Hi All,

I currently own a 2002 Bugeye WRX... I'm on the hunt for more power so am looking to swap the engine for an STI one as I am told these can cope with 450BHP+

Basically I want to know what my "long engine" is worth? has approx 80,000 Miles on it and runs perfectly fine.

Cheers
Sam

 

There is somebody on here with a blob who's engine is knackered may be worth speaking to him.my 2003 sti long engine will be for sale soon

Bought from matty5br on here back in July then fitted with new timing kit,water pump,uprated oil pump,rocker gaskets,plugs,front and rear oil seals,I have all the service history from the car it came from,it was broke around 72k and ive done less than 3k in it,never needs topping up etc

 

Is the rest of your car up to spec to cope with the power or are you upgrading that as well?

Nearly always easier/cheaper to upgrade from an sti.
A good,reliable,proven 450bhp engine from a known reputable source won't be that cheap.

 

As he says.
To build a 450bhp impreza from a wrx is madness.
Just throwing money away

 

Well... I am aware that I will need a 6 speed gearbox... What else will I need other than the obvious Turbo etc?

I'm currently running around 350bhp on a VF35, have all the usual FMIC , 3" Decat exhaust system, Coilovers, Brembos etc... What else do STI's have?

Only reason I am asking is as recently I enquired about getting an engine built that could cope with 450bhp, price came back at £3750, now I have learned that Newage STI's are good for that sort of power and seems like the logical route costing roughly £1300?

 

I am in the same boat,everything else has been upgraded on my car.
Do I get my wrx rebuilt/forged or look for a sti?
I will see how you get on Sam.The only worry I have is I could be buying someone elses problems or get my engine built by a reputable engine builder

 

Yes this is of course the big risk... Does worry me a bit, but people like Matty in the traders section have great reputations and always have STI engines for sale at reasonable prices.

 

The 6 speed box is the main expensive component you need for 450bhp that the wrx is lacking

 

Ah sweet, I've factored that in... around £1500 for a non DCCD conversion if I am correct?

 

Add another 500 for clutch

 

The problem is you buy a sti engine do you get it stripped down and rebuilt for peace of mind?

 

No you buy an sti in the first place

 

I was wondering how long before you threw that at us.

 

What you have at the moment is a well balanced, capable and well sorted motor. I'm very much in the camp that says if you're after more than 350bhp you should start with the STi.

You've had some sound advice about clutches, gearboxes and engines above but if you're going 450bhp with associated torque I'd upgrade the front brakes even if you have STi Brembos there. As a minimum I'd put some uprated discs in there.

That kind of power takes a lot of stopping.

 

Its just common sense buy one or spend twice as much making one out of a wrx.

 

Yes I know it's better to start with a sti but, it's good knowing you have upgraded your car and you get good enjoyment, I have a Wrx bugeye in blue and I get much more looks in it than my friends bugeye sti uk type, and when I'm finished better and quicker

 

I get what hes saying.

To the op, there are people running over 500 on odb so if i was you id be building yours, a lateral 2.1 stroker is around 1500 for crank rods and pistons and proven at over 500 to be reliable and someone like alyn at as performance will put it together for you at a very very reasonable price.

In fact i would phone alyn and get a price off him to supply and build, hes a top bloke and as honest as they come;-)

 

+1 for Alyn, I might even get him to bolt me a bottom end together because I don't have the time.

I would normally agree with tommy on this and say flog the WRX and start again with an STI but that ship has sailed in your case because of all your other mods, so if I were you i'd be getting a forged build that's good for 500bhp because it sounds like your a modder and not going to be satisfied when you get to 450bhp.

I would also strongly suggest you go for a 6 speed that has been rebuilt or my personal preference a PPG 5 speed, second hand 6 speeds cost about the same as a PPG and they are all old and ready for a re-fresh so better to get one that's already been done, costs a bit more but better than having to take it out again and have it re-built.

A few words of caution; Many that have travelled the route to big power always say the car was Better when it was running circa 350bhp much more drivable and useable power, more BHP doesn't necessarily mean you will be faster, maybe shave a second or so off a 1/4 mile time but that's about it, also factor in bigger turbo = more lag, and as MANY have discovered the law of diminishing returns applies, it's going to cost you somewhere in the region of £7/8k to make this next step to end up with a car with a reliable 450+bhp that drives and handles and stops as it should, and that figure is a tad on the conservative side, your WRX is worth £4/5k and you'll not be able to sell it for more than about £6/7 after spending the figure above, so that's circa £2k more for £7/8k outlay, you could be driving a Spec C for what you will spend.

But hey it's your money so I don't care.

Consider yourself warned.

Forgot to add; your engine is worth tuppence.

 

I am tempted to wait till it goes pop then look at my options.
Ditchy is the PPG noisy?
Good luck Sam I will be watching with interest

 

Ask jura about the PPG, i've not got one and probably never will as i'll not go over 350bhp anyway, i'm into spool and handling not straight line or top end speed.

That's what sport bikes are for.

 

I have got the spool and handling sorted.When you mentioned the ppg gearbox I thought you had experience of one

 

No I don't like the 6 speed so would never go for one.

 

I like my 5 speed,i guess the ppg is a rebuilt box with stronger internals?