I am now at the stage, financially, where I can start to customize my car. My question is how do you get more torque? The car is fast enough on the freeway but from a dead stop that 2 second bog is unbearable is there anything that you can suggest that can help with that, with the exception of more displacement.

 

If you are worried about the initial bog I'd suggest try launching a little better. That being said look into a better clutch (EXEDY, Cusco) and possible a lightened flywheel. Either way though, if you want torque try a header.

 

Maybe try an uppipe, underdrive pulley, and intercooler hoses to get the turbo spooling a little quicker. I've got the Bosal uppipe, Vishnu underdrive pulley, and Vishnu Y-pipe and front pipe intercooler hoses and it makes a big difference. But yeah...working on the launch helps too. You need to get the RPMs up to compensate for driveline loss and get the turbo spooling.

Good luck!

 

That's exactly the problem - lack of displacement combined with low compression ratio. At lower engine speeds, when the turbo is not providing positive manifold boost pressure, the engine is not taking in enough air to make much power. Turbocharger sizing is a compromise between driveability and top end power.

Whatever you can do to allow the stock turbo (or appropriate aftermarket unit) to spool faster will aid low end torque output. Use either 2.5" or 3" exhaust components for low restriction and back pressure. In a turbocharged vehicle, backpressure is evil. Backpressure does NOT increase low end or mid-range torque.

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0==WW==0
"…axles of evil…" - george w. bush

 

Off the line, bring the RPM's up while at the same time letting the clutch out nice and easy. Not the healthiest way to treat a clutch but it will get the car oving really fast.

I'm assuming you don't have an auto...there's no hope for those...lol.

 

i've been running a pretty standard stage 2 setup...
2004 wrx wagon
helix up
helix catted down
borla hush
accessport stage 2 cali map 1.30

and have also been underwhelmed with that bogging sensation. i also don't want to have to launch from a light all the time. and when exiting a turn in 2nd or 3rd (depending on speed) there is always some lag in the low rpm. after much research, i decided to get a protune. being in LA, Harman is kind of the only choice here and they are expensive. $500. since i'm in the bay area fairly often, i thought i'd check the tuners up there. gruppe-s, s2,eqtuning, fineline. they all seemed to be about $200-$250. after some initial questions and inquiries i finally decided to go up to davis and have ed from eqtuning.com tune the car. he's definately a small player in the tuner world, but his attention to detail, knowledge of the protuner software and general thoroughness convinced me to check it out.

anyway, i had him install the GM boost solenoid before the tuning so that was a little extra but from what i have heard its also worth it. we spent about 3 hours or so road tuning the car. i haven't gotten the graphs from ed's road dyno software but i plan to get the car dyno'd at a dyno day soon anyway. but the low end torque and smoothness is amazing. unbelievable. throttle response is instant. boost comes up fast. IAM is at 16. car feels like i've launched even when i haven't. first gear goes by quick. 2nd gear pulls so strong, starts earlier and ends later, shift to third and the rpms drop to 5400 or so in third and i'm right in the power band. gets to the end of third with much more authority too.

driving home on the 5 today, 5th gear pulls almost as hard as 4th used to. a few times without paying attention i reached down to shift to 5th but was already in it going way faster than i should be.

i will post more info as i get it, but sufficed to say I am extremely happy. ed said the tune should take 2 hours but he spent AS MUCH time tweaking the maps as required. there were a couple of times when i was happy and thought we were done, but he insisted on spending more time to get the tune up to his standards.