Hi, it's been a while since I've been on here. Last year i had a V3 STi, and after only a few months of ownership, the bottom end blew. I now want another 1. I have found a fresh import, 1997 Version 3 STi Type R. It has 98,000km on it. The dealer states that the car is producing 1.5 bar boost. What sort of power will this produce? Also, could this be making the engine weak? Last question, what sort of modifications would usually be carried out to create 1.5bar of boost? Thanks in advance, Chris.

 

firstly It has to have a aftermarket as the standard ECU is not mappable. Secondly If that is overboosting then this will be a second engine going pop for you mate. Standard Type R should boost no more than 1.1B..

 

This reply will contain copious use of the word "if"...

If it has been done properly, ballpark probably 330 minus a bit, or plus a bit.

If the modification hasn't been carried out properly, quite possibly. Also, even if it has been done right, it'll have been done on Japanese flavour fuel, so there's an instant questionmark about its safety on our petrol, at least without booster (or map tweaking).

On an MY97, either an aftermarket mappable ECU, a piggyback electronic boost controller, or a manual one. A lot of this knocks onto any guesses we can make about the likely condition of the engine. A properly mapped ECU would clearly be the ideal thing to hear about, a piggy back solution much less so.

 

Should i avoid if it does not have a standalone? What should its peak boost be standard?

 

It won't (shouldn't!) be able to make 1.5bar if the OEM ECU is still in it, as as said, it's not mappble... BUT... it could have a MBC (manual boost controller) fitted. Not necessarily bad, SO LONG as it's been set up correctly re the AFRs. But without any documentation, it's all guess work at this stage...

Std peak boost is 1.0-1.1bar I think. So an extra 0.4-0.5bar is quite a hike - typically MBCs are set to c.0.2bar higher than std i.e. in your case it would be best to be running at no more than 1.3bar - but it's more important that the AFRs are okay, whatever the boost the engine is running at!...

Thing is, it could be a car that's had proper supp mods added and has been professionally mapped on an aftermarket ECU too, etc.! Once agian the vendor needs to produce invoices/documention to corroborate any engine work done, for your own peace of mind . Do you know what to look for under the boonet and ECUwise to see if it's had the mods done, etc.?

 

i dont know what to look for unfortunately. could you give me some pointers please...

 

also how much do they want for it dude and to be honest you bee better of finding a standard one from a dealer or a tuned one off some one who nows what there doing

 

5k dude.

 

I just dont know what to look for really. how can i tell if they AFR(whats is this) is ok and how do i tell if the ecu is aftermarket or just a boost controller?

 

Its your choice mate, but unless it has good docs and parts, sounds steep. Not aided by current FX rates at the moment.

As a clue, I paid 6k for my UK WRX car, with 23k on it........

 

where abouts are you as i now where there is a version 4 typre r in silver going for that money in southampton from a dealer with 75km on it s reg

 

There's too many "unknowns" re this car, and as such, can be a nightmare to suss if not au fait with Impreza's workings.

I'd heed the above advice TBH... or at least take a knowledgable Impreza enthusiast along to give this car the once over...

 

Im in Sunderland mate.

 

bit far then : >

 

Yea lol