Hello, I'm new here...Recently picked up this 04 WRX, now it's time to really dig in and figure out what the previous owner did. I figured I'd start by posting a few engine bay pictures- I would greatly appreciate it if you could let me know if you see anything good, bad, abnormal, etc.
Right off the bat I know it has a CAI and an aftermarket BOV of some sort that vents to atmosphere. From what I've been reading, these are both undesirable.
When shifting I hear a good amount of BOV flutter, which I was thinking could be caused by the T'd-off vacuum line going to the BOV. On my last car (95 Talon ESI-T) if I even tapped into the BOV line it would cause flutter.
Assuming removing the CAI is a good idea, could I just chop it off into a short ram and plop the filter in the corner of the engine bay? Another thing I've noticed which could be related to the intake is that when the car is up to operating temp and I give it a little throttle, as if I were about to take off in first gear, it will very briefly hesitate/drop rpms. Otherwise it seems to run pretty well.
Thank you in advance, I appreciate any help and advice!
Your car has been lowered and you've also got an aftermarket downpipe and intercooler. As for the intake either install a stock intake or get the car protuned for the CAI a short ram isn't an upgrade from your current setup.
Also could you post better pics of the turbo it looks slightly larger than stock but I may be wrong.
Looks like a turbo XS intercooler which isn't bad quality, but the BOV has to go as it looks like an eBay special! Not sure if atmospherics are ok for your year, but I'm sure others will chime in on wether to go BOV or BPV. The Injen CAI's are the worst offenders of differing from OE bends and pipe diameter (which will effect your MAF) but perfectly fine to have with a tune. Please do not hack it though...thats against the Subaru Ownership Code lol! The Perrin DP is def a good mod to keep. I can't tell on the turbo either. Summed up from sight you have the BOV, CAI, DP, and TMIC which pretty much guarantees you're running a stage 2 tune of some sort wether by an AP or Protune. I would absolutely get that tune checked professionally ASAP!! Still a nice buy though. Welcome to the forum man.
Cool, thanks a lot guys! I'll snap a picture of the turbo when I get a chance.
And yeah if anyone wants to chime in on the BOV/BPV situation feel free...I'll gladly purchase something of higher quality and more suitable for my setup.
BPV is the way to go. I have a Cobb XLS BOV on my car set up to fully recirculate. You can't have that one, but you can have my stock BPV if you want... for a small fee
I love working on cars, and I'm mechanically inclined. I'm excited to learn the Subaru platform...this isn't my DD, and quite honestly I'm ok if things aren't done exactly right- gives me a starting point! The engine has good compression, no leaks, 90k maintenance done, etc.
Man show, I'd be happy to take it off your hands! I'll send you a pm...
Any way for me to tell if the car has a tune? Obviously i don't want to remove parts if the car had been tuned for them.
Ok here are a few pictures of the turbo and exhaust setup. I was looking at ordering a catback, but noticed another Perrin piece under the car. Any thoughts?
The turbo appears stock, and that perrin piece under the car is the other part of the downpipe. It appears someone had modified catback. None of those connections should be welded though, they're all bolted flanges so if you do decide to order a catback be prepared to order a new downpipe as well.
Yeah...maybe an aftermarket cat after getting a CEL or something, but that doesn't look like a stock cat IMO. Don't know why he woulda done that though. Way to kill a good DP! Looks like you better stick with an axle back man. Or like mentioned, prepare for a full turbo back.
When shifting I hear a good amount of BOV flutter, which I was thinking could be caused by the T'd-off vacuum line going to the BOV. On my last car (95 Talon ESI-T) if I even tapped into the BOV line it would cause flutter.
Now that I take a closer look, the three thick hoses that are T'd near your turbo are just fine and the right one actually isn't associated with your BOV - it basically connects one side of the engine to the other (I suppose for breathing/regulating purposes?). It originally attached to a black metal sideways "Y" shaped pipe that would have bolted to the bottom/front of your stock top mount intercooler (you can see it in my stock engine pic), but often when people upgrade to aftermarket intercoolers, there is no place to mount that pipe, so people get creative with the way they route the hoses. I had to get extra creative since I also have an air/oil separator, but my hoses are actually T'd off similarly (the T connection is hidden under the pile of hoses that I have strapped together near the A/C nipple under the right plastic strap - see aftermarket pic). If you want to, you can run the hoses differently and try to hide them or whatever and it won't hurt anything.
Also, I have a small vacuum hose T'd into my bpv line (for my boost gauge) and it's just fine.
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