upgrade opportunities....headers, uppipe etc

[richbaker78]

I have been steadily plodding along with my Scooby engine refurb. I have a 2002 WRX engine and have heard much advice from internet mechanics on the benefits of various mods. I don't wont massive gains but at the same time it seems like an opportunity whilst I have the engine in a lot of bits to do a few things for simple gains - so comments on gains / experiences welcomes:

1) HEaders - I don't want to go to equal length as I want to retain the burble and am not looking for massive power (and advice seems to conflict about this) but the std manifold looks pretty restrictive....is it worth replacing with an nice looking stainless item - is there any gain - presumably lighter, nicer looking and a slight performance benefit? anyone running one?

2) Up-pipe - described as one of the worst bits of the whole system on one site - so I think I will replace? again worth it? any advice which to use? I know it depends on what the answer to number 1 is....but also I presume I can upgrade this whilst keeping the rest of the collector std.

3) I am trying to convince my self to stay with the std turbo for now before things get out of hand. thoughts? I want to retain factory ECU. I presume I can get a bit more boost from std turbo before I need to upgrade.

3) INlet manifold - whilst this is off I am wondering about drilling it to directly fit GAS injectors into it? Worth it (other than looking neater ? or better to go with the retro fit stand alone set up?

Finally - whats the deal with the anti flutter valves / butterflys that are fitted below the inlet manifold? Any gains to be had here?

cheers in advance

[ricola]

Port the headers, easy job and apparently up to 30bhp to be had with earlier spool! Much better than the majority of aftermarket stainless headers and you get to keep the low end torque. There is a recommended up-pipe a guy used to do but then he died, I think a company was licensed to reproduce them?

Do you have a td04? An early td05 would be an easy/cheap upgrade..

Inlet manifold is fine for mild tunes

Flutter valves are for economy, I think performance guys bin the butterflies and port them?
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[richbaker78]

Cheers rich - I had a a good old read around and looks like the porting is worth it- cheaper and more beneficial. Found a decent up pipe so looks like that's the plan. May also have a crack at the turbo intake.
Re turbos will have a look into that...not sure what I am running at the mo the engine is just a massive pile of bits!! I feel like I am teetering on the edge of a slippery tuning slope

[Kai]

Most people seem to rave about converting a TD05 into a front entry type as being a very good turbo. Andy Forest does these.

It was a guy called Harvey that made the modified exhausts but unfortunately he did pass. Isn't the problem with the standard headers apart from requiring some porting, the up pipe on the UK models has a Catalitic converter stashed in there pre turbo.

Speak to Bob Rawl, for my classic engine he suggested Bosch 044 fuel pump, 440 yellow STI injectors, new mapable ECU (ESL Daughter board) and a new MAP sensor from a MY1997> Impreza. All these mods with my modified exhaust should get me 320bhp apparently from a standard 1995 WRX engine.

I just need the ECU before I can get Bob to remap mine. I'll also require an MOT after fixing the front suspension too
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