mjharper

iTrader: (1)

Just got my Hawk Eye WRX, would you guys leave it completely standard until forging the pistons?



Thanks

techdw

iTrader: (2)

What ever parts you get now you will prob use when you uprate the engine anyway.
Exhaust system, Up-Pipe, Decats
STi IC
Bigger Injectors
Decent Panel Filter/Cone filter
Remap
Fuel Pump
Brakes!!
Suspension
Not sure what Turbo's the Hawk Eye uses, Still a TD04? Could go for a TD05 16g/18g with a billet CW

Should see 330ish with that

mjharper

iTrader: (1)

Thanks, I've heard some horror stories about the 2.5 when upgrading performance, would I be safe to 300bhp without forging?

DannyM

I've got a Hawkeye WRX and I've got a decat/fuel pump/panel filter/remap. It runs 275bhp+355lb/ft.

Ran like this for the past year as a daily driver and I drive like a prat. Still working fine

Obviously, regular 5,000 mile oil changes.

scc28

iTrader: (1)

ive got a forester xt which is the same engine, im running full decat and a vf41 and its my daily driver and im running 341bhp/360tq without any issues. theres a lot of foresters running 300+bhp on stock internals without issues

MDscooby

I have a Hawkeye WRX and and apart from a Blitz backbox and BOV the engine is standard, i've concentrated on the handling aspect mostly at the moment and it has paid off. I get the car serviced once a year (about 7k-9k miles), check the oil and top up when needed and i don't have a problem.

The Hawkeye runs a TD04 which you don't want to push past 1.4 bar when mapping. Change the panel filter if you need to but don't bother with a cone filter or CAIK as the standard airbox is good for about 400bhp. All i can suggest is research what you want to do thoroughly beforehand.

I keep hearing the same thing regarding the 2.5 and piston ring failure or head gasket problems blah blah blah. Maintain the engine properly and you should be ok but with anything if you decided to up the HP to about 340bhp you will just put more strain on the clutch and the engine and possibly shorten its life span.

You need to look at what you want from the car, do you want straightline speed or a good B road bomber????
Stick a handling upgrade on the car, improve the brakes, full decat and a re-map will see you to about 300bhp with a good power curve which will be enough to put a silly grin on your face. If you want massive HP to keep up with the STI boys or as a bit of ***** waving at the local pub/meets forge it

chopperman

There have been several threads on this over the past week or so. The wrx is not really known for the same issues as the STi 2.5. In standard trim the wrx is pretty bullet proof. I dont think tuning to 350bhp is going to hurt it. any more than that and you may suffer gear box issues anyway. The STi engine is best kept below 360bhp imo unless you have forged pistons and arp studs. Some run way more with no issues, some have been unlucky.

scc28

iTrader: (1)

Good point choperman, 5 speed is only really good/safe to 350tq's higher and it may go pop!

andy.downes

iTrader: (1)

5 speed box stronger than everyone makes out. There's a reputable mapper on here who knew only one hawkeye box going and that was after doing full-bore starts for over a year at every single traffic light - managed to strip first gear.

It's the STI engines that mostly suffer the dreaded 2.5lr problems.

My mapper said that WRX Hawkeyes' will do 330bhp no problem, the only thing to watch out for is a clutch that is on it's way out as it'll start to show pretty soon after. As for me, I sold my first scooby on it's first clutch at 90k, so I'm not worried.

mjharper

iTrader: (1)

This sounds promising, so with the correct upgrades I should get 280 - 300 bhp and be pretty safe without having to forge it? I am after a b road bomber that can keep up with or hump the Focus ST/GTI peeps

chopperman

I don't think that's unrealistic .

blackbugeye

Hi there I have a hawk wrx with uprated pump,full decat,td05 16g turbo,and panel filter and its mapped to 321/370nm by racedynamix, I have no issues at all and it's great fun compared to standard..

Norman Dog

iTrader: (1)

Neither do I, they make about 266 with PPP.

mjharper

iTrader: (1)

How many cats are in the Hawk?

blackbugeye

Just the two mate in the down pipe and the underfloor one.

chopperman

I will admit i don't know this as fact but i thought there were 3 on the wrx.
Up pipe, down pipe and one in the centre. Sti as 1 in the down pipe.

DannyM

If that's all you want you can just keep it standard


I've got 22mm Rear ARB + Droplinks and Eibach springs. Handles great round the bends.

Norman Dog

iTrader: (1)

There's no up pipe cat on the 2.5 WRX.

Bob Rawle

The WRX is just as prone to piston/head gasket problems as the STi, but it can be mapped up with appropriate mods to mid 300's. However even a std car can suffer problems so there are no lines that can be drawn relating to what will or will not be reliable. However at stage one tune its obviously less stressed than its STi brother.

One other point to consider is that the WRX heads are not that good and its hard to get very big power from the engine easily uprated or not.

cheers

bob

turbo900

My wrx ran a cat back, panel filter and light map. It was regularly serviced by main dealer and driven sensibly prior to me purchasing it. Piston let go at 65k miles. So it can happen to the best looked after car or a hammered car.

cuprajake

iTrader: (11)

When the piston went, what did you do in terms of resolving it, did it cause any damage or was it a case of new pistons.

turbo900

The dealer had a rebuilt 2.5 with forge pistons fitted which they kindly fitted to my car as it was warrantied. They were just going to do a single piston but bore was badly scored. I knd of Scored but it ran rough as for a month as the forged pistons were causing knock pick up on cold mornings. An Andy F remap has cured this issue.

mjharper

iTrader: (1)

Hi Bob, so you would consider forged pistons if I'm going for 280 - 330?