Going Stage 1 Possibly Stage 2

[WRidesX]

Hi to you all once again. I need your humble advice once more. I was at the track recently and was insanely discouraged because I was running a whole second slower last year (it's too embarrassing to say). So now I'm looking into going stage 1 (filter and access port) to hopefully lower my 1/4 mile time. I'm sure part of my problem is having an automatic and my car is an 02' so it has a "glassbox" tranny . I am wondering if going stage 1 will be worth it or if it will harm anything? Can the same access port I used for my car be used on other WRX, etc in the future? Is stage 2 out of the question?

Other things to mention: I have cat-back exhaust with 2.5 inch piping, I'm thinking of going with 3" before tuning and staging up. I also already have a panel aftermarket filter.

Any advice or help would be much appreciated. Thank you all.

[KronosPerformance]

Don't launch your car and your tranny will be fine. You'll be fine on stage 2. If you need some parts let me know.

[EJ257]

The automatic transmission will hurt you. However, it isn't as commonly broken as the 5MTs on some of the Bugeyes.

A 2.5" catback will not limit you on the stock turbo anything significant. I would spend that money elsewhere, or use it to enjoy your car with the new tune.

You do want to get rid of the uppipe cat, though.

[dolson1120]

is this you Daily Driver?

[Ruh Roh]

be easy launching it but hard accels are better than flooring it in neutral and dropping it in drive. or you can brake boost your launches. but skip stage 1 go for stage 2. replace the stock uppipe like EJ said because the stock cat will tear apart under higher levels of boost, but turboback exhaust, upipe and stage 2 AP tune and youll be good. the 2.5" catback will work but 3" will obviously get you better flow. not 100% sure if the aftermarket filter will work with your stage 2 AP tune, id just stick the stock one back in as its not very restrictive in the first place. and if your looking foor more of an airfilter sucking sound you can remove the intake silencer in your fender well and that will give you a sound mod that wont mess anything up

[WRidesX]

be easy launching it but hard accels are better than flooring it in neutral and dropping it in drive. or you can brake boost your launches. but skip stage 1 go for stage 2. replace the stock uppipe like EJ said because the stock cat will tear apart under higher levels of boost, but turboback exhaust, upipe and stage 2 AP tune and youll be good. the 2.5" catback will work but 3" will obviously get you better flow. not 100% sure if the aftermarket filter will work with your stage 2 AP tune, id just stick the stock one back in as its not very restrictive in the first place. and if your looking foor more of an airfilter sucking sound you can remove the intake silencer in your fender well and that will give you a sound mod that wont mess anything up

Thanks for that advice. I forgot to mention that the uppipe was already done, Perrin aftermarket. I have also removed the snorkle silencer POS from the fender too. I was just considering 3" because it would be the most I would expand the piping to anyway, that way I could no longer blame that for anything. Couldn't I go stage 1, then add a downpipe later and retune with the access port again?

[WRidesX]

is this you Daily Driver?

Yes it is. Stage 2 is the most I would ever go.

[WRidesX]

Don't launch your car and your tranny will be fine. You'll be fine on stage 2. If you need some parts let me know.

Nice to see you again Kronos, I got you in mind. Thanks for the advice.

[WRidesX]

The automatic transmission will hurt you. However, it isn't as commonly broken as the 5MTs on some of the Bugeyes.

A 2.5" catback will not limit you on the stock turbo anything significant. I would spend that money elsewhere, or use it to enjoy your car with the new tune.

You do want to get rid of the uppipe cat, though.

So would you not recommend going with 3" exhaust piping?

[Ruh Roh]

Thanks for that advice. I forgot to mention that the uppipe was already done, Perrin aftermarket. I have also removed the snorkle silencer POS from the fender too. I was just considering 3" because it would be the most I would expand the piping to anyway, that way I could no longer blame that for anything. Couldn't I go stage 1, then add a downpipe later and retune with the access port again?

yes with your catback on you can go stage 1

[zax]

lol at "glassbox." You can thank the DSM crowd of inexperienced drivers for that moniker.

If you don't believe me, PM Ray. He's pushing about 340wtq through the "glassbox" 2002 Transmission.

[WRidesX]

lol at "glassbox." You can thank the DSM crowd of inexperienced drivers for that moniker.

If you don't believe me, PM Ray. He's pushing about 340wtq through the "glassbox" 2002 Transmission.

Yeah the first time I heard that I thought it was a bunch of bull, and then again my tranny is automatic so I didn't think it would be an issue. I'm sure he is running a standard tranny, but yeah I believe it.

[EJ257]

So would you not recommend going with 3" exhaust piping?

It's not cost-effective; likely the difference would be within the margin of error on the dyno. You'd be far better off spending the money you would pay for a new catback on a custom reflash. If you're already doing a custom reflash, spend it on a TMIC. There are a bunch of other modifications which will be more beneficial with the stock turbo than a 3" catback.

[WRidesX]

It's not cost-effective; likely the difference would be within the margin of error on the dyno. You'd be far better off spending the money you would pay for a new catback on a custom reflash. If you're already doing a custom reflash, spend it on a TMIC. There are a bunch of other modifications which will be more beneficial with the stock turbo than a 3" catback.

So the custom reflash has nothing to do with the Access Port? A new TMIC, something other than my stock TMIC?

[EJ257]

So the custom reflash has nothing to do with the Access Port? A new TMIC, something other than my stock TMIC?

You can get a custom reflash with your AP; if the shop tunes OpenECU, you can go that route, too.

A new TMIC would replace your OE unit with a more efficient unit.