The Magic 300!

It wasn't that long ago when producing 300kw was a massive deal, however advancements in engine, turbo and tuning technology have made this magic number very achievable. Lance originally came to us with his limited-edition 2005 WRX wanting a staunch and responsive power increase. The initial plan lead us to upgrade the tiny TD04 to a larger VF30 STI turbo, supporting it with a V11/GRB STI top mount intercooler, STI injectors, fuel pump and Link ECU. An exhaust and intake pipe were already fitted to improve engine efficiency. Once tuned, the vehicle put down a playful 236kw at the wheels. With a background of fast cars, it didn't take long for Lance's hunger for power to get the better of him, and he was back, for the next level of modification.

The Plan

Our sights were set on 280kw at the wheels, with a minimal sacrifice in response. The first port of call was to refresh the 200,000km+ engine. The most economical way to meet the power goals reliably was to fit a brand new EJ207 shortblock kit, and rebuild the cylinder heads. To support the extra power, the EJ207 was fitted with a larger set of 750cc injectors, PBMS Hybrid TD05/6 (bolt on), intake pipe and front mount intercooler. To aid reliability and consistency a stainless turbo heat shield and cold air box/duct were fabricated. Once the modifications were completed, '05WRC' hit the dyno to see what we could pull.

Engine Modifications (Initial stage)

Link G4+ ECU VF30 STI turbo V11/GRB Top mount intercooler 3 inch stainless steel exhaust Aftermarket intake pipe STI fuel injectors AEM 300LPH fuel pump Pre-dyno peak power 236kw (at the wheels)

Engine Modifications (Secondary stage)

V7 STI EJ207 Block and rebuild cylinder heads 12mm High flow oil pump 750cc injectors PBMS TD05/06 turbo (bolt on/single scroll) Turbosmart twin port internal wastegate actuator PBMS 3 port boost control solenoid Front mount intercooler kit Custom cold air box/duct PBMS retune package

Results

Note: Tuned on BP 98. Both Lance and PBMS team hoped for around 280kw, and were hoping to maintain as much response as possible with the longer intercooler piping and larger turbo. Peak power improved from 236kw to 303kw at the wheels, smashing our initial goal, and breaking the legendary 300 mark! What's more impressive is the power curve and response. The trade off for additional power is minimal on the dyno, and not noticeable on the road. In 3rd and 4th gear, full boost is seen at the 3600rpm mark. This creates a responsive drive, that has a huge kick to boot - very impressive for a stock block and bolt on turbo combination.

Blue line shows original setup and the red show the new, high power setup