Waiting for pricing on the 2012 WRX so I can put down my order. After doing a lot of forum reading, researching acronyms, and general de-noobifying myself (lol), I have decided which direction I'm heading in. I'm here for advice and to see any and all gaping flaws in my plans (which will be carried out over the course of a few years I hope). Take in mind, this will be a daily driver and I have no plans of 1/4 mile, Autocross, or track days; this is just something I've wanted to do for a long long time :-D
So my plan is low 400 hp, 400 tq for the 5 speed 2012 WRX. The steps I will be doing are as follows:
First set of upgrades:
AEM CAI
Cobb AP
Cobb Catd DP
Invidia Q300 CBE
Second set of upgrades:
Perrin FMIC
HKS Fuel Upgrade Kit (800cc injectors)
Forged pistons (don't know which yet)
Uppipe (don't know which but possibley Cobb)
Third set of upgrades:
Crawford FMIC AOS
Larger Turbo (I don't want to go rotated if I don't have to)
External Waste Gate
Wideband O2 sensor
Possible clutch upgrades?
So I guess my biggest questions are, what am I forgetting? Does the order of upgrades seam correct? Will the Cobb stage 2 map w/ AEM CAI work with my first set of upgrades (using cobb catd dp)? What, if any, extra things should I need for my initial upgrades ---fittings or anything that wouldnt come in the boxs for those products?
OF COURSE I am working under the assumption that no major changes will occur between 2011 and 2012 model years but otherwise.... how does this look?
You are forgetting brakes, suspension and trans upgrades, the first two of which should happen after your first "set" IMHO. Don't know why you would want a "hot air intake" but to each his own BTW, Why are you planning on getting two different FMICs ?
Definitely a rookie goal at first glance without knowing more about you though. If you've driven high power cars before then you can probably handle it, but if you have yet to even drive a car like the WRX with 265 bhp, you're in a world of hurt at 400whp. A true 400whp in a WRX is a FAST car.
If you're only talking 400bhp, well then the stock turbo can be pushed that far with relative ease. Definitely add better rubber, at least sway bars and endlinks, engine and trans mounts, misc. bushings to tighten up the rest of the driveline, an aftermarket boost controller (3-port at a minimum, hybrid if you're a baller), some sort of ported or aftermarket exhaust manifold/header. That AEM intake probably won't be big enough for 400whp, so I'd go for a 73mm intake like the KSTech or other bigmaf type intakes.
Other errors is that you won't need a new up pipe until you go EWG. Unless your using a block off plate on a grimmspeed UP....I believe its their UPs that have that feature. You'll always want OEM gaskets or upgraded gaskets. Sometimes the gaskets that come in the box with your parts are thin and crappy. Another fact is that some of your upgrade path might be etched out by which professional tuner you end up using.
The dealer as OEM gaskets or normally places like grimmspeed carry a lot of gaskets. Meh...I don't what is closer to harrisburg than York, PA's tuner. CBRD, but he doesn't tune for E85. Take a look at this link and see who you want to go to. I love my AP...but, if your going to a tuner for a custom tune on your first set of upgrades. You could pass it up for a custom Open Source tune....its up to you. I like it and many others like its features. But, it is more money than a open source tune. Its up to you...if you want to run with a AP. Make sure your professional tuner can tune and make maps for the AP.
Edit: Again..consulting with who ever you pick as your tuner will and can sometimes change which exact parts you run. Some tuners have a aversion to certain parts from bad experiences or won't do certain fuels (like E85 due to personal reasons or insurance reasons). The only down fall of my tuner is that he won't tune E85...I wish he would. But, I can get by with some 93 oct tunes.
Yeah...its not a bad idea. Its what I did (took my car upgrades in small doses) and my car is pretty comparable to Chris's car. Its a heck of a lot more than what it was stock. Jumping in small stages lets you adapt to the new power. I'm going to have to relearn my car some when I get it back from my tuner. I'd say tq is the most noticeable....but even 30 whp/tq is easy to notice when your used to the power you have. Its what makes the mod bug so addicting...you keep feeling your car get better.
I would honestly look into an oil pressure gauge. A little more feedback can come from them before an oil temp gauge. Thats what I have found from asking and researching. But a wideband and EGT will help with tuning and understanding what is going on with your car.
Gauges in this order:
Boost
Oil Pressure
A/F <--make sure you get a quality one that reads in different formats.
Oil temp
Pyrometer(EGT), but personally not really needed. *puts on flame suit* There I said it....haha
Beating. It's always been debated if they are useful for tuning. On a street driven car, I just don't see it being worth while. Again I'm on one side of the tracks and others are not.
I will admit that I got one based off of a few opinions. A couple tuners and builders. I do like to watch it sometimes when I do drive it hard, not that its ever at a dangerous level. I will hopefully eventually be getting a few more gauges to add to my collection, but who knows where Im going with my car now.
Well again for a diesel or serious performance car I can see it. Something that's going to see a lot of high RPM usage and or relies on heat, like the diesel, then it can be of help I suppose. Something to think about, do you think that gauge is telling you the actual temp at the exact moment it hits the probe? Don't you think the temp inside the combustion chamber is a lot hotter...??? Again my opinion is different that most and I'm not trying to sell anything. I am a cheap bastard and if I don't need it I won't buy it.
Touche'....lol
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