anthonymcgrath

Hi everyone my name is Anthony. I'm a 40something computer animator based in north west. Usually work on feature films.. recently the new spidey film. You can find some of my work on YouTube too just search in there for my name.


I've been into cars for a long time and for the last 10 years I've been all over skylines recently having a 32gtr for 5+ yrs. After getting rid I decided to try something different.

I got a 2002 bugeye Subaru impreza wrx. It was fairly cheap advertised on eBay and near me so I went to visit it. It apparently had the head gasket done new clutch and brakes and a bigger turbo. It has 550cc pink injectors and a vf35 turbo and mapped is making about 280bhp. But for me it's really laggy not coming in till 4500rpm maybe later.


All in it's been ok tho... altho it's fond of using oil and coolant.. my mileage isn't high at all.. I walk to my office to work so it probably does 100 miles a week.. but it's oil thirsty it seems.. it also seems to use coolant.

I was told on cold startup that a bubble or two in the coolant expansion bottle is signs the head gasket has gone. The oil is clean though and not mixing with coolant.


Anyway I'm fairly competent at stuff like that ive pulled and built 32gtr engines to 600+ bhp so I have a rough idea of what I can do heh. Altho the boxer engine is all very different and new to me lol.


So my options are pull engine and get it all checked out.. but I'm just weighing other options up... I was told a swap to a 2.5 engine is a worthwhile upgrade plus extra torque. I figure if it ran a 3071r bb turbo on internal gate it would be capable of making 400+ seeing as a Nissan RB25 engine with a 3071r will do roughly the same once mapped?


I would ideally like to see 400+ and I'm ok doing the work but does anyone have any thoughts? E.g. does the current 5 speed box fit with a 2.5 engine or are there other issues? Will the box take the power etc?


Sorry for the long post i just wanted to share my issues and thoughts.. Thanks for your help in advance guys!

Ant

the shreksta

iTrader: (20)

welcome along.

i will clear this up for you quite easily..............

sell wrx - buy sti - simple

the wrx box will not take much more than 350bhp 350ftlbs and to get the car to around 400+bhp will costs £££££, your vf35 should not be laggy at all. not quite sure what it feels like to go from a skyline to a wrx,probably like going from a ferrari to a nova or from kelly brook to susan boyle

take it from me mate and do not chase big power from a wrx unless you are prepared to invest serious money into it. an sti bugeye/blobeye with the 6 speed box/brembo brakes/avcs engine will take 400bhp with not much work (intercooler/injectors/fuel pump/de-cat/turbo + remap)

the later 2,5 engines are flawed MASSIVELY but once built right they are a great fast road engine. in std form they can and will fail @ std power let alone tuning it to 400bhp.

MattyB1983

iTrader: (51)

Laggy and only 280bhp ??? I imagine it was mapped by the senior salesman at halfords..

That setup should and would see an awful lot more power than that and be very useable.
I imagine the seller has 'exaggerated' the spec a little and its not quite what you think. Why dont you book it in with a specialist and get a run down of the car, could also carry out a health check while it's there.

Tidgy

2.5 will shread the blob 5 speed box.

tbh i would decide what your long term goals are. You may well just chopping it in and getting an sti and startng from there, comes with all the upgrades like 6 speed, brake upgrades etc etc.

anthonymcgrath

Thanks for all the replies guys. I'm not adverse to spending money on building a car I'm used to it with skylines and first thing I smiled at when I thought when looking at parts for it was "oof that's cheaper" haha

I know the car has uprated 550cc injectors a walbro 255 fuel pump that's confirmed. The turbo is definitely visually bigger than a friends oem one. It's still running the AFM which I have never been a fan of.. I've run three skylines on speed/density mapping ditching the pain in the butt afm. I think this car isn't mapped too well as it does feel gluggy and sluggish up to 4500rpm. Once it gets onto boost it's not bad. I do love it's handling.

I sourced some BC coilovers to go on and I was looking at a K sport 330mm brake kit and 8 pot calipers as the stock ones aren't great.. actually they're gutless. I never rated brembo but that said the gtr were always heavy in the front.. soon as I put 8 pot on it would stop on its nose and never overheat no matter how many laps I did up the cat n fiddle heh.

So I could potentially fix the head gasket on this engine get a tune and fit a decent brake kit and it would probably be a nice 280 to 300 and some good handling and braking?

Or look to a 2.5 and matching box and rebuild the 2.5 to take some shunt? As I say I'm not scared of building the engine and fitting decent parts. Got a good machine shop nearby that can clean up the block.

The car itself is really tidy hence being reluctant to sell it.. It's a nice drive overall and handles well. Can't really afford an STI right now as I'm worried I'd just buy something with more problems.

Appreciate your advice guys ta
Ant

Tidgy

if your gonna 2,5 it i would forged and closed deck it before you put it in, stock they are pretty ****e and given its gonna a fun car its gopnna get some serious hammer.

anthonymcgrath

Exactly my thoughts before I were to fit a 2.5 I'm not sure what the closed deck is it's not something I needed to do on RB engines I saw a vid on YouTube but not 100% how it helps. I'll Google it but. But a hone decent rods and pistons and a 3071r fitted on it would probably make a large difference heh

anthonymcgrath

That's why I put this thread up to get more knowledgeable peoples thoughts on it can't really afford an STI right now.. my original plan was evo but those aren't cheap either. I got this wagon because it's a bit more practical and drives actually quite well. Like I say I'm just weighing options up only because I've heard so many opinions.. 2ltr engine is stronger.. 2.5 is flawed.. etc etc.. heard and read so much stuff so that's why I wanted to ask on here. Thanks

MattyB1983

iTrader: (51)

You could buy a STI short block and have it built up with your heads etc for about a grand. Bolt on your bits and run the 5 speed with some mechanical sympathy and you'll have a reliable 350bhp fun road car. Add some decent brakes and nice suspension components and you're golden.

Tidgy

stock from 2,5 is sh1te, built right is an epic engine

anthonymcgrath

Do you mean 2ltr STI block or a 2.5? I'm not too clued up there. Does sound like a plan though. Rods pistons and short block cleaned up should be good? Metal head gasket and arp studs too to help with extra boost?

I say 400+ but that's because again I'm used to the skylines.. stock 276-320 they're dull.. 400 they're ok.. nippy I guess.. 500 is where they feel what a gtr should be and 600+ is much mirth lol. I had two settings on mine with 5 and 600 and the first was nice & fun and high boost was for bike n lambo worrying and would regularly land you in trouble heh.

Truth is if 350 is good in a scoob and plenty of shunt I would be happy with that.. I love how the car handles. It's a wagon/dad-van and I love the unassuming look about it which is why I wanna get more from it heh
Suspension going on soon and going to order brakes for it that will get me some good handling and stopping power and make if feel faster overall. Then I should look to my options for the engine.

Daft chav question.. recirc or blow off valve Lol?

MattyB1983

iTrader: (51)

Sorry yes, I meant a STI 2.0 short block from a bug or blob. You can pick these up for under a grand and they offer a decent reliable upgrade over what you have, they are also able to handle 400bhp comfortably. It would be worth speaking to the breakers on here to see if they have anything suitable.
Its what I did, i sourced a low mile blob STI short block from a chap on here for £600, then had Tim Farmer (subbus) round to refresh my heads and bolt it all together.

Your box will be fine at under 400 if you treat it with some sympathy, and to be honest you wont need more power than that to have a really fun wagon. Stick with the 'bolt on's' you've got but add a STI top mount intercooler and a nice exhaust. Get it mapped by someone decent and with your new suspension and brakes you be laughing.
Theres no need to chase numbers, it gets very expensive and you end up having no more fun at 500 than you did at 350 Bhp.

anthonymcgrath

Ah so 2ltr sti will be good for 400 That's cool yeah I can chat with some of the chaps and sellers on here and see what I can find. Your right tho a sorted 350bhp with good stopping power and suspension will be better than chasing more power that just causes probs cheers for the head check (and same to everyone else who said similar)

Just seen mine I think is blowing coolant out the exhaust.. smoking light blue and smelled sweet.. prob both coolant oil doh. Think I'll ditch this tired engine.. probably only needs head gasket but I can't be bothered chasing it and potentially other problems.. rather just get a better engine all round and have that ready to go!

Vxr2010

i think you said you were not massively into getting an sti , but maybe before you make the leap to get yours sorted v cost , it is worth looking at the sti route , than at least you have a car with every thing done plus less risk of gearbox failure down the road , modding plans have a tendency to run up big bills , some jdm sti wagons or saloons out there that are cheaper than what you think , if they have the bug eye lights again cheaper to buy , they do look nice in a wagon , engine wise the 2.5 is a less laggy and in the same level of tune much better power wise than a 2 litre , it’s a shame the 2.5 could not be made as well as the 2 litre , twin scrolls are more expensive but improve the 2 litre

anthonymcgrath

Thanks for all the advice guys. Well mine is definitely causing some issues.. seems to drive ok.. but shut it off after a drive.. wait a bit then fire it up and smoke puffs out the exhaust.. seems to smell sweet so possibly coolant.
Basically I just want the thing to run now so probably gonna take to nearby machine shop.

Question.. is it much work to rebuild my wrx engine to sti spec? E.g... is it just pistons and rods that are different and the basic block is the same? Just wondering as it may be possible to build my wrx block with forged goodies to get more from it?

Ta
Ant

Tidgy

can just replace the rods and pistons if you want, bear in mind subaru engines are no where near as strong as a gtr engine for example, anything over 450/500 is pushing it hard. Even engine built for that sort of power dont tend to get lot of miles on them

anthonymcgrath

Gotcha good to know!. If I got 400 from it I would be more than happy but as mentioned earlier in this chat.. it sounds like a sorted well handling 350bhp with great stopping power will be a hoot anyways

Tidgy

Yep a well set up car at 400 will be alot better and more fun to drive than a 500bhp car with all the lag.

A 400bhp 2.5 will prob be 450ftlb of torque, combine that with a 6 speed and it will be epic. My old type r was 390/465 and was cracking fun.

Vxr2010

you can re build the engine , but still limited by the strength of a 5 speed wrx box , spec from an sti to wrx engine is different but still tuneable , aim for 330 ish it will be quick plus your box will last longer

anthonymcgrath

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F192705090173

So it turns out my engine is ok! It's the turbo that is dying.. chuffing smoke out the back and from under the hood. When the bonnet is open I can clearly see smoke coming from around the turbo and the lines and stuff seem ok.
I'm considering one of these.. a mamba gt3071r ...don't know if anyone has ran one but I'm considering putting one on and fitting my wideband whilst I'm at it. I won't be running silly boost on it but any of you guys run one at all?

Henrik

iTrader: (5)

I think it will be laggy, personally. A 3071r size turbo is huge for a 2.0 WRX, I think. Personally, I'd choose a smaller turbo (And I have - going for a billet td04HL-19t, on my 2.1 WRX).

anthonymcgrath

Yeah I think your right tbh. I kinda thought with it being a ball bearing turbo and smaller than a 3076 I may get away with it.. possibly with a smaller exhaust housing but not sure really.

I've got a quote for a full recore of my vf35 so I'm likely gonna get that done as it's half the price so that ain't bad.

MattyB1983

iTrader: (51)

An old tuner once told me, "use the smallest turbo you can that'll still meet your power goal to maximise drivability"

anthonymcgrath

Yep agreed. I think I'll stick with my vf35 that's on it
That's already laggy but I reckon some of that is because it's dying lol. I'm getting it checked up this next week and if there's any issues a full recore isn't gonna break the bank.