Hi guys I'm a long time reader of this forum, even though I don't post much, and I respect you guyzopion and would like some suggestions .

I have a 2003 Wrx Wagon, only upgrades so far is suspension I have Tein lowering springs and KYB adjustable shocks, and strut bar.

I know this stuff soesn't make a big deal, I'm ready to start putting some money into the engine. I would like some suggestions. I know Doug was in town tunning and I have checked out Topspeeds websites but I really couldn't get much info off the website with regards to tuning and such.

I'm doing research on some engine stuff, and so far am considering Up/Down pipe and catback exhaust. And possible air intake, either short ram or cold air, not sure yet.

So give me some suggestions and help me out....

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

 

up/downpipe, catback... excellent.

I'd hold off on an intake though. The stock airbox will work well even past 300hp. Do remove the silencer though, and you can hack it up or get an elbow or even do what I did and stick a velocity stack into the fender. That'll eliminate some restriction, you'll hear the turbo better, and its basically a "free" mod depending on how you go about it.

Since you have a wagon, a bigger rear sway (a stock wrx bar would even help, I have one off my 04 if you want it... free!) would help your handling too. Not sure if you're going that direction, but you did mention better springs/struts. You also don't say which strut tower brace you got, but a rear brace really does help for a wagon. They even make quick-release versions so you can remove the center bar if you need to stick something back there.

 

Thats what I figuered, I did remove the silencer, and it did makke a difference. I have a front strut bar, I'd be interested in a quick release rear bar. Do you know where I can find one? Website etc...?

At what point does a reflash or EMS need to be done? (well I know it never HAS to be done, but would be recomended?)

 

After installing the up/downpipe is a good candidate for the reflash and/or tune. I checked around and it looks like the Whiteline rear strut tower brace is the one with the quick-release. Example here: http://www.fastwrx.com/whrewasttobr.html

 

Awesome, thanks for the link. About the reflsah...whats something like hat cost??? What are the benefits and downside if any?? Just Curious.

 

Ecutek costs like $800 or so new. Try to find a used ECU with the liscense already on it (about $400), and you can mail it to PDX or somewhere else for a reflash for your stuff ($150). Then sell your old stock ECU for like $200. That's what I did (except for selling the old one, yet).

Benefits are that your are getting the actual power from those new pipes, unlike if you try it with the stock ECU. You'd feel the car lagging a bit, and you'd also have a CEL on, unless you do one of the fixes.

 

Or you could go with an Accessport and flash a stage 2 map. Or something like a Vishnu or Cobb stand-alone tune. Just ship them your ECU and they'll flash it and send it back.

 

I had an oppurtunity to buy an Ecutek EMS for $150 and I didn't buy it because 1. didn't have the money at that particular moment, 2. didn't know how it worked, 3. was hesitant to buy a used ECU.

Thanks for the info!!

Keep em coming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Do you plan on doing anything crazy? If so I would do a standalone EMS right now and have it tuned by someone local. There are a few AEM, Motec, Microtech, and Haltech tuners in the area. If you are doing basic mods just get the Ecutek and have Topspeed, PDX, or KingPin tune it. Doug also does AEM, UTEC (I think), and Cobb AP.