I have one through the first round of mods on my car and Im wondering if I missed anything I could have done for better power....

The catch is this I want more power for minimal $$ (dont we all) but I also dont want to deal with an annoying exhast noise level frankly the car is loud enough now.

I have
Samco IC hoses
K&N
Reflashed ECU

I can work myself on this stuff so let me know what I missed and what you think...

and before anyone says it I have wheels, tires, brakes, and susp. work done already

 

uppipe... got your stock uppipe if you're looking to save some money, but make sure you do it thoroughly... and maybe an MBC?? 30 bucks... not bad..

 

yeah if you are on a budget id do the uppipe. They run about $190 (hks) to $500 (BPM flex neck) As may or may not know, installing the uppipe is a real *****.

A downpipe is a good option as well. They run about $195 (hKS) or so to $570 (perrin catted). You will see great horsepower gains from uppipe or the downpipe or both.

So if you go straight HKS, you can do both the uppipe and the downpipe for $385.00. Remember these are msrp prices, so you can probably find them for cheaper.

If you really want to do it ghetto style, just gut your uppipe and/or downpipe. Its free and still looks like you retain the cats. Just be careful cuz the **** the cats are made out of are poisonous. Dont touch it with your hands or breathe it in. Wear eye protection cuz I dont know if its hydroscopic (absorbs moisture) or not. Hope this helps.

 

the ecu reflash I have is from cobb so if they have the maps reflashes are cheap

 

how do you like your reflash?

 

love the reflash....But

As they say boost is like crack you think you want more (you dont) but you just cant stop and in the end it will kill you.

Any opinions on the gains to be had from:


Port matching

Throttle body modding

new plugs

turbo porting


Finnaly who has the quieter turbo back exhausts.


Im thinking: port out the thing for better top end and do the turbo back W/ new reflash from cobb... any draw backs Leaning out #3 cyl?

 

well whatever you do, you dont want to lean out ANY cylinder at ANY time. That causes the combustion gas temps to rise way up. You dont want to burn a hole in a piston or burn a valve do you? Well anyway, leaning out your engine is in no way related to crack. I think the infamous 3rd cylinder leaning out has to do with the exhaust routing and the turbo all being around cyl 3 and heat concentrating around it. Its not a hUgE problem, but just dont remove any heat shields to be safe.

I have heard the GReddy EVO exhaust is real quiet, and its one of the best cat backs out there. Turbo magazine says, "The GReddy 80mm WRX cat-back exhaust system makes the most power while still complying with 95 dB(A) limits." At idle, greddy is 94 dB and at 3000 rpm, it is 92 db. Stock, for comparison is 87dB @ idle and 86dB @ 3k rpm. So its one of the best exhausts, making great power, and one of the quietest. Myself, i am gonna go with the HKS hi-power exhaust. Its a bit louder, but it makes almost the most power + torque without being the LOUDEST. Ok, im wasting my breath. Here is the turbo mag 12 cat back exhaust shootout.

http://www.turbomagazine.com/tech/0212tur_exhaust/

I'm long winded arent i?

sorry, but i dont know much about port matching, throttle body modding, new plugs, or turbo porting.

I do know that a lightened crank pulley thats not underdriven will give you some power.

 

Good suggestions. Mods, the above link should be made into a sticky IMHO. Should answer a lot of redundant questions...

 

I got the uppipe & downpipe from gruppe-s.com on sale for $425, highly recommended. i installed it myself, turbo lag is way down (just below 3000rpm) and torque is strong all the way to redline. but that is also with a utec and new tmic. as far as tb exhaust, i am still using stock everything after the downpipe and it is only marginally louder. the stock exhaust is said to take only 5hp or so.

 

they have a special for 139 shipped with gaskets...

just installed with a friend...nice gains for cheap

 

Sounds like you guys all think exhaust is the way to go

Does any body have experience with those other listed mods ie port matching, throttle body mods?


Do you think there will be any gains from those, i ask because I can do them now free the exhaust will cost around 1G.

Also how loud will a wrx w/turbo back and cat less up-pipe be?

 

to like 2.4L to spool up the turbo faster...its not worth it.

throttle body may help with a bunch of mods....but the reason people start with exhaust is because they want the turbo to flow more freely...and there is the most HP besides changing the turbo or IC for a reasonable price and you can buy it in pieces. as well as it may lower your EGT's and make your engine breathe more....usually you want to open up your exhaust before raising boost...