Subaru schooling

[Drifte]

Spent the weekend at ATS working on the Subaru. It was time for the timing belt and all associated parts. Let me tell you, this boxer motor is squeezed in the engine bay of this forester tighter than any other engine I've had to work on.

I'll let the pics do the talking. SHould have some better pics of the whole setup later.

Valve cover, fresh paint
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k27/drifte/IMG_0819.jpg

second manifold/collector.
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k27/drifte/IMG_0817.jpg

same manifold
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k27/drifte/IMG_0816.jpg

You can clearly see these suckers are too small.
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k27/drifte/IMG_0815.jpg

New timing belt on
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k27/drifte/IMG_0814.jpg

New WaterPump (shiniest part)
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k27/drifte/IMG_0811.jpg

Still cramped and basically everything is removed from the engine
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k27/drifte/IMG_0808.jpg
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k27/drifte/IMG_0806.jpg
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k27/drifte/IMG_0801.jpg
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k27/drifte/IMG_0800.jpg

[Clinical]

This is probably one of the biggest things I miss about the talon, so many other cars are such a bitch to work on.

Even a DSM with nothing removed from the bay has good work room, mainly 1g's.. Civics also generally have a ton of space.

My SVX, I only did a few odds and ends on it and I hated it, that 3.3L was jammed in there. The LS1 is even worse, main reason I'd love to put my LS1 / T56 into a third gen

I still feel super bad for people who mod/fix up 3k GT's and 300ZX's

[biohazard]

It looks like you have a little bit more room to work on your motor than I do on my little Impreza.

[Drifte]

Once the radiator, intake air box, battery, intercooler, and windshield washer tank are back in it's pretty well filled up. It's suprising I was able to fo VHS cover gaskets without moving the engine.

[Drifte]

It looks like you have a little bit more room to work on your motor than I do on my little Impreza.

Difference between them being the fram rails run directly down the middle of the valve covers on the forester. Imprezas/wrx/sti all have the engine sitting higher. The suby requires all these special tools, tight working spaces, and nothing was cheap. Audi guys their were saying it actually looks worse than all the s4's etc they work on. Only thing nicer was I can change the turbo without pulling the engnine.

[Ricky]

It looks like you have a little bit more room to work on your motor than I do on my little Impreza.

Difference between them being the fram rails run directly down the middle of the valve covers on the forester. Imprezas/wrx/sti all have the engine sitting higher. The suby requires all these special tools, tight working spaces, and nothing was cheap. Audi guys their were saying it actually looks worse than all the s4's etc they work on. Only thing nicer was I can change the turbo without pulling the engine.


i will let you know when i need mine done :)

[Drifte]

It looks like you have a little bit more room to work on your motor than I do on my little Impreza.

Difference between them being the fram rails run directly down the middle of the valve covers on the forester. Imprezas/wrx/sti all have the engine sitting higher. The suby requires all these special tools, tight working spaces, and nothing was cheap. Audi guys their were saying it actually looks worse than all the s4's etc they work on. Only thing nicer was I can change the turbo without pulling the engine.


i will let you know when i need mine done :)

I'll be sure to be out of town. Andrew is fully capable of doing it...if you pay em enough. lol, its not fun.

[biohazard]

I wish my Impreza had a turbo, lol. Eh, it's just a tiny 1.8.

[Ricky]

I wish my Impreza had a turbo, lol. Eh, it's just a tiny 1.8.

:butthead:

[qoncept]

This is probably one of the biggest things I miss about the talon, so many other cars are such a bitch to work on.
Nah, the WRX is tight but it's still very easy to work on. Everything but spark plugs, that is.

I did a timing belt last month, too. And radiator and hoses, new injectors, ceramic coated exhaust manifolds, up pipe and turbo hot side, TGV deletes, the external wastegate[ and converted my fuel rails to parallel. Took absolutely forever but mostly because I was waiting on parts and kept deciding "while I'm in here..."

Colton's cell phone pics are better than mine.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1398.snc4/165015_10150358375160481_855465480_16474782_903915 _n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs933.snc4/74632_10150364896205481_855465480_16620712_1597101 _n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs447.ash2/72077_10150352813615481_855465480_16372944_3222862 _n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1366.snc4/163869_10150368727490481_855465480_16707085_204180 9_n.jpg

[Drifte]

After the sIlicone intake did the Obnoxious turbo noise at around atmospheric go away?

[JustinS]

Still looks like it has more room to work than my Audi does lol. Thank god my timing belt was done just before I bought it otherwise I'd be in the same boat.

[qoncept]

After the sIlicone intake did the Obnoxious turbo noise at around atmospheric go away?
Heh, no, it got a LOT louder. It's whistling all the time now, any time I'm on the throttle. Do you have the intake silencer still? The ewg is really loud, too. Thinking about making a muffler for it. I'm probably just getting old though.. catback sounds really loud to me now.

[Drifte]

^haha I know what you mean. I just bolted the stock DP back exhaust on to keep things quieter. Im sure the external wastegate is loud if its dumped to atmosphere. Touch to recirculate those too, takes some solid fab skills. My factory air box is back in but the snorkus/silencer is gone. Have an SPT intake and brand new filter, but I figure the stocker is just as good if not better as its sucking cold air in from the fender.

[qoncept]

Yeah, there was a guy on the romraider forums that compared a shorty intake to cold air back to back and the difference was huge. People have shown over and over there's no gain from replacing intakes until you have to. Which reminds me, I keep forgetting I need a new air filter. I have a K&N stock replacement filter you can have if you want it.

I'm not going to recirc the wastegate. I don't think the 3" exhaust volume is a restriction, but apparently the different exhaust velocities create a ton of backpressure no matter how far back you recirc. If nothing else I do want to at least run my dump tube back to the resonator or so because right now the exhaust stinks. Or maybe as I lean it out and add timing it won't be as bad.

[Drifte]

K&N drop in? I'd take that!

I use to run open dump on my DSM, its tough for it not to smell. MY Forester had the worst smell without the cats in. Try to run the dump tube so its facing the passenger door, that may help.

BTW, you mentioned your clutch slipped, what clutch did you go with for a replacement?

[qoncept]

Talking to Dustin from NASIOC, I think we're going to try to get the CR guys together for lunch some time soon. I'll let you know. I also have VDO boost and oil pressure gauges I don't need. And an EGT probe but the gauge is bad.

My car has been completely catless for.. 6 years? But apparently there's a big difference between exhaust at the rear of the car and a dump tube right behind the turbo.

I used an OE Exedy clutch. That was at 36k miles, been about 60k since then and I think it's getting close again. I prefer to replace cheap clutches over tranny rebuilds. When I come across a deal on a turbo that I can't pass up I'll be upgrading, and I don't think my gears are going to last much longer after that. Hopefully my crank bearings outlast the tranny.

[Drifte]

I thought about using a cheap exedy, as even the lowest model spec and act cost quiet a bit...and I work for the dealer!

BTW, if you want a turbo, I highly suggest talking to Ryan about that. You wouldnt believe the deal he'd be able to get you on turbonetics. Unless you plan to stick with the Subaru flange.

[qoncept]

The stock exedy should hold quite a bit of power, I don't really see any reason to upgrade. The kits are only like $200 I think. I'll probably get a lighter flywheel next time.

A "deal I can't pass up" is going to be like under $500. ;) I'm thinking 18 or 20g, or an HTA68, used, and I'll rebuild it if I have to. Planning on stock flange just because it's easy, but it would be nice to get rid of the bellmouth downpipe and avoid the exhaust diameter reduction there. Just depends on what kind of deals I find. I'm a cheap bastard but I'm usually patient.

Ordered a new ECU yet? Oh, and I keep forgetting to ask..did you have your valve covers off just to paint or did you have some other reason you needed to take them off?

[Drifte]

Pulled them off and did new valve cover gaskets. I just did it as preventative maintanance, I hate leaks or seaps of any amount. The raw aluminum was kinda oxidized and boring so I did ceramic silver to match the rest of the car.

Ricky in above posts will be attempting to unlock the ECU with his cobb, we will see if it works.

[Scott]

I just did a timing belt, tensioners, and water pump on a co-workers WRX wagon a couple weeks ago and that was amazingly easy to do. Made good time on it compared to shop labor times so Im happy!! I could definetly see how it would be a pain getting more indepth into it though. BUT it does ALOT easier than working on the 03 cobra though, that car gives me a headache just looking at the engine compartment

[Drifte]

I think I could have saved time, but I just kept finding more to do while I was in there. Pull the radiator and theres tons of room.

[Scott]

I think I could have saved time, but I just kept finding more to do while I was in there. Pull the radiator and theres tons of room.

Yeah that was the 1st thing I did! no way would I want to bust my knuckles with that in the way. Having a lift also helps with certain things you wouldnt expect. It was by far the easiest timing belt I've done in years

[Ricky]

Ricky in above posts will be attempting to unlock the ECU with his cobb, we will see if it works.



Fingers crossed lol. when you you want to try to marry/ un-marry?


qoncept,
i wouldn't mind you showing my ecu flash and how it works (i think thats what you said you use) i have been using cobbs tuning software to adjust my tune myself but if i can get the same results and sell my $600 AP i would defiantly be willing to do that. I dont know everything yet i have just been tuning and adjusting very slowly. The numbers in my sig are what i put down on the dyno with my own street tune. (i have to look at my A/F gauge and remember my rmp to adjust fuel because cobb's software will not log AEM wide band.

[qoncept]

Ricky, we're going to lunch at Godfather's on Blars Ferry Friday at noon. You (and everyone else) are welcome to come. I'll bring my cable and laptop. Or we could get together over the weekend if you want more time to check it out. RomRaider logs a few widebands, Innovate, AEM, Zietronix, PLX.

[Ricky]

I cant make it :( i just saw i have a 1:00 conference call i cant miss. Some other time for sure! maybe when i meet up with you for the gasket.

I have ecu flash and romraider on my computer but my hard drive is all funky. I think i have a virus. I need to reload windows it looks like.

[TbTalon94]

You know I tuned my Evo with Ecuflash right eric?

[Ricky]

I thought you had AEM....

[TbTalon94]

I switched to ECUflash after I got tired of AEM not fixing their stupid problems with start, so I converted my ROM to speed density and all the tricks that come with the Evo ECUflash community and tuned it from there. Ran just as good as the AEM under boost and started/idled like stock, it was wonderful lol.

Anyways I can help you tune it whenever you want. Just gotta give me a call....

[Ricky]

just got my computer fixed today so i will start putting my programs back on my computer.

When i unmarry my cobb and let colton try it to tune his ECU i wouldnt mind looking at ECU Flash.

[qoncept]

That's not your RS making 280hp is it? What have you done?

[AutoMods]

When i unmarry my cobb and let colton try it to "maybe" unlock his ECU i wouldnt mind looking at ECU Flash.


Please do unlock his ecu soon ! He's been dreaming of being able to tune for almost a year now. And he says he won't race my wife's Legacy GT until he can get his tune. Also greg's stockish galant vr4. Battle of the grocery getters.

[qoncept]

http://www.car-part.com/cgi-bin/quoteFo ... rZip=52324 (http://www.car-part.com/cgi-bin/quoteForm.cgi?type=g&sEmail=C1024P@precisionteam.com&email=&part=Engine%20Computer&dbPart=590.1&dbSubPart=&model=Subaru%20Forester&dbModel=70.3.1.1&year=2004&stockNum=K853TE&price=100&desc=%A0&name=Precision%20Auto%20Parts&url=http://www.PrecisionTeam.com&int=C%3D%40E%3F&broker=0&recycler=0&selleruserid=1731&miles=-1&condition=-1&userid=1000&uIMS=&seqNum=600000000000000000001068249&userClaim=&userLang=&userZip=52324)

[Ricky]

That's not your RS making 280hp is it? What have you done?


Its not a RS. Its a 07 WRX.

I have
full TB 3" exhaust
FMIC (over kill i know)
VF39
Cobb AP with access tuner race. (running my own street tune)
Spec 6 puck clutch

That is it for engine mods.

The dyno graph is on IAF some where.

[qoncept]

Nah, FMIC is better, period. The dopes on NASIOC don't know it. Took them about a dozen external wastegates on TD04s to believe it could possibly be a good idea.

I think I'll be upgrading my turbo sooner rather than later. It had some shaft play and I think THAT is the source of all my whine, not just the new turbo inlet. Sounds like a diesel truck. Then I'll probably rebuild and sell it, because it's ported and polished and ceramic coated so it's definitely worth something.

[Ricky]

I take every thing on NASIOC with a grain of salt. At the time i put the FMIC on i was planing on doing a lot of AUTO-X and sitting in line with the car running would heat soak the TMIC.


People on NASIOC said it would kill my turbo spool but i hit 20psi at about 3100-3200 rpm

[qoncept]

It probably won't be that long before I get an FMIC. I wanted to reverse my intake manifold but now that I've pulled it off once it looks like it'll be a ton of work.

[Drifte]

I want to do as little as possible and make some decent gains.
220hp/230 torque is a tease, I'd like to see the stock turbo closer to 260whp.

[AutoMods]

how do you like your clutch eric, spec stage 3 right? did you have that in when i went for a drive in your car? I would guess it would be a tad harsh being a 6 puck although colton's talon's spec 3 was pretty tame for a 6 puck

[qoncept]

I want to do as little as possible and make some decent gains.
220hp/230 torque is a tease, I'd like to see the stock turbo closer to 260whp.
Good luck. Upgrading your turbo is really the easiest way to get there. Modded injectors and tuning for E85 might get you close, external wastegate (and you'll still need modded injectors) might. Both will need a new fuel pump.

Road dyno says running wastegate boost (.9 bar) and no timing tuning I'm at just under 240whp. I'll be running another 3-4psi at peak HP and probably another 2-4 degrees of timing advance. So I'm hoping for 280-300. Torque was 220, and I'll be running another 6-8psi at peak torque and maybe 4-6 degrees more timing.

[Ricky]

how do you like your clutch eric, spec stage 3 right? did you have that in when i went for a drive in your car? I would guess it would be a tad harsh being a 6 puck although colton's talon's spec 3 was pretty tame for a 6 puck


I hate it.

It is a stage 3. I think it was due to re-using the stock fly wheel. I had a light weight fly that i put in but i was shipped the wrong one. It was for a older WRX and was a little thicker then mine so the clutch wouldn't disengage. Me brent and colton pulled the tranny agian and put the stock fly wheel in.

Tranny pulled 2 times in one day :roll: