[NytmareSTi]

Well I'm putting up exactly the same thing as I posted on NASIOC a couple of days ago to see what kind of opinions and information I can get on here that I may have missed there.

** NOTE ** The only difference is that I have since *just about* decided to go with a TXS TMIC as opposed to the FMIC option, and against headers all together, but you will further understand what I mean if you decide to read through this novel.

Here's the post...

My current mod list is as follows:

Momentum 40T turbo
TurboXS Short ram intake
HKS Catless turboback
Cobb Protune at TDC Tuning


Just basic stuff. So far the car has made 302/310 on the dyno and ran a best of 12.91@104.6. As far as NEAR future purchases, the list looks like this:

SSautochrome FMIC
Headers (brand still undecided, probably Gruppe-S 4-2-1's)
Fuel pump
Retune

So this is where my dilemma comes in... I've seen posts about people (TopSpeed in particular) put down 351/363 on a 20g STi with the stock TMIC. A good friend of mine, who you all know and love has put down 297 on a VF34 with a stock WRX tmic...and this all makes me wonder if an FMIC is really a necessary modification for the level of my car. Sure it would be nice to have, and it's really not that expensive, but am I missing out by not having one? If there are some big number cars out there with stock TMIC's it really may not be worth it.

The flip side of the coin though, is/are the headers. They are going to be approximately the same price, so maybe it would make more sense to go with the FMIC and skip the headers?

Or MAYYYBEEE I should just bite the bullet and do all of it, lol. I don't need the car to be screaming fast, but I do want some more power out of it. If I wasn't getting coilovers and a new front lip at the same time as all of this too, this wouldn't even be a question, but that's another big chunk of cash that needs to be accounted for.


So I'm just looking for some experience and opinions on which way to go from here, headers/pump/tune - fmic/pump/tune - fmic/headers/pump/tune basically.

Thanks to anyone who read this and responds!

-James

[NytmareSTi]

Bump.

[offset]

Sorry, my opinion is the same on NASIOC. Do some AW/I and get Crucial Racing to P&P/coat your stock headers. That is your best bet for the money without changing turbos IMO.

offset

[SoaReS]

IMO, you really do not need headers. If your looking to get some extra horsies in before another tune.. I would say, bigger tmic or maybe a smaller fmic since your not running a beefy turbo, fuel pump, lightened pulley, one step colder spark plugs,...Then tune. You get the idea. Search for one step colder plugs, ive seen threads where people gained 20hp/30tq by just switching to those, ofcourse after a protune lol . What ever you choose, Good luck, and my best of wishes go out to you.

SoaReS

Here would be my route if I were you... |Bigger tmic/smaller fmic|fuel pump|lightened pulley(for quicker revs)|Denso 1-step colder spark plugs|TUNE| Then your good to go!

[2fas4u]

absolutely not! For the power levels your looking at a TMIC is just fine. I do recommend headers, if your worried about the boxer sound get non equal length setup. The stock exhaust manifold/up pipe are very restrictive...You are not going to gain 30Whp from a spark plug change, sorry....

[SoaReS]

2fas4u... $20 mod = 30 WHP / 56 WTQ gains go check it out.. it says it all