discounts available.

https://www.scoobynet.com/group-buys...group-buy.html

Not trying to hijack your thread but merely trying to save fellow SN members a few £'s.

 

very good read

and good to hear about good people still existing out there!

thanks for sharing your story

 

Excellent thread! Really good to see some good news buddy!

 

Good little story,nice to know there are still some people out there who care for the customer,not just to see how much money they can get out of you.

 

Excellent read, and a good indication of how good the majority of Impreza tuners can be. Hats off to everybody involved

 

It's always nice to hear a happy ending

 

so what were you final figures? Did you get your 360bhp?

 

Thanks for the comments guys

Just glad to pass on my experiences...

HP figure will be posted when known... but using top mount intercooler and 440cc injectors will influence HP figures...

550cc and front mount intercooler are in the pipe line for next year

Need to upgrade brakes first

 

Thanks for the kind words.
Remember the brake bias nod is only £40 and that will improve your brakes quite a bit for very little outlay.

 

great write up,its good to see that there is still some people out there that not only are proffesional in there work but give great customer service too.hope you enjoy the new power.

 

bet that pulls faces like a tooth less gurner, 20 g takes loads of spoolin up i ran out of petrol time it kicked in , i got the benifit people to buy the soft were 2 remap as i was on the sick . matty race tuning is helping is out , he trained sweet corn dude , glad u sorted it in end , lol

 

Obviously a highly intellectual chap that can make a big contribution to Scoobynet.
People that have to hide behind false identities should be despised.
Don't compare my TD05-06 20Gs until you have driven one. Owners of these turbos are the true judges and not some pundit hiding behind a keyboard and doing Geordies in general a great disservice.

 

Translation please.

 

+1 for Bob, always very helpful (going to see him in a couple of weeks to help me diagnose my missing horsies)

 

I have not a clue what he just said

 

Great post Noddy, sounds like you have one 'stormin motor under ya bonnet now.

 

Nobby what year is your classic ? would your Map sensor not be responsible for the lack of initial boost ?

 

WTF?