HantsWRX

Evening Boys and Girls,

I've just bought my first Impreza, a 1996 UK WRX with a blown headgasket.

I wanted to get the heads pressure tested and was quoted a price of £80 per head tested and skimmed.

I saw some V4 STI Heads for sale on here that are near to the combined price and wanted to know if they would fit and what gains to expect if any.

From what information I could find, the V4 head has solid lifters and slightly more aggressive cams? I wouldn't expect significant gains without a re-map if thats right but wondered what gains are to be had.

Appreciate the help and looking forwards to getting stuck into fixing it.

Cheers

Rob

Primeiro

Hi Rob

Yes they fit and you are correct they have the under bucket shims that sit in the top of the retainer.

Good upgrade on what you have with the cams, if you go ahead work out your compression ratio and its a winner.

One thing I would advise you is to give the short block a refresh, bearings, rings and reface the block decks.

Al the best with it.

Stephen.

HantsWRX

Top man, cheers Stephen!

I'd love to go in and restore the rest of the engine while its out as its a pretty decent opportunity to get it all sorted.

But unfortunately budget doesnt allow for this at the moment, its a well maintained lump with 95k so I can only hope it stays as strong once the headgaskets sorted.

I have the engine out and heads off next week and assess the best way forwards then.

Thanks again

RICHARD J

iTrader: (4)

Youv been given some very good advice there. If nothing else a set of shells is a must, or you may well end up having to strip it all again for a rebuild.

HantsWRX

Going to price it all up, could do without having it off the road twice.

How do I go about working out the compression ration for the WRX Block and V4 Sti heads and Headgasket etc?

Tidgy

um, you sure you have the car right, there is no 1996 uk wrx?

HantsWRX

Funny you should say that mate, just going on what I told it was. Checking the VIN etc today, what other differences are there from a standard UK2000 Turbo?

jason_2013

Wrx would have the td05 turbo (assuming saloon car) and the ecu is tuned for more boost/power . I think the heads had bigger ports, either way the sti 4 heads are much better anyway.

So to make full use of the better heads get the td05 turbo and a better ecu. One out of an sti ra v2 would be the best plug in and go option if you can find one that is. But a remappable ecu is the best and safest ecu depending who maps it of course. Bear in mind the sti's also had forged pistons fitted, because they allow higher revving without failing under high boost and temperature.

It is an expensive hobby tuning a car.

edit- there are compression ratio calculators online. You need to measure the bore, stroke, piston cc's, head cc's, deck height (how much below the deck the piston sits @ tdc and final figure of head gasket thickness to adjust.

HantsWRX

Thanks Jason,

Its not bog standard, from what I know (havent checked the turbo yet, cars parked up ready for the engine out next week)

Turbo Cat Back Custom Exhaust
Induction Kit
Manual Boost Adjust
Re-map to 276bhp with printout

I'll get a better understanding of whats what, when I get the head off and can really inspect it.

Cheers

Tidgy

does it have a rear screen wiper?

pretty sure easy way to spot an early wrx import is it has a rear wiper, uk car doesn't?

(someone correct me if that wrong please)

HantsWRX

No rear wiper, its also an odd colour, a light bluey green. It's a standard colour that i've seen on other subarus but mainly newer ones?

Rob

Tidgy

ice blue, colour that was on the wr1's or later haweyes maybe?

HantsWRX

Thats the one..

Tidgy

pretty sure that wasnt a standard colour at that time so been resprayed at some point.

not that it matters in truth, if its been done well then its only gonna prevent rust etc to a greater age of the car

jason_2013

Have a look at the ecu as the standard ecu can't be remapped. It would have to have had the ecu upgraded or replaced. Got any pics of the car in the blue. Sounds nice.

HantsWRX

Yeah, so I had a look and its a 95 haha

Was thinking that with the ECU, will have a look for any markings on it. Would be nice to have a little somat extra that I didnt know about.

I do have a picture but on my phone so may try to upload later, its that blue with 18" BBS style spoke rims in black (hard to explain but the spokes that sort of fork off) think ive seen the wheels on other Imprezas.

All the same hoping to put a shift in next week and see some big progress with it.

HantsWRX

jason_2013

That colour looks good on it.

The ecu may look standard on the outside but could be modified internally. It's best to take the cover off, take a picture of the complete circuit board and post it here.

HantsWRX

Ok so ive checked the VIN and from what I can find (searches on here and google) well..I have no idea haha

Vin: JF1GC8KD3SG******
Applied Model: GC8CK8D
Option Code: EE
Trim: 510
Colour Code: 56b

Davey96wrx

iTrader: (1)

Applied code says its a 95-96 uk turbo originally with 208hp

HantsWRX

Cheers Dave, all the guides I found threw me off with the K in the applied model code.

Standard UK2000 then not WRX?

Regardless its got a print out for 270bhp and ill check the turbo when I take it apart but can assume its a TD04.

Davey96wrx

iTrader: (1)

Yup not a WRX fella, originally would have come with a td04.

If the boost comes in quickly say 2300+rpm and kind if dies after 5500rpm it definitely is a td04

HantsWRX

Nice one mate, boost, is a mute point at the moment as its got a blown head gasket haha thats why it will be coming apart next week.

Looking at a few options, STI heads is one but need to work out the CR. Also been offered a turbo decat pipe. Clutch is also biting high so will inspect that when the engines out.

Will get it apart first and assess how things stand. Let the games begin