you could swap in an EJ20 and then it would be pretty close to a GC8 wrx. The suspension and everything should be just like a regular impreza which isnt bad but definately isnt good. It really is grossly underpowered tho. Some people have upgraded but its still not fast.

 

2.5 is definatly possible. I have an EJ18, and yes its slow. However, the MY97 Brighton is actually slightly higher HP rated engine... like 115 to 110 or something like that. Its definatly a great platform to start with as well, considering how much lighter the older cars are, and how much stuff is actually availible for them considering how many parts have remained the same over the years.

Definatly consider an engine swap, or even a turbo kit for that matter (im putting together one right now for my car! )

 

I've got a 93 Impreza L with the 1.8

I have made a short ram intake for it and made a short shifter for it.

I can post a pic of the shifter mod if you want.

Intake was super easy.

Only other thing I did was something of a tire upgrade.

I love her on long trips and wouldn't call her grossly underpowered at all.

J

 

it will bolt but you wont need four holes

the cheapest way that is really the best is to make a turbo kit from used subaru parts or after market parts and when the block goes buy a STI short block and get 2.5 SOHC that are ported and cammed

i have a cut airbox with dropin K&N, flywheel, chip, header back exhaust(bought header but thats another story)

spend for good brakes and suspension because my car still is not faster than a stock RS so i now dont think it is worth it and even with a 2.5, 13.5 is about the fastest anyone has run without nitrous and they have spent loads of money for pistions, cams and many other needed parts

just remember this:
speed costs money how fast do you want to go?

 

for a heavier clutch just get a clutch for a rs instead of a L and get it off of ebay because the one i got was OEM quality but below OEM price

well if you want it to be fun it will be just not fast

K&N dropin with silencer remover or cut airbox because the intakes you buy are more work than i want to do to put them in because there are three or four lines that need to be delt with

for exhaust go to a muffler shop and tell them you want custom 2 1/4" from the header back but for a header i am not going to recommend a borla because i am on my three header and it still doesnt fit so give the shop a picture and see if they can make it

for suspension most lowering springs are only about an inch so AGXs and there are many different springs that you can research

 

if you want good on road handling but ground clearance for offroading talk to eibach because they can make you custom springs with a high spring rate but at stock height but you will still need upgraded struts

 

as for the header go to a muffler shop and ask if they can make you one that looks like the borla and have them make it out of mild steel so you can wrap and they tell you they need flanges i will be willing to make you ones for cheap

i will get the bore before it goes on tonight


as for turboing the 1.8 buy the turbo crossmember and use wrx parts for the build if you can do the work your self if not then your going to have to wait til you can do a whole build

what is this TSI kit because if it is meant to fit a TSI it is going to take alot of work to get it work

yeah 200HP or so is where I plan to be
maybe 250HP with 9PSI... maybe but even at 200HP you will still keep up will an unmodded WRX

but the Audi 1.8s are much different than the suby 1.8