[Kostamojen]

Originally Posted by coyote

I have no interest in drag racing, but here's my engine builder's 1996 WRX.

http://www.youtube.com/user/EBSANE#p/a/u/0/hq0OkQ1KawE

I bought my first one in 1994, so they hardly came out in 2001.

I was discussing the U.S. situation. The first gen WRX/STI was never sold in the states.

There were hardly ANY Subaru enthusiasts here up to that point, and they only had the 2.5 N/A motor in the 2.5RS models to work with, so there really weren't any shops here in the states working with the turbo motors until the '02 WRX finally was sold here.

I joined the party about a year before the WRX came out, so I got to witness the madness, pretty much like being here a year before this car comes out, LOL!

Originally Posted by coyote

FB25 block is the only way you'll get near 280hp NA.

I was thinking about this last night...

If and I mean IF the FB25 shortblock is compatible with the FA20 heads, then this might be a good option. You would probably have to keep the FA20 crankshaft and rods (the FB rods are bent) and use the FB25 pistons or some custom pistons, but this MIGHT be a way to increase displacement.

A lot of the guys here with 1.8L Imprezas from the '90's build what they call "High Compression Frankenstein" motors by utilizing the shortblock from the 2.2 and combining it with the 1.8 heads. Increases compression AND displacement, making for good power.

This also works with the 2.2 heads in conjunction with the 2.5 block, but its slightly more tricky.