It's weird that I'm only now a member here, even though I've had my WRX for a good 5 years. People kinda keep this place on the DL compared to NASIOC and IWSTI. In the past months I've been under the hood of my 2002 WRX more than I've been in the drivers seat. When I was told it wasn't in shape to be put on the dyno at RS Motors at the beginning of the summer, I frantically started working on her. Went from rearranging vac lines, to blowing a hole the size of a quarter in my headers, to a rebuilt TD04. This week I'll be putting in that rebuilt turbo. Hopefully this will be then end of all my misfortune. By the end of this summer, I'll know my WRX's engine inside and out. Just wanted to share my story.
It was a aftermarket one piece header and up-pipe. Guy I bought the car from 5 years ago put them on, but never put the plastic pan than goes under the engine back on. They rusted out in the winter. Dunno if they were stainless or not, all I knew is they were junk. When the car fell into my hands it was running wastegate pressure (7 psi) and has never ran factory hp. I messed with the restrictor pill in the bcs tubing, boom, 15 psi. Brought her back to RS Motors to get a proper tune. During the second power run at around 5,000 rpm the header let go. The hole was in the pipe right under the power steering fluid reservoir. It was an embarrassing drive home to say the least, with that obnoxious exhaust leak. All is good now though. I have a OEM manifold, with a Grimmspeed up-pipe.
Welcome to the site. Sorry to hear about your issues. Although the thread is closed we get a discount at Morries Subaru - LINK Also if you need parts we have local hook ups - LINK
