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Old 03-11-2008, 04:42 PM   #1
silentt
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Default 04 USDM WRX or 99 JDM STi?

Hey guys,
I have quite the dilemma right now. I can get my hands on a complete 1999 JDM STi Type R mechanical swap for [$XXXX] which includes 100% of everything that is not interior/exterior. For the same amount of money, I can get a wrecked 04 WRX wagon.

Here are the pros and Cons I have thought about so far:
1999 STi Type R
Pros
  • forged pistons in the block
  • Cryo treated RA gears (5 speed)
  • 4 pot/2 pot brakes
  • VF29 turbo
  • Lower KMs than the WRX
  • Wiring is retarded easy and I know exactly which wires to cut and merge.

    Cons
  • Need to buy a PowerFC or J&S Safeguard as the gas here is only 91 octane
  • It's a JDM motor, no idea of previous ownership and maintenance
  • Revs high, may spin a bearing at anytime.
  • Can't tune stock ECU and it is very aggressive

    2004 WRX
    Pros
  • Heated seats - a godsend in Canada
  • USDM motor, single owner car and the previous owner is in my local car club
  • Local guy JUST finished doing his 02 WRX to 99 RS conversion, so I'm not stuck to using the internet for help/troubleshooting.
  • *should* be more reliable
  • Can be tuned via OpenSource (the famous Airboy lives close to here)
  • Car comes with COBB Stg. 2 package (with AP) that I would sell to offset costs.

    Cons
  • Same brakes as before
  • Wiring is much harder than JDM
  • Cast pistons
  • TD04 turbo
  • I have to dispose of the shell after
  • Less power

If anyone has anything else to add to the list, let me know. What would you guys do though? There are no emissions here and I don't have to worry about that. I also have an ej257 block sitting in the corner of my garage in case one of the two motors were to blow on me.

Goals: Daily driven, turbo. May upgrade the turbo to a VF22 or VF39 sometime down the line, but not right now.

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Old 03-11-2008, 06:55 PM   #2
mxpunk
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go usdm. parts will be easier to find and wont be a hassle when something breaks.

usdm engines can make big hp numbers but it just takes more $$ and theres TONS of support.
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Old 03-11-2008, 07:00 PM   #3
silentt
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mxpunk View Post
go usdm. parts will be easier to find and wont be a hassle when something breaks.

usdm engines can make big hp numbers but it just takes more $$ and theres TONS of support.
I don't want to make big HP numbers though. I just wanted a little more "oomph" with stock reliability. If I wanted to go big HP, I would simply buy a standalone and 6-speed for my current setup. It has more potential than both of these swaps combined.

Parts aren't really much easier to find, it's all plug and play from different models. I spin a bearing? Throw in my ej257. I blow a turbo? Throw in a VF39 (or my VF22 if I decide to keep it). I just don't want to have to do the work, although I can if I need to.
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Old 03-11-2008, 07:05 PM   #4
Jaxx
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i say the udsm ...
for the EM

you could blow the 207 block and swap in the 257 but how ya gonna tune it?
another $1100 for a powerfc+datalogit?
or 2100 for an autronic? .. and how will those cold start?
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Old 03-11-2008, 07:34 PM   #5
silentt
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jaxx View Post
i say the udsm ...
for the EM

you could blow the 207 block and swap in the 257 but how ya gonna tune it?
another $1100 for a powerfc+datalogit?
or 2100 for an autronic? .. and how will those cold start?
Best point I've heard yet. Thanks Jaxx.
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Old 03-12-2008, 03:32 AM   #6
jardine
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usdm just because of the readily available parts
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Old 03-12-2008, 05:25 AM   #7
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usdm may require more work wiring, but you can just start replacing entire harnesses in your car. ultimately if you can get it installed with a working obd2 system, i think that would make it all worth while. my V5 STi (in a 98 RS chassis) doesn't have any obd port, and thats not as nice as my 04 STi that does.

Other than that, i love the way the ej207 pulls in the high end, much stronger above 6k than my stg 2 ej257. However the 5spd is really still not well matched to the 207, it would feel way nicer on the 6spd box. Could take better advantage of that 8k+ redline.
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Old 03-12-2008, 10:32 AM   #8
silentt
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jardine View Post
usdm just because of the readily available parts
Common misconception.

Quote:
Originally Posted by neko View Post
usdm may require more work wiring, but you can just start replacing entire harnesses in your car. ultimately if you can get it installed with a working obd2 system, i think that would make it all worth while. my V5 STi (in a 98 RS chassis) doesn't have any obd port, and thats not as nice as my 04 STi that does.

Other than that, i love the way the ej207 pulls in the high end, much stronger above 6k than my stg 2 ej257. However the 5spd is really still not well matched to the 207, it would feel way nicer on the 6spd box. Could take better advantage of that 8k+ redline.
How would you start replacing entire harnesses? Wouldn't you just swap the engine harness and splice/merge the rest?
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Old 03-12-2008, 11:46 AM   #9
Matt Monson
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silentt,
There is a new wave of swaps going on right now. It involves pulling in the complete USDM wiring harness along with the dash, and fuel tank. The only splicing that is involved is for making rhe headlights, foglights, turn signals, etc. work. Do some research. It's quick and clean if you are a more mechanical than electrical sort of guy.

I am with Jaxx for the same reasons...
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Old 03-12-2008, 11:49 AM   #10
silentt
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I thought it was more work to fit the 04 WRX dash than to do the wiring though? Every member's journal I see on RS25 looked like the retrofit was a huge PITA. I'll check it out though, definitely something I'd be interested in.
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Old 03-14-2008, 11:24 AM   #11
neko
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yeah, that's what i was referring to. If you were afraid of wiring at all, you can just start replacing more and more of the harness rather than merge. Several people have dropped in USDM STi drivelines in GC's by simply stripping the interior and swapping out the entire body/engine harnesses to make sure everything works fine.
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Old 03-14-2008, 11:50 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by neko View Post
yeah, that's what i was referring to. If you were afraid of wiring at all, you can just start replacing more and more of the harness rather than merge. Several people have dropped in USDM STi drivelines in GC's by simply stripping the interior and swapping out the entire body/engine harnesses to make sure everything works fine.
you need to add cutting,fitting,welding of parts of the sti firewall on the swap and relocating the dash bar to that list though ...
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Old 03-14-2008, 12:09 PM   #13
silentt
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Soooo, I ended up choosing a 02 Bugeye that was a theft recovery. Rear bumper/trunk is toast, paint is scratched to **** and the sale is in the works for $1700. I couldn't say no to that price, since I'll come out making at least $1500 off this swap. The 02 has ~10k less miles than the 04 and was stock other than a catback and K&N panel filter. It was also half the price of the JDM STi and 04 WRX.

I have a friend that documented the entire swap process from 99 RS to 02 WRX which went from swapping the rear crossmember all the way to the wiring. Everything included pictures and the wiring was documented wire by wire.

Thanks guys
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