Subaru Impreza STi VI - What rebuild to go for? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

nine · 08-03-2008, 01:50 AM

Have a 85k miles STi VI. The very last model from the classics. The engine finaly went last week. So I have a choice

1) Standard rebuild - same turbo, same block. Approx 310bhp
2) Standard rebuild - but different Turbo. Approx 360bhp
3) Go for a 2.5 rebuild. But then I think I need a gearbox upgrade to take the torque. Approx 400-440bhp.

Anybod else had a similar decision to make. Anyone advise on what parts I need for (2) and (3)?

Redjake · 08-03-2008, 05:42 PM

I'm not a Subaru guy, but if you are going to dump a lot of effort into the car and it's not your daily driver, I would probably go standard rebuild with upgraded turbo. Unless you already have the gearbox and wouldn't have to purchase anything.

You can get a turbo for cheap - the gearbox would hit you hard though.

I love STis, I envy you!

Ilow · 08-03-2008, 07:00 PM

what kind of money are you willing to spend? I think the bigger turbo will get you a lot more power, but at the cost of serious turbo lag. What about twin turbo-ing it a la the EJ20TT? But I guess that will put you back in the same place with the gearbox...

nine · 08-03-2008, 08:58 PM

Think I'll go for an uprated Turbo.

Done some more digging on the 2.5 upgrade and it's the mega-torque that strips gears (2nd and 3rd). Putting a 6-speed box in the car solves the problem as it's much stronger. But in a classic shape it means also changing the rear diff too. I'm certainly not going to start spending that kind of money.

Thanks for the advice.

Ilow · 08-04-2008, 04:46 AM

Good choice. make sure you throw some pics up here when you get it all squared away.

ChrisJericho · 08-04-2008, 02:56 PM

Yeah, I want to see the pix when you're finished as well! (wrx wagon owner here!)

QuasiMondo · 08-05-2008, 02:49 PM

Always build it to be faster, that's my motto. Definitely go for the six-speed, the five-speed gearboxes are like glass.

It's been a while since I've laid hands on Subarus, so I have no idea what's new with their stuff. Last scooby I had was a 2.5 RS that had no aftermarket support back then and importing a JDM engine was an arm and a leg, forget about trying to get a 22B engine.

If you're going with a big dawg turbo, make sure you bump up to a nice sized intercooler, injectors, fuel pump, and whatever they use for fuel control (but I'm sure you already know that).

08-03-2008, 01:50 AM	#1 (permalink)
nine Crazy Location: Doesn't matter - you wouldn't want to be here	Subaru Impreza STi VI - What rebuild to go for? Have a 85k miles STi VI. The very last model from the classics. The engine finaly went last week. So I have a choice 1) Standard rebuild - same turbo, same block. Approx 310bhp 2) Standard rebuild - but different Turbo. Approx 360bhp 3) Go for a 2.5 rebuild. But then I think I need a gearbox upgrade to take the torque. Approx 400-440bhp. Anybod else had a similar decision to make. Anyone advise on what parts I need for (2) and (3)?

08-03-2008, 05:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
Redjake I'm a family man - I run a family business. Location: Wilson, NC	I'm not a Subaru guy, but if you are going to dump a lot of effort into the car and it's not your daily driver, I would probably go standard rebuild with upgraded turbo. Unless you already have the gearbox and wouldn't have to purchase anything. You can get a turbo for cheap - the gearbox would hit you hard though. I love STis, I envy you! __________________ Off the record, on the q.t., and very hush-hush.

08-03-2008, 07:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
Ilow Junkie Location: Pats country	what kind of money are you willing to spend? I think the bigger turbo will get you a lot more power, but at the cost of serious turbo lag. What about twin turbo-ing it a la the EJ20TT? But I guess that will put you back in the same place with the gearbox... __________________ "Religion is the one area of our discourse in which it is considered noble to pretend to be certain about things no human being could possibly be certain about" --Sam Harris

08-04-2008, 04:46 AM	#5 (permalink)
Ilow Junkie Location: Pats country	Good choice. make sure you throw some pics up here when you get it all squared away. __________________ "Religion is the one area of our discourse in which it is considered noble to pretend to be certain about things no human being could possibly be certain about" --Sam Harris

08-04-2008, 02:56 PM	#6 (permalink)
ChrisJericho eat more fruit Location: Seattle	Yeah, I want to see the pix when you're finished as well! (wrx wagon owner here!) __________________ "A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows us that faith proves nothing." - Friedrich Nietzsche

08-03-2008, 08:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
nine Crazy Location: Doesn't matter - you wouldn't want to be here	Think I'll go for an uprated Turbo. Done some more digging on the 2.5 upgrade and it's the mega-torque that strips gears (2nd and 3rd). Putting a 6-speed box in the car solves the problem as it's much stronger. But in a classic shape it means also changing the rear diff too. I'm certainly not going to start spending that kind of money. Thanks for the advice.

08-05-2008, 02:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
QuasiMondo Wise-ass Latino Location: Pretoria (Tshwane), RSA	Always build it to be faster, that's my motto. Definitely go for the six-speed, the five-speed gearboxes are like glass. It's been a while since I've laid hands on Subarus, so I have no idea what's new with their stuff. Last scooby I had was a 2.5 RS that had no aftermarket support back then and importing a JDM engine was an arm and a leg, forget about trying to get a 22B engine. If you're going with a big dawg turbo, make sure you bump up to a nice sized intercooler, injectors, fuel pump, and whatever they use for fuel control (but I'm sure you already know that). __________________ Cameron originally envisioned the Terminator as a small, unremarkable man, giving it the ability to blend in more easily. As a result, his first choice for the part was Lance Henriksen. O. J. Simpson was on the shortlist but Cameron did not think that such a nice guy could be a ruthless killer. -From the Collector's Edition DVD of The Terminator