Just posting a cool shot after painting the tire stencils

Hey guys,

Just picked up an 02 WRX with a hybrid swap (EJ25 block, EJ20 heads, stock TD04 turbo). The previous owner was an older man and was looking to get out of a stick shift. He had lots of reciepts from the work and told me he had a mechanic do it. The build has over 3,500 miles on it and actually drives super smooth right now, but it's stuck exactly at 8 psi. I checked the vacuum lines and the restrictor pill is completely missing, so it's just running on wastegate pressure.

Neither I nor the previous owner know the exact engine internals, so I don't know if the heads were CNC machined or if it has either thicker head gaskets or hybrid pistons. I’m just assuming it's a budget build to be safe.

My goal is just a reliable, smooth street car. I want to fix the boost issue safely without buying a million parts. I'm planning to grab the OEM Subaru restrictor pill hose assembly (#14447AA090), but I need advice on the tuning side.

Honestly, since the car drives completely fine right now at 8psi, is getting a tune even a good idea at this point? Or should I just leave it alone since it's running smooth?

If tuning is the right move, instead of dropping $700 on a COBB Accessport, should I look into Open-Source tuning with a Tactrix cable? Is that even an idea I should entertain for this setup, or is an Accessport mandatory for a hybrid swap?

For anyone running a similar hybrid setup on the factory turbo, what kind of safe boost target should I tell the tuner to aim for? Also, hit me with any good E-tuner recommendations for the older GD chassis.

Thanks

Am I cooked?

Wife was driving leisurely in town doing errands. Going up a hill and started billowing steam. When I got to her the car had cooled down. But was still steaming a little. Started right up, drove it home. On the way home it got hot twice so I pulled over and waited for it to cool down.

There’s a slight vibration. No coolant in radiator or the reservoir that holds the turbos coolant. I’m assuming it’s head gasket.

What are some other possible causes besides head gasket? Only reason I want to even hope that it’s not the head gasket is that the car ran, and still runs, completely fine.

I’m going to get one of those combustion gases test kits for the radiator tomorrow.

My FIL said it could have jumped timing, making it too advanced which would then make it run hot.

What’re my options for rebuilds? I priced out an IAG setup and that came out to like $18,000… which I do not have.

As some of you know, I just bought a 2019 WRX STI. Sadly it had a recall issue for the DCM which was burning out the battery. But it also had a head unit issue (where the next track button on the screen, would continuously press itself and the only that resolved it, temporarily, was multiple hard resets). They are also doing a drive test which I'm paying for to check engine brake noise and trans. Oct 29th is the day, and I saved up a bunch in case they need to charge me (unexpected dealer charges).

The dealer is about an hour and a half away so it will be an all day event for me. But most of the worry should be covered. If not, I'll at least be provided a list to build from. If there ARE drivetrain issues, they may be covered under the used car warranty I purchased.

Lots of what ifs, but the important thing is after the DCM fix, I should be able to start driving it regularly. Thankfully I kept my 80 series Land Cruiser instead of using it for trade in value.

But if it's all fine.. I finally get to use it regularly. And that is AWESOME. Especially considering it's a ~$30k lawn ornament currently.

2020 WRX: Just got the new exhaust installed yesterday and the tone is definitely much nicer than OEM. Thinking about deleting the mufflers even though I just paid for the whole cat-back… could be louder :).

Anyone else have this exhaust & thoughts on the 🔊?

Hi Guys, I’ve got a 06 sti and recently dropped a brand 257 in it. I’ve put just less than 2000 kilometres on the new motor and have noticed smoke puffing out the exhaust, it typically happens when I’m sitting on a slant on a red traffic light or on a hill and as soon as I return to flat grounds it’s like it never happened lol. I’ve done some research and it might be the PCV that needs changing out but what are your guys’ other suggestions? Is getting the oil pan baffled also a good suggestion?

TIA 😎

Some backroad cruising on the way to my house. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Hello everyone I just picked up a 02 2.0 wrx and I’m having overheating issues I have replace the thermostat and the temperature sensor also have done the head gasket test twice it seems that as soon as I start it that it instantly gets hot in the 230 range some things have been modified on the car as well with that said the top hose is burning hot and the bottom one is cold same with the heater core hoses.. any advice on what I’m missing or if anyone has had this issue

I changed the engine on this 2010 Subaru wrx about 4 years ago and the transmission about 2 years ago, but when I open the oil filler cap I’ve noticed it has air comming out of it! I don’t think I’ve ever checked or opened the oil while on is this normal?

I need a professional QR made to put on my car like a vinyl sticker so it lasts when who did you go through? Also send me some pic of them plet

Was 130 miles short of 100k this morning. So I made an event of it and hit Pikes Peak before they close the summit for the winter

I just did me second oil change on my 2018 sti and there’s a little bit of metal in the bottom of the pan. How worried should I be? For preface it has 106,000 miles on it and I do have a warranty on the powertrain

The local Firestone and the local dealership fucked up the last three oil changes. Firestone forgot the crush washer for my Ascent, reused the crush washer on my WRX. The dealership left the filler cap off on the Ascent (they diagnosed the missing crush washer when we brought it in for unrelated clunking issue). So much incompetence... I used to say, not worth my effort and time to do oil changes, but now I've been hit three times in a row. Never again. Doing my own and it's Fumoto time now and forever. I guess you just need to learn first hand to become a do your own oil changes kind of guy.

I am looking into some new struts for my wrx. I want to keep stock springs for ride height. I do not want to do coil overs. Car is my daily but that includes spirited driving on asphalt, gravel, snow in the winter.

Anyone have experience with the Tein EnduraPro?

in search of either a pair or driver side only of either v1 or v2 subispeed headlights willing to trade oem plus cash or 800 flat for a set

Hi,

I have a 2005 Subaru Impreza Wagon that was lifted 2” by the previous owner with 2007 Subaru Forester Monroe Quickstruts (172425 and 172426) at the front. no issues or noise but one spring snapped.

I went ahead and ordered the exact same parts albeit part number 272425 and 272426. I believe the first number is a manufacturing year of which all now seem to be “2” now.

I installed them and both sides are clunking due to them topping out. The springs don’t seem to compress much with the weight of the car leading to topping out/clunking. as I compare them with the others I see that the new ones have a shorter strut and spring.

my questions are:

1. why would this be? is the spring stiffer?
2. has anyone else experienced this?
3. what can I do? could I put Impreza springs on there?

any help would be appreciated.

Thanks to the Wrx subreddit you guys saved me a ton of money and time putting in a new VVT solenoid and getting the pcv hose off with those hellish clips. Finally got everything back together this morning only to hear this whine I was for sure was something I screwed up only to find it was my power steering fluids were low. Topped that off and bled the line of air by turning my steering wheel back and forth which I learned from an earlier post on here and the sound is gone and car is running great! I said all that to say thanks guys!

I just need a receipt dating back in may with a purchase of oil and filter for a Subaru wrx 5w30 etc
Insurance company needs a receipt I never got because I got my oil changes done for free off the clock under the table through my brother who works at a shop . They denied the log he gave me so my only chance at this is with a receipt . I need help badly

I bought this recently out here IL . it originally came from Oklahoma. This is a shot in the dark but would anyone by any chance be the previous owner or know them ?

Love this car!!

I'm looking for a new pair of tweeters for my 2011 Subaru STI. Despite what this says, they don't actually fit. I want a drop-in upgrade, I don't want to drill any holes.