My Other DIY Project.

[Gregory East]

Now you're really scaring me. Watts is watts as they course through your system. 12v needs a lot of amperes to get 120w out of the amp after losses. No way that is safe in your accessory socket.

[Ryan A]

That's what the car's fuses protect...as long as the correct amperage fuse is in place.

[Gregory East]

Your socket plug might go 10 amps?

[bassmonster]

A little update. I have some BIG projects planned for my car this summer. Manual transmission swap and custom supercharger build. That's right, I'm putting a supercharger on an open-deck motor. I'll only be running 6psi of intercooled boost so it won't split the cylinder walls like a banana peel.

It will be a total sleeper. I will gain about 70 awhp from this, which ain't bad at all considering stock WRX dynoes around 170awhp and my Forester currently dynos around 120awhp. It will eat stock turbocharged Subarus for breakfast and I will see full boost from 2000 RPM to redline, not to mention that sexy supercharger whine. The supercharger + high compression of the N/A motor= huge amounts of low end torque. No waiting for turbo lag with this thing either- full power kicks in about 1000 RPM earlier.

The best part? No hood scoop. You won't even be able to tell this thing from a stock slow N/A Forester until I rev it up and you hear the supercharger whine. The black intercooler is concealed behind the bumper, and you can only see it if you're really looking for it. Pics to come when I'm not too lazy to resize them.

[Tom Smit]

A friend of mine works at a place that works on Subarus. They had a WRX come in that fouled #4 plug which was the result of an aftermarket chip installed. Apparently that factory engine is at it's max hp before structural damage, and the chip caused the piston ring to fail.

[bassmonster]

That's why I'm getting a dyno tune.

Cracked ringlands were a notorious problem for the EJ255, even stock motors had problems.

[Harley]

... and the chip caused the piston ring to fail.

Just goes to show ya that ya shouldn't buy chip shit

[ketoet]

I have 2 colleagues at work who both have imprezas with somewhere between 450 and 500 bhp. They're both member of a scooby club. I've heard them speak of any problems with stock engines that have been tuned. My colleagues both have the sti version so they might have different engine internals.
The only problem i heard about at my garage was engines failing due to a low oil level.
By the way, is it a kit you're installing or something you designed yourself?

Greetz ketoet

[bassmonster]

I made it myself. I didn't build the actual parts but I am custom fabricating all the brackets.

[ketoet]

Interesting , i also have a 2.0 N/A subaru (2005 impreza) and would like some extra power.

Greetz ketoet

[shawn_g]

You remind me of myself about 10 years ago. I added a turbo to a 97' Prelude back in the day. I did a similar install where I didn't use a kit and pieced everything together myself. I even bought a welder to fabricate my own downpipe and intercooler brackets.

The car was a ton of fun after the turbo. It was very much a sleeper and even had the stock wheels and suspension. The only indication that anything was different was the Apexi WS2 exhaust and the front mount intercooler tucked behind the front bumper. I used to beat on Mustang GT's and anything that dared to challenge me at the stop lights. I never took it to the drag strip, but I had one of those G-Tech units (I know, not completely accurate) that show your 1/4 time and it was reading low 13's from what I can remember. Even though I only ran 7psi, it didn't take long for it to develop transmission problems and it started to burn oil to the tune of 1 quart per ~800 miles.

Then I bought a WRX. Even at Cobb stage 2, it's not as fast as my Prelude was, but I promised myself that I'd never add forced induction to a car that didn't come that way from the factory. If I would have saved the money I spent on the Prelude, I'd have a monster WRX or could have possibly afforded a STI..

Be sure to post your progress. Sounds like a fun project.

[bassmonster]

^^^Sounds like a good time. Unfortunately, the guy who is selling the supercharger to me is not responding, so I think I'm getting scammed and will open a PayPal dispute on Sunday if nothing happens. This is not good, considering Eaton M62s are kind of rare.

Yesterday I cut up the front bumper to fit the black FMIC. After I put a lower lip on to even it out a bit, I'll post up some pics. You can't see the FMIC in pictures unless you use flash and you can't see it unless you are really looking for it. I love sleepers. <3

[67baja]

I built my "67 baja" using a Ford turbocoupe 2.3 liter turbocharged engine, front mount radiator, fuel injected, etc. The bug was fully caged, 31" rear mud terrains tires, Centerline rims, etc. It was mean enough to lift the front wheels, but would break transmissions at an alarming rate. I had a 72 Nova with a 468 big block, but my 250 horsepower VW was quicker stop light to stop light (but not top speed!).

Remember all these home fabbed automotive projects take longer, are more expensive, and need more oddball parts than you ever expect.

[shawn_g]

...
Remember all these home fabbed automotive projects take longer, are more expensive, and need more oddball parts than you ever expect.

This can't be emphasized enough.

[bitSmasher]

Just goes to show ya that ya shouldn't buy chip shit

aye bro