All motor SI vs. WRX

[TURBLOWN]

Just raced a Civic SI on the way home from work tonight. He pulled up next to me at 40 mph and gunned it, so I followed but couldn't catch up. At the next light we both launched and of course my WRX had about two car lengths he started to catch up but we were coming to the next light. I talked to him at the light to see what he had, cause I usually smoke Si's. He said all motor- heads,cams etc.. So we ran one more time- took him off the line again with a 3k drop- to give him a chance- let him catch up and then at about 50 mph we were even and I floored it but he started to pull away, next thing I know were at about 120 and he has about 2 car lengths on me.. It seems like the WRX has no top end, what can I do to improve it.
Mods:Injen CAI
GFB pulley kit
Samco I/C hoses
5Zigen catback
Also 18's
Planned mods:uppipe and downpipe

[Night Kid]

more top end power? why dont you get a cheap mbc?

[TURBLOWN]

Don't have a boost gauge yet- waiting on autometer to come out with a gauge pod. Also don't want to affect my reliablity.

[GREDDY]

Well looks like you didnt race no stock all motor. He must have had alot of work done to beat an all stock WRX. That SI must have had at least $6-8K of motor work.

[dannyboy7]

You say you have 18's? what kind? I had 18's on my car for the summer, and recently put my stockers back on, and WHAT A DIFFERENCE! If you have heavy wheels, its gonna slow you down alot.

[black99gt]

booooooooost controller The car can handle 2psi more of boost SaFelY...

I just sunk $500 into one, and i dont even have the car yet

[valdezj]

Yeah a Boost Controller will help out a bunch. But for the ultimate in top end power, you need an upgraded turbo. I used to have trouble with the SI's and the cars alike up top but now that I have a PE1820, I smoke em in any gear, any rpm's and any speed.... and of course I have other mods (i.e. Vishnu tuned Unichip, Injen CAI, etc, etc,etc)

~joe

EDIT:
Well maybe not any rpm's because I sacrificed low end for top end. But I've learned to keep it within boost range...

[TURBLOWN]

My 18's are tecnomagnesio's- not sure how much they weigh though. The only time I would ever take them off would be for a trip to the track, but I doubt I would even do it then.
Are all MBC created equal? I was thinking of getting one from boostvalve.com ($40 I think) What's the diff. between TurboXS HPMBC- is it worth the extra money. A MBC will only be temporary till I get my Cobb tuned unichip with boost control( once all my other mods are completed.)

[Isaac]

Heavy wheels = slower car. The only 18" wheels I would get are the SSR Comp's. At 15 pounds, "Tire Rack says" they weigh in one pound below stock. They cost big $$$ though.

[God]

Be careful on those Si's. I have built many a fast Si and Type R that would embarrass a stock WRX. Modded of course you would kill him. To increase top end power you can do two things, remove cats, change the turbo for a bigger one.

[SilverX]

Your not serious are you? If this is true the only thing I would believe is that he had a gsr engine swap with lots of work. A civic si with its stock motor even with a ton of mods would not hang with WRX at any speed. I used to drive a prelude vtec w/mods and it was quick but not anywhere close to a WRX. You cant get much out of those engine usless you go FI.

[Verdugo]

I agree with SilverX. My buddy with the Si was no match for me before he dropped his Greddy turbo kit in, and he already had an Apexi AFC, a Tanabe Racing Medallion Exhaust, and a Blitz SUS Power Intake.

[God]

I'm not talking about bolt ons. I'm talking about real engine work which is what I do on Hondas. High compression, big cams, ECU etc. . . .

[Verdugo]

Heh yeah I gotcha...bolt-ons won't do much but you drop a turbo in an Si and us Scoobies are looking for trouble...believe me, I know

[TURBLOWN]

SilverX- A GSR engine only has 10 more horsepower than a Civic SI engine, so I don't think that would have made to much of a difference.
I didn't believe the guy either, that's why I asked him at the second light again- and he said major engine work heads,cams,etc...
After looking at Godspeeds webpage and the project SI, I believe it is possible. God- what does that car run anyway?