Welcome to the North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club Tuesday March 19, 2024
Home Forums Images WikiNASIOC Products Store Modifications Upgrade Garage
NASIOC
Go Back   NASIOC > NASIOC Technical > Engine Management & Tuning

Welcome to NASIOC - The world's largest online community for Subaru enthusiasts!
Welcome to the NASIOC.com Subaru forum.

You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, free of charge, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, so please join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.







* As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads. 
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 10-19-2005, 01:51 PM   #1
Assassin4457
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 96773
Join Date: Sep 2005
Chapter/Region: E. Canada
Location: GTA, Ontario Canada.
Vehicle:
04 WRX, RIP GC8
Black

Default Nubish questions about Tuning...

Im thinking of turbo-ing my 99 2.5 RS and I was looking at the FAT Stage III Turbo Kit. ( http://www.forcedairtech.com/turbokits_gc8_stage3.html )

and I was wondering some things.


First of all, my goal is to get about 300 hp at the crank (if possible) and I want it to be still streetable. I hope to run 2 boost modes (first for about 5-6 psi, and second for whatever I can safely push to get me to 300 hp)

now my questions are as follows.

1. Which engine management system should I choose? I know the fat kit comes with some "piggy back" computer but people tell me this is not the way to go if im looking for reliablity and power.

2. How hard is it to actually do the electronics part of it? I read that even a simple S-AFCII "should be installed by a trained techinicain". Would I be able to instal my EMS myself, and actually tune it myself?

3. Is it even possible to tune without a dyno? I ask because all of the places I've called, do turbo instals , and do tuning, but none of them have a awd dyno, so is it possible to do it without one completely?

4. Do i really need a big expensive EMS like some people buy? Or will I be able to get what I want with just the "RRFPR" included in the kit , WRX injectors , and an S-AFCII for example?

Plz gimme all the info you guys got, im anxious to learn!
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.
Assassin4457 is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.
Old 10-19-2005, 05:10 PM   #2
Assassin4457
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 96773
Join Date: Sep 2005
Chapter/Region: E. Canada
Location: GTA, Ontario Canada.
Vehicle:
04 WRX, RIP GC8
Black

Default

bump. . .
Assassin4457 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-19-2005, 10:41 PM   #3
Delicious Tuning
Former Vendor
 
Member#: 1990
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: San Diego, CA
Default

Having installed way to many turbo kits on the RS and tuned too many of them it always scares me to say anything.

If you want reliablity, you will need to get a standalone. The Hydra EMS should work decently for you, though will take some time to tune it. I am nto sure how many people will actually tune it also.

The most reliable approach is to just do the swap, PERIOD. I have been through ever stage you can imagine. Turbo kit with an AFC controller, it worked ok, but never that great, always would stumble a little bit and was never consistent. Then a Link Plus, more reliable for power, but starting, idle, altitude really messed with everything. Then I did the swap and was a LOT happier.

The RS is just a hard car to put a turbo on and expect good reliable power. If you want to do anything get the Hydra, that is probably your best bet.

Cheers,
Bill Knose
Lead Programmer
I-Speed USA
Delicious Tuning is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-19-2005, 11:43 PM   #4
Assassin4457
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 96773
Join Date: Sep 2005
Chapter/Region: E. Canada
Location: GTA, Ontario Canada.
Vehicle:
04 WRX, RIP GC8
Black

Default

Thanks man thats really helpful. I talked to the shop about swaps too, and they said it would be better and simpler to turbo charge the 2.5 RS too. And they said its hard to get their hands on what they would need (We're in Canada) but thats bull****, and I dont want to pay a FORTUNE.

Hydra I was reading about and its cool. But you didn't answer if I would need a Dino for it. I mean this shop doesn't have an AWD Dyno, and they said they don't know where to find one here. Is it possible for a guy like me to tune it w/o a dyno with some sort of guide?

Or are there any good books about tuning systems like this?

and one last thing, do you think a big company stand alone like HKS or Greddy would sell, do the trick for me? Wouldn't it be easier for these guys up here to tune if i couldn't do it myself?
Assassin4457 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2005, 01:24 AM   #5
fragment
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 8050
Join Date: Jul 2001
Chapter/Region: W. Canada
Location: Bugeye EJ207 - T3T04S - RIP
Vehicle:
2004 FXTi - Stage 2
Goooooooolld

Default

You're really not looking very hard for AWD dyno's. There are three that I've heard of in the GTA. There is also the Toronto Subaru Club forum that should help hook you up with someone local who's had a swap done.

Do the swap; you'll spend more, but it'll cost you less
fragment is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2005, 02:20 PM   #6
Zola
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 16876
Join Date: Mar 2002
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: St Paul, MN
Vehicle:
2002 Impreza WRX
WR Blue

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Assassin4457
Is it possible for a guy like me to tune it w/o a dyno with some sort of guide?
Possible, sure. But do a search for threads about the Hydra and read them. If you are starting from a very basic knowledge level, I think it's fair to say the learning curve will be quite steep.

Over the last couple years the conventional wisdom has shifted to favor an engine swap over aftermarket turbo for the RS by a wide margin. When you read about what some people have to go through to get their setups working and keep them working, it's easy to see why the swap has become such an attractive alternative.
Zola is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2005, 02:34 PM   #7
Assassin4457
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 96773
Join Date: Sep 2005
Chapter/Region: E. Canada
Location: GTA, Ontario Canada.
Vehicle:
04 WRX, RIP GC8
Black

Default

Your right. I guess I'll keep looking into that. I know I can get my goal power without worrying about **** blowing on the wrx platform. Now to just find one around here, cuz I wouldn't buy off the internet.
Assassin4457 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-21-2005, 09:00 AM   #8
03WRXMA
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 35081
Join Date: Apr 2003
Chapter/Region: NESIC
Location: CT
Vehicle:
2012 WRX
WRB

Default

Swap all the way!

The time/money/pain you will save is so worth it.
03WRXMA is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Question about tuning LT/ST fuel trims with UTEC Veck Engine Management & Tuning 5 07-14-2004 12:39 AM
Another question about tuning for added displacement.. LiquidForce Engine Management & Tuning 1 04-14-2004 11:37 PM
Questions about tuning the n00b for low and mid range power. jawbrkr Factory 2.0L Turbo Powertrain (EJ Series Factory 2.0L Turbo) 1 04-01-2004 03:55 PM
Many Questions about tuning your WRX/STi with Turbo XS answered: New Site! WorldOne Factory 2.0L Turbo Powertrain (EJ Series Factory 2.0L Turbo) 18 09-10-2003 07:21 PM
Every Question about tuning with Turbo XS parts answered: New Site! WorldOne Vendor 'For Sale' Classifieds 30 09-04-2003 02:56 PM

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:34 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.0
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Powered by Searchlight © 2024 Axivo Inc.
Copyright ©1999 - 2019, North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club, Inc.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission
Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.