Gurj

I am now slowly getting the modification bug again...

Now I don't want to go crazy with the mods, but I would like a bit more power. But I would like to maximise the power that I can get from a standard engine.

The car is fitted with a Prodrive Performance Pack and I believe that the car has also been mapped (as boost gauge reads circa 1.3 bar), but unsure if this is due to the PPP or 3rd party map.

Some of the modifications I have heard mentioned are as follows:
Changing the Injectors
Changing the Turbo
Adding an Induction Kit
but what other things can I do.

I appreciate that with some of the changes the car will also need re-mapping to make sure that nothing goes bang.

So what would you recommend?

jeffwrx

iTrader: (50)

Currently have a blob wrx, want to get about 350bhp from it if possible, but you could go for less mods and still get similar power

Going for

Td05 18g turbo
Fmic or sti tmic
Decat down pipe and up pipe
Sti pink 550cc injectors
Fuel pump
Tubular headers
New clutch
Open source remap

Gurj

Hope you don't mind me asking, but what are the above parts costing?
I wish I was more hands on, but I'm not so anything I do will more than likely be fitted by others so need to factor that into my calculations.

jeffwrx

iTrader: (50)

Td05 18g £300
Fmic jap speed £160 of ebay
Sti pink injectors £120
Fuel pump £40
Tubular header £160 of ebay
Clutch £180
Remap £250
Induction kit £60
Decat Down pipe £60

All parts are bought from forums or ebay , some new, some used, and injectors and turbo / induction are all used parts so no set price
A few of them parts Like fmic and headers are not really needed at this level,
I fit all parts myself so don't have to pay for labour
Also I would get some on to check your engine is healthy before buying / fitting parts

Some people will say don't bother modding a wrx and buy a sti etc.. , but have owned a sti wide track , and tbh I prefer the wrx for what I use the car for

Reef

iTrader: (2)

This is what I've just done to my Blob PPP.
STI uppipe - £60 SH
Uprated pump - £60
decat centre, downpipe - already fitted
K&N filter - £25 SH
Ectek Remap - £550

279bhp/304lbft with awesome throttle response

If I wanted to go further I'd go Hybrid TD04 or VF with 550 injectors. I'm happy with the power for the moment so will spend my money on ARB's, droplinks and strut braces.

Reshard1977

iTrader: (17)

That's the first time I've heard that, I've had 3 newage WRX's and modded all of them, but ALWAYS lusted over an STI. Although its cheaper to mod a WRX to the same power or more than an STI, i do often wonder if STI's are that much better for a road car. I know that for over 350bhp STI is the way to go, but for the road 350bhp is more than enough for me.

What is it that you prefer with WRX's over an STI?

jeffwrx

iTrader: (50)

I just prefer them as a fast daily everyday car tbh

I know the sti is a better car and spec etc.. everything is better , but I like that I can have the same powered car and every part is cheaper to replace , plus it is a cheaper car so doesn't matter as much with trying to keep it in mint condition or where you park it etc..

Still prefer the looks of the newage sti and could do with some better brakes lol,

scoobyboy1

iTrader: (16)

Got a mate who prefers the WRX to the STi, he actually hates the 6 speed gearbox, and prefers the ratio's on the WRX 5 speed!!

roscom

iTrader: (1)

I've got a modified blob wrx that's a similar level to what you're looking for. Basic engine spec is;

VF48 turbo
Sti v8 intercooler (with water spray)
Sti blue 565cc injectors
Ported headers
Decat sti up-pipe
3" down pipe & system
Aps cold air intake
Zero sports intake pipe
3 port boost solenoid
Sti inlet with tgv delete & phelonic spacers
Walbro 255 fuel pump
Ngk pfr7b plugs
Remapped by Duncan at race dynamix

It's currently running 346bhp & 321lbs/ft which is enough for an entertaining road car.

Only thing I would recommend is get the rest of the car up to spec or at least a decent brake setup on there beforehand as the standard stuff is pants!

Cheers Ross.

Gurj

Thanks for that.

Not looking for that much power, as I just put fully refused brakes on mine.
If I can get 300 I will be over the moon.


Thanks that really helps.


I would like to achieve over 300bhp if possible.

Don't want to change to a 3 inch system as recently put a Blitz nur spec S on it and I understand that there is argument that the 2.5 just gives less lag than the 3 inch.

Based on the above I am thinking that changing the following would help me achieve what I am after (which is ultimately a fast RELIABLE road car)

• Injectors - pink ones?
• Turbo? Td05- is it a straight forward swap?
• 3 port boost solenoid? would I need it?
• Fuel pump
• Remap - who do people recommend (ideally someone near leeds)

What do you think I could get with these mods?

BoozyDave

iTrader: (8)

I'm on my 2nd blob wrx and for my needs and power I want, the wrx is ideal.
the gear ratio's are better in the wrx, it picks up at 15 mph in 2nd and tops out at 90 in 3rd, so for fast B roads it's just 2 gears

the wrx has suspension more suited to our roads
the wrx get's better fuel economy too, 5th in wrx has lower rev's than 6th in sti (I get 35mpg on a run)


my blob wrx is 330bhp, I've got pinks, vf35 turbo (very similar to TD05 16g, but less lag), sti decat up pipe, decat down pipe, full 3" exhaust, big top mount


you don't need a 3" exhaust, 2.5 is fine for up to 400bhp
you don't need a front mount, the std top mount might be ok, but I would upgrade to a bigger top mount, maybe fit a water spray too (and do the throttle body coolant bypass mod too)

Gurj

Thanks a lot for that Dave, a few questions...

Also how much of this is stuff that I could do myself? is it all fairly straight forward or am I better off just getting the parts together and getting someone in the know (Richard Henry Motorsport) to fit it all in one go?

fawor

iTrader: (3)

I dont see a point to spend 1k for 35hp difference between ppp
do it once and right with vf34 best spool turbo,I agree about ratio 5 speed is nice but on long journey I miss 6 gear.
best will be 6 speed jdm I think

BoozyDave

iTrader: (8)

The standard intercooler is a top mount, the size of the internal pipes dictates how much air it can flow and thus the bhp that can be achieved. If you fit an sti top mount, it is physically larger, has larger internal pipes and can flow and cool more air, thus can achieve higher bhp.
The water spray isn't used much, I have just installed mine to help keep the intercooler colder when sat in traffic.
The throttle body coolant bypass is easy to do, just need to move the end of 2 pipes. The throttle body has 80 degree 'coolant' in it to stop it from freezing in winter, but it heats up the incoming air as it passes through

I would buy all the parts you need and have them fitted by a specialist and then the remap at the same time.

Gurj

agree completely, I have no intention of spending so much for so little.

if I can get over 300 BHP with fewer mods then I am in, but as said I need a reliable car too, so don't want to be maxing out the existing components.

The turbo seems to be something that everyone has changed and is one of the pricier items, but to achieve just over 300BHP is it necessary?

Gurj

So I easiest thing to do is fit an STI intercooler - if so then that's sorted as car already has one fitted.

Yes that does sound like the way I will be looking to go, this also gives me time to find a trusted Mapper etc

Norman Dog

iTrader: (1)

I hope you've upgraded the standard brakes..

south_scoob

what can you do to make the standard breaks better without changing them!? performance pads / discs.. break blead.

also on mine the ABS seems to be very agressive! cutting in far too early

fat-thomas

iTrader: (4)

just buy an sti

Norman Dog

iTrader: (1)

Depends how much you want to spend, Godspeed do a Grooved disc/Kevlar pad package which are pretty good for the WRX.

powerwrx

iTrader: (11)

my old bug was a uk wrx (215bhp) standard

Full Decat Exhaust turbo back
STi panel filter
walbro 225 fuel pump
EcuTek remap

that alone saw the car go from 215bhp upto 280bhp/282 Torque

the standard turbo wont get you 300bhp.. so I believe

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

I agree, but as you can see by this thread I'm not the only one that doesn't like the 6 speed or the suspension.

Wrx does have it's benefits and a well spent grand can make it a very rapid car.

I'd avoid STI turbos though and go for a Hybrid billet TD04 which will get you about 320bhp and keep the very early spool.

the shreksta

iTrader: (20)

i agree with with chubby thomas

if you are wanting more power then you wont be happy with whatever you get as you will want more and more

if your not bothered about power then the wrx is fine

i wasted alot of money changing my wrx into an sti and looking back i was a bit daft but hey-ho live and learn

i am now looking for a blob sti

Reef

iTrader: (2)

If I didn't need a wagon I would have had an STI in a flash. 2005 JDM STI to be precise

My PPP blob is not as fast as my classic STI wagon and I've excepted that, I could spend a fortune trying it make it as fast but am just going to enjoy it as it is. (Wonder how long that philosophy will last...)

Gurj

I know that to get big power an sti is the way to go, but that is not what I am after.

Ultimately I want to achieve over 300bhp, I want to do this cheaply.
But I want to make sure that the reliability of the car is not affected.

So given the car has the PPP kit fitted so in theory is already pushing circa 265bhp I only need another 35bhp to hit my target.

Down the line I may well get an sti, but given current expenses I cannot afford that just now and this is the first 250bhp + car I have owned and as such I don't want to go stupid.

Dave Y

iTrader: (52)

i know that feeling all too well.

birchy2010

iTrader: (12)

Don't. If you can't afford to own/run an sti then you won't be able to cope with running a modified wrx once all the maintenance and breakages hit.

There is no such thing as a reliable modified car.

Once a wrx is modified you have to baby the 5 speed that's fitted. Once 300/300 is hit then its only a matter of time realistically along with a host of others such as clutch. Breaks to match etc. A wrx once at 300 is just as much to run as an sti and close to that to insure once the mods are declared.

If your plans are a sti further down the line then don't waste your money on the wrx. Enjoy it as it is and stash away the pennies.

All IMO of course

south_scoob

Have to dissagree with you and agree with most other people here. An sti is double the price of a wrx and imo not double the car.
for a start at this time alot of wrxs look nearly identical to sti's (replicas) and they sound just as good. Also if you live in the big city theres not many chances you get to make the performane count but a softer ride? thats somthing that comes in handy for EVERY journey

Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

+1.

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

+2 and the smaller faster spooling turbo as well as the longer gears, mean your off the mark quicker and not up and down the box all the time, there's a reason the STI needs a clutch every 60k or so yet the WRX will happily see 100k+ mine is coming up to 110k on the original clutch.

And I can get a washing machine in the back.

BUT and it's a BIG BUT, if your into modding BUY AN STI.