VF39 swap instructions w/pics

[abakja1]

Originally Posted by Chaz2.5

It'll drip a little but nothing major. Maybe 1-2 mL's

Good to hear,..Will tackle this again as soon as Im off baby duty for our 2 twin girls,..

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[abakja1]

So i finished up today and found the top copper washer all munched up. But apparently the washer i bought new from the dealer is larger in hole diameter than the old ones on the turbo. I used the old washers and no leaks.

I gotta pick up the new vacuum hose, t fitting, and pill from the dealership on Monday as the ne i got used was thrown in the box from the seller and i cant tell what size pill it is.

[Novtec1]

subscribed for my install.....

[T_woot]

Bump for doing this. How hard is open source tuning? And or how much more effective is dyno tuning?

[abakja1]

Originally Posted by T_woot

Bump for doing this. How hard is open source tuning? And or how much more effective is dyno tuning?

Open source is good if you have someone whi knows what they are doing when tuning. If you are using the same person who is knowledgeable in doing open source or using, lets say, a cobb ap tuner, i believe you have more parameters you can modify with open source tuning. Also, if you have the obdii dongle and cable, open source is free.

Dyno tuning is effective because its in a safe enviorment. Your not on the open road and you can do various runs consistently.

[ProfessWRX]

Originally Posted by abakja1

Open source is good if you have someone whi knows what they are doing when tuning. If you are using the same person who is knowledgeable in doing open source or using, lets say, a cobb ap tuner, i believe you have more parameters you can modify with open source tuning. Also, if you have the obdii dongle and cable, open source is free.

Dyno tuning is effective because its in a safe enviorment. Your not on the open road and you can do various runs consistently.

OS and cobb aren't too different.

I prefer street tuning to dyno tuning. Much more comprehensive. Dyno tuning is great if all you want is a specific power curve.

[REX_WGN]

Originally Posted by T_woot

Bump for doing this. How hard is open source tuning? And or how much more effective is dyno tuning?

I would spend the $250-450 to get the car on a dyno and let a professional do it. To me, it is just safer that way. However, if you are experience with tuning your own car and know how to mess with the parameters, I guess you can give it a try.

Again, it's just much safer.

[T_woot]

Originally Posted by kenliu84

I would spend the $250-450 to get the car on a dyno and let a professional do it. To me, it is just safer that way. However, if you are experience with tuning your own car and know how to mess with the parameters, I guess you can give it a try.

Again, it's just much safer.

Got Protuned. 305whp 350ftlbs

[REX_WGN]

Very nice. Watch the torque, thats how the 5 speed can go.

[T_woot]

Edit.

[sagelwwa]

For anyone having trouble finding the old map notes, you can either use Cobb's new Confluence based docs (linked on their site) or can search google for "site:www.accessecu.com vf39" to find the older PDFs. The 2006 WRX VF39 map notes refers to the pill modification mentioned in this thread numerous times. The 02-03 notes don't mention the pill. The Q&A on Cobb's site states numerous times that the stock WRX pill should be used. From what I gather, it looks like you should just use the stock WRX pill unless your WRX's map notes state differently.

[Jakeafer]

Bought a XT with a blown turbo, replaced the turbo and I was still bellowing thin smoke out of the exhaust. Jumped the the conclusion that the heads were blown. Swapped the head gaskets, valves, and valve seals. Now Im still blowing whitish thin smoke (Using 5w-30 Synthetic). Anyone have a clue why very little smoke is rising from the turbo area/uppipe and smoke bellowing out the exhaust at 1500+ rpm?

[Jakeafer]

S.O.S

Shot in the dark, Had bought a Forester XT 04 121K miles with a blown turbo. Replace the turbo with a used turbo from a wrx 06 TDO4L turbo. Still puffing light white smoke, billows of greyish-white thin smoke(Synthetic 5w-30) So it could also be oil burning. However Oil burn and white synthetic smoke didn't occur to me. SO I presumed a head gasket blew and hit the ground runnning. Got new valves, lapped and reseated the valves, cleaned them all to bits, resurfaced the head, kissed the cams with 700 grit(minimal-light scoring), swapped the gaskets(None of the gaskets seemed to be quite blown but well on the way to failure). Piece it all back together, new cam seals, timing belt kit, water pump, fuel injector seals, all of it. I bought a stainless steel oil feed line to the turbo and cleaned all my oil filters in my banjo bolts. So then we go to start the car and it all seems good, then oil burn from the turbo after idling for 5 minutes and still greyish white smoke past 1500RPM. So then we check the turbo if it's still good, nanoscopic play on the shaft, basically none and no signs of damage. Howere there was coking on the intlet turbine, so we check the PCV valve and it's not rattling, clean it with brake cleaner and try again. FINALLY turbo oil smoke from the turbo area of the engine bay was gone... But now we were getting steam... ****, so then we notice the oil return hose wasn't properly clamped annnd leaking coolant????? For disclosure while checking the turbo I blew into the oil return line until air escaped and sprayed it with brake part cleaner, did I **** up and do I need to rebuild my turbo. I'm clueless about these things, and I've now watched a ton of videos, can't find this problem... probably because people aren't as dumb as I am xD. Thanks for your time, opinions are wholesomely welcome!

[dirtbiker9779]

Hi, I'm thinking about doing a VF39 swap on my 2007 wrx and was wondering what all has to be replaced to make sure nothing bad happens. I've seen some people say you need to get it pro-tuned and that an access-port isn't good enough. I've also read that you have to upgrade the intercooler to an STI one and upgrade the injectors. I was curious what all you had to do to yours before it was VF39 ready.

Thanks

[pigboat_2]

https://www.cobbtuning.com/maps/2007...e-3-vf39-turbo

The mods you need are pretty clearly listed. If you use the Cobb map, make sure you have all of those mods pretty specifically. Custom tune maps are made for the parts you have on your car, the Cobb map would be thrown off and would be a bad idea to use if you deviated and had, say, a 2008-14 STi tmic instead of the 04-07.

edit:
A custom tune is obviously more ideal. But if you have an Access Port, this map can get you along for the time being, until you get a few more mods and make paying for a custom tune ($500+) worth the money. As long as you own an AP, the map is free to download.

[dirtbiker9779]

the only thing different that I see is that it calls for the stock intake or the cobb intake, but I have an injen intake and the rest of the motor is basically stock with an aftermarket exhaust. That shouldn't make a huge difference should it? Sorry I'm just getting into imports and dont want to ruin the engine

[pigboat_2]

Originally Posted by dirtbiker9779

the only thing different that I see is that it calls for the stock intake or the cobb intake, but I have an injen intake and the rest of the motor is basically stock with an aftermarket exhaust. That shouldn't make a huge difference should it? Sorry I'm just getting into imports and dont want to ruin the engine

Yeah, it will unfortunately. You want the called-for parts. Otherwise you'll really want a custom tune. Make sure you have an aftermarket downpipe on there too- I think you'll want a Cobb catted piece. The catback shouldn't matter.

[dirtbiker9779]

It has an Invidia downpipe and a catless 3" straight pipe. Can you get a custom tune from Cobb that would be suited better for my setup? I've never used an accessport so I dont know what all can be done with it

[pigboat_2]

Originally Posted by dirtbiker9779

It has an Invidia downpipe and a catless 3" straight pipe. Can you get a custom tune from Cobb that would be suited better for my setup? I've never used an accessport so I dont know what all can be done with it

You’d have to go to a Cobb shop to get a custom tune. Where about are you located?

Accessport allows you to reflash the ECU with another map, and allows you to monitor whatever parameters you want in live data. As well as log data. Super useful. You’ll want a V3 sub002.

[WRXislander]

Originally Posted by dirtbiker9779

Hi, I'm thinking about doing a VF39 swap on my 2007 wrx and was wondering what all has to be replaced to make sure nothing bad happens. I've seen some people say you need to get it pro-tuned and that an access-port isn't good enough. I've also read that you have to upgrade the intercooler to an STI one and upgrade the injectors. I was curious what all you had to do to yours before it was VF39 ready.

Thanks

This is a very easy swap. You need:

exhaust
IC
fuel pump
injectors (highly recommended. You will be restricted by fuel for sure if you don't)


Piece of advice: Seriously don't waste your time with an Accessport. Been there done that. Twice. The vf39 map is barely better than your normal stage 2. The only way to feel the bump from the bigger turbo is through a protune.

[koolkidmike28]

did anyone with an 06WRX have interference on the engine casing with the return coolant line hard hose?
i had to carefully bend the hose slightly, and even grind away some of the engine casing to allow the VF39 to fit.

[StiGry]

It would be nice if these pictures were still available it says "image hosted by angelfire" whatever the hell that means.

Removing the vf39 from my 06 sti for the first time (I think the seals are bad, but well find out) and was looking for a good writeup with pictures.