is there a way of using a throttle cable instead of e throttle when using the 2.5 as a swap? would getting a new intake manifold off a jdm 2.0 sti work? is the '04 sti e throttle? dealers don't know what they should, and i can't seem to track this info down. any info would help!

All the USDM STi's are DBW. As for the rest of your post, I don't know.

Why should the dealers know how to turn a car into something unlike anything else they have in their inventory? Try emailing Perrin Performance or Clark at Kingpin. You'd probably have to get a JDM STi ecu and then flash it to run the ej257. The USDM STi ecu I would imagine, needs or expects input from the electronic throttle system.

You need a non-DBW engine management system to run a cable throttle. There are lots of options there. Why do this? The heads flow better?

Have the Hydra reprogrammed so you can use the USDM STI motor with the cable throttle body.You will need to run signal wires for the IAC and the TPS...That's what I did.The JDM ECU has totally different ECU plugs.Also the JDM AVS is different.

thanks guys! i was hoping someone knew about the possibilities. the dealer didn't know if the '04 had dbw, which i found odd. what throttle setup did you use with the hydra? what are the limitations if any when using that setup? you guys rock!
i'm doing a complete usdm sti swap or building a short block into OBS and doing a drivetrain swap(for the brakes and beef), if possible. i'm tired of obs-t as it is(too slow). i want the torque of the 2.5. even the NA 2.5 feels great compared to my 2.2t. thanks for the info guys, you rock!

The STI intake manifold also wont allow thr use of the wrx throttle body. Different bolt pattern for the cable and dbw throttle bodies. Just a heads up.

The STI intake manifold also wont allow thr use of the wrx throttle body. Different bolt pattern for the cable and dbw throttle bodies. Just a heads up.


I have test fitted my sti throttle body on a wrx mani and it looked to have worked (all bolts lined up) but I did not go ahead and install it due to the fact I needed a 1/4in spacer to clear drive bye wire. (the only reason I was going to change is the wrx mani was polished and reversed but it was going to be too much of a hassle) dustin

SINthetic,
which sti are you talking about JDM or USDM?
pestysti,
how are you by passing the dbw in the ecu?
thanks again guys!

US STI Intake has a differnet bolt pattern than the US WRX Intake manifold.

thanks SINthetic much appreciated!
any clue about jdm sti bolt patterns?
i wonder if i can run a complete wrx manifold and intake?
i'm not sure of the flow capabilities compared to the sti's, but i want something that's not impossible to get too. any more info is definately welcome!

US WRX and JDM STI are the same i beleive. As long as there are not DBW throttle bodies.

JDM WRX and USDM WRX thottle bodies are the same. The USDM STi throttle body uses a different bolt size and bolt pattern than the JDM or USDM WRX throttle body. I put a jdm ver 8 manifold on my 04 USDM STi. If you do a search for USDM STi with a JDM erv 8 intake manifold, you should find more info on it.

Another side note is that alot of the computers on the USDM STi all use CAN (controler area network), the engine computer, throttle computer(inside the engine ecu), dccd computer and abs are all linked through CAN. It is possible that if you remove the dbw throttle that the dccd will be inoperative.

I am currently looking into swapping a wrx wiring harness into my car so I can run an AEM standalone. If I do this, I will have to go with something like a cusco tarmac center diff to eliminate the dccd.

Another side note is that alot of the computers on the USDM STi all use CAN (controler area network), the engine computer, throttle computer(inside the engine ecu), dccd computer and abs are all linked through CAN. It is possible that if you remove the dbw throttle that the dccd will be inoperative.

I am currently looking into swapping a wrx wiring harness into my car so I can run an AEM standalone. If I do this, I will have to go with something like a cusco tarmac center diff to eliminate the dccd.Are you sure about this? What about the people currently running a Hydra on their STis? Do you think their DCCD is not functioning with the Hydra installed?

Funny thing is there no difference between the STI and WRX intake with the exeption of the throttle body bolts. Same crappy runner design. And one is RED.

thanks SINthetic! that saves me tons of time.
sinistiR can the "controller area network" be programmed or is it strictly ROM?
and for management i'm looking at possibly having to wire sensors in? not hard, but less work/time is better!
good info/ideas everyone keep 'em coming!

The absolute easiest thing for you to do is just get a EJ257 block and use it with either your heads or get a set of heads off a EJ25 that will work with your current ECU/engine management. Make sure the compression ratio is where you want it, and just turn up the boost. You are going to be wasting a lot of time and parts by using a complete USDM STI engine.

The second easiest thing to do is do a "WRX swap" and slap the EJ257 block onto that.

Are you sure about this? What about the people currently running a Hydra on their STis? Do you think their DCCD is not functioning with the Hydra installed?

From what I know about the Hydra, it still piggybacks the stock computer, anyone correct me if I am wrong. So the CAN line to the throttle computer is never lost.

thanks SINthetic! that saves me tons of time.
sinistiR can the "controller area network" be programmed or is it strictly ROM?
and for management i'm looking at possibly having to wire sensors in? not hard, but less work/time is better!
good info/ideas everyone keep 'em coming!

I guess if could be programed if the coding was cracked. They usually use a bianary code to transfer data.

From what I know about the Hydra, it still piggybacks the stock computer, anyone correct me if I am wrong. So the CAN line to the throttle computer is never lost.Nope. The Hydra is a standalone ECU. It completely replaces the factory ECU.

The intake manifolds are very different. If you use the smaller bolts of from the STI TB you can bolt your WRX TB to the manifold but there’s no port for the Idle Air Control Solenoid.

http://elementtuning.com/V8%20Install/Elemen8.jpg

You could make one if you wanted to but seriously it’s so much easier to do your swap this way:

http://elementtuning.com/technical/ej25_install.htm

You would use the Element Hydra that is specific to your model and not the one for the DBW STI even though you are swapping engines. We would provide you with a base map for your swap since it’s very common.

Separate topic:

The Element Hydra STI EMS is a fully stand-alone plug-in solution for the STI. As far as I know this is the only DBW stand-alone with CAN compatibility. This means your DCCD and other computers remain functional. We do eliminate cruise control on the DBW models.

Thanks,
Phil
www.elementtuning.com

Well there you have it.

so it looks like i need an STi short block, and a wrx engine to make this work well. the STi block is cheaper than a new complete at least! what other options are there(e.g. jdm 2.5 na heads/STi block)? anything else with avcs that won't break the bank? the hydra sounds like a smart move, what do they go for?
PHIL, that is a great write up, very helpful pics! are the there three crank sensors on the motor now? are the internal ones rendered useless or are you running all three or a combination? thanks for the help!