it is ok to keep using the stock ECU on an '02 WRX with uppipe and TBE?

[nicknaz]

I'm thinking about purchasing a catless uppipe and aftermarket turboback exhaust for my 02 WRX and I was wondering if it is ok for me use these parts with the stock ECU.

I *THINK* it will be ok since the factory tune is safe/conservative, and the '02 WRX doesn't have any weird closed loop/open loop delay issues like later WRX that could cause problems.

Has anyone done this before? it is safe?

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[Redline927]

yes, many have done this. yes its safe. Get a tune when you can.

[94'325is]

On my 03' I have a catless uppipe and TBE w/ a P&P stock turbo on stock EM. I am going to get a tune soon but I've been running this setup for 30K miles. It's fine to run that on stock EM but a tune will help make more power safer.

[skatefather]

dont waste your time. you are talking about going stage 2 without the supporting EM and thats just illogical. I would first spend the money on an accessport or some other variant of EM, and then buy all the other stuff.

Oh and its really not that safe to run you car with all the stuff you want to buy without running a stage 2 map. Can it be done? Yes. Has it been done? Yes....should it be done?.........

[WRXislander]

Originally Posted by skatefather

dont waste your time. you are talking about going stage 2 without the supporting EM and thats just illogical. I would first spend the money on an accessport or some other variant of EM, and then buy all the other stuff.

Oh and its really not that safe to run you car with all the stuff you want to buy without running a stage 2 map. Can it be done? Yes. Has it been done? Yes....should it be done?.........

I don't agree with this, not with an '02.

You are fine. Are you maxing out your setup? No. But to be honest, you're not missing out on much from, say, a COBB stage 2 map. You'd get a hair more boost, but it's probably not enough to justify the big $. Custom tune? Yes, you'll see significantly more power, but from what I hear from folks who've gotten one, expect to pay $150 to $200.

Look into a self tune with the Enginuity software. People with PC laptops or MacBooks are having good luck with it. The tactrix cable is quite cheap (new for only $91, used for less) and you can get maps quite readily.

Since cost is clearly a consideration, I would recommend an ERZ downpipe from eBay for $140 shipped. Fitment and performance is excellent. There are also inexpensive uppipes there (my favorite mod--incredible spool improvement), for maybe another $40. The catback is not as important, though you will get another small gain in power/boost. Also, most reasonably sounding catbacks (i.e. not LOUD) are spendy. The eBay ones are very loud.

Have fun with the mods and let us know how it goes.

[Col. Angus]

Hey guys, 03 wrx here with 2.5'' pipe from turbo back, no cats, O2 sensor simulator and a magnaflow muffler. I just picked it up and I don't think I could've done it better myself... maybe a different muffler... but i'm cool with it. Magnaflow's good.
Everything else is stock as far as I can tell. K&N panel filter. I'm going to run mobile 1 all around but I'm not touching anything else except for maybe replacing the intercooler with an sti's. What kind of power do you think I'm putting out at the crank? Around 250/240 hp/tq? Do I absolutely need a tune? What parameters would I be tuning?

[skatefather]

Originally Posted by Col. Angus

Hey guys, 03 wrx here with 2.5'' pipe from turbo back, no cats, O2 sensor simulator and a magnaflow muffler. I just picked it up and I don't think I could've done it better myself... maybe a different muffler... but i'm cool with it. Magnaflow's good.
Everything else is stock as far as I can tell. K&N panel filter. I'm going to run mobile 1 all around but I'm not touching anything else except for maybe replacing the intercooler with an sti's. What kind of power do you think I'm putting out at the crank? Around 250/240 hp/tq? Do I absolutely need a tune? What parameters would I be tuning?

dude dont thread jack...not cool

[nicknaz]

thanks for the info guys, this is very helpful

WRXislander or others do you have any experience with those cheap ebay uppipes? i was thinking about a Bosal uppipe (apparently the flexible section makes it less likely to leak?) but if an ebay part will give me equivalent fitment and quality (ie no leaks) i'm definitely open to that

as for the ERZ downpipe, does it mate up to the stock WRX (or STi) catback?

i'm still on the fence whether i should modify or not... i really like the idea of driving as hard as i can for 30min at a time at HDPS events and being pretty confident the drivetrain will hold together.. i'm loathe to do anything that might jeopardize the 'bulletproof-ness' of the car

i guess a uppipe and TBE are pretty much still considered stock so i'm probably worrying over nothing

[Master2192]

Absolutely not, time for a standalone.

LOL!!!!!

[Mustang Raper]

Originally Posted by skatefather

dont waste your time. you are talking about going stage 2 without the supporting EM and thats just illogical. I would first spend the money on an accessport or some other variant of EM, and then buy all the other stuff.

Oh and its really not that safe to run you car with all the stuff you want to buy without running a stage 2 map. Can it be done? Yes. Has it been done? Yes....should it be done?.........

Totally disagree...safe.

[Mustang Raper]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

thanks for the info guys, this is very helpful

WRXislander or others do you have any experience with those cheap ebay uppipes? i was thinking about a Bosal uppipe (apparently the flexible section makes it less likely to leak?) but if an ebay part will give me equivalent fitment and quality (ie no leaks) i'm definitely open to that

as for the ERZ downpipe, does it mate up to the stock WRX (or STi) catback?

i'm still on the fence whether i should modify or not... i really like the idea of driving as hard as i can for 30min at a time at HDPS events and being pretty confident the drivetrain will hold together.. i'm loathe to do anything that might jeopardize the 'bulletproof-ness' of the car

i guess a uppipe and TBE are pretty much still considered stock so i'm probably worrying over nothing

I once had a cheap ebay uppipe with a flex section...worked flawlessly minus the stupid gaskets it came with...used the stock gaskets and it was awesome.

[Col. Angus]

Originally Posted by skatefather

dude dont thread jack...not cool

Not thread jacking. I won't let me post anything until I've had three replies or some ****.

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by Master2192

LOL!!!!!

nice job with the different color font.. i was confused for a sec!

[WRXislander]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

thanks for the info guys, this is very helpful

WRXislander or others do you have any experience with those cheap ebay uppipes? i was thinking about a Bosal uppipe (apparently the flexible section makes it less likely to leak?) but if an ebay part will give me equivalent fitment and quality (ie no leaks) i'm definitely open to that

as for the ERZ downpipe, does it mate up to the stock WRX (or STi) catback?

i'm still on the fence whether i should modify or not... i really like the idea of driving as hard as i can for 30min at a time at HDPS events and being pretty confident the drivetrain will hold together.. i'm loathe to do anything that might jeopardize the 'bulletproof-ness' of the car

i guess a uppipe and TBE are pretty much still considered stock so i'm probably worrying over nothing

I have a cheap eBay uppipe and so far it works great. Perfect fit (other than the fact that the studs that came with it were too long) and seemingly good quality. The two bad things I've heard about them are 1) The gaskets suck (not a big deal) and, 2) the flex sections are questionable. Somewhere on here there's a pic of a guy's uppipe where the inside if the flex section is peeling away and rolling towards the turbo. Yikes. I got mine for free but if I were to do it again, I'd probably just buy a quality one used in the for sale section here. Still pretty cheap. Some people say that a flex pipe is easier to install than a rigid one but I just can't see how that's true. Once you're under the car and have the engine jacked up, you could fit a frozen horse in there.

The ERZ downpipe mates up fine to the stock cat back for either the WRX or STI. The flanges are different (ERZ-flat, stock catback-donut) but just remove the donut part of the stocker and it will be perfect--very easy.

There's really no reason not to modify. As long as you're not a big "launch guy" or a "slamming gears guy" you will not be putting your car in any more danger by going to stage 2.

Good luck and have fun.

[REX8]

Originally Posted by skatefather

dont waste your time. you are talking about going stage 2 without the supporting EM and thats just illogical. I would first spend the money on an accessport or some other variant of EM, and then buy all the other stuff.

Oh and its really not that safe to run you car with all the stuff you want to buy without running a stage 2 map. Can it be done? Yes. Has it been done? Yes....should it be done?.........

Don't listen to any of this. Totally out to lunch...

Maybe you didn't notice the year of his car, or you are just pulling stuff out of your...

Although he won't see the same power gains he'd get from running a more aggressive tune, he will be running 100% safe, and still gain upwards of 20+ whp from the exhaust work alone. Somewhere in the range of 190-200 whp is common for those mods on the stock map.

[Redline927]

Originally Posted by skatefather

dont waste your time. you are talking about going stage 2 without the supporting EM and thats just illogical. I would first spend the money on an accessport or some other variant of EM, and then buy all the other stuff.

Oh and its really not that safe to run you car with all the stuff you want to buy without running a stage 2 map. Can it be done? Yes. Has it been done? Yes....should it be done?.........

i disagree. the 2002 wrx takes to mods very well. It is just an up and tbe, he will be fine, like I was for several months before i got EM.

[marrenr813]

So the OP will not run into boost creep? My buddy w/ a 06 (2.5L) ran a DP w/ no Em and creeped more than once after only a few miles...

[REX8]

Originally Posted by marrenr813

So the OP will not run into boost creep? My buddy w/ a 06 (2.5L) ran a DP w/ no Em and creeped more than once after only a few miles...

Nope...further, Em on an 06+ doesn't necessarily cure boost creep issues.

[WRXislander]

Originally Posted by marrenr813

So the OP will not run into boost creep? My buddy w/ a 06 (2.5L) ran a DP w/ no Em and creeped more than once after only a few miles...

Sigh. We're talking about an '02 here.

[jaxscuby]

your car will run abit on the rich side.
your tail pipe will show you that.
boost creep? doubt it. had the same parts
on my 02 wrx before i went to stage 4.
the most boost i ever saw with up-pipe & tbe
was ~1.1 bar or 16 psi.

[Foska Oats]

I am sure that most of the guys here have done this.
That is the good thing about ECUtek , cobb and these new methods of tuning.
You are able to keep your stock ecu with all the factory parameters and just modify accordingly

[marrenr813]

Originally Posted by WRXislander

Sigh. We're talking about an '02 here.

No kidding. I was just curious if the bugeyes were prone to the same thing.