'04 WRX needing 100k service and slight upgrades

[99StockGT]

So, typical 100k service coming up on a friends completely stock WRX and he's finally thinking about a little bit of upgrading. Very price conscious person so bang for the buck is paramount here. Noticing a trend here that I have "frugal" associates?

 

Timing Belt, Water Pump, new plugs, all the normal things you would do but what gives the best seat of the pants fun to the car without making it obnoxious as a DD? I know the exhaust on this model is a 2 cat system, is it an issue switching to a single cat from a later model?

 

Let's set a limit of $700 for go fast parts as the other maintenance parts will eat up the rest of his budget. Hopefully this is just the start of his toying with the car.

 

CAI + Downpipe + some sort of single cat back system?

[stangsn95gt]

Downpipe and a canned tune

[99StockGT]

Are these cars something that see a solid increase off of just a DP upgrade and tune? Best bang for the buck on a canned tuner?

[Rally Pat]

I've got a few things for sale, just throwing it out there.

 

http://columbus.craigslist.org/pts/3656568690.html

[99StockGT]

Will certainly pass that along. The last item you have posted he certainly may be interested in. I know we are hoping to free up the exhaust and get a bit more rumble from it.

[stangsn95gt]

Are these cars something that see a solid increase off of just a DP upgrade and tune? Best bang for the buck on a canned tuner?

 

Yes it will be a good bang for buck power upgrade. As for what tuner I don't know you'll have to ask a subie guy.

[99StockGT]

I know the DP with my stealth certainly helped out, unfortunately I did it with several other upgrades at that point so hard to say exactly what I got out of just the pipe. I was hoping some Subie folk were up this early...calling Mr. I own 3 Subies and nothing else...

[Draco-REX]

Get your work done at SigmaTec. ZB is the man when it comes Subie repair. Tuning can be done by a numbe if people. There are a couple here on CR.

[1fast5gp]

Got a STI mid pipe if he is interested. Then all he needs is nice axle back.

[99StockGT]

forgive my ignorance but the midpipe on these is that 1 of the cats or is that a resonator? I had looked at one point for exhaust on this thing and it looked like other generations were a single cat system. Anything would need to be a direct fit as I'm sure neither of us is all that free with time

[Patterson]

PM sent.

[Draco-REX]

forgive my ignorance but the midpipe on these is that 1 of the cats or is that a resonator? I had looked at one point for exhaust on this thing and it looked like other generations were a single cat system. Anything would need to be a direct fit as I'm sure neither of us is all that free with time

 

If his WRX is an '04 then he has 3 cats. One in the up-pipe (replace it with a catless UP from an STI or other 2.5L turbo Subaru for best spool) and two in the downpipe.

[BBQdDude]

SigmaTec rocks. Used to take my STI there. On tuning isn't Eric at IPS now? He was the man back when i had my beast.

[1fast5gp]

Midpipe on wrx is 2.25in ID. Midpipes on STI and 06+ Wrx TRs are 2.5in ID. There is no cat just a resonator on the midpipes.

[99StockGT]

Thanks for the input so far guys, love doing all the footwork for friends projects.

[1fast5gp]

There is no need for a CAI intake, a K&N filter or green filter will give you the same gains as a CAI on a factory turbo. Your biggest gain will be from replacing the up pipe, down pipe and Catback and a tune/reflash. The cheapest route.

[Crossle]

Exhaust work and a tune makes a HUGE difference in driveability. Much faster turbo spool, and easier to stay in boost in between shifts.

[6 Speed S4]

thorne can tune them, hes done quite a few. If hes got time

[thorne]

So, typical 100k service coming up on a friends completely stock WRX and he's finally thinking about a little bit of upgrading. Very price conscious person so bang for the buck is paramount here. Noticing a trend here that I have "frugal" associates?

 

Timing Belt, Water Pump, new plugs, all the normal things you would do but what gives the best seat of the pants fun to the car without making it obnoxious as a DD? I know the exhaust on this model is a 2 cat system, is it an issue switching to a single cat from a later model?

 

Let's set a limit of $700 for go fast parts as the other maintenance parts will eat up the rest of his budget. Hopefully this is just the start of his toying with the car.

 

CAI + Downpipe + some sort of single cat back system?

CAI is the worst mod in the world for your car. Stock airbox will make 300whp all day long.

 

You really need to do the uppipe before the stock cat in the uppipe eats your turbo up

 

 

Here's the best mods.

Uppipe / Downpipe / tune

anything else won't make much of a difference with a td04/ej205

[thorne]

Midpipe on wrx is 2.25in ID. Midpipes on STI and 06+ Wrx TRs are 2.5in ID. There is no cat just a resonator on the midpipes.

 

Mid pipe made 0 difference in power in my previous testing. The catback only became a limiting factor when I switched from the stock turbo to a STi turbo. At which point adding a catback picked up 20whp.

[thorne]

ohhh Also a Grimmspeed EBCS or similar when you get a tuned because typically @ 100K the stock BCS fails, Causing the car to spool slow and not make as much power/boost

[99StockGT]

At 100k is it about time to talk about turbo going? I've always been of the opinion when replacing a stocker that just for a little more...we could upgrade..so is it that time? If we are doing UP/DP mid-pipe tune on stock cat back how much sound difference is there? He's having to keep the wife happy during the project (at this point) so not looking for something highly different than stock. Starting to look like I'm going to have to follow the advice of the CR folk on this with the pipes+tune...scary