Battle plan for 200+ whp n/a - Tuners welcome inside
 

So I think I'll be doing the following to see how far it can go, and then eventually go turbo. Partially to try some things, partially to see if I like the power over the turbo anyway. I'll probably do it in 2 stages (seperated by ECU reflashes basically)...

First stage...

E85 FA20/FT86-SF tune
Injen intake - installed
Perrin Pulley - installed

Second stage

-UEL Borla headers (sorry but I love the sound)
-Berk Cat-delete pipe - cheap and effective
-Probably either 2.5in piping with a bottle resonator to a berk style dual track pipe (maybe with another bottle res between the tips)
or stock exhaust with a berk-style twin tip track pipe
-Ported stock throttlebody
-Ported Stock intake manifold
-Custom dyno tune on E85

I'd love to see this make 220-230whp. But I definitely EXPECT to see 200whp (especially since we're close to sea-level here)

As far as the ported stuff goes, plenty of people do it for other vehicles so I'll probably look into people who have done it for me in the past. Specifically my LS2 90mm t-body I had ported with great results... Might call him again.

What do you guys (specifically tuners) think?

Motiv overpipe and test pipe but if you want the Borla headers you might as well go with their full system.

stock manifold is plastic, i would wait on a complete replacement.

I wouldn't even worry about that intake till some more options come out. My guess is you would change down the road for a different one.

Borlas XR-1 is a little loud, although it I can do everything from them besides the cat-back and run the EVO3, I'd be ok with that

You can port plastic guys... and port it well... Go search FAST intake manifolds on LSX vehicles :) - Many people port stock plastic intakes as well. I'm using the LSX community as an example but many do it

None of the intakes on the market are worth it right now and i think the throttle body is more than large enough for a motor this size.

I think cams, Header and e85 are what will make the big power.

I'd prefer to see what the gains are with opening up the breathing a bit. I don't mind being the guinea pig and porting this stuff to see if it gives gains or not. If it does, awesome, I'm sure others will follow. If it doesn't, I'll be out a few bucks for a trusted specialist to port it for me.

While I do agree that cams would likely help with power significantly. I don't plan on cracking the seal between the heads and the block, the idea is a strictly bolt-on ordeal.

You mentioned porting the manifold, but I don't think flow restriction is the problem here, it's the runners themselves. All Subaru 4 cylinders seem to have the "double hump" torque curve because the heads are far apart and so the intake runners are really long by default.

If you cut between the pairs of runners on the manifold, enlarged the inner diameter from that point to the "plenum" (that you're effectively enlarging), and then joined the cuts, you'd have shorter runners, which could increase the high rpm torque.

I fully believe that 240 wheel would be easy on this engine once people start tapping into cams and head work / port work.

If you are going to get creative with it, then try running ITBs. It's only money, right?

-Zach

Most n/a cars need headwork before they make significant power. You're better off getting tires and suspension mods so you can be faster around the track. The manifold and throttle body should be large enough. Lighten up the car some more. What is this car used for? If you're looking to make 1/4 mile times you bought the wrong car. Do these engines have TGV? You could delete those if it does. ITB is another route like rallysportdirect says. It would be interesting :)

It did cross my mind BUT...
1- I don't know of anyone making them or anyone willing to fab it for me
2- If I'm going to go turbo anyway (eventually) I'd have to rip them off (most of the other stuff besides the header I could keep)
3- Yeah it is definitely an expensive proposition.

Someone should do it tho.
The car will have 3 sets of wheels/tires eventually (waiting for spring, just moving into a house with a 2 car garage so I now have room for storage/work) - Track, Street, and Winter. Suspension is also on the to do list also. However this isn't the forum for either of those things, so I was posting purely about n/a power - which this would be the forum for :)
I don't care about 1/4 mile times, If I did, I'd have kept the 500whp C5 I owned before the FR-S.
I'm legitimately curious about how far you can push the bolt on envelope (especially with E85), also looking for the learning experience to with dyno tuning, etc. Just trying to further the community with some experimentation is all :)
As far as TGVs, not sure if the FA platform has those, I'll have to look at the breakdown Crawford did again, the might have said.

No TGV's.

I understand the desire to remove breating restrictions, but the TB is 70mm IIRC.

i doubt it. With the time hassle and money spent on doing that you might as well just ago the avo route.

I'd go with a cold air intake over a short ram ... that's how I made 200whp.