I have a AEM Cold air intake, stock 04 turbo, stock intercooler, Im going to get a hold of a 3" downpipe, an uppipe and I already have the HKS Hyper exhaust. My qusetion is, will i get any HP/TQ gain from a stock turbo and intercooler with all these goodies intallled with out a dyno tune? Or am I just going to overwork the stock ECU?

 

If you don't have an accessport to run stage 2, then you're really not gonna see HP/TQ gains. And you're gonna be overworking the ECU.

 

Im trying to het a hold of an access port, my question is will you be able to go back and forth from stage two to stock? and maybe later on stage 3 and back to stock? Yeah, all that sounds crazy, but with gas being skyhigh, it doesnt make sense to have a gas hungry stage 3 all the time. Also, just to clarify, are those access ports Illegal? Being in California, they always seem to come up with new rules and regulations, cops popping your hood and inspecting and asking questions..

 

The accessport is legal as far as I'm aware. Also, you will be able to freely switch between Stock ECU settings, stage 1 and stage 2. It's a couple clicks away with the accessport.

Also, they won't pop your hood if you don't give them reason to. Just don't be speeding or racing on streets and they will never check you, unless they are extremely bored or just being a major dick and pull you over for aftermarket exhaust.

 

All this is good advice.

 

with those mods, the least of your worries should be the accessport. the dp and exhaust if theyre catless will cost you a state ref fixing ticket. not to mention you'll be atracting alot of cops with that setup becuase your going to be extremely loud. lol. its all risks and if your willing to take them. i was pulled over the other day for no front plate and had my hood popped.. i was cooperating and doing the speed limit and everything but he was still about ready to give me a fixing ticket for just a bov but he was called to a different job.

 

Yeah, im affraid of that, specially in the area I live at, its a small town and cops got nothing better to do. my questions is.. a catted high flow downpipe?? will that solve a big fine? I heard it would still pass smog even if your uppipe is catless.. Also, If anyone knows of a good place or website that does good clutch work, i need mine replaced. Maybe a clutch & lightened flywheel combo... thanks!

 

As far as I know any time you remove/modify a catalytic converter, unless it's to replace it with a stock one, you're running the risk of a ticket.

That said, I passed with a Cobb stage 1 map, a gutted up-pipe, and a Borla header.

 

If you run those mods without proper management (AP,tune) its not very good for our cars...so I would get an Access Port and then do it. If your concern is gas, The access port has a nice feature called 'Economy mode' I believe, that gives you a bit more mpg's...of course performance is sacrificed but I say do it!

 

u don't need a AP to get the car tuned, you an go opensource and save about $500. Also any mods with out a tune of somekind is not smart (intake) is not ever needed on a stock turbo wrx or sti

 

Hey! I appreciate all the info i seen here. I have been thinking about an access port, but havent heard about "Opensource"... mind telling me a little about it. And why wouldnt I need an AP? Im not trying to do huge power gains, im looking for about 50-75 HP.. I hear that the stock intake can handle a lot and no aftermarket intake is needed, but when I bought the car, it had the cold air already installed, and I dont have a stock unit, so I figure, might aswell use it, I do have a 3" exhaust, all i need is a catted DP, an uppipe and a tuning and go from there..