QwaktastiK's 2014 SWP STI Hatchback Build Thread

[QwaktastiK]

Originally Posted by JDMJNKY

I don't like chassis rubbing either so it looks like I may jump to FEAL suspension myself. Was going to hold out for a set of OHLINS but that ABS is really cool.

as for cams, what were your list of choices when purchasing?

I hear great things about Ohlins but did read one bad review saying they were overdampened for street use. Idk how true that is given their reputation. But I'd want to read more about it.
I've been very happy with the FEAL's. Extremely comfortable fro daily driving and I've been able to fine tune my dampening to my likings based on sidewall stiffness of a given tire I'm running.

Do you mean brands or specs? R/T recommended the GSC cams. And their stage 2 cams will work best for my powerband and power goals. Stage 1 wouldn't be enough as I plan the E85 tune to break 500whp, and stage 3 cams would be too much and shift my powerband to the right, which is not where this turbo shines.

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[QwaktastiK]

[QwaktastiK]

[JDMJNKY]

Originally Posted by QwaktastiK

I hear great things about Ohlins but did read one bad review saying they were overdampened for street use. Idk how true that is given their reputation. But I’d want to read more about it.
I’ve been very happy with the FEAL’s. Extremely comfortable fro daily driving and I’ve been able to fine tune my dampening to my likings based on sidewall stiffness of a given tire I’m running.

Do you mean brands or specs? R/T recommended the GSC cams. And their stage 2 cams will work best for my powerband and power goals. Stage 1 wouldn’t be enough as I plan the E85 tune to break 500whp, and stage 3 cams would be too much and shift my powerband to the right, which is not where this turbo shines.

Before I make my choice on suspension, I'll definitely have to beg someone for a ride-a-long. Tough choice to make when you have semi-have to live with it for a while.

Apologies, in regards to the cams, I meant what brands were you considering in your planning stages, were you always leaning towards GSC?

[werk]

Build's coming along nice sir! Which valve springs did you go with?

[QwaktastiK]

Originally Posted by JDMJNKY

Before I make my choice on suspension, I'll definitely have to beg someone for a ride-a-long. Tough choice to make when you have semi-have to live with it for a while.

Apologies, in regards to the cams, I meant what brands were you considering in your planning stages, were you always leaning towards GSC?

Agreed, suspension ride quality is hard to judge from a short ride.

And I wasn't considering cams prior to R/T recommending them. But I'm always good with the brands they recommend. They are well versed in the Subaru built motor game. GSC is what IAG uses on their long block builds.

Originally Posted by werk

Build's coming along nice sir! Which valve springs did you go with?

GSC beehive valve springs with titanium retainers

[milab21]

Looking good!

[GK1707]

Any particular reason you are staying with a UEL header as opposed to going to a ELH?

[QwaktastiK]

Originally Posted by milab21

Looking good!

Thank you!

Originally Posted by GK1707

Any particular reason you are staying with a UEL header as opposed to going to a ELH?

To answer, I'm going to quote RallySportDirect...

UEL vs. EL Headers:
"One design is not better than the other and the best choice is based on what you use the car for. Unequal length headers will retain low to mid range power and some high RPM power gains. Equal length generally make more peak horsepower, but you do lose some low to mid range torque at the same time. For a daily driver I usually recommend UEL."

"Equal length is designed for optimal flow in higher RPM's, where unequal is designed for best flow in the mid RPM band."

"UEL will have better mid range spool up characteristics and produce higher TQ numbers compared to EL."

My entire setup is designed for optimal daily driver performance. The quickest spool as possible while still being able to make big power. Not to mention retaining the signature boxer rumble. There's a few things I can't stand. Turbo lag, EWG noise, and EL header exhaust note. The additional small gains in peak horsepower (and potential loss in spool/midrange) isn't worth losing the rumble to me. But really the quotes above from RSD best answer the question. UEL are just better for daily driving and spool.

A lot of builds out there are so focused on the peak number. The mentality, if you're not breaking 600 or 700whp, what did you even build?

[QwaktastiK]

I've had the ETS TMIC on for a little over a year. I had it Swain Tech BBE ceramic coated. If Intertek Fabrications intercooler guard worked with the ETS TMIC, I would be running that (with the STI logo). But alas, it doesn't. So I sprayed the STI logo on with a stencil and some high temp caliper paint. Very happy with how it turned out. But I've noticed with just a year on the intercooler, I'm starting to get some minor rock chips on the black BBE coating.

To prevent any further chips, I was looking for GrillCraft hood scoop mesh grill insert. Unfortunately RallySportDirect and even GrillCraft's website claim it's discontinued for the 2008-2014 WRX/STI.

I decided to try eBay to see what came up. To much surprise, I found GrillCraft selling their 2008-2014 WRX/STI version right there on eBay. Woohoo!





I don't love the look of them, but i do love the function of them. So I'll be installing that once I get my car back from R/T to prevent any further chips on the TMIC.

[JDMJNKY]

Originally Posted by QwaktastiK

Agreed, suspension ride quality is hard to judge from a short ride.

And I wasn’t considering cams prior to R/T recommending them. But I’m always good with the brands they recommend. They are well versed in the Subaru built motor game. GSC is what IAG uses on their long block builds.



GSC beehive valve springs with titanium retainers

[img]https://img.nasioc.com/i/Xh6yT.jpg

[img]https://img.nasioc.com/i/XhCfS.jpg

[img]https://img.nasioc.com/i/XhDs0.jpg

[img]https://img.nasioc.com/i/XhLbn.jpg

Thanks for taking the time out to reply. Setup is looking good.

[gregnauman]

What TGV deletes are those. And you are staying TMIC??

[QwaktastiK]

Originally Posted by gregnauman

What TGV deletes are those. And you are staying TMIC??

IAG TGV Deletes. And yes, staying ETS TMIC

[QwaktastiK]

In case anyone missed it earlier, I'm modeling my build after these two:

Pet3r's 2015 STi Launch Edition // EFR7163, IAG Closed Deck, Flex Fuel
https://forums.nasioc.com/forums/sho....php?t=2788238

Phatbotti Tuned 06 STi * TMIC WORLD RECORD [email protected]* GS TMIC,EFR7163,IAG Motor,Cobb AP
https://forums.nasioc.com/forums/sho....php?t=2720772

[QwaktastiK]

Whelp, I'm furious, but I can't say I'm surprised. BNM Performance Fab strikes again.

[JeffrWRX]

wow..... That sucks

[Stretch18]

Ok, that's rage inducing. His products are nice, but I'd never buy anything. It seems to me like he is just completely in over his head with orders. He needs an apprentice badly; I'd said the same to him on IG when he was talking about starting to produce some video content...

I'm sure you will get it sorted, but one more thing to think about. As always, sweet build. I need to stop peeking, as it just makes me want to buy more parts.

[QwaktastiK]

So not only is my ETS TMIC now a $900 paperweight. I gotta shell out another $1620 for a FMIC + the cost of custom fabricated hot side piping for my rotated kit. Sick

Going with COBB FMIC, black core and wrinkle black intercooler piping.

ETS TMIC will be up for sale soon. Might swing by R/T tomorrow to pick it up and sell it to help offset some of this additional and unplanned cost.

BNM Performance Fab everybody

[gfxguy]

Ugh that sucks. The GS TMIC might fit, it’s offset towards the drivers side and not as wide as the stock unit (but deeper and thicker). I just installed one in my GR STI over the weekend. (I was actually holding out for the ETS but got good deal on the GS that I couldn’t pass up. If I was local to you I’d consider trading...)

[QwaktastiK]

Got momentarily excited hoping this clown used a Grimmspeed to mock up my kit despite me specifying ETS. So I just sent him a message asking what TMIC he used to make my kit:

[JeffrWRX]

What ****ty service... unbelievable actually.

[96accord]

Why would he use the OEM STi intercooler?

[QwaktastiK]

Originally Posted by 96accord

Why would he use the OEM STi intercooler?

I'm blown away. Tbh I kinda knew this was coming tho. Given how everything went with him. On one hand I feel lucky I got anything from him at all. Given all of his excuses.

I literally told my wife when I dropped my car off that the only thing that could go wrong now is the fitment of the TMIC. Buuuuut he had the specific parameters from Day 1. So, since he said he would make it fit with the ETS TMIC, it should fit.

He gave me an estimate of 12 weeks
It took 37 weeks and 2 days.

I double checked before placing my order that he could make it work with the ETS TMIC. The whole point of this ****ing custom kit was to stay top mounted. I literally could've bought an ETS TMIC and had it shipped directly to him for $685. Which i could've resold as new since it literally would've never been used except to make the mock up of this kit. But instead, now I'm stuck going FMIC just to make his kit work. Estimate of $2700 parts, labor and fabrication of the hot side piping.
I'm breathing fire right now.

Who the **** builds a 500+ whp rotated kit to ONLY work with the stock TMIC.

Is this your first day on the job? What in the actual ****?

[gregnauman]

I would just go with a Grimmspeed TMIC.
The newer STI has a wider TMIC than the earlier ones.

When I bought the Grimmspeed I was a little miffed it was not as wide as the 2010 and up STI.

Grimmspeed tested both types. The wide one and the narrow one and found negligible difference in the amount of horsepower it could support.

So in order to have one intercooler to to fit 2005-2016 they just made it narrower.

I do like how the narrower one allows air to directly hit the turbo from the scoop and it’s not covered by the intercooler. The scoop even has an air director to dump cool air on the turbo area.

So you might just switch to a more narrow aftermarket intercooler.

[gregnauman]