2000 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS- turbo build

[Ricky]

I haven't posted in a while and finally had a project to post and never did.

About a year ago I bought a 2000 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS. I have always loved the look of the 98-01 2.5RS but the only problem was the US didn't get a turbo impreza till 2002. I drove it about 6 months and wanted more power. This thing was a turd and I wanted some more power to make it fun to drive. I did A LOT of reading and talking to people who have modified the older imprezas. At the end of October I had all of the parts I needed to go from NA to Turbo. The job took from a Friday night to Sunday night working almost non stop on the car. Had a few snags but we figured things out. I could not have done it this fast without Brent and Trevor.


Here is a 15-60 pull when the car was 100% stock.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2-NGR_GdCY

Here is some pictures of the build.

[Ricky]

Car is running 6psi now and that is where it will stay. 6 psi doesn't sound like a lot but for a 10:1 compression motor 6 psi makes a huge difference. The car is not breaking any records but is much quicker and a blast to drive.



Here is a 0-60 of the car at 6psi. I used a stop watch and got about 5.4 seconds 0-60 time with a very soft launch.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=172ldClE_aA


And here is some fun I had last weekend in the snow.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6v7gIQwTbQ

[AutoMods]

who needs aem ems, haltech, big stuff or holley efi when you have.....

the fuel management unit!! fmu ftmfw

http://img816.imageshack.us/img816/86/07052010011.jpg


i'd like to see the the wideband on those pulls. but thats awesome if its tuned pretty close with just that fmu. sounds like a neat project. definitely noticeable before and after. 6psi is nothing

[JustaGT]

Definitely a hell of a difference, congrats on getting it done man! You didnt tell me about that PVC piping :)

[Ricky]

I will try and get a video for you. It hits about low 12's soon as boost comes on and tappers to low 10's by 6000rpm. I can tune it a little bit by adjusting my voltage clamp for my MAP sensor.

[Ricky]

Yeah the pvc pipe was so I could get the car back to Cedar Falls and I was supposed to order charge pipe and exhaust pipe so Trevor could help me finish things up but got lazy. Right now car has stock cat back and I plan on keeping it on because its quiet and installing an electric cut out to run open down pipe.

[Clinical]

I also have a soft spot for those imprezas. Would LOVE a WRX/STi swap but yours looks like it'd run right with a WRX at least if not better.

Always see you driving it or it parked when I'm walking to or from class, had no idea you went turbo - too cool.

[JacobS]

after you told us about the pvc pipe i was trying to picture it in my head. but now im laughing my head off hahaha big difference between NA and turbo, should rip around an autocross course

[Ricky]

Most people frown on turboing the NA 2.5 motor because its weak and can't support very much power. Those guys are wanting 300-400hp and there is no way this 2.5 can do that. If the motor goes I will end up doing a wrx swap. Its not too bad and wiring is the hardest part. I can read wiring diagrams and there is a ton of information on swaps. I really want to do a JDM sti engine swap from the same year. More power, better power plant and rev to 8k stock.

[Sleepy]

I take it the vortech fmu is a rising rate regulator. Before MS took off with neon guys everyone was using begi/cartech rrfpr's.

I like that body style much more than the bug eyes.

[Ricky]

Yeah its a rising rate. I have a 12:1 :)

[AutoMods]

Yeah its a rising rate. I have a 12:1 :)

thats a lot of change. 12*6psi = 72psi. probably a base fuel pressure of 43.5+72psi = 115psi

even a walbro 255hp doesn't like that kind of pressure very much :)

http://automods.com/articles/walbro_hp255lph.jpg

[Ricky]

Seems to die around 80-90 psi when my fuel Pressure gauge worked. Still have enough fuel so I'm not worried yet.

[slow ride]

Thats crazy. Cool old school stuff. If your MAP clamp a zener diode setup of some sort? I'd guess it's making 225-250hp at the crank. So do you still run NA timing then?

[Ricky]

Its a two diode system with a adjustable pot. I can adjust it to clamp where I want. The zener works but no adjustment and they have there own issues. I will snap a pic of the clamp today.

My guess is about 250 at the crank and about 180-190 at the wheels. Car weighs 2700 pounds so moves it pretty good.

Still on NA timing which is why I am not going above 6psi. Been looking at a greddy emanage ultimate to control timing and fuel. I have a meth kit sitting at home too I might throw on down the road but these rods are weak so idk.

[McKeever]

How does it compare to your old WRX?

[Ricky]

Its way different. The power comes on right away and dies off up top. The low end tq and response is way better then the WRX. Once the wrx got going it moved pretty good. I think my old wrx is still faster. I'm at about what a stock wrx is at. I would say low 14's maybe (big maybe) high 13's

[slow ride]

what turbo and IC?

[slow ride]

With better tuning tools and good fuel or e85 I bet it could be pushed a little further though. Run a cooler plug?

[Ricky]

Turbo is a vf11 off of a older turbo legacy and intercooler is from a 06 WRX. Total cost of going turbo including boost/fuel pressure/ AEM wide band gauges came to about $800

With better tuning tools I could pull some timing which would help a lot and e85 wouldnt hurt either but the rods are weak in this motor and can't take much pressure.

Running stock plugs right now but have been thinking a step colder wouldnt hurt.

[Ricky]

Its my only car right now and no place to really work on the car. The plan is to leave it where it is at and hope the engine holds together until I can really push the limits.

[slow ride]

I hear you. Cool project.

[Drifte]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6C5feoQAfw

[Clinical]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6C5feoQAfw
Man that love tap made me cringe

[Ricky]

Me too. Didnt bend or break anything. Added a little curb rash to the already curb rashed winter wheels. That was the first time I have ever hit a curb or anything. I'm soooooo glad drifte had it on video.

[Domestic Disturbance]

That thing is sweet. Can't believe you converted it that cheap that's awesome

[slow ride]

I always like that style also. I know the early wrx transmissions were like glass so I'm sure these are also? Is te gearing a lot different than the factory turbo cars? I never understood how Mitsubishi could overbuild an engine so well and Subaru would do just the opposite.

[Ricky]

Trannys are just as weak but I'm still using stock clutch and dont have a lot of power. The wrx transmission has longer gearing. The gearing in this car is close, about like having 6 speed close ratio without a 6th gear lol.

Picking up a Freddy emange ultimate and some 440cc wrx injectors this weekend. This should let me fine tune everything and pull a little more of of it while making it safer.

[Clinical]

Emanage will definitely be an improvement, I'm really surprised it's as decent as it is on the FMU. I can't remember the last time I heard of or saw an FMU on a car!

[Ricky]

The Greddy Emanage Ultiment i picked up a few weekends ago. Came with a custom harness wired in for plug and play with my car and the greddy pressure sensor that will clamp my MAP voltage when ever in boost and then the emanage takes over. He also gave me some 440cc WRX injectors to replace my 280cc. I will have plenty of fuel now and since I can back timing off and look at logs i might bump it up to 8psi if the stock clutch will hold...

If the pistons go i will probably swap a STI short block in and crank the boost up some more. The guy the emanage came from had a 2000 2.5RS with a STI block and wrx turbo with the 440cc injectors and made 280whp.

[slow ride]

That could be some stiff competition with the S4 :) You would gain a TON with a bigger exhaust and no cat at this point. The heat/backpressure reduction would probably be good for the engine life also. I'd love something like this with the bigger high compression block and say a 16g in a light AWD car.

[Ricky]

I think I'm going to do a cut out in the exhaust before the cat. That why she can breath when she needs to but while just driving around or cruising on the highway I can have it quiet. Also should probably finish the charge pipe and get rid of my PVC masterpiece

[Drifte]

Order some mandrel bends already!

a couple of these and some couplers
http://www.siliconeintakes.com/product_info.php?cPath=19&products_id=822&osCsid=d0033cdab012f44fbd3746b9a7270be3

[Ricky]

Yeah I need to do that. Maybe I will order some charge pipe and exhaust stuff this weekend.

[Ricky]

And a rear wheel bearing......

[Sleepy]

Doesn't Ryan stock couplers. Might be easier to grab a few.

[Ricky]

I dont need any more couplers. Drifted is high.

[Ricky]

Snow Day!

[slow ride]

Man, I get soft in my old age. I just don't want to risk the bumper after fixing things a few years ago. I would always go to central middle school and hit up the back lot :)