17 WRX Performance Mod questions

1694 Views 12 Replies 6 Participants Last post by Xanliel, Mar 6, 2018

Xanliel

Discussion Starter · Mar 5, 2018

For the guys/girls that are performance modding their 15+ WRX. Are ya'll doing anything to prevent the rod failures or clutch slipping? I personally feel that I purchased my WRX with the wrong idea in mind. I purchased the car with the intent to upgrade it a bit to have a bit more power, but after reading various posts regarding engine failures I have decided that modding is not such a great idea.

Do not get me wrong I am perfectly contempt with the car and I actually have no application that the extra power is necessary I guess it was just a I wanna go fast thing. Which leads me to my next point. I wish the WRX were built with modding in mind like the STI. Over built motor over built transmission and clutch overbuilt suspension and tuning. Guess the point is I should have bought a STI. Will be looking at the 2020 STI when it comes out. Of course waiting a few years to work the kinks out first. Probably going to get roasted over this

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XJman

· #2 · Mar 5, 2018

Xanliel said:
For the guys/girls that are performance modding their 15+ WRX. Are ya'll doing anything to prevent the rod failures or clutch slipping? I personally feel that I purchased my WRX with the wrong idea in mind. I purchased the car with the intent to upgrade it a bit to have a bit more power, but after reading various posts regarding engine failures I have decided that modding is not such a great idea.

Do not get me wrong I am perfectly contempt with the car and I actually have no application that the extra power is necessary I guess it was just a I wanna go fast thing. Which leads me to my next point. I wish the WRX were built with modding in mind like the STI. Over built motor over built transmission and clutch overbuilt suspension and tuning. Guess the point is I should have bought a STI. Will be looking at the 2020 STI when it comes out. Of course waiting a few years to work the kinks out first. Probably going to get roasted over this

Simple modifications and tuning typically will not cause a failure that wouldn't have happened stock. It's when you slap on tons of bolt ons, don't tune, or start shooting for big power that it goes south fast.

The STI is not made with modding in mind, At all, even in the furthest stretch. It costs a massive amount of money to have even a remotely "reliable" build making any substantial power.

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Xanliel

Discussion Starter · #3 · Mar 5, 2018

Ahh I guess I should have done even more research. It was my understanding that big gains were available to STI's without supporting mods. For instance it was my understanding that you could slap on a bigger turbo a EWG fuel injectors and fuel pump with a tune you're looking at 400HP. and the block and internals as well as the transmission could handle it. Now I am sure all of the above costs quite a bit though.

In order for the FA20 to be at 400 requires full bolt ons and e85 or e50 blend. Now you're running in the grey area though. Tranny could go the clutch will be slipping and rods which is the weak point may go at some point. I'm over it though. I love my WRX for what it is.

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zax

· #4 · Mar 5, 2018

The important bit here is that manufacturers are not motivated to produce engines that can sustain higher-than-OEM power levels. In fact, the opposite is true here... emissions and fuel economy regs are to blame (as well as economics).

Every car design has a weak link. Subject that link to enough additional (and not designed for) force, and it will break.

The STI 6MT -- for some odd reason -- is quite overbuilt. The engine, not so much. In any event, once output is increased, there is a greater risk of failure.

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Xanliel

Discussion Starter · #5 · Mar 5, 2018

zax said:
The important bit here is that manufacturers are not motivated to produce engines that can sustain higher-than-OEM power levels. In fact, the opposite is true here... emissions and fuel economy regs are to blame (as well as economics).

Every car design has a weak link. Subject that link to enough additional (and not designed for) force, and it will break.

The STI 6MT -- for some odd reason -- is quite overbuilt. The engine, not so much. In any event, once output is increased, there is a greater risk of failure.

Yeah a misunderstanding of the STI platform on my part. I thought for sure the motor in the STI was quite strong. I do not want to dissuade others from buying the WRX as a modding platform because it is good for what it is.

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why2kmax

· #6 · Mar 5, 2018

XJman said:
Simple modifications and tuning typically will not cause a failure that wouldn't have happened stock. It's when you slap on tons of bolt ons, don't tune, or start shooting for big power that it goes south fast.

The STI is not made with modding in mind, At all, even in the furthest stretch. It costs a massive amount of money to have even a remotely "reliable" build making any substantial power.

Id say that the first statement XJ made above could cover both cars and is completely true. The FA20 rods are a weak point but an exhaust and an good OTS stage 1 tune wont kill it as long as there isnt already an underlying problem which as he said would have happened anyway. I actually felt the tune may have allowed the motor some breathing room since it didnt overboost things on initial throttle inputs and made the car respond more linearly. I loved my MAP tune and the car ran flawlessly. I always kept the rpms above 2000 and never lugged the motor. The only thing to decide is if the tune is worth rolling the dice on voiding the warranty.

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EJ257

· #7 · Mar 5, 2018

why2kmax said:
The only thing to decide is if the tune is worth rolling the dice on having a warranty claim denied due to unauthorized parts.

FTFY

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XJman

· #8 · Mar 5, 2018

Xanliel said:
Yeah a misunderstanding of the STI platform on my part. I thought for sure the motor in the STI was quite strong. I do not want to dissuade others from buying the WRX as a modding platform because it is good for what it is.

Thats why its important to research before you go doing crazy stuff. That exact thought has lead to many blown engines and the "Subaru is junk" mentality.

Most OEM's are not interested in building anything to exceed the need, and in many cases equipment is far under rated and fancy computer controls put in place to ease the strain on the parts. Chrysler is a big offender in this design decision as they frequently put underrated transmissions behind engines with absurd power. They also tend to bend to marketing and advertising needs such as the unequal length headers in the USDM WRX and STI. Not until recently did they start to rectify that for our market. The Subaru burble is a very distinguishable sound and people actually strive for it even though its not ideal for power, or engine longevity.

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EJ257

· #9 · Mar 6, 2018

XJman said:
The Subaru burble is a very distinguishable sound and people actually strive for it even though its not ideal for power, or engine longevity.

I don't understand this. I prefer my car with the EL manifold it has now; it sounds more like a Porsche than a Subaru, but that's alright by me.

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XJman

· #10 · Mar 6, 2018

To my ear I agree. I don't get the draw.

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RichD514

· #11 · Mar 6, 2018

Xanliel said:
...I purchased the car with the intent to upgrade it a bit to have a bit more power, but after reading various posts regarding engine failures...

Can I stop you there and remind you that people are more likely to post on forums about failed motors then they are to post that they have a 100k+ mile modded motor with parts that are properly researched, installed and tuned with no problems.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

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EJ257

· #12 · Mar 6, 2018

RichD514 said:
Can I stop you there and remind you that people are more likely to post on forums about failed motors then they are to post that they have a 100k+ mile modded motor with parts that are properly researched, installed and tuned with no problems.

It's not sexy to talk about my 135K mile modified Subaru that I learned EFI ECU calibration on, and despite my best efforts, I still haven't blown it up...

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Xanliel

Discussion Starter · #13 · Mar 6, 2018

Yeah it's not every day you will see a post regarding their modded engine and it still going strong after 100k. Right now i'm running the OTS 91 tune from COBB. Heard many great things about the MAP tune. I also have just cat back exhaust and that's where I plan on leaving it.

FWIW I was searching for my next upgrade. My local tuner at CORR performance found me a sweet deal with Grimmspeed for their Stage3 kit. J pipe, intake, TMIC and charge pipe, 3 port EBCS then adding to it the TGV and EGR deletes and an AOS all seem like great products. Just afraid to gamble I guess. Knowing I would need a good stage 2 clutch for a daily then taking the gamble with the rods just keeps putting fear uncertainty and doubt in my mind.

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