Stock TD04’s, EWG’s, and My Tuning Options

[sisforsurfing]

I finally have a consistent amount of money I can spend (or waste?) on my car. This could take anywhere from until the end of the month until next winter depending on what I decide, but I’m at a cross on what direction I should take. Read on if you’re brave.

My current mods are just an HKS downpipe, Cobb catback, and Samco I/C hoses. That’s it. Obviously next is a catless up-pipe and some sort of management/tuning.

The first, most basic route I can take is to just get an up-pipe, bellmouth downpipe (ridding myself of this HKS wastegate blocker), and Cobb AP. Flash Stage 2 and call it a day.
Pros: Cheapest, very reliable. Cons: Not all that fast. Upgrade options: Can later do a Protune, then even a Big 16G, injectors, fuel pump, and TMIC.

The second option comes from me reading (like lots of Subie people) about EWG’s. If you haven’t, here’s a good starting point. EWG’s on even a wimpy TD04 are awesome for spool, add power, and are even better for your engine supposedly because of the added efficiency. For this setup I’d keep my HKS downpipe. I’d have to; weld or make a bracket for the TD04’s internal wastegate, buy a pre-made or custom make an up-pipe with an place for a wastegate, a Tial 38 or 42 MM, then go to Xotic and get a custom tune.

Pros: Custom tunes make more power than OTS maps anyway, EWG power, spool, efficiency, and sound, and lots of headroom for whatever other parts I want to add. Cons: Almost as expensive as option 3, how much more power than Cobb Stage 2 anyway? Upgrade options: B16G, 18G, FPGreen, TMIC/FMIC, injectors, pump… basically anything and everything that will make my 5MT go boom.

I hadn’t even thought of a third option until I started pricing out EWG stuff… if I saved up a bit more. Instead of getting the EWG, I could get an up-pipe, internally gated B16G, pump, injectors, and Ebay TMIC, then get that setup tuned at Xotic.
Pros: Good power, good spool, happy me. Cons: Lots more cash, thus waiting longer to do anything. Upgrade options: Nothing, I’d probably keep this setup for as long as the car.

…but then I start thinking whether I should just do that with the AP.



Basically I am just trying to gather opinions of what people are thinking they’ll do and what people have done. I have some time to think, but want to get to it in the not-too-distant future.

[sesolcSTI]

$1800 can get you a vf34, pump, injectors, and an accessport (Stg 4). Cheaper if you buy a preowned accessport, injectors, and pump. That would probably be the cheapest, easiest route? I don't know very much about the B16g. All i know is that was going to be my eventual route when i owned my bugeye. Now with the protune out and about, the options are endless. Just my .02

[cody]

I'd say a good budget saver would be pinks (or there are many other injectors out with good prices), 255 fuel pump of course, a big 16g, and ecutek tune. I think you'd be very happy with it.

[UnderPoweredRS]

EWGed VF34 FTW :-D

[D Money]

you want a setup? Cheap? Here it is.

FP-super 16g $725
Modded stock injectors $50
Walbro Fuel pump $100
Ebay tmic $300
Ecutek $700
Halman MBC $80

There you go, 12 sec wagon with sick power. Don't waste you money and time on the vf34...

[ScoobyNubieToo!]

Originally Posted by subwrxkid

you want a setup? Cheap? Here it is.

FP-super 16g $725
Modded stock injectors $50
Walbro Fuel pump $100
Ebay tmic $300
Ecutek $700
Halman MBC $80

There you go, 12 sec wagon with sick power. Don't waste you money and time on the vf34...

I agree......

[UnderPoweredRS]

Originally Posted by subwrxkid

you want a setup? Cheap? Here it is.

FP-super 16g $725
Modded stock injectors $50
Walbro Fuel pump $100
Ebay tmic $300
Ecutek $700
Halman MBC $80

There you go, 12 sec wagon with sick power. Don't waste you money and time on the vf34...

LOL thats funny Chris was trapping 118mph on his VF34. 118 trap is good for 11s

[UnderPoweredRS]

http://www.rs25.com/classifieds/show...p?product=6537

$500 bucks with 3,000 miles on it and you'll have a ball bearing turbo that spools in no time and pulls till red line. that makes a very fat power band meaning a fast car.

[sisforsurfing]

Originally Posted by subwrxkid

you want a setup? Cheap? Here it is.

FP-super 16g $725
Modded stock injectors $50
Walbro Fuel pump $100
Ebay tmic $300
Ecutek $700
Halman MBC $80

There you go, 12 sec wagon with sick power. Don't waste you money and time on the vf34...

That's exactly what I was thinking as the ideal setup, it's getting more and more attractive.


As for the VF series... I have always been big on Mitsubishi turbo's over the IHI turbos. If I end up feeling like I'll go with an ECUtek tune, I'll talk to the tuner about his experiences. I'm gonna research the bigger 16G (big, super, whatever FP calls it) versus the VF34 and make a decision.

I think I'm leaning more towards a bigger turbo than going with any EWG setup, so I'll buy a bellmouth DP, TMIC, then save up and do the rest all at once sometime in few months.
...then start saving for a 6-spd.

More suggestions/opinions are VERY welcome.

[WRX27]

I was talking to precision tuning in Brick about upgrading my turbo etc and they recomended the 16g over the vf34

[D Money]

16g will make sufficient power over a vf34 anyday.

Ralph, who trapped 118mph in on a vf34?

[TROLL]

td04 flows 360 cfm
vf34 flows 460 cfm
small 16g flows 515 cfm
big 16g flows 550 cfm
super 16g flows 585 cfm (super 16g is a deadbolt exclusive turbo)
18g flows 590 cfm

*these numbers vary by manufacturer

i'd say look into something like a small 16g... its actually very comparable to a vf34 so if you come across one of those cheap (like the one above) dont hesitate to grab it. both the small 16g and vf34 will be fine on pinks, but any of the other turbos listed should be run with a minimum of 650cc injectors.

[D Money]

excuse me, fp-18g's flow 605 cfm!!!

[ScoobyNubieToo!]

Originally Posted by subwrxkid

excuse me, fp-18g's flow 605 cfm!!!

*these numbers vary by manufacturer

[sisforsurfing]

Originally Posted by TROLL

td04 flows 360 cfm
vf34 flows 460 cfm
small 16g flows 515 cfm
big 16g flows 550 cfm
super 16g flows 585 cfm (super 16g is a deadbolt exclusive turbo)
18g flows 590 cfm

*these numbers vary by manufacturer

i'd say look into something like a small 16g... its actually very comparable to a vf34 so if you come across one of those cheap (like the one above) dont hesitate to grab it. both the small 16g and vf34 will be fine on pinks, but any of the other turbos listed should be run with a minimum of 650cc injectors.

Good info. I was just thinking big 16g because it'll give me more headroom when I get tired of whatever I would max out pinks at. I should look at compressor maps and see what lag is like... the smaller one might be a better choice anyway.

I also am confused why Subarus use 18G's. DSMers go from the big 16G straight to the 20G. The 18G only flows 40 more cfm than the big 16G, but the 20G flows 100. Is the 18G at the limit of stock internals and the 20G would just be too much?

[sesolcSTI]

Cold air intake, Radiator shroud, Cwest grill, and a 500 shot of nitrous for teh win!!!!!!!!!!

For real though, now that i have seen the CFM of the 16's over the VF34, i would def go 16, and the price is right!

[Jourdan]

fast wagons are sooooo sweeeet.

[CHAOS]

this is pretty good info. subscrubed.

heres a question... why not just get a bigger turbo AND an EWG set up ?

[JoeScooby]

All this talk about EWG, maybe its time to jump on the bandwagon.

Apparantly some good numbers could be made with a stock td04 and EWG, even more so with a monster TD04

[D Money]

I am selling my elemenet tuning ewg setup soon because it won't fit with the new turbo, not to mention the new setup comes with a ewg. lol Should be up for sale within the next couple months.