im looking at getting a bigger better wastegate fitted to my impreza turbo, but have been told i need to fit a different turbo, is this right and does anyone have any idea how much it will be for this?

Cheers

Stig

 

I don't know why you need to fit a bigger and better wastegate.
I think you probably mean wastegate actuator.
fitting a biiger one won't achieve anything unless the ECU is mapped to run with it.

It's not like the old days where you just fit a bigger actuator to your cossie and wind it in a few turns.

 

what would be the best plan of attack to get better performance?

 

Depends what year/model you drive.

 

You can fit an external wastegate, its alot of work as you'll be welding in flanges to the up pipe, down pipe and making up some pipe to feed the wastegate. Plus its pointless on the standard turbo as it has an internal wastegate that works fine.

 

Start with what model you have, what you're aiming for and how much you're willing to spend. I'm sure you'll get a lot of ideas then.

Dave

 

i drive a 1998 r plate wagon, not an sti or wrx just your run of the mill wagon turbo.
i think its a gc8 chasis model or something i prob wrong but sure most ppl on here know. im not too fussed about price because im not rushing into anything im gonna save up and get the good stuff 'buy nice dont buy twice!' i was looking into getting an external wastegate which is when i was told about the different turbo, i want something thats gonna add a bit of power and sound good (bit vain but i love the noise of wastegates)

never ever owned a turbo before and only driven one once before gettin my car so i have no idea whats a good thing to do or not, any help is much appreciated

Cheers

Stig

 

Fully exhaust and a Ecutek maybe? Would suit Your car fine.

A external wastegate is used with a aftermarket turbo as really explained. Some aftermarket turbos use external wastegates some internal wastegates. The bonus with a 100% bolt-on aftermarket turbocharger is that You don´t need another downpipe and up-pipe of the car.

 

Well you can go from a few basic mods to get up to 280ish bhp, spend a bit more and bump it up to 330 - 360 - 380.... Full re-build and go for 500! It's all possible depending on what you want from the car and what you're willing to spend.

A very good part for a 280bhp car may well be no use on a 350bhp one.

Think what you want the car for - Daily driver - weekend toy - track car - drag car. Then set a budget, then a target accordingly.

There is no point in buying a turbo capable of 400bhp if you're not going do the supporting mods to get that. It will just make the car drive worse (and slower) than the correctly matched turbo for your power. Turbo is just an example, lots of things go that way.

The wasegate noise you're after is the compressor surging. You get it by not using a dump valve. Changing to an external wastegate is not going to help this. There is plenty of turbos out there that fit as direct replacements good for up to about 450bhp with internal wastegates.


Dave

 

it wont be used for track days as i dont want to over do it on the power somewhere between 280-350 would be great, i was thinking of changing ecu then full system all the usual bits except im too lazy to decat coz of MOT id rather just ditch it n go not fiddle before hand. can you get sports cats like for BMW and such? i may not need to go as extreme as a upgraded turbo, would addeing a dump valve make much difference to power or is there a way to maybe just 'increase' volume on a wastegate? i have never owned a turbo and only know enough to get by any info you give is going to help me decide on how my car ends up

Many Thanks

Stig

 

The wastegate is an exhaust by-pass flap used to control the boost pressure. The only reason you would need a bigger one if you couldn't keep the boost pressure low enough. Bigger wastegate opening = more gas by passing the turbo = less boost. The actuator, which may be the bit you're thinking of is fine.

For boost control you can use something like a dawes device (£30ish) which works perfectly well, or if you like the look and electronic boost controller (£300ish). The 300quid one is pointless in my opinion. Though some people do like the lights and graphics, and being able to have varying boost levels at the touch of a button. If you change the ECU the new one will be able to control boost for you.

The standard turbo will reach a maximum at about 280-290bhp. To get this I would recomend.

Fuel pump and pressure regulator (some people say no need with the reg, mine failed shortly after fitting the pump so I'd advise it).

Knocklink and boost gauge.

Full De-cat, though a sports downpipe is obviously what you're looking for. you can get them but they're more expensive then a de-cat.

Uprate to a 2nd hand STI intercooler, and fit a scoop splitter kit.

Re-map, I don't know if EcuTek can remap the 98ecu, so and Apexi power fc is a good value ecu and very popular at the moment.

A dump valve will not increase performance. Your car already has one that recirculates, so is silent. Switching to a vent to atmoshpere one will cause the car to over fuel when it opens and over a long period of time this will damage your cat (if you keep them/one on).

Likewise, no point in going for an induction kit either.

 

i dont want any fancy **** that flashes and beeps i just want simple plug and play stuff, the sti intercooler, top mounted like mine or front mounted? if i get second hand one what should i be looking our for? any major/reoccuring problems to be on the look out for with em?

Fuel pump and pressure regulator & ecu remapping what type of place should i be looking to goto for this? a turbo or scooby specialist or any respectable gge?
again same question for boost control.

Cheers

Stig

 

Your best bet for 'plug and play' mods as you put it, on a MY98, is to get the exhaust replaced with a sports catted downpipe, then have it remapped by an expert with a Power FC. Leave everything else standard unless you need to change it. You'd probably see a nice 280bhp on the standard turbo.

Having just been through the process myself, I accumulated and incrementally fitted all the bits that I needed e.g. STi filter, bits and pieces of exhaust, Samco hoses, intercooler tilt and split, VF35 turbo, Walbro 255 fuel pump, new fluids etc. before going for the Power FC. In hindsight, it would have been a lot cheaper and quicker to make the Power FC and exhaust the first things on the list and see how I liked that for a while.

One other thing to note - it's been discussed and agreed on another thread a while back that the MY98 WRX intercooler is exactly the same as the STi, apart from the colour and the plumbing underneath. The improved performance of the STi version comes from the better-flowing metal STi Y-pipe; when you look at the crappy corrugated plastic WRX one, you can see why. What I'm saying is, don't go and replace your WRX's intercooler with a 98/v4 STi intercooler before looking at how little a set of Samco hoses will cost you - around £50. Of course you CAN get improvements by fitting a LATER model STi intercooler which WILL be bigger and better performing. But then it's no longer 'plug and play'.

 

nice one cheers guys you given me a bit to think about i go of plan some stuff and hopefully in a few months let u know how she going

Cheers

Stig