Looking for a good Subaru shop and/or thoughts for a build - TriStateTuners.com :: Home of Tristate Auto Enthusiast

dotmichael · 07-10-2008, 12:48 AM

I dont know if this is the right place to put this..

a friend of mine threw a rod in this wrx and now is looking to rebuild. Being a Honda guy with limited suby knowledge Ive been browsing nasioc as I always have but its some confusing stuff.

It'd be nice to discuss a build in here too but for now I got to find him a shop.

He's dissatisfied with precision tuning for whatever reason as they did his initial install (vf34, etc) So now i'm looking elsewhere.

Someone who specializes in hybrid engines would be great as Im seeing there are difficulties with the build sometimes, although that may just be a ls/vtec type myth.

He's going 2.5 block and has around $3000 to play with. Going to be tuned with Accessport and Im sure would like to be in the 12s somewhere.

ANY help is appreciated as this isnt my forte and again sorry if this is the wrong section, but it seemed the best option.

**TROLL** · 07-10-2008, 12:52 AM

$3000 needs to cover the new block, labor, and tune? i think thats going to be tight.

He can get an STi shortblock and have his WRX heads put onto them and dropped back in, thats a popular option. a tune will be necessary for this combo for him to be able to drive it. I think he'll be over $2000 just for the block and gaskets/seals needed though.

**Ender81** · 07-10-2008, 01:26 AM

Yeah 3k is going to be pretty tight, also he should consider that Accessport is probably not the best way to go with the many other better options out there. The sti shortblock can be found for $1,100 with 0 miles, a good tune is going to be about 500 give or take and that would leave 1,400 for everything else i.e. labor, gasketts etc.. Has he done anything to the tranny to support any of this because the stock WRX trans can only take so much. Area1320 is probably your best bet on here to go over a lot of that and see what would be the best option to fit his budget.

dotmichael · 07-10-2008, 01:26 AM

well i've seen brand new shortblocks go for $1800. Then there's the option of getting a used sti or 2.5 block but i cant find enough information about the sti internals and whether they'd support what he's looking for. OR get a used 2.5 block and do internals on that.

Im sure he can budge closer to four grand but it'd need to be pretty wicked at that point.

he's also got a cobb clutch, full exhaust, sti pinks, huge aps top mount.

bare sti block w/internals would be too expensive? its his second car, not quite daily driver but not quite weekend warrior

Renegade_ · 07-10-2008, 01:38 AM

An sti shortblock can take you to 400whp if you want it. Im sure he's not looking to do that much. You can pick up an STi shortblock new or used with low miles in the low thousand range. New headgaskets, and the labor to drop everything back in is the rest...

**TROLL** · 07-10-2008, 01:40 AM

stock internals on a sti motor is good for 400 whp so unless he's got big plans i think that should be fine... i'd try to stick with this as built motors have a considerably lower success rate.

**Ender81** · 07-10-2008, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dotmichael

well i've seen brand new shortblocks go for $1800. Then there's the option of getting a used sti or 2.5 block but i cant find enough information about the sti internals and whether they'd support what he's looking for. OR get a used 2.5 block and do internals on that.

Im sure he can budge closer to four grand but it'd need to be pretty wicked at that point.

he's also got a cobb clutch, full exhaust, sti pinks, huge aps top mount.

bare sti block w/internals would be too expensive? its his second car, not quite daily driver but not quite weekend warrior

Yeah have him talk to Ryan at 1320 because I know I have discussed with him an sti shortblock for myself new for less then 1,800. Also have to agree with Troll unless he is throwing a lot more then 3 or 4K at it he should avoid the built motors.

JET02WRX · 07-10-2008, 02:33 PM

And tell him to clear all thoughts in his head about using an off the shelf accessport tune with a hybrid motor set up. Thats gonna require a custom tune, which basically makes the accessport useless unless he REALLY needs the option to switch maps.

**Ender81** · 07-10-2008, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JET02WRX

And tell him to clear all thoughts in his head about using an off the shelf accessport tune with a hybrid motor set up. Thats gonna require a custom tune, which basically makes the accessport useless unless he REALLY needs the option to switch maps.

If he really needs to switch maps you can still do a lot better then the Cobb setup. For instance a Utec with remote map switch.

JET02WRX · 07-11-2008, 06:59 AM

Meh... depends on what you need/want. Utec is more than a map switcher..as a result...it costs more than an accessport. Depending on the year of his car, he can pick up a V1 accessport for cheap on ebay and get a protune. I still recommend free open source over either option...then all you pay for is the tune which is usually in the $250-350 area.

LilSubiedrvr · 07-11-2008, 08:16 AM

Yeah talk to Ryan at 1320. He REALLY knows his subies and won't steer you wrong.

DaveSTi · 07-11-2008, 08:24 AM

Go with Ryan at AREA1320. Ryan will be great for the installs and tech help. I'm not sure about where to go for the engine build locally, I'd look into an AXIS block or one built by Phil at Element Tuning.

Subie_sleeper · 07-11-2008, 08:29 AM

Again , DEFINATELY check out AREA1320. Ryan does awesome work , and isn't afraid to take on jobs that might be considered ...... Unusual. (like pain in the ass , freakish car/truck/things) LOL. He's the guy to talk to.

**Ender81** · 07-11-2008, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JET02WRX

Meh... depends on what you need/want. Utec is more than a map switcher..as a result...it costs more than an accessport. Depending on the year of his car, he can pick up a V1 accessport for cheap on ebay and get a protune. I still recommend free open source over either option...then all you pay for is the tune which is usually in the $250-350 area.

I picked up my Utec for 200

. I just don't like the open source tuning and prefer to go with something like the Utec and I just can't stand the AP. I shouldn't need to go searching and spend extra just for a protune.

RyanG · 07-13-2008, 09:47 AM

Thanks for all the kind words everyone.

dotmichael- I would suggest having your buddy stop by or give us a call and we can go over his options

dotmichael · 07-15-2008, 07:17 AM

dont know how we'd transport the car there, but i'll see if i can give you a call this week

07-10-2008, 12:48 AM	#1
dotmichael Tri-State Aficionado Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Monmouth County, NJ Member #1581 My Ride: 4door370z iTrader: (1)	Looking for a good Subaru shop and/or thoughts for a build I dont know if this is the right place to put this.. a friend of mine threw a rod in this wrx and now is looking to rebuild. Being a Honda guy with limited suby knowledge Ive been browsing nasioc as I always have but its some confusing stuff. It'd be nice to discuss a build in here too but for now I got to find him a shop. He's dissatisfied with precision tuning for whatever reason as they did his initial install (vf34, etc) So now i'm looking elsewhere. Someone who specializes in hybrid engines would be great as Im seeing there are difficulties with the build sometimes, although that may just be a ls/vtec type myth. He's going 2.5 block and has around $3000 to play with. Going to be tuned with Accessport and Im sure would like to be in the 12s somewhere. ANY help is appreciated as this isnt my forte and again sorry if this is the wrong section, but it seemed the best option.

07-10-2008, 02:33 PM	#8
JET02WRX Tri-State Addict Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chester Co. Member #2133 My Ride: 2002 WRX Wagon iTrader: (1)	And tell him to clear all thoughts in his head about using an off the shelf accessport tune with a hybrid motor set up. Thats gonna require a custom tune, which basically makes the accessport useless unless he REALLY needs the option to switch maps. __________________ 2002 WRX "Fun-Wagon"

07-11-2008, 06:59 AM	#10
JET02WRX Tri-State Addict Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chester Co. Member #2133 My Ride: 2002 WRX Wagon iTrader: (1)	Meh... depends on what you need/want. Utec is more than a map switcher..as a result...it costs more than an accessport. Depending on the year of his car, he can pick up a V1 accessport for cheap on ebay and get a protune. I still recommend free open source over either option...then all you pay for is the tune which is usually in the $250-350 area. __________________ 2002 WRX "Fun-Wagon"

07-11-2008, 08:24 AM	#12
DaveSTi Tri-State Post Whore Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Charlotte Member #1591 iTrader: (0)	Go with Ryan at AREA1320. Ryan will be great for the installs and tech help. I'm not sure about where to go for the engine build locally, I'd look into an AXIS block or one built by Phil at Element Tuning. __________________ Member Journals: To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures. / To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures. / To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures. / To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures. / To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures. / To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures.

07-11-2008, 08:29 AM	#13
Subie_sleeper Tri-State Post Whore Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Center Valley Pa. Member #5775 My Ride: '06 Subaru Baja Turbo. Cash consuming vortex from HELL iTrader: (1)	Again , DEFINATELY check out AREA1320. Ryan does awesome work , and isn't afraid to take on jobs that might be considered ...... Unusual. (like pain in the ass , freakish car/truck/things) LOL. He's the guy to talk to. __________________ Time to concentrate on the damn leaky axle & gettin my exhaust straightened. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures.

07-10-2008, 01:26 AM	#4
dotmichael Tri-State Aficionado Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Monmouth County, NJ Member #1581 My Ride: 4door370z iTrader: (1)	well i've seen brand new shortblocks go for $1800. Then there's the option of getting a used sti or 2.5 block but i cant find enough information about the sti internals and whether they'd support what he's looking for. OR get a used 2.5 block and do internals on that. Im sure he can budge closer to four grand but it'd need to be pretty wicked at that point. he's also got a cobb clutch, full exhaust, sti pinks, huge aps top mount. bare sti block w/internals would be too expensive? its his second car, not quite daily driver but not quite weekend warrior

07-10-2008, 01:38 AM	#5
Renegade_ Tri-State Post Whore Join Date: May 2006 Location: NNJ/NYC Member #1912 My Ride: 1J Swaggon iTrader: (2)	An sti shortblock can take you to 400whp if you want it. Im sure he's not looking to do that much. You can pick up an STi shortblock new or used with low miles in the low thousand range. New headgaskets, and the labor to drop everything back in is the rest...

07-11-2008, 08:16 AM	#11
LilSubiedrvr Tri-State Addict Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PA Member #5777 My Ride: '01 Subaru 2.5 RS iTrader: (0)	Yeah talk to Ryan at 1320. He REALLY knows his subies and won't steer you wrong.

07-13-2008, 09:47 AM	#15
RyanG Tri-State Post Whore Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Easton, PA Member #63 iTrader: (1)	Thanks for all the kind words everyone. dotmichael- I would suggest having your buddy stop by or give us a call and we can go over his options __________________ I am Area1320 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures.

07-15-2008, 07:17 AM	#16
dotmichael Tri-State Aficionado Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Monmouth County, NJ Member #1581 My Ride: 4door370z iTrader: (1)	dont know how we'd transport the car there, but i'll see if i can give you a call this week

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