Fun setup?

[MRLancaster]

Before anyone says I should swap motors. Going to put this ahead of time....If I ever swap...it will be once this motor blows up or years from now.
Anyways. I want to do mod the engine to have a little fun. Im not looking into something to show people off, im not interested in that. I just want something for my own fun.

Heres my idea...pretty basic.

Cams (need suggestions)
Cobb light weight pulleys
cobb intake
already have STI exhaust and headers.

Would that be a fun setup? Or anything to add to the list?

[ouch1011]

A lightweight pulley was the first thing I did to my 98 (got it as a gift). I noticed absolutely zero difference. I left it on the car because it was a gift and I didn't want to be rude, but if I'd have actually bought it myself, I'd have slapped myself, and then promptly taken it off and sold it to cut my losses. Short version, skip the LW pulley, its useless.

If you get cams, you need to get something to tune the engine computer with. Since your car has a MAP sensor and no MAF, it has no idea that you've added cams and are now ingesting more air, so it won't add more fuel, and you won't get the full benefit of the cams. You may actually run the engine lean, depending on how much more air you are adding. Cams may also hurt your fuel economy, depending on how aggressive they are.

Intake will make the car louder and can make it feel more fun, but it won't add any power.

I'm not trying to discourage you from modifying your car, I love my 98 and it has quite a few modifications. But, there isn't much power to be had from the NA engines, and most of the time any mods you do to it will make you feel like you've wasted your money. If you want to make the car more fun, make it handle better. Suspension, wheels, tires were by far the most "fun" mods I did to my car.

[phi11]

A lightweight pulley was the first thing I did to my 98 (got it as a gift). I noticed absolutely zero difference. I left it on the car because it was a gift and I didn't want to be rude, but if I'd have actually bought it myself, I'd have slapped myself, and then promptly taken it off and sold it to cut my losses. Short version, skip the LW pulley, its useless.

how long did you drive it stock before you installed the pulley?

I can totally fell a difference w/ my lightweight pulley.

[httrdd]

Pnp the heads before cams, spark plug wires, intake, cams, suspension, and TUNE IT to make all your hard work pay off.

[ouch1011]

A lightweight pulley was the first thing I did to my 98 (got it as a gift). I noticed absolutely zero difference. I left it on the car because it was a gift and I didn't want to be rude, but if I'd have actually bought it myself, I'd have slapped myself, and then promptly taken it off and sold it to cut my losses. Short version, skip the LW pulley, its useless.

how long did you drive it stock before you installed the pulley?

I can totally fell a difference w/ my lightweight pulley.

About 6 months I would say. A lot of people say they feel a difference. I don't see it, especially since the stock pulley isn't that heavy.

[1996Battlewagon]

Contact Delta Cams and ask them. They are silly helpful and will answer any question you ask them. They have different grind profiles and some do not require any ECU tuning.

[Reason]

Wow let me start off with the LW crank pulley. Having one on booth auto and manual I can say I didn't notice a different on my 4eat. But on my manual it was great. The revs move more freely, little to no bucking driving slow in parking lots. Better throttle response, the LW crank pulley is one of my top favorite mode along with Group N engine mounts and cams. As for the pulley on a 4eat I wouldn't rule it out. I'm an advocate of every bit counts. It may not be the best mod but it all helps out.

No for the cams, these were great once me ECU learned them and brought my 275k 2.2 alive. It's not a beast but ever since, I enjoyed driving my car. I have stage 1 or torque grinds from delta cam. You DON'T need to have your car tuned for these. It couldn't hurt, and im sure I would enjoy them more if I did but its fine. Stage 2 cams you MAY have to tune, anything more will require a tune.

Most mods on N/A are minimal gains. You need to go at it knowing this and you wont be disappointed. That's why a lot of times Ill do a few things at a time and I will notice a difference, plus it saves on install costs if I don't do the installs myself.

When I had my cams put in I had them installed in a dual exhaust port heads and url header installed with a pnp manifold from GrimmSpeed. That alone with my Exert clutch the car was fun to drive. You can toss $100 at your car and expect it to feel faster. If so you need a new hobby. It cost time and money to get a car where it is. I probably have $3k+ in parts since I owned this car (not all go fast bits) and about $1.2k in labor. Also understand my car has been around the block and has some serious miles. You having a newer car and a larger motor you will see bigger gains with less money than me. Understand its a hobby, not an investment. Go at it expecting minimal gains and you wont be disappointed.

[MRLancaster]

Oh I know it will be minimal gains, but if I wanted high gains I wouldnt even pursue the N/a.

[Reason]

Same with me, I could swap in a turbo motor and call it a day. But NA builds are different, I'm more of a n/a guy. Don't get me wrong, I like turbo cars. Maybe some day I break down and buy one.

[Huffer]

Get the Delta "street grind" cams before anything else. You'll enjoy those and they are the most difficult thing you'd do besides lightening the crank itself. Everything else like pulleys and PnP intake can be done much later (if at all).

Plus, your cams are only around $200. on a DOHC engine they'd be $400 ish (cos there's 4 of them instead of the two you have).

No need for a "tune" on the street grinds.

[ouch1011]

Wow let me start off with the LW crank pulley. Having one on booth auto and manual I can say I didn't notice a different on my 4eat. But on my manual it was great. The revs move more freely, little to no bucking driving slow in parking lots. Better throttle response, the LW crank pulley is one of my top favorite mode along with Group N engine mounts and cams. As for the pulley on a 4eat I wouldn't rule it out. I'm an advocate of every bit counts. It may not be the best mod but it all helps out.


Maybe thats my issue. The car was still a 4EAT when I put the pulley on, its a 5MT now. Maybe if I'm bored one day I'll swap it over to the 06 and see if I notice a difference.

[Huffer]

I have a GFB LW crank pulley and didn't notice much difference. It was on my 4EAT and my existing 5MT car. It is less than HALF the weight of the stock one and I've never had any normal operating issues with it.

[anothernord]

A lightweight crank pulley is definitely a noticeable mod on a 5MT car; it makes the car more drivable.

[Reason]

Not all LW crank pulleys are the same weight. The one I have is very light. I wont give up specifics at this time though :twisted:

[Reason]

A lightweight crank pulley is definitely a noticeable mod on a 5MT car; it makes the car more drivable.

I agree 100%

[Baddog]

I will be trying the agency power or grimmspeed LW pulley on my Auto. There are gains to be had with N/A motors. SOme have gotten 30whp or so out of NA 2.5's. Just depends on what you do and the tune. And intake with a tune and a full exhaust will help.

They won't be the fastest things but you can sure bring them up to speed and have fun with it.

[Huffer]

I have a GFB LW crank pulley and didn't notice much difference. It was on my 4EAT and my existing 5MT car. It is less than HALF the weight of the stock one and I've never had any normal operating issues with it.

The GFB LW pulley is PN#2009 - 6061 alloy and weighs 550g, instead of the hefty 2180g.

I didn't notice much of a change, but I'm not saying it's not worthwhile. I'd just do cams first.

[Reason]

For the price on SOHC's I would do cams and LW crank pulley at the same time.

[MRLancaster]

I will do those next then. :) So "Street grinds" dont need a tune? I've mixed opinions, would flashing the ecu help out the car realise that there are different cams? Some people say it helps the car notice new things. I dont know if its true or not

[Huffer]

No need. Your ECU will relearn around the "tune" anyway.

[ouch1011]

I'm not sure what tuning options there are for the older Subarus (my experience is with the newer turbo models) but 90% of any car out there will see noticable gains by re-tuning on an otherwise stock car. So re-tuning a modified car will definitely make a difference.



I will be trying the agency power or grimmspeed LW pulley on my Auto. There are gains to be had with N/A motors. SOme have gotten 30whp or so out of NA 2.5's. Just depends on what you do and the tune. And intake with a tune and a full exhaust will help.

They won't be the fastest things but you can sure bring them up to speed and have fun with it.

I'm sure these gains are possible, but at what price? If you are value minded, an N/A build for 30hp on an EJ25 will make your head explode compared to the value of bolting in a stock WRX powertrain and bolting on 60hp compared to the EJ25. The WRX would probably be easier and more reliable as well, and depending on how aggressive the cams are, more drivable. I love N/A engines as well, my old 180whp N/A Probe GT is probably still my favorite car, but if I was looking to build an N/A Subaru, I'd be using either an EG33 or EZ30 (probably the EZ30).

[Baddog]

The price gets up there. But some internal work can bring them up. But for a cost as you said. It's not like the engine can't make power. It just will not be the god of all. I want to do a WRX swap eventually. But I will do the trans at the same time. Just don't have the funds for that right now.

EG33 has been on my mind for quite some time.

[Huffer]

I'm not sure what tuning options there are for the older Subarus (my experience is with the newer turbo models) but 90% of any car out there will see noticable gains by re-tuning on an otherwise stock car. So re-tuning a modified car will definitely make a difference.

No argument from me, but if you do the research you'll find that flashing or tuning the pre-05 NA ECU is nigh impossible. And usually only works for WOT applications, like road racing or drags. It's certainly NOT worth it for a daily driver.

Now if you get into adjustable cam timing, and a major built engine, you're going to go standalone anyway.

[rougeben83]

Cams if you have the cash and time. It's the only real power mod out of the things you listed. LW pulley if you're short on money and just have to absolutely do something to scratch the mod itch. I'd wait for a lw flywheel though if you have a manual...

I would go with an EL header too after you do the cams, it will make the cams even better than the header you have now.

[MRLancaster]

Im guessing I will have to run premium once I get the cams in? What other things do you suggest with cams> Or would I be good if I installed the cams and left it at that for the time being?

[Huffer]

You can actually run 87 on the street cams or if you get a little knock you can switch to 89.

[Reason]

I run 87 not problems I can tell.

[MRLancaster]

Ive been looking for them cant seem to find them, could someone point me in the right direction. All I can find is info about street cameras 0.o

[Reason]

Call Delta cam and talk to Ken, and be sure to name drop SLi.

[thegonz]

i can say this with all the modifications i have done to my 2008 2.5i i hvae noticed a big difference but maybe thats just me

i have a kartboy underdrive pulley, intake, catback exhaust , E3 spark plugs, custom fuel line set-up as far as engine modifications ( i also have no ac either ), i also run 93. i find i have much better low to midrange power but my top speed is kinda cut-off but i dont care about that.

oh id love to do engine work but im gonna save my money to build a Subaru in the future

im assuming maybe because my car is newer then the car in question idk