New guy

Discussion in 'The Welcome Mat' started by 054eatwagon, Jan 25, 2009.

  1. 054eatwagon
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    054eatwagon Well-Known Member

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    hi , i am so glad i found this site:)

    i have been reading alot here and hope to start mods on my car soon , a silver 05 4eat wagon with 42k, its the wifes car and we got it only because its an auto , but she is cool with me moding it and looks forward to the rumble and more power as well , but in a few years it will be my baby and i want to start now


    my plans for it this year are...

    1st
    full tbe , either a turboxs stealth back , or cobb but its spendy , and its a wagon so it needs to be tolarable
    accesport or ? management
    trans. cooler
    tinted windows , from that guy on here:biggrin:

    2nd
    18x8 wheels
    maybe 1" lower springs
    sti scoop(?)
    bigger top mount int.


    hope i am on the right track

    let me know your thoughts and exp. , also what can the 4eat hold w/o mods


    thanks for any input on my choices
     
  2. ShortytheFirefighter
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    ShortytheFirefighter Pokemans. I has none. Staff Member

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    You can find used TXS Stealthbacks on Ebay for around 500ish. I ran one with a Prodrive round tip and had great results with it on my wagon. Quiet inside but great sounding outside. Look at SPT springs, they'll give you the drop you're looking for with an actual gain in handing, or check out RaceComp Engineering.

    I wouldn't go looking at wheels that wide unless you're going to roll your fenders. A wagon won't clear 225+ width tires without rubbing unless you roll them. Also look into a new torque converter and a valve body job. WRX1 has one done with his 4EAT sedan and that's a hell of an auto.
     
  3. 054eatwagon
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    054eatwagon Well-Known Member

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    thanks, i would hate to buy wheels and have them rub , so 18 x 7.5 ? and 205s

    where can i get the parts for the trans, or do you know where i can get this done

    i am really leaning toward a catted turboxs stealth back and cobb accessport for a stage 2 , i will need to change the up pipe as well right


    ill check on the springs as well , thanks
     
  4. ShortytheFirefighter
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    ShortytheFirefighter Pokemans. I has none. Staff Member

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    The uppipe is up to you. If you're looking to do a fair amount with the car I'd swap at least the uppipe for a catless, that will eliminate the chance of your converter coming apart later on and going into the turbo. All of the aftermarket uppipes that I can think of are catless, and you'll see a little faster spool to boot. I ran a catless Prodrive uppipe and a catless TXS exhaust.

    Wheelwise, for a street driven car you'd be better off with 17s. There's no performance or handling gain going to an 18in wheel. In fact, the increased weight will likely hurt your performance. I ran 17x7 BBS RK wheels on my wagon with 215/45/17 Hankook RS2 Z212s. That size will also give you a bit of a gearing advantage over the stock diameter.

    I'm not sure where to find the trans parts, I've never modified an auto. There are a few people on here who have and will probably chime in.

    As far as tuning, give Bullwinkle on here a PM, he does excellent OpenECU work.
     
  5. 054eatwagon
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    054eatwagon Well-Known Member

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    thanks so much for the great info

    i hate wasting $ , so 17s it is, and no accessport , sounds great
     
  6. 9blackmax6
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    9blackmax6 Well-Known Member

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    welcome man! hope you can make it to one of our meets sometime. its something else when you drive around in a pack of 10+ subies.
     
  7. AspitFire
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    AspitFire Well-Known Member

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    welcome to the mayhem
     
  8. Squiggly
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    Squiggly Squiggly

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    Welcome!!

    Sounds like you're already on the right track!'


    Mike
     
  9. SpoolinWrxGirl
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    SpoolinWrxGirl Member

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    Welcome =)
     
  10. 054eatwagon
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    054eatwagon Well-Known Member

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    thanks for the welcomes , i really want to thank you for helping me narrow down my options and pointing me in the right direction

    i will pm him for more info , thanks again


    also i cant wait to get out and meet up with some of you , it will be the best way for me to learn and stay motivated


    thoughts on catted or no cat in the turboxs system.....
     
  11. bhiku
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    bhiku Well-Known Member

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  12. WRXEcho
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    WRXEcho Well-Known Member

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    Welcome!

    I have a 4EAT as well, and I would have to say that getting a high-stall Torque Converter is one of the best "performance" mods that you can do to a 4EAT. It will cut down your 60' times a fair amount. Along with the TC (pro-torque), getting your valve body modified (Import Performance Transmission) for quicker firmer shifts is nice. And of course, the trans-cooler is key.

    You can find trans-cooler parts anywhere online really. SummitRacing, importperformancetransmission.com, protorque.com. I use a fairly large B&M cooler that fits right in front of the radiator. It also allows the use of an aftermarket radiator (since the trans fluid is normally ran through the radiator).

    Whaddya mean "What can the 4EAT hold w/o mods?"

    If there's no mods, no need to worry about the 4EAT :) She's a pretty strong tranny. Not as strong as the STi 6sp, but can hold more than the 5sp can! ;) I had over 350 ft lbs of torque (at like 3k rpm) and 250hp with 110 octane race gas, and the tranny held just fine! It was my motor that went :( But now that I dropped a 2.5 w/cams, porting, pistons, etc. in there, I need to start saving up for either a 6sp swap, or a built 4EAT.

    If you're concerned about your carbon footprint, then go with a high-flow cat in your exhaust. If not, and you like the smell of victory, go cat-less. It's less restrictive, but the smell of fuel wafts under the nostrils from time to time. Especially with race gas... mmmm. And get rid of that stock up-pipe.

    Let me know if you need any answers, I've done quite a bit to this wagon of mine. ;)

    - Justin K.
     
  13. TSTRBOY2004
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    TSTRBOY2004 Well-Known Member

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    welcome
     
  14. silver03
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    silver03 Well-Known Member

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    I have a 4eat in the wifes wrx with a TC from level 10. It really wakes the car up. Stick with the 17's, dont concern yourself (now) with a bigger top mount, do some research on springs that are factory strut friendly, troll the big boards for the scoop you want or go to a company like ravspec.
     
  15. Ryan
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    Ryan Sled drifting master

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    Welcome.

    Being that we have almost the exact same car, I figured i'd give you some points of reference...

    [​IMG]

    2005 WRX Wag, 47k miles, 5 speed manual
    Mods:
    GM BCS
    Koyo Radiator (stock one split at the seams)
    Drop in K&N filter panel w/ motogp elbow
    Catless up-pipe
    Stromung Ceramic Coated Divorced Wastegate Catless Shorty Downpipe
    Stock 3rd Cat
    STI Catback Exhaust
    And the most important mod.. Bullwinkle Custom Tune

    The dynograph (Taken on RS Motors Mustang Dyno) was from my 2nd pull, First pull resulted in 209whp with 221wtq.

    I enjoy this setup because it looks stock. It is very very quiet and doesn't draw a lot of attention. I do wish it was a little louder, but I don't want that drown that some exhausts tend to produce. Do to that, if I upgrade my exhaust I'll be looking at Maddad. My thoughts are maddad 3rd high flow cat mated to his 3inch whisper catback exhaust. It's spendy stuff, but I enjoy being able to talk to people on my phone without them knowing I'm in my car.

    Hope that gives you some idea's of power mods.

    -Ryan
     
  16. Bullwinkle
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    Bullwinkle Well-Known Member

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    Ryan, your's is a 5MT, not an auto (4EAT). :):laugh:
     
  17. TSTRBOY2004
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    TSTRBOY2004 Well-Known Member

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    so is it selective for traffic??

     
  18. Ryan
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    Ryan Sled drifting master

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    Fixed. Thanks :)
     
  19. 054eatwagon
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    054eatwagon Well-Known Member

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    wow thanks so much for the info , the trans stuff i wont need for awhile , i will just plan on getting a cooler
     
  20. 9blackmax6
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    9blackmax6 Well-Known Member

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    post pics of your ride homez!
     
  21. 054eatwagon
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    054eatwagon Well-Known Member

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    sure , its stock but ill take some and post em up , give me an hour
     
  22. 9blackmax6
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    9blackmax6 Well-Known Member

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    nothing wrong with whoring the whip.
     
  23. 054eatwagon
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    054eatwagon Well-Known Member

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    my wifes dirty......wagon

    complete with car seats and co. emission sticker

    it can only get better from here......

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  24. 9blackmax6
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    9blackmax6 Well-Known Member

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    beautiful color. that wagon will be alot of fun with some mods.
     
  25. Ryan
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    Ryan Sled drifting master

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    something looks so familiar...
     
  26. mosc
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    mosc New Member

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  27. 054eatwagon
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    054eatwagon Well-Known Member

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    sorry i wasnt clear , i meant how much power can the trans handle safely w/o doing anything to it , you answered my ? , i plan on a trans cooler , and maybe i will do the other tranny mods if i get power crazy.........but it would be much better with a tc i am sure

    first thing is an exh. and a tune
     
  28. WRX1
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    WRX1 _ Staff Member

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    If it was me, first thing would be the converter. Single best mod for a 4eat ever. Exhaust and a tune will pick up a bit, but seat of the pants will no be happy. A converter will be like adding a new turbo. And you can take Ryan's numbers and throw them right out the window. The auto tranny is not a impressive "number" getter. Hp will be lower, tq will be higher (much higher).

    Russ
     
  29. 054eatwagon
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    054eatwagon Well-Known Member

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    where can i find some local used trans parts to send in??

    although mine are low mileage and not beat.......
     
  30. Ylime
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    Ylime Well-Known Member

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    welcome!!!! another auto wagon!!! woohoo! if you need and help or have questions lmk.
     
  31. 054eatwagon
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    054eatwagon Well-Known Member

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    well after doing much more reading , i think i should start with a modded tc a trans. cooler with some good syn. fluid

    then get exhaust and a tune



    thanks for the welcome
     
  32. 054eatwagon
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    054eatwagon Well-Known Member

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    1 ? about the tc though , will i gain anything besides being able to launch better , will it accelerate better when pulling out to pass, will the tc alone will gain me anything other then the starts?? thanks for any help

    i may get an exhaust instead , with a tune