I HAVE AN AUTOMATIC WRX 96 WITH 220BHP AND THE MANUAL HAS GOT 240BHP ,, ANYONE KNOW HOW TO UNLEASH THE EXTRA 20BHP..WOULD BE GREAT IF SOMEONE KNEW AS IVE SEARCHED THE NET ,,BOUGHT THE HAYNES AND STILL NO LUCK , I LOVE THE CAR I DONT WANT TO GET RID ONLY GOT 44K ,STILL NICE AND TIGHT, REAL GEM OF A CLASSIC WRX.

 

Remappable ECU or a Polar Performance Chip?... I would assume the amount of power you can take it too is restricted by the auto box... Too much power will kill it.

 

And a MY96 WRX is 260ps standard, not 240.

 

i think the autos were 240ps

 

decat down pipe wii reward you around that mate ??

 

no idea mate but nice to see someone else has an auto im always getting laughed at when people see its an auto they say its not the same but i still have fun with it

 

Decat and GBE valve fitted by someone that knows what they are doing. The GBE costs £35 approx.
Done properly it is reliable. Done without knowledge it has potential to goose your engine. A boost lift with a decat and you have added more than 20 bhp.

 

maybe rather than molesting the engine mate just have have a remap that gives extra power than the oe map not sure how much but ive heard stories that people have had great results by simply remapping at standard

 

Is there any difference between a GBE valve and a Dawes valve Harv?

 

Dan, basically the Dawes and GBE have the same effect. For a number of reasons I prefer the GBE which is effective and relatively cheap but if you are upping the boost by this method it is dangerous unless checked out or done by someone who knows what they are doing. You need to know what boost level you are setting it at so you need a boost guage, you need to check the AFRs and listen for DET.
On the 96 car there is no mapping option other then the ESL unless you are prepared to invest in an aftermarket ECU such as Apexi, Simtek or whatever and I am not sure if either of these can take care of Auto transmission. I have never worked on a Subaru Automatic.

 

Is the 1996 Auto fitted with a TD05 or the TD04?

If the former, then surely the MY96 WRX's Z4 (260PS) ECU substituted over, would be the obvious, cheapest way(?). Or is the auto's ECU bespoke to the auto cars? i.e. non-auto ECU's not suitable?

If the ECU isn't bespoke, then as mentioned, you could also go for a Polar Performance-chipped ECU (around £80 2nd hand). This should see you to around 260bhp (without having to decat either).