japete01 Posted August 8, 2013 Share Posted August 8, 2013 All, Thank you for all of your posts. I've been "trolling" the site for weeks to narrow down my options for my 2008 Spec B. I'm going for a professional looking/sounding daily that I can bring out to the track (road track) once or twice a year and enjoy in the Colorado snow. As far as I can tell my car is stock less the slotted rotors and EBC yellow pads. I'm looking at doing the following (for now): Whiteline Sway Bars Whiteline End Links STi Pink Springs Grimspeed UpPipe Invidia DownPipe Process West Intercooler Cobb Accessport V3 What are your thoughts? The car has about 72k miles. This is my first Subaru, so any/all advice is appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gex Posted August 9, 2013 Share Posted August 9, 2013 Looks pretty good. Skip the uppipe (08's have no cat), get the avo rear sway bar reinforcement brackets, and get a pro tune instead of the off the shelf cobb maps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JmP6889928 Posted August 9, 2013 Share Posted August 9, 2013 ^^What Gex said. I would also include the Whiteline LCA bushings too. At 72K, the tennis balls are most likely pretty worn out. You won't regret replacing these if you are doing the rest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
japete01 Posted August 9, 2013 Author Share Posted August 9, 2013 Thank you guys. That is really helpful. Any one in the Denver area that can recommend a pro tune? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
japete01 Posted August 9, 2013 Author Share Posted August 9, 2013 So here is the revised list: Whiteline Sway Bars Whiteline End Links STi Pink Springs Whiteline LCA bushings Avo rear sway bar reinforcement brackets Invidia DownPipe Process West Intercooler Protune Is the tune worth it at this point or should I do additional engine modifications (all at once) before? If so, any suggestions? I hate being a newbie, so thank you in advance for all of your advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PutnamCO Posted August 9, 2013 Share Posted August 9, 2013 Welcome to the Denver club, here are my suggestions: - Go E85 if you can, as it's the best bang-for-your-buck. You will get significant power gains with just a fuel pump and tune. I've been running E85 exclusively for over 4 years, but you have to live near a station to make it work. - It's probably not necessary to upgrade your TMIC if you're keeping the stock turbo, but if you're upgrading, you're right to go big with the PW. - Talk to cryo about a tune, he's got a thread in the mountain west section. The nice thing about a tune is that you're only out $200 or so if you decide you need more power. I personally think it's good to step up your power and other upgrades incrementally, but that's just me. You'll save a little money on tunes if you get a bigger turbo, but then you'll want something bigger more quickly than you would have otherwise. I went Stg I, then Stg II, then VF52 on 91, then VF52 on E85, then 68hta on E85. - Talk to Matt at Max Automotive about mechanical work if you need a shop. His reviews are in the recommended businesses thread in the mountain west section. - When replacing the LCA bushings, consider the +.5 caster bushings, as they greatly improved turn-in for me. Here's my review- http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/installed-poly-bushings-today-156451.html?t=156451&highlight=LCA+bushings - If you're upgrading power, plan on keeping money handy for a clutch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
japete01 Posted August 9, 2013 Author Share Posted August 9, 2013 Thank you for the advice PutnamCO. Looks like I have some reading to do on power. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
japete01 Posted August 9, 2013 Author Share Posted August 9, 2013 Updated List: Phase 1: So here is the revised list: Whiteline Sway Bars Whiteline End Links STi Pink Springs Whiteline LCA +.5 caster bushings Avo rear sway bar reinforcement brackets Invidia DownPipe Cyro - Tune Phase 2 - TBD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PutnamCO Posted August 9, 2013 Share Posted August 9, 2013 If you don't get a bigger TMIC, definitely reinforce the stocker. You can buy one from BarManBean http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/bulletproof-tmic-mod-lgt-08-wrx-158870.html, or find a way to do it yourself. Having blown an endtank of my stocker, I would highly recommend it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
japete01 Posted August 9, 2013 Author Share Posted August 9, 2013 That's really helpful. I didn't even consider that. I like to research before I buy. After reading a few threads I'm also considering coil overs vs. the pinks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JmP6889928 Posted August 9, 2013 Share Posted August 9, 2013 I would say to do all of the suspension and handling first getting the car to turn and ride like you want and then go ahead and begin on the engine. You can still have fun with it in it's current engine form and as it handles better and better, you may only want to go with a stage one tune and leave it basic. Put some good brakes on it too. You don't have to upgrade to Brembos or Wilwood or any BBK for that matter. Good pads, Centric Cryo rotors, stainless brake hoses, and good fluid completely flushed through and you'll be absolutely shocked at the difference. I really think you'll be pleasantly surprised by how much the suspension and brake mods will make the car so much faster everywhere you drive it by being planted to the road, having little to no body roll, and being able to stop so much quicker and shorter, not to mention some of the amazing twisty and excellent roads out by Nederland and Estes Park and Boulder and EVERYDAMNWHERE in Colorado...LOL. AND...suspension mods have NEVER blown a turbo or a ringland or a head gasket or a rod bearing. for suspension mods first....LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
japete01 Posted August 10, 2013 Author Share Posted August 10, 2013 Thanks JmP6889928. That is really good advice that I will take. I can worry about additional power later on, but the handling is something I can appreciate now. That's great advice on the brakes. I'll add them to the list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators BarManBean Posted August 10, 2013 Moderators Share Posted August 10, 2013 No struts? I think you'll see a huge return just from swapping to aftermarket struts even with stock springs. "Bullet-proof" your OEM TMIC! <<Buy your kit here>> Not currently in stock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
japete01 Posted August 10, 2013 Author Share Posted August 10, 2013 BarManBean - I'm looking at Koni's or Bilstein HDs. I live in CO and the car is a daily, so I'm not entirely sure if I could do coil overs instead. I've never run them on any car I've owned and I've heard they require a lot of maintenance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Capacity Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 See if m sprank is going to do another "group buy" on the Koni's and Epic's. Very nice set up. 305,600miles 5/2012 ej257 short block, 8/2011 installed VF52 turbo, @20.8psi, 280whp, 300ftlbs. (SOLD). CHECK your oil, these cars use it. Engine Build - Click Here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
japete01 Posted August 10, 2013 Author Share Posted August 10, 2013 Thanks Max Capacity. I hear very good things about that set-up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I Donated Too laff79 Posted August 10, 2013 I Donated Too Share Posted August 10, 2013 fyi, you've been lurking not trolling. best of luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
japete01 Posted August 10, 2013 Author Share Posted August 10, 2013 Good correction laff79 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farberio Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 Put in some high temp brake fluid and then go track the car, it will then tell you what to do next... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
japete01 Posted August 15, 2013 Author Share Posted August 15, 2013 That's valid farberio. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rush600 Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 My advice? Drive the car! Have some fun! These are fun cars! But take note of everything you don't like. It's amazing how quickly you will figure out cars weak spots. Some people say suspension upgrades and some people say power upgrades. What I would do? Drive the car, know how it feels so YOU can modify it to be the car YOU want it to be. After all it is your car that you are driving! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
japete01 Posted August 15, 2013 Author Share Posted August 15, 2013 Rush600. I couldn't agree more. I love driving the car, but do notice body roll and I want to improve the handling of the car primarily. If I'm going to dig into the suspension, I rather do it all at once vs. doing the same work over again and paying to have it realigned multiple times. Make sense? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Capacity Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 How many miles are on the car ? Have you done all the fluids or have they been done at the recommended times ? 305,600miles 5/2012 ej257 short block, 8/2011 installed VF52 turbo, @20.8psi, 280whp, 300ftlbs. (SOLD). CHECK your oil, these cars use it. Engine Build - Click Here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
japete01 Posted August 15, 2013 Author Share Posted August 15, 2013 72k miles. All fluids have been changed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thetoad Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 I am certainly intrigued by modifications,,,, Indeed,my 1971 Canary yellow Karman Ghia convertible was modified.After 3 count them 3 nose jobs were performed on my front end because of the lower ineffective bumpers . These mods are performance added.Mine was not. Was it because of the likable design which I had with my Ghia,or something I don't grasp here. If performance was essential,why not consider another car? By the way,,my mod was a J.C.Whitney ,jaguar type nose affix done by three bolts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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