Help with a poorman's STI

Discussion in 'Modifications & DIY how-to' started by calmnothing, Jan 15, 2006.

  1. calmnothing

    calmnothing Shlimp Flied Lice Supporting Member

    My current plan is to create my own cheap turbo monster 2.5RS coupe. First I want to swap my shortblock out for a STI turbo block. Then to get the necessary items to turbo. Controlling all this will be a Hydra ECU. My question is, when I swap the shortblock and turbo it will I have to use a 2.5RS exhaust? Or will I have to convert to using the WRX/STI exhaust. I'm a bit poor so I'm trying to do things in chunks that'll get things going in the right direction. So I was thinking of getting a stock STI catback attached to the RS. This way the exhaust will already be there once I start doing things.
     
  2. scuby drew

    scuby drew techos ftws!!EEEE

    not to thread jack, but please keep us posted as you go along, i have been wanting to do this for a little while now and would be interested to see the cost and time put in. goodluck with the whole build it will be sick when you are done!
     
  3. GTscoob

    GTscoob Black is Beautiful

    I'd do a turbo upgrade first and really limit the boost. Driving a 2.5 STI engine with no turbo is going to be much slower than your 2.5RS.
     
  4. WRX-WRC

    WRX-WRC Active Member

    yes, you will have to go with an STi or WRX exhaust.


    and yes, please keep us informed.
     
  5. WrxCrazy

    WrxCrazy Active Member

    if i was u i would try getting a turbo for the 2.5 rs small block.. and see how it works.. i bet it will have a very big difference and saves some money .. i dunno... maybe it's a good idea..
     
  6. calmnothing

    calmnothing Shlimp Flied Lice Supporting Member

    Well I still have to break in the STI shortblock before I go all turbo crazy. So it fits with my piece by piece plan. Also is cheaper to seperate it =P
     
  7. WRX-WRC

    WRX-WRC Active Member

    have you thought about a refurb crawford stage 2 block, right now they are the same price as a sti shortblock
     
  8. Meredith

    Meredith Banned

    Are you going to upgrade the clutch and transmission? I don't know if the 2.5rs will be able to handle the additional horsepower and torque of the STi block. Also you might want to consider better brakes too.
     
    Last edited: Jan 15, 2006
  9. calmnothing

    calmnothing Shlimp Flied Lice Supporting Member

    I will be upgrading the clutch to one that supports around 350 pounds of torque. That should be plenty at first. The transmission should be fine if I don't go crazy and do launches all the time. A lot of ppl are making around 325horse/torque on the stock RS transmission and have yet to blow anything. So I will definitely be extra careful.I

    've already got a ton of supporting mods in place. I've got my suspension pretty much done minus a few bushings. Got megan coilovers, superhuge front and rear swaybars, antilift kit and such. I've got got the an ver3 sti brake upgrade for the front and new pads/rotors for the back. That should help me turn and stop this beast.

    I have thought of the Crawford blocks. They're BEAUTIFUL!!! That might be the way I go.

    Right now I just gotta figure out the exhaust. But I think I've got it. The route I might possibly be going is to get a wrx exhaust manifold and do the turbo that way using stock pieces off of WRX/STI's. And I'll need to keep the STI exhaust I am going to get unmodified.

    I have thought about getting a turbokit for my stock engine, but it's too risky. Can only handle 6psi safely before I have to start upgrading internals and what not. With an STI block it'll be much much safer to boost. But I figure if I'm going to do it I might as well do it right the first tiemr ather than wishing I had did it differently. Besides I want to blow past an STI not catch up to it =)
    This is months off from coming to form. Doing this slowly as I'm gathering more parts and information for what I need to do. Will DEFINITELY keep everyone posted. Right now even without a lot of power I'm having a blast still with all the suspension upgrades.
     

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