[1loudsti]

theres alot of good info here that i was wondering about....thanks!

[Dstretch33]

Originally Posted by Davenow

Going to forged pistons is never a bad idea. While meth, if you tune it accordingly, can add a large saftey margin, the OEM pistons have some problems. In my opinion when you decide you want to go beyond something like Stage 2+fmic and meth, you should be looking at doing a set of pistons. yes its not cheap, but its not as bad as many people would think. If you skip fancy coatings and go with stock size pistons, you can often get out of it for under $2000 total. Then you have a motor that should hold well beyond 400whp.

Asking "pro" tuners and 90% of them will say "If its tuned right 400whp is fine, we do it all the time they dont blow up blah blah blah"

Bullisht. I have yet to see a TRUE 400whp car last on OEM pistons. It may hold for 10-15k, but it is GOING to lose a piston.

That said, you CAN go bigger than stage 2+fmic and meth on oem pistons with decent reliability. A TD05-18G 8cm, combined with 650/750cc injectors, meth and a FMIC is an instant spool, crazy low end, FAR better than VF39 top end setup on an STI. The 20G variant (sp?) is better power wise, and still spools very quickly, but you start getting into the area of "be careful"

Also remember, EWGs are a good way of making a smaller, faster spooling turbo, behave like a larger one when it comes to the peak and high RPM power.

Thanks this helps also, I am looking at ewg options now. I want to get the most out of my bolt-ons. Without opening up the motor.

[1loudsti]

Originally Posted by Dstretch33

Thanks this helps also, I am looking at ewg options now. I want to get the most out of my bolt-ons. Without opening up the motor.

if you can stand the noise i highly recommend EWG, i put the IAG kit on my car and it almost makes it a new car, the level of power and the way boost comes in is TOTALLY different

[STi_FTW]

Great thread, cleared up a few things for me, lol.

I gather from this that it would be better to go with a Methanol kit rather than Alcohol as it would be cheaper (fuel wise)? Only plus I see to running Alcohol over Methanol is that you would get a few extra HP from the Alcohol (higher octane)?

[Turbineguy]

Originally Posted by Davenow

......That said, you CAN go bigger than stage 2+fmic and meth on oem pistons with decent reliability. A TD05-18G 8cm, combined with 650/750cc injectors, meth and a FMIC is an instant spool, crazy low end, FAR better than VF39 top end setup on an STI. The 20G variant (sp?) is better power wise, and still spools very quickly, but you start getting into the area of "be careful" ......

This is essentially the setup I'm running other than a Spearco TMIC. I'm running DW740s, header and UP, full TBE, Prodrive solenoid, APS cold air and an Aquamist 2D system on 50/50. Spool is insane. Hits 24psi in 3rd at 3000rpm and hold over 20psi to redline. Not dynoed yet (do my own tuning with ST) but figure it's ~360whp and over 400wtq. Meth comes on at 8psi and I run 11.9-12.1 AFRs at WOT. I've been tinkering with a dual nozzle setup with one in the normal location at the IC outlet and another one injecting preturbo. Awesome DD.

[Dstretch33]

Originally Posted by 1loudsti

if you can stand the noise i highly recommend EWG, i put the IAG kit on my car and it almost makes it a new car, the level of power and the way boost comes in is TOTALLY different

Really I getting mixed reviews on ewg? my plan was to run meth, ewg, and an uel manifold on my current setup. i've heard the the stock turbo is to small to see any major gains in the ewg?

[Davenow]

That is completely false!

Subarus respond VERY well to hot side size increases. And EWG effectively makes your hot side HUGE.

What do you get when you do an EWG on a small turbo?
Something that is similar in characteristics to a BIG turbo, with SMALL turbo spool.


You know how the TD06 hot side makes more top end than the TD05 hot side? Now imagine going from the piece of crap IHI, tiny hot side, which is smaller than a TD05, and less efficient, to a housing that is far larger than a TD06.

That isnt the best way of explaining it, basically how it works is that when its open, a LOT of your exh gasses are completely bypassing the turbo, which means top end on that turbo is going to be greatly increased.

EWGs also hold a LOT more solidly. This can force faster spool, because it WILL NOT open until it is supposed to, and it will close as it needs to. You can force your small turbo to hold more boost up top.

If tuned right, look for maybe 15-20whp peak (which is no joke), faster ramp up and holding more boost up top, so 20+ at redline would not be unreasonable to expect.
And with how poorly the Vf39/43 performs on a 2.5L motor, anything you can do to carry more power to redline will be a big help.

I have heard a LOT of people slamming EWGs. I can tell you that easily 50% of them slam it because they either don't want to go through the effort, or cant/don't want to spend the money, so they speak out (usually the most loudly) against them, saying they are a waste. The other 50% have various reasons, and of that 50%, easily 10% of those (if not half) have misconceptions about EWGs (usually about the noise) that drive them away. Like "Too loud around town" Yeah.. An EWG is going to be silent around town unless you spring it for like 3PSI The EWG only makes noise when its open, and its not going to be open until you hit target boost. So unless you are at full boost, its not going to make noise.

[Davenow]

Originally Posted by Turbineguy

This is essentially the setup I'm running other than a Spearco TMIC. I'm running DW740s, header and UP, full TBE, Prodrive solenoid, APS cold air and an Aquamist 2D system on 50/50. Spool is insane. Hits 24psi in 3rd at 3000rpm and hold over 20psi to redline. Not dynoed yet (do my own tuning with ST) but figure it's ~360whp and over 400wtq. Meth comes on at 8psi and I run 11.9-12.1 AFRs at WOT. I've been tinkering with a dual nozzle setup with one in the normal location at the IC outlet and another one injecting preturbo. Awesome DD.

Pre-turbo water injection is supposed to be KILLER. I hear better spool from it. I dont understand the mechanics of that though.

[Turbineguy]

Doesn't really make it spool faster. Since it makes the compressor much more efficient it doesn't have to spin as fast to make a given amount of boost so it gets to that boost level quicker. There's a really in depth thread over on the Aquamist forum but seems to be down right now at least for me. I will say that it's pretty noticable when it kicks in. The big issue people have with trying it is compressor erosion but the fix is to encure the best atomization from the nozzle.

[BMX_STI]

subscribed!!!!!! definitley been thinking about doing this for a while.

[laueddy]

I kind of have the same question, s I am currently running Cobb Access Port Stage 2, which won't do map switching on the fly!

EL

Originally Posted by ToeKutter

^^^^Yea, that! Great write-up, thanks!
So in terms of tuning, do I need to be able to change the ECU maps on the fly (when the meth runs out), or can I at least b able to drive back to the bat-cave and do it there in peace?
Thanks again!

[RONIN]

Originally Posted by laueddy

I kind of have the same question, s I am currently running Cobb Access Port Stage 2, which won't do map switching on the fly!

EL

No shift on the fly but Meth makes the car an animal!

[LittleBlueGT]

FWIW you can make your knock on alky.

I run 550 cc/min or 50/50 mix and I find when I tune it, it is just like tuning gas. Obviously I can run more timing, and at a leaner AFR, but I can hit the knock threshold quite easily, just add a degree of timing in.

I still love it!

[laueddy]

Are u saying I don't need shift on the fly?

Originally Posted by jnprn2003

No shift on the fly but Meth makes the car an animal!

[jph]

Originally Posted by Davenow

Since I am not a prick anymore

whoa! it's been a while welcome back


J.