Im on the verge of spending alot of money on my car. I would be happy with 400hp over the next year but i really dont want to go down sti tranny route as i think its too expensive. I would like to know if you could get 400hp from a wrx safely without upgrading tranny? Maybe consider other cheaper tranny/clutch upgrades to help in stability if there is any cheaper options than the 6 speed.
Please no "should of got an sti" i already know.

 

what version wrx is it? hawkeye will, but doubt any others

 

Obviously not spending that much money if youre trying to skrimp on a major component..

 

I ran about 360 on my hawk 5 speed without any problems. If the box is new or has recently been rebuilt and you're sympathetic then you'll be fine (no drag strip racing!). When I went to 400 though 5 didn't want to tak the chance so I dropped a 6 speed in from a bug sti. It only cost me £1400 plus fitting which I think is pretty good. One year later i'm still laughing with every flat foot shift, launch and general ragging up and down the country!

My advice would be to change it and have a special WRX! Not many around with the conversion putting out 400 hp.

 

6 speed is the best solution, I would run with 400 but save up for a 6 speed you will need it in time.

just to add I always wanted to try how much my 5 speed would take, in the end RCM had such a long waiting list I did the whole job as one so I didn't in the end..

 

when you mention a STI Tranny is it one of these Sexual Transmitted Infection transvestites you are talking about ?.

 

£2500 is alot to some people jay!.and refering to the sensible replys its a wrx and £1400 is pretty good i was thinking around £3000 i havent really looked into the upgrade i really didnt want too have to do it but i spose it is worth it all in all. Which also means i have another year or 2 worth of modding before i got bored of it. Whats the maz a 6 speed can handle ? And what supporting turbo?

 

Nizmo lol yea thats exactly what i was on about ha

 

A blew my 5 speed in my old wrx at 320. Some will take it but really is borrowed time judging by the failures people experience. I spent so much rebuilding and changing parts on my wrx it was basically an highly modded sti as I swapped gearbox heads and block for different versions. I would really consider if it is worth the time and money to do it again. Although nothing quite like a sleeper

 

not as expensive as people think for one of those STI Trannys, well so I am informed by Richard " thenewgalaxy " LOL

TBH why not just keep your 5 speed box and just tune to 350 - 360 BHP
as even at that BHP its still a very fast car

 

It will all depend on your driving style.

5-speed may be OK, but the first missed gear at high revs, the first launch...watch out.

Bear in mind that it's not POWER that kills a transmission, it's TORQUE.

if you are getting 400 bhp from a 2-litre, you will have less damaging torque than from a 2.5 litre.

 

Yea your right birchy id like to know what that cost you i think i may be goin down the same route. I would probably end up pushing to 500hp id like a car to last me a few good years of lots of nodding i didnt know if it was best sellin ip and getting sti or just stick with wrx and mod the **** out of it :s duno what would be cheaper to do.

 

Why not spend the money on the box then gradually up the power, think you will be taking a gamble with 400bhp 6 speeds can be had for less than 2500

 

Alcazar thats a major factor you just pointed out. Would i be ok in pushing the 5 speed untill it gives up then replace? I mean will the damaged parts just be straight swaped or could it cause more damage?

 

If you are planning on aiming for 500 or there abouts I would sell the wrx without hesitation and go for the STI.
the STI comes with the 6 speed box VVT heads brembo brakes and other features too.

 

I wouldnt like to have to put the sti parts on the wrx and end up being more expensive than just buying one which im guessing is what it would be.

 

Thanks guys i think you've helped make my decision. Im going to get up to around 340hp with bigger turbo etc. for this summer and upgrade to something like an 08 sti next year then go for the big 500hp.
Thanks for your help (y)

 

exactly sell up and go for the STI it will be easier in the long run.

nothing wrong with a wrx but if you are going for 500 then its easier just to buy a STI and mod that

 

For the price of a used 6-speed gearbox, you could probably buy 6 x used WRX 5-speed boxes. Cant see the point in spending £2k on a gearbox if you want to run 400bhp, Id just take the chance, and maybe save you the expense!!
I actually know someone on here who has been running 400bhp on a blob WRX with standard bottom end and 5 speed gearbox for the last 6-7years and the car has over 100k miles on the clock most of it running 400bhp!!

Also a mate of mine broke his 6 Speed STi gearbox in his previous STi running 400bhp, so depending on how the gearbox has been used previous, you could potentiality be buying a 6 speed gearbox for £2k that might be on its last legs!!!!

 

Cost of the parts roughly on my old wrx
6 speed 1500
Jdm motor 600
Jdm big port heads. 300
Gt spec2 headers 300
Full decat exhaust 300
Sc46 1200
Simtek 500
Injectors, fmic, fpr, walbro, clutch, another 1000
Fitting on all probably another 1000.
Mapping 500

Plus loads of little bits I'm sure like induction kit and 3 port etc. Add or take away bits you want it don't need.
Made 420ish safely and made just shy of 500 running meth before it melted two pistons running too hot day doing Shakespeare raceway using the anti lag and lc.

Any questions drop me a message mate. Been there and done it. Although it was great fun and loved every minute.

 

Do u still have that car ?

 

No mate I broke that one as I just kept having issues. Wish I'd repaired and continued to be honest. Back in an sti widetrack now.

 

Thats £7200 worth of bits!!!

Trouble is you do it all again, Ive been there a few times, and when its done you get bored, sell it and then realize you made a mistake and buy another one and start the process all over again!!!

 

Tell me about it scoobyboy. Plus the cost of the car and what ever else I was doing and the I between bits when it was tuning sti spec turbo injectors etc before the big power upgrade.

Should have kept all the parts. Putting money into the widetrack to end up at the same point now but with less power.

Happens with all my cars though! It's the habit though and hobby when you don't drink or smoke.

 

I think some of those prices are too cheap mate its going to cost more than that mate

for instance gt spec headers are around 400 at least and scoobyclinic one is 593 mate

and a sc46 is 1620

also more than 300 for a decent exhaust I know my blitz nur spec was 530

must of been a while back you done these when it was cheaper
wish it was still those prices tho

 

It was 3-4 years back. Got to remember its who you know not what you know too.



Some of it was done second hand. Exhaust was a japspeed which flowed fine. Gt spec are second hand which I've just brought another set for the widetrack although you are right some of those prices do need a bit of inflation adding into them. I spent a lot of time travelling the country collecting the parts and took my time. Stuff like the simtek was a lot more work as it all needed wiring to run the avcs heads as the wrx doesn't run that wiring plus wiring into the cabin for switches. But then you don't really need simtek or Alcatek now as you can do some much with the open source mapping.

 

Yeah thats why ive promised myself that what ever I do Im keeping my hawkeye. Cant be doing with selling and buying cars all the time and spending loads on it, Think so far my hawk in 12months has cost me about £2k in parts. But looking at forged options at the moment so hopefully xmas time i can get cracking on with that!!

Funny as Brett-WV14 is wanting 400bhp as his goal for his car, and im close to 400bhp and over 400+lbft and im not happy with that and wanting more!!

 

Its an adiction. I can see me being scooby till i die now and ive only changed my backbox and up pipe hahahah

 

Sometimes I think it would be cheaper to have a crack addiction!!

Still havent seen you round Dudley yet Brett?? Was at the Dudley Port Tesco this afternoon!! Saw a nice blue blob STi yesterday up the Birmingham New Rd, sounded like it was running some big power as he accelerated away(No BOV)

 

Power is never enough. That one comes quickly. Their was always someone who has more power and a quicker car which makes you want more. My widetrack has had about 4k into it already in 6 monthes.

Power is nothing without control though. Brakes on my widetrack are 800 worth of discs and pads. Add in coilovers. Arbs. All the tracking etc along with alk etc.