'Stretching the legs' of my UK MY99 Turbo had a rather unpleasant outcome - suspected melted piston and blown cam cover seal! I brought this car six months ago and although it had full Subaru service history, I have my suspicion it may have previously been run on normal unleaded.

Facing the prospect of an expensive rebuild, I would value any advice on modifications that I can make while the engine is apart. At present it is a standard UK turbo with no modifications whatsoever.

Apart from possible upgrades to pistons/rods (suggestions welcome) I would consider adding a sports back box and ECU upgrade (Tek 2 or similar). Is anyone aware if the insurance company would need to notified if the exhaust backbox is swapped for a WR Sport or P1 backbox? Also if the ECU is upgraded, is this obvious from lifting the carpet and having a butchers? If so does an ECU upgrade send the premiums skyward?

I live in the Bucks/Oxon area if you know of any cheap suppliers or specialists.

Any help on this would be most appreciated. I am just off to write a grovelling letter to the bank manager!

Don't you have any warrenty to claim on? Blame it on a mechanical failure.

Unfortunately brought private and it was an ex company car. This was good as I negotiated a pretty fair deal on it, but possibly bad as it may have been given some serious stick. Drove as good as anything on the Subaru forecourts though.

Iv read on here that if its a UK car then its Ok to run normal unleaded but better to run super unleaded. Is this true?

If it's a totally standard UK car then normal unleaded is fine. J

My car's a my00, with full decat and dawes, I only ever use regular fuel, it doesn't like super atall, I've tried and it just won't have it, cough's and splutters loads.
I'd be interested in what made a standard car go bang!

Must just be unlucky then I guess! Has this happened to any other UK model owners?

Do any of you regulars have any thoughts on the engine/performance modifications I discussed at the start of this thread? Any help would be most appreciated as I really don't know whether it is worth modifying the pistons/rods if I am only looking at knocking the power up to 270bhp with an ECU and back box replacement?

Hi, Sorry to hear about your blow up API Engines can help you no problem we are at junction 12 M40. see www.apiengines.com for info Best O'luck David API are not Newbies I just keep forgetting my password !! Durr!

[Edited by APIDavid - 4/7/2003 9:54:02 PM]