Need some experience from you all on this.

My WRX300 MY05 has spun a bearing due to my own impatience for for fitting a new Waste Gate.

Spec was around 320Bhp TD0516G/550cc inject/Walbro255/DecatUP/PPP Cat/Large TMIC/Excedy blue/5spd / 1.2 bar tuned JGM R.I.P

Options : ( I don't intend to ever take this over 350 Bhp.)

XXXXXXXX STi used engine ? MY04 AVCS heads Does this need wiring loom and a tune ? Anyone have an idea about total costs ? XXXXX Long engine now out of debate XXXX

Best contacts for short sti block ?

WRX MY05 used Engine straight swap
( Various on offer 350 pounds 80 k miles to 900 pounds 50 k miles )

WRX Recon my own engine 100k miles ( Forged pistons / polish/grind crank / lap seat valves) Built I expect 2000-2500 pounds which is rather too much for me.

Which path to go ?

 

I would always rebuild an engine opposed to the uncertainty of a used one. However mine just came back from a rebuild at the cost of £2800, but I did the whole shebang - heads and block skimmed, bores honed, new rings, ACL Duraglide bearings, ground crank, ARP studs, RCM gasket etc. etc.

If you go an STI engine you may well need a remap depending on CR. If you get a used engine at the very least I would pressure test the heads then fit Cossie/RCM gaskets (£40 over OE) and ARP studs (£100 over OE). Once you've got a parts list give Alyn @ ASP a ring, he sorted me out for my bits

 

Couldn't you just get a sti 7/8 bottom end and then fit your heads to it? (£700-£900 for block) and then just remap?

 

Hi Busta Certainly a sti bottom end has its attractions, assuming one is laying around for that price.

Then just a remap tweak to take the different pistons / CR ? into account.

So what you mean is I don't need any other wire loom , no different sensors involved ?

 

Yes, as I belive to run avcs on your wrx will need the extra wires and sensors, which come from the loom of a sti = more money and hasstle.
I'm pretty sure you're wrx heads will go onto block, just refresh heads while apart., then map as you're not going to run over 350hp as you say but the block will easily handle more.

Buy block with caution and a keen eye for condition of bores, crown, mileage, tuned etc etc. I looked at 3 before I found the one I've now got, was worth the wait to find a good one.

 

Hi Andaru I can do my own valve grind , and fit studs / gasket , and find a engineering shop to do the hone/skims.

But tell me about the crank grinding , I thought this was frowned upon.
Mine is unknown at moment , as I said it threw a bearing. The other item is the pistons , I would imagine its worth throwing the WRX ones out , didnt you replace them ? Regards Ralph

 

Hmm That's interesting , a Long Sti engine is now out of Q. Thanks for that.

As you know I am handy with a grinder on heads done a fair few.
But I m probably going to have to ask someone I trust to buy the block as geographically I am at a disadvantage. rgds Ralph.

 

Yeah, but just double check the info I've provided is correct as I'm not 100% as I'm no engine builder. I just know from my build, but mine are different heads and will need ESL because 95 classic.

 

Nah , sounds right busta , I read a fair bit and seen a couple of threads in past , So the 05 WRX heads on the later 04-05 Sti block make a lot of sense. I'm just stuck over here without much chance to look for a good one. Equally I am still toying with the idea of drop a cheap std long engine to get it back on the road. Then pulling the one I have apart and doing a proper job on it.

 

Yeah that's an option too, seen as you're not looking for big power. Keep your eyes peeled for a decent wrx engine/block.

 

You can run an sti 8 long engine in a wrx without wiring the avcs, i did it in my wrx @ 354bhp without wiring the avcs, you just don't benefit from the avcs that's all as it just doesn't engage.no problems and if at a later date you fancy wiring them then they are there ready

 

Shrek, what caused your car to break?

 

I sold it to a breaker mate why?

 

No, I mean why did you sell it to a breaker? What was wrong with it

 

I spent too much on it turning it into an sti then somebody drove into the side of it, then I found rust on the arches and just gave in with it, just lost interest really.the car had a massive boost problem which was later traced down to a silicone inlet pipe collapsing under load.i always wanted over 400bhp and it was just daft getting that from a wrx

 

I had heard some say not to grind the crank etc. but no one ever said why. There was only a scratch 2 thou deep on one of the big end journals and 0.25 was taken off and I got oversize bearings. I had a set of STI pistons but they are 2cc smaller, the thicker HG would have compensated but 0.15mm had to come off the block too so that eat up the extra thickness the gasket provided and would've pushed CR up to 8.7.

 

 

What made you ask that anyway? The best thing about that car were the porsche brakes

 

Hmm , Re the crank grind, Id like to hear others on this too,
I'd rather hope 2 thou would just to polish up , but as I haven't seen / measured my own yet its a worry.

Re CR I once pushed a Mini to 13.0 to 1 , but in order to stop it I had to put it in gear. Got away with it for 60k miles on a normal aspirated. But on a WRX Id be concerned that id have to avoid 95 Oct entirely. I use 102 mostly over here and my tune from JGM reflected this so i have to be careful in GB, and I have been stuck out north of Gretna green without 98 before , and was forced to creep around on 95oct off boost. I think id be inclined to recover the 8.5 CR by taking a bit out off the head, again all do-checkable with a syringe/alcohol or fairyliquid to counter surface tension and set of scales . but I have no experience of doing a CR grind on a WRX head. Anyone done it ?

 

I genuinely didn't know why you sold it to a breaker, just saw odd comments about you modding it. Didn't know someone crashed into it.

 

Thanks Shrek , this opens the Sti long idea again.

Provided a suitable donor Sti could be found ,
and I presume a friendly mapper to protect non wired AVCS.

 

Yes mate all down 1 side.it was a nice looking car but it was my 1st impreza and let's just say I was a little nieve

 

Speak with matty5br on here in the traders section, i bought my sti engine from him, best breaker on here

 

Appreciated He's on my list of calls .

 

Make a shopping list aswell,

New cambelt kit
Water pump
Front/rear oil seals
Maybe modded oil pump
Rocker gasket sets including the half moon seals
New plugs

Makes sense to do it before you fit the engine

 

Don't regrind the crank! Use an NA 2.0 short block. Get one for £100. Block is identical to wrx as is crankshaft. Up to you if you want to put new bearings in it, just hone the bores and put your WRX pistons in it. Job done

 

Hi boosted

NA 2.0 short block. excuse innocence here "NA" is ?

 

n/a = normally aspirated ( non turbo )

 

V8 sti long block is deffo the way forward for your situation.
as said above Matty mb developements will sort you out.

Good luck

 

That's funny , I guess I am too old , as I used to go wild about Spitfires having TCs.

I saw Armstrong step on the moon.


So If I scan the yards for a "NA" 2.0 block , Im off and running.