[pwrup25RS]

So the mr2 project is almost done.. just need a few more things.. and my time and money will be focused on the Impreza. I wanted to see what opinions you guys had, and maybe some insight/hookups.

Anyhow, I currently own a BRP Coupe. But I want a sedan. Why? I dunno..maybe its just that I wanna be able to pack my friends in the back, or put the baby seat back there. Anyhow here are my plans.

I'm currently searching for STi Clips from Japan. So far I've found a couple places and the prices are outrageous. Well, for Ver5 and 6 I've seen front clips for 8-10 grand. Ver4 seems to be more realistic at 3-5. All this and I'd have to get a 'shady' character to pass me for smog. lol. OR I can go the smog legal way and dump a USDM WRX motor into it. Shouldn't be too hard to source considering all the totalled WRX's I've seen out there

If I go with the Ver4 motor, would a Ver5 or 6 intercooler fit on the Ver4 motor? Should right? And how would I maintain it, as far as maintenence goes. Oil filters, timing belts, water pumps, etc. As far as engine management goes, if i had the complete harness and ECU, I should be able to run that right? I know the octane is higher in japan, but I've talked to some guys over at the MR2 board that are running jdm (3rd gen) 3sgte's with the jdm ecu's with no knock or detonation problems on US pump gas.

I guess I'm trying to build some STi Ver6 replica of some sort, motor and all. Just wanted your guy's input on this, and how plausible this would be. I know the thing is gonna put me in debt horribly, but thats something you gotta deal with when you're a fanatical gearhead eh?

 

[Graham]

I think that if you can find the Jap-Spec setup, then go that route, as it will be quite a bit more power than the USDM WRX engine. If you can find the JDM ECU that goes with the motor, then by all means use that, as it should work fine since it what came with it from the manufacturer. If you can't find the ECU, then something like a TEC-II or a Haltech E6K would work fine, but you would have to tune it. As far as finding a US-Spec REX engine, it can be done, but it might take some time to locate one, especially one that isn't outrageously priced. Personally, I would try and find the US-Spec engine solely for the fact that if it breaks, you won't have to find someone who speaks Japanese to get you a part to fix it. The front clips can be quite expensive and the searches I have done yielded only high prices. I did however, find a few reasonably priced front clips from Australia.

Good Luck


Graham

 

[scoobyrs25]

Clips are nice because you also get seats, steering wheel, tight ratio steering rack, and an aluminum hood.

 

[kynx]

What the crap's a clip?


Woo, I don't belong here.

:run:

 

[Section 8]

They are also sometimes called a (front) "cut". Its basically the front half of the car, cut off near where the transmission case ends.

Greg

 

[scotty305]

Remember that the J-spec WRX engines are built with 95+ octane in mind, not the crap we get here in CA, the state with some of the hottest (ping ping) weather around...:curse:


I know this sounds crazy, but what if you got a early-model Impreza AWD sedan, swapped in a 2.5 from a legacy (lots cheaper & easier to find), and added the new Vishnu turbo kit? That would make a lot of reliable power, and be pretty unique.

Or try Templar's kit, when he finishes it. It will probably be better for hot climate applications than a turbo.

It's kinda ironic: there's a lot more options now than there were 2 years ago, but I'm still debating S/C vs. Turbo kit. Except this time, they're both gonna be much higher quality, and make reliable horsepower.

 

[blitzkrg-RS]

scotty305,

i can't agree with you more on the options you mentioned. but you probably misunderstood pwrup25rs' intention. what he want is a JDM GC8. A car that all of us dreamed about when we first know about the Impreza and its heritage.

so like me, he wants to transform his GC8 RS into a JDM GC8 v5/6 WRX spec. Vishnu kit and Supercharger kit may sound appealing but its not going to be a WRX.

cheers

cal

 

[blitzkrg-RS]

pwrup25RS,

hey bro, can you help me find a vr5/6 front clip? i can't find anyone from the bay area.

thanks a lot

cal

 

[pwrup25RS]

There ya go.

http://www.neishlinmotors.com/

I met the guy once. He's pretty cool. Though you'll probably have to do some phone callling instead of emailing. I've met alot of people that have done some gen3 MR2 swaps from them and everyone has good things to say about them.

 

[blitzkrg-RS]

hey thanks a lot!

cal

 

[blitzkrg-RS]

just talked to the guy Sam at Neishlin. he told me the next shipment is coming in 2 weeks. supposedly an ver4 or 5 STi front clip is in that shipment. he's asking $6500! damn! thats including rear axle, etc.. WOW! pretty good price if you ask me..

 

[MagicMT]

he's asking $6500! damn! thats including rear axle, etc.. WOW! pretty good price if you ask me..

What exactly is the "etc"?

 

[blitzkrg-RS]

differential, trailing arms and links? i have to find out more..

 

[MagicMT]

Sounds pretty good. That'd be killer if it came with a tranny too!

 

[blitzkrg-RS]

tranny is included in the front clip.

 

[pwrup25RS]

Blitz, so are you gonna go for it? I'm just gathering funds..so who knows how long THAT will take..heheh.. oh well.

 

[blitzkrg-RS]

hey pwrup,

i am saving up funds as well..the motor i called for is a ver IV.. it ain't going to be smog legal. so i need to talk to those guys at neishlin motors in few weeks again and see if they can get me a ver V or VI front clip.

btw, the guys at Neishlin said they have no experience swapping ej20s.. do you know anywhere down in s. cali? i am assuming ISR is the place to go?

calvin

 

[pwrup25RS]

I seen Pam's GC with a rex motor, but I haven't heard of anyone taking their cars to ISR for a swap like that. I'm sure if they did it to Pams car at iSR, they could do it to yours. Great people there.

Neishlin i believe is right by a company called Cartune Motorsports down here in LA/Rowland heights/City of Industry area. The owners of that company are regulars over at the MR2 board and are responsible for a whole sh*tload of people getting JDM motors. They've done a few 3rd gen 3sgte's into a USDM MR2 which is no easy feat from what I understand.

I hear their work is also great, something hard to come by these days. My close friend is good friends with the owners also, and I've asked my friend if they're trustworthy and he says that they're cool guys and will take care of you, when i was looking into a 3rd gen motor for my MR2.

I plan on making a trip out to these two shops and when i get back I can fill you in on my experience.

Oh and if the ver4 wasn't smog legal, the ver5 and 6 ain't gonna be either. I doubt those motors come with any kind of smog equipment such as a EGR system. I don't think any motors coming outta japan are smog legal anyhow.

 

[MagicMT]

Some of the older EJ20s are closed deck. Forgot which version that was though.

 

[blitzkrg-RS]

pwr,

yes! please let me know about your visit to these shops!

and as far as smog/register issues, i have no clue either. IIRC, (from other friends experiences,) once the swap is done, i will need to get the car to a ref station for inspections such as visual and smog.
so to make it street legal, the motor/tranny has to have either the same or newer yr vin # and some sort of emission equipment installed.

what do you think?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Magic,

closed deck or not.. it doesn't matter to me..haha of course i don't mind getting a closed deck ej20.