Hello folks. My car is a 2002 WRX, which is very close to stock right now. I've got an HKS boost gauge and H&R springs installed right now. The car isn't having any boost problems (hitting about 14~ psi in 3rd gear [hard to tell exactly how much, the gauge reads in kg/cm...about equal to bar]). I am currently awaiting delivery of an HKS Hi-power turbo-back exhaust. This will definitely help out in freeing up some power from those wretched catalytic converters. Anyways, I'm looking ahead for my next mod. I am pretty sure next on the list will be a Cobb Accessport, with a Stage 2 map I'm assuming. The exhaust is really the last mod I can do for a little while (3-4~ months) because I've got to save money for my car payments. I know Cobb's website says with the Stage 2 and turboback it can put down around 224 or so to the wheels, although I know that differs dyno-to-dyno so it's not a huge deal. I'm not really sure what just the turboback exhaust will put me around (maybe 200whp?) but the real numbers that matter lay at the track... which I've yet to attend. Anyways, will the AP be a good next mod? It will clear the CEL from the lack of cat. converters and smooth out the power (or so I've read). What exactly do their maps entail, that increase power? Do they raise factory boost levels? Change A/F ratios? The other mod I was thinking about was a (much cheaper) Helix up-pipe. I'd like to do that at the same time I do my exhaust, seeing as how I'll have to get my downpipe off anyways, but I don't really have that money in budget right now (*winks at my girlfriend for a Christmas present*) Anyways, sorry for the long drawn-out post but I'd just like to see what you folks think. Thanks in advance!

Alex B

 

with just the exhaust you should be running cobb's stage 1 map. Wait until you get the downpipe installed then u can run the stage 2 ap map.


Typically the stage two maps put you at about 200 whp.

 

Well, the turboback I'm getting includes the downpipe... so that would put me at Stage 2 I believe

 

Bumpity bump... Might be ordering a Helix up-pipe this week. Is $175 shipped the cheapest out there? (from Gruppe-S)

 

I would do the uppipe when you do the downpipe.

I installed just the Hi-Power exhaust and ran it. I already had the AccessPort so I was running a Stage 1 map. The power with the added exhaust felt pretty good. I ordered the Helix uppipe and downpipe from gruppe-s and installed it. Switched it to the Stage 2 map and just melted behind the wheel when I went out for a test drive. The acceleration is awesome and still keeps that smoothness to it. You'll also be very happy with the exhaust. With the setup I have now, I always get people that tell me how good it sounds It'll sound good with just the catback, but man it sounds even better with the dp/up. I've had it with this setup for over a year now and I still get that silly grin on my face when I get on it. Especially right now with these rediculous gas prices because I try to limit it. Oh yeah, I get about 21-24mpg around town if that's useful info.

The stage 2 map is tuned for 17ish psi in the mid area(atleast that is what I see on the basemap for the stage 2 map for the StreetTUNER), but you'll rarely hit it. I only hit it when it gets really cold and I do a 3rd gear pull.

Good luck with the suby

 

yeah, i would do the up and downpipes at the same time, so you wouldn't have to take everything back out to install the uppipe later.

 

Thanks for the replies, guys. I think I'll order the UP even though I can't really afford it (mods first, think about paying later) just so I can save myself some aggravation down the road. The exhaust I'm getting is a full turboback so it includes the downpipe already luckily. Sorry for the noobish question (just never seen it answered anywhere), but does the HKS downpipe get rid of the midpipe and connect right to the cat-back? I know it cancels out two cats, so I was just wondering (so I can make plans next year to swap it out for the stocker... either the DP or midpipe... for emissions testing, since I'll be totally catless).

I'm definitely more of a conservative driver now that gas prices are up over $2.83+/gal, so good gas mileage is always a plus.

speedfreak - If I got an Accessport, and loaded the stage 2 map... would that automatically raise the boost slightly? Or is the setup you're running a custom-tuned StreetTUNER map that you got? I'm not really sure what the 'regular' stage 2 Cobb map entails.

Thanks!

 

The HKS downpipe will replace the two cats after the turbo and connect up to the catback exhaust. If you get an uppipe such as Helix, it will replace the cat prior to the turbo as well. So you'll be running without any cats. They don't do emission checks where I live. They just hazzle you on noise, but even then I've only gotten pulled over once in over a years time (newbie cop too).

The Stage 2 AccessPort map will raise your boost. Your car has a boost control solenoid already from the factory. The streetTUNER stage 2 basemap is, as I recall, basically the same if not the same map settings compared to just the AccessPort maps.

 

Ah okay, thanks for clearing that up. So it looks like my plan is to get the Helix UP, install that & the exhaust at the same time, and then eventually get the Accessport and load up Stage 2. Hopefully I should have somewhere around what Cobb advertises for horsepower, but I know it depends dyno to dyno, etc. etc. Would like to be able to run under 14 sec. in the 1/4 no problem (haven't taken it to the track yet to get a stock baseline run yet, though.)

 

from what i understand, getting an Up pipe and TBE with a tune should be you nicely in the 13s. Good Luck and have fun.

 

Thanks! I'll keep telling myself I only need 13's... until I see extra money in my bank account and then it will be screaming "new turbo!" at me all day long.