onsit

I did this change on my 08 wrx with 120k miles on the clock. Same gasket issue as you LGT guys...

I didn't use a dental pick - and I was lucky enough that a 2.5mm allen wrench was able to fish the old gasksets out.

The old gaskets were much thinner, and rock hard compared to the new OEM ones. Also it is worth taking a look inside your throttle body and cleaning it out with carb cleaner. That caked up black ring might be affecting idle as well.

Took 4 hours total. 3 of the gasksets I was able to get out in the first hour. The last one - man... the driver side near the TB is a royal PIA.

I love my 52. I'm still on stock injectors......although that will be my last upgrade later on down the road. I do however have a DW65 fp. I originally had an '08 STI pump and decided to upgrade when it went on me. Injectors and my stock BCS was what was holding me back on my tune After my engine build I did not have enough money to do everything else I planned so I am fine where it is (for now).

Injectors? Holding back the VF52? On pump gas? Who is tuning it....

If you are picking up a used VF52, it might be beneficial to have the wastegate ported. And the hot side ceramic coated.

It is a great option (without going EWG) to give you a bit more piece of mind against boost creep. Eric did a good tune, and was happy with how my PnPed VF52 reacted to his adjustments.