horsmai

Hi All,

I’ve done a fair bit of reading around on this so I know what I basically want, but I have a few gaps and would like to hear of people’s experiences/opinions on the usual basic mods I plan.
I have a 2004 UK WRX wagon on 50k and am looking to get as close to the 280-290hp mark as I can for around £1500, but obviously the less the better.

The list goes: Panel filter, De-cat up-pipe, Sports cat exhaust, Re-map, Fuel pump(?)

Here are the questions:

Do I need an upgraded fuel pump at this level or is it not required?
Can I fit the panel air filter now or does it need to go with a remap? (I know the air flow meter is sensitive)… and which is filter recommended – K&N?

I was thinking I’d get the exhaust, de-cat up-pipe and remap all at the same place, but as some of the highly recommended mappers are mobile I could get this done separately.
Can I order an exhaust and up-pipe and get my trusted local non specialist mechanic to fit it and then drive it until the re-map (a week or 2) or is this a bit risky? (I have a 57 mile round trip commute)

With mobile mapping, is a rolling road not required/good idea, and won’t my ins company want a RR printout anyway?

Finally on exhausts, I don’t want anything too lairy, I like the fact the wagon is fairly subtle and I’d like to keep it that way, the exhaust is purely for the benefit of the re-map, so…

Will a remap and de-cat up-pipe be effective without changing the standard exhaust (already with Sti backbox) or is it a must?
Can anyone recommend a subtle but decent exhaust?

….Or should I just chop it in and get an Sti for the tougher drive-train and better diff, then get rid of the boot spoiler J


I realize that’s a lot of questions, but ANY advice would be appreciated

Cheers
Iain

KAS35RSTI

iTrader: (73)

Dont worry about driving with stage 1 mods & no remap. It shouldnt be a problem. Just stay off boost to be on the safe side. K&N is a good filter. A fuel pump would be a good mod as it would be a future proof mod.

powerwrx

iTrader: (11)

first of all you wont see 290bhp without a turbo upgrade ie vf34/35 but you will need to upgrade the injectors,intercooler..a decent panel filter like 'green' or the sti panel filter etc..also a decat exhaust system or sports cat downpipe..if your not wanting a loud system then maybe something like a prodrive backbox or the racebox would be good enough..replacing the uppipe with a decat pipe would be recomended also so the boost can be raised without any issues.

you should be ok to drive with a decatted exhaust for a week or so aslong as you dont go mad..you may get the 'cel' light on the dash but that can be sorted with the remap.

your insurance wont want a RR printout..mine didnt anyway. if you decide to go for just the decat exhaust, panel filter and remap then you should see 270bhp with simlar torque maybe 280 at a push.

hope this helps

horsmai

THanks both, I'll most likely get a fuel pump put at the same time, sounds sensible, however just got a quote from a local specialist. 2grand for an up-pipe, miltek exhaust and a re-map.

That's too much

Any Ideas what hp & torque inmporvements I can expect with just changing up-pipe, down pipe , air filter and a re-map?

I was thinking of getting them from flat4 online and getting my 'old' mechanic to fit as this could save me quite a bit.

and just to double check I can change the air filter with no worries (that sensitive sensor is OK?)

Ta

Iain

powerwrx

iTrader: (11)

flat4 online ide stay away from tbh, lots of people have had trouble with them. youde be best looking in the forsale section on here or ebay mate, get a cheap second hand system. full miltek can be expensive. your car has 3 cats on it.. up pipe..down pipe and a centre cat, if you decat all 3 together with a decent filter and remap you should see 270/280 bhp with simlar torque

Myles

iTrader: (40)

Agree with this. I trawl the for sale, and find some right bargains. e.g. I got a Prodrive sportcat and centre de-res for £130, a prodrive centre cat delete for £30ish and an up-pipe for £22 from ebay. Add a simota filter for £15ish and just add a remap from Dynamix for £350. Cost is £550ish, a lot less than you want to spend, the rest can be ploughed into stopping and handling.

powerwrx

iTrader: (11)

as above ^^

dunx

iTrader: (3)

For your budget you could get a VF35 from an STI, fitted with the exhaust and mapped for around 330 bhp....

Sorry !

dunx

wrxwagon999

Just done the exhaust system, fuel pump and panel filter with an open source remap on my bug eye wagon for about £1k. Exhaust system was sourced secondhand off various sites. Got a 3in Milltek centre section which I don't need which I am looking to shift. Went for a 2.5in bore system with a sports cat (100 cell).

horsmai

I like the suggestion, but I'm a bit scared for the WRX gearbox at that power though, no?

Sounds like trawling for second hands is the way to go. Now to just find the time.

horsmai

Ah, slight;y confused now. I thought the 3 cats were 1 pre-cat in the up-pipe, and 2 in the down pipe, is there 1 in the down pipe and one in the centre section then? Confused as I've seen 1 and 2 piece down pipes (I think).

I know you can get rid of the pre-cat, but which one can you lose from the rest, but still stay legal emissions wise.

horsmai

Hmmm, does this have a resonator? I want to keep it quite quiet. Also see above newbie question (does this have a cat in it or are they both in the down pipe?) I could be interested, but not sure I know enough to know what to buy yet

Your new system sounds exactly like what I need, am I correct in thinking you've now just got one sports cat in the down pipe and no other cats i.e. the up-pipe precat is gone and the 3rd cat also gone?

Thanks to all so far for the contributions, I thought I knew enough, but it looks like I'll have to find out a bit more before I start trawling the adds

dynamix

iTrader: (3)

I'd go with a second hand 2.5 inch turbo back exhaust bought from a user here (lots come up for sale) , fuel pump and panel filter and remap.

Should be able to get the whole lot for around a grand even if buying a new miltek system.

Where are you based?

horsmai

Based in Ealing, W.London and work in Welwyn

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

My WRX Wagon on the standard injectors and turbo ran to 276 bhp once the re-map, K and N, decat down pipe, de-resonated centre, WR Sport back box, uprated fuel pump (JDM STi pump was cheaper as people ditch them) and STI intercooler.

Came in under a £1k.

Rob Day

iTrader: (78)

Agree myself with the above.... all depends what you want to achieve and how much you really want to spend.

You clearly said you have £1500 so lets spend it all and not be messing around with cutting costs as you will eventualy pay for the skimping later down the line. ie the standard fuel pump could be running 100% when its already 6years old.

Decat exhaust 2nd hand £200max
Up pipe £40max
VF series or TD05 16G or 18G £250+ depending on age and condition
STI pink Injectors £200 max
**Panel filter £20-30
**Walbro £73
**STI TMIC £180+
Remap £300 open source - £550ecutek

all this is off top of my head and comes in at around £1200, then there is labour for the job unless you do it yourself. The above ** are simple to do yourself even if you have no mechanical experience. However the Up pipe can be a pig, but then if your changing the turbo it might aswell be done at the same time. I would say the £300 left out of budget would cover the labour give or take who you go to. all in all this should rein in around 320-340bhp.

All in all £1500

oh Of course Turbos and Exhaust are availble cheaper on eBay, but be careful of cheap crap or imitation parts, ie TD05 copies. I bought a legit TD05 16G off eBay last year for £160 with the intention using it but sold it on as I got a VF30 new for the same money ;-).

Im sure the obvious guys on here can supply most parts, ie Harvey for Injectors etc, Dynamix will certainly help you, and will be intouch soon as above^^

ps, Dont bother with the eBay 2" turbo up pipes, buy an STI one as they are 42-44mm in diameter which help spool.

If ive missed something out Im sure someone will soon correct me.

HTH

Rob

dunx

iTrader: (3)

You sound like a grown-up, so no drag launches and the box will be fine, the weakest link will be your ( six year old clutch) IMHO.

The reason I suggest swapping the turbo is that to get the up-pipe off it's all coming off anyway, so for the sake of a few gaskets and bits ......

dunx

horsmai

Thanks All,

Top tips, I'll be starting the trawling the ads now then

Richie856

Hi,

I've got a MY05 WRX wagon running 334bhp/335lbft and haven't had any issues (touch wood) with the gearbox/clutch.
Haven't been on track of 1/4 miles though.

I took my time, got the parts together (2nd hand from trusted sources) then got the main work done all together.

Started off with a sportscat/decat downpipe keeping my Prodrive backbox.

Had it like that for over a year before getting the up pipe, tmic, 550cc injectors and VF34.