Stage 2: next step?

[Hanyoung]

Hello,

Listed are my mods
Car: 2004 WRX
Engine: 2.0 L w/
- Gutted uppipe
- Scoobysport shorty downpipe
- Prodrive oval exhaust

Mgmt:
- Accessport 1.0 Stage 2 map 91 Octane
- Boost gauge

Suspension:
- Crucial springs on stock struts
- Cusco 24 adj rear sway
- Enkei RP02 rims w/ Falken 452 215/45/17 tires

Drivetrain:
- Kartboy short shifter and bushings

I performed stage 1 three years ago, stage 2 two years ago. Each time I fell in love with the car again. This year I have been itching to do something else to it... what you ask? Well, something that increases the torque/power/handling without sacrifing the DD ability and minimizing cost of the upgrades. I have a budget of around $600 this year, and was wondering what people thought. My driving consists of DD, occasional autocross (approx 4x / year) and road racing (approx 2x/year)

Options I have been entertaining are:
27mm front sway bar (approx $150-200)
Grimmspeed P&P of my turbo (approx $200)
CSS TMIC (approx $330)
? need for custom tune? (approx > $250)

My subie has gotten me through a lot of great times, but I feel that I have the urge for more mods in order to keep up with the times. Can anyone give me any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

Eugene

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[grex07]

if youre strapped for money get a P&P. used top mount. and a pro tune.

[MF-DIF]

Ebay TMIC, P/P, tune will get you close to that 600$ budget.

The only thing I can say about a custom tune is that you usually loose that snap when turbo spools the OTS and stock map had. It's very much more of a linear power delivery...which can make it feel slower since you've had that old map for so long, but it's not.

[Hanyoung]

In that case... would most people go for a tune after a PnP turbo? I am running a stage 2 Cobb map.

Thanks!

[Uncanny]

Go for the PnP, STi TMIC, and a "real" tune.

[ChandlerWRX06]

ebay topmount, ebay 16G, then save a month and get the injectors and fuel pump. woo

[Jubert69]

Originally Posted by ChandlerWRX06

ebay topmount, ebay 16G, then save a month and get the injectors and fuel pump. woo

this

Edit: Don't get an eBay turbo.

[MF-DIF]

Originally Posted by Hanyoung

In that case... would most people go for a tune after a PnP turbo? I am running a stage 2 Cobb map.

Thanks!

Definately to get the most out of it.

[pearljam11]

Originally Posted by ChandlerWRX06

ebay topmount, ebay 16G, then save a month and get the injectors and fuel pump. woo

I havent heard such good things about these ebay turbos

[Jubert69]

Oops, I read that wrong, No ebay Turbos, get one from deadbolt.

[sleepersti04]

yeah dont^^^ save up and get a nice turbo. FP, deadbolt or blouch.
skip the 16g and 18g, go 20g. low to mid 300whp

[Jubert69]

Originally Posted by sleepersti04

yeah dont^^^ save up and get a nice turbo. FP, deadbolt or blouch.
skip the 16g and 18g, go 20g. low to mid 300whp

20g on a 2.0? I'd say if you don't mind a lot of lag, I guess you could go with the 20g.

[Defiant Autospeed]

Ebay TMICs perform worse than an OEM STI tmic. This has been dyno proven by several NASIOC members. Dont waste your money on them. Go with something decent, or just pick up a used STI tmic.


Your next logical step would be a P&P on the turbo and the exh manifold, a nicer aftermarke up pipe, and a good tune. The up pipe is the most optional part there, since you already have a catless up. The aftermarket pipes will flow better and help you get the most from your P&P work, but the gutted up is a lot better than nothing

[elevenpoint7five]

Originally Posted by pearljam11

I havent heard such good things about these ebay turbos

nor have i. i would avoid the ebay turbo, but ebay tmic sounds like a good idea! just look for one with the highest CFM rating.

[sleepersti04]

Originally Posted by Jubert69

20g on a 2.0? I'd say if you don't mind a lot of lag, I guess you could go with the 20g.

There can't be that much lag on a 2.0L

[ctrent86]

Originally Posted by sleepersti04

There can't be that much lag on a 2.0L

A 20g even with ported mani's, crosspipe, bcs and other spool aiding mods will still have substantial lag on a normal 2.0. It just cannot push the air that the 2.5 can. Can a 2.0 be built to do so yes. however a TF05 18g would be the highest I would go.

As for mods. I would save up for a 18g. It will give you some headroom so you can do a conservative tune now. Be happy and later down the road go with a more aggressive tune and meth. That leaves you two stages.

Now if you really want to step up into the 207 game then we will talk some different turbo's........ But that is a different budget status.

[scottyrx]

a used vf39 and some used injectors is doable for 600 bucks. then you can run the cobb OTS map, and save for a pro tune. oh yeah, you will need a fuel pump too.

[Defiant Autospeed]

Originally Posted by elevenpoint7five

nor have i. i would avoid the ebay turbo, but ebay tmic sounds like a good idea! just look for one with the highest CFM rating.

NO!

The purpose of an intercooler is NOT to flow the most air. Its to cool the air charge the most efficiently. The ebay TMICs have horrible fin density, and do a very poor job of cooling the air charge.

Many people talk about how the Spearco has the highest CFM, so its the best. While its true that it does have the highest CFM rating, the real reason its the best is that it does the best job cooling, because it uses a VERY good core. Its not the CFM rating that cools the charge. Like I said, its been proven several times that the ebay TMICs make less power than an STI tmic, even with higher CFM ratings. Dont throw your money away on these things. If you are on a budget, buy a used STI tmic.


In reality, most of the ebay Turbos are actually half decent. Its the tmics that are garbage

Originally Posted by sleepersti04

There can't be that much lag on a 2.0L

There is, its ugly. Great for drag use though.

Originally Posted by scottyrx

a used vf39 and some used injectors is doable for 600 bucks. then you can run the cobb OTS map, and save for a pro tune. oh yeah, you will need a fuel pump too.

Less than 600 if you look around. I have seen the older STI pink top feeds for @$200, and you can get a VF39 for about 275-300 if you shop around. Pumps are 95 bucks shipped, you can be under 600 no problem if you shop carefully.

[elevenpoint7five]

well thanks for that info. i have never bought an ebay one, thats why i said it sounded like a good idea, not saying that i know for 100% certain that it is.

not to thread jack, but how does the fin density change from IC to IC? arent they all generally the same material?

[ChandlerWRX06]

^lol, what can you expect in an IC thats $150???

hmm ASP FMIC= 1200 (ish). . . Ebay= 280 fmic. . wonder which will be better??
its apples and oranges at that point, ebay's will work, but not as well as a good quality product.

I was mostly kidding about the ebay stuff, the turbos (some of them) arent half bad on the other hand. . . i prefer to support blouch, i love em.

[v8eaterWRX]

Originally Posted by ChandlerWRX06

^lol, what can you expect in an IC thats $150???

hmm ASP FMIC= 1200 (ish). . . Ebay= 280 fmic. . wonder which will be better??
its apples and oranges at that point, ebay's will work, but not as well as a good quality product.

I was mostly kidding about the ebay stuff, the turbos (some of them) arent half bad on the other hand. . . i prefer to support blouch, i love em.

my ebay fmic pwnz yoar face

[pearljam11]

Used injectors are a bad idea, you don't know what rate they are flowing. Trade your stockers in to deatschwerks and get 565s for $250 that are flow tested or just have DW flowtest your used ones.

[GreenLantern]

in order of importance/how much money you have/where you should spend first for happy time gains:

STI tmic
TGV DELETES!!!!!!!!!!<----DO THIS &
PHENOLIC SPACERS!!!!!!<----DO THIS
pnp turbo
pnp exhaust mani/ get headers (my prefered)

and GET A PRO TUNE!!! AP OTS MAPS SUCK

that will make you happy again FOR SURE without spending to much bread

with all the above you could see at least 20hp gain and may possibly see up to 50hp gain

check out grimmspeeds phenolic spacers and tgv (coated) deletes. them in and of them selves (TGV deletes) are said to give something like 15 hp

-GL

[Hanyoung]

Wow... thanks for all the replies! Seems like people are across the board on this one

I'd like to avoid getting a larger turbo now because of issues like lag as well as fuel pump and injectors (I have no idea how to even install them).

I will let you guys know which route I choose... as for comparisons... seems like a CSS TMIC is as much as a STI IC. Any feedback?

I would like to do the TGV deletes and PnP turbo. These make sense to me to limit air turbulence. I just don't like the idea of sending my turbo and manifold into a company, then waiting a week. I also have zero experience with air tools and porting, and figure this could be pretty dangerous!

[sorrowfulkiller]

injectors, tune, new intercooler, and a different turbo