When the time comes to up the power and what not on my Rex im going to either switch to a 2.5l sti block or something else (maybe some secret plans who knows) but there are some concerns i have before hand such as.

Should i swap the block before i install the turbo, injectors, etc. Or should i do it all at once? My reasoning is I know that when you get a built block you have to baby it for so long before you can get on it, but in order to get the new turbo and fuel system working right you need to tune and you have to hammer the engine to get that done. Could i just have the block put in and try to drive it around with the factory ecu controlling it or should i get some EM to work it or what? I may have my ideology wrong but iver never done a build this involed before. Anyone with some experience with this i would greatly appreciate you clearing this up for me. Also whats a good shop to have the work done? I was thinking about QUE but ive never been there or talked to the guys who run it so i dont know if they do this stuff or what. I will NOT have it done at Mastro (my own reasons).

On a side note. While I do value everyones opinion on the forum, please do me a favor and dont ask what my plans for the car are and what i want to get out of it or how i plan to use it. This is something i decided and im paying for it so please spare me. Dont mean to sound like an asshole but im tired posting on forums (mainly others) and never getting a straight answer, only more questions from people who really dont want to help out or don't know what they're talking about. Thanks guys

 

If your going to do it, do it all at once. The biggest expense and time will be the shortblock swap. I definately recommend going with an STi shortblock. They can handle alot of power on stock internals. If you want over 450-500whp, upgrade your pistons or buy a Crawford short block. They have many to choose from. Since your motor and exhaust are out, swap the turbo as well along with the necessay items (injectors, intercooler, fuel pump, etc). Then have a base fuel map flashed from ECUTek, or your EM of choice. You can have it road tuned immediately in order to have the AFR's in line and idling smooth without getting into heavy boost. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

Thanks mantra. It wont be until after Christmas but most of the time between now and then will be sourcing prices on parts and coming up with a full plan of attack. It should be pretty sick though. By the way. Do you have a shop you would reccomend for the swap or no?

 

you will get great customer service from CUE, and it will get done right.

in order for me to give yea a straight awnser it would kind of help if i knew what your power goals for the car were.

but if you just want daily driven monster that you can beat the hell out of it, and it will just ask for more. well the S2 kit from crawford is a great place to start. if you pln on using your stock heads. it would be very wise to have them port and polished. then do something like stage 1 or 2 values. TI springs and what not, so you dont float the heads.

also while your in there you would see a great benifit from some new cams, but they are expensive. 1000 bucks ruffly i would also recomed the ones from crawford.

i am pretty sure you will have all of the supporting fuel, cooling, em, and boost control mods.

i hve recomended craford 2 times in this post. why? there are 1 of 3 companies that i have experiance with, in engine swaps. they seem to have a great customer service record and there pistons are one of a kind that they just redid.

if you would like more info from my oint of view... let me know

Dave`s .02

 

I had Mastro do the work for me. I also bought all the parts necessary to do the swap as well. The work was done fast and I got a great deal as well. Call Will in the service dept. and see what he can do for you.

 

Have you considered a v7 or v8 JDM 2L swap? The v7 motor is pretty good, with forged pistons and such, revs nice and high (isn't it 8500 redline?), and has some pretty good heads too.

If you're getting a motor built, consider having the piston tops and combustion chambers ceramic coated. Really helps prevent detonation and protect against high egts damaging parts (not that you'd want really high egts).

 

-Dave: I want to get at least 325-350 whp out of the motor. I would like to work the heads but i dont want to end up with car that has all of its power at the top end, id like to have some good grunt down low. Im having trouble finding cams but they may not be neccessary. Anyway, ill just talk it over with you at the meet tonight.