Bugeye to 450BHP
 

Hi Guys,

i'm not very mechanic/engine minded, so i'm seeking advice. I have done a few searches, and cant understand exactly what needs to done/bought.

I have a 2001 bug WRX, which i'm wanting to eventually get up to 450bhp in stages.

I know i should upgrade suspension, gearbox and breaking, and i've started to do that already.

My question is, is it worth upgrading the WRX engine components to be able to handle 450BHP, and if it is, what bits will i need?

Or is it better/easier/cheaper to just swap the whole engine for an STI engine?

As always, thanks to everyone for sharring your knowledge and know how! :thumb:

hope you have very deep pockets then. engine, gearbox, turbo, brakes, fuelling, new ecu and possibly suspension mods required to get the best out of 450.

Hi Resh

I would go with 2.1 stroker,which will give you extra torque and better driveability,second though is STI engine will be cheaper option,but there is big BUT,you never know how this engine has been treated etc.

We are done our research and we are went with 2.1,but if i would go again I would go with 2.35L

Jura

LOL i know its going to cost an arm an a leg, but its a long term project :D I've upgraded to 8pots, twinscroll, have upgraded suspesion, etc.

I'm saving for a 6 speed, but was told by a specialist they can fit a 6speed really quickly by taking the engine out, so now i'm thinking i may delay things, save a bit more, and do the engine at the same time.

Thats why i'm only asking about the engine side of things. But, i just dont understand engine jargon, but if I had a list of bits i need, i know can find them bit by bit second hand or at good prices :-) which i also find fun.

I also know that by building my project bit by bit, it will cost me a lot more, but will be lot less fun!

Hi Jura, I'm really glad you dont charge for your advice, otherwise you would certainly have all of my lifes savings by now!! :D

is going 2.1 or 2.35 stroker a collection of bits that i just add/exchange on my existing engine? Or do i need to start with the base bits from an STI?

2nd hand parts on a project that is going to cost you a serious wad of cash is a definite NO NO. Buy brand new engine internals. the block can be second hand but it needs to be in a good condition. cheapest option as Jura has said will be a 2.1 stroker. you will need pistons, rods, bearings, new modine, gaskets, injectors as a bare minimum. you may also want to consider modifying the block for bigger head studs and oil feeds. you may also want to consider and oil breather system and a modified sump. All money my friend :D

the 2.2 blocks for a 2.35 stroker are serious money at the moment.

you will need to start with a new base. a second hand 2.0 or 2.2 block. get new pistons, rods, bearings, modine and gaskets. don't use your old 11 year old internals for god's sake. that's just asking for trouble.

Hi Resh

Your existing engine is ODB(Open Deck Block) which will be OK with good internals up to 550bhp,but if you are thinking on longer i would go with CDB(Closed deck Block),which can be bought for £300-£500,you can buy full 2.1 stroker kit from companies such as Enginetuner,Lateral Performance or Advance Automotives,i would add to this kit new oil pump,water pump plus 12mm head studs,with this kit you should be OK for 550bhp

If you are looking track the car,i would add modified sump and oil cooler


Here is few 2.1 stroker kits

http://lateralperformance.co.uk/prod...offer_________

http://www.advancedautomotives.com/c...-kits-58-c.asp

Jura

Thanks Bigsinky! Thats exactly the kind of information I was looking for. I guess I will start looking for a block to build on then :-)

I forgot to add new seals plus new HG set will be needed.For 2.35L you will need EJ22T which is expensive bit(£1000-£1200)

Jura

those stroker kits offer good value for money if you are prepared to do the spannering yourself.

erm..... and then some my friend. try £1500 - £1600 now :( if you can find one

Totally depends on budget. If your not too technical (like me!) i would aim to bite the bullet and get one of the stroker kits that Jura mentions (could be an expensive mistake if you buy the wrong size pistons etc), you will have plenty of other bits to shop around for such as the oil/water pumps, injectors, induction, FMIC etc.

Thanks again Jura :thumb: I know where to look and what to look for after i find a block!

So by taking the engine out, they can fit a gearbox...?!?!?

My advice, sell your WRX, buy an STi.

Sell all the STi bits you don't want and go from there..

The STi bugeye's can be had for around £4500 now, and at least you get to drive them and make sure all is well mechanically before you start buying second hand gearboxes etc etc...

The STi just has soooo many advantages over the WRX for many reasons, and the price difference makes them a bargain IMHO.


P.S, I see the same question over and over again, but people still do their own thing and carry on modifying their WRX until they either run out of money, or get ill with it and sell at a great loss.

Neil. :)

Hi,

I am doing the same thing here. got a wrx wagon blob. but only going to run upto 380-400 max. that should feel nice to drive and maybe get away with a sti box and diff for a while (depending how I drive it :lol1:).

I have already had the 2.1 forged engine built at slowboy racing. I was kinda forced into this as my bottom end give up about 3 weeks after buying the car!

I have done and still doing research and looking at all options. there are a few turbo's out the like the MD321 or SC42 or even 46. TD06 20g and so on.

I was looking at a simtec ecu but a friend of mine at Eurospec has advised me that they can fit a Link ecu for less money. not sure on that one yet.

I have done all the handling side of things first but still to do the brakes and atm only fitting exhaust and filter and will stock pile the other bits and fit in one go, but not before upgrading the brakes :)

Best thing to do is look around and do your research. and decide from there. you will have plenty of time while saving the pennies :)

Paul

agreed STi base FTW

i would take your own advice before going down that route. do your research on the pro and cons of each ecu before you buy.

Agreed on this too,STi will be better base:thumb:

Jura

Hi Paul

Our engine build Neil@Slowboy Racing and as our project wagon and we are went from start with Syvecs,which is best ECU and about the turbo MD321T Billet is nice turbo for 2.1 and 490bhp in wagon is just amazing:D

Jura

I bought my 1 owner WRX for 2k, and the engine, gearbox, interior, etc are all mint.

I couldnt afford to get an STI from the offset. So having a long term project works best for me. Besides, i've been modding all my life, its my passion, so modding as i go along appeals to me. But, if i had the money, i would have bought a hawk from the start :norty:

I dont mind spending the money over a year or so, gives me something to research online while the missus is watching eastenders!

Wow, the advanced automotives kit looks like really good value for money! Am i right in thinking all that is needed after this is a block then swap with my block?

pretty much yeah

Yes and no,please read notes there what you will need and what will need know your specialist about the clearance,re boring etc

http://www.advancedautomotives.com/s...-kit-306-p.asp



Jura

but if you take the price of the 6 speed running gear you are going to need you could have had your STi. hindsight is a wonderful thing. listen to the voice of experience ;)

What about the heads and valves? Sorry if this is a silly question. I'm still trying to get my head around this, excuse the pun!

you can use your old heads and cams, though you may want to get them ported. you can change the cams and the valves for better items but this adds to the expense of your build. if you change then they need to be setup properly again adding to the expense.

Yep, hindsight and patience are both wonderful things! Neither of which i have! LOL I bought my wrx in dec, if I had waited until March i could of had a STI.

But, its too late, i also converted my bug to LPG, so its cheap as chips to run, if i didnt do that, i would be tempted to sell up and buy an sti, swap then swap the uprated parts over. But, i've already started, so may as well plan to slowly upgrade until i reach 400+BHP.

JDM AVCS heads or UK STi AVCS heads should be enough,but if you want control AVCS you will need new ECU like MoTeC,SimTek or Syvecs,Link ECU

OE cams on JDM or JDM are pretty good up to 500bhp,plus like the valves are OK for your target,above 550bhp i would upgrade the valves and cams


Jura

ahhh right. young, subaru, gotta have it now. like a dog with two dicks and a belly fully of pish. i remember what it was like :D