Looking for more power

Heads, valves, pistons, rods, crankshaft, etc...

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Adam_Ant
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Looking for more power

Post by Adam_Ant »

So I bought a 90 Legacy, its a 5 speed all wheel drive so far Ive installed 04 WRX struts and STI springs. Ive also put WRX rims with Falcon Azenis on them. Car handles great I really enjoy it but it seems kind of under powered. What are some good ways to give it some more go. Ive also done some body work to it fixing the one rust spot and fixing the chipped paint. Would post some pics but dont know anyone who hosts. Thanks for any advise on power adders. How much do the turbo hoods usually go for.

Thanks,
Adam
ericem
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Post by ericem »

Non turbo correct? Maybe a diamond coil pack. I was thinking about buying a intercooler. Also cleaning out the motor with seafoam and such like changing worn plugs,wires,air filter would make it perform better.
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entirelyturbo
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Post by entirelyturbo »

If it's a 90, and it's not Josh's car, it's nonturbo :lol:

If it's a 5spd, it already has a Diamond coil pack.

Search some of Matt Monson's posts, or better yet, PM him. He's done actual power-making mods to an EJ22, like cams, injectors, EM, the works. I seem to recall him saying he got 170-180 chp out of it.
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Adam_Ant
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Post by Adam_Ant »

Is it hard to swap in a turbo engine. My buddy has a newer STI and the drive train looks pretty similar. That car can really move. How much fun would it be to have that kind of power in a little thing like these legacies. Probable just pipe dreams.
Splinter
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Post by Splinter »

A modern STI weighs about the same as our generation of legacys. Plus their chassis is stiffer and has a better suspension design.

A legacy with an STI drivetrain would not be faster than an STI
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skid542
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Post by skid542 »

If you're NA and looking to stay that way with the 2.2, then you have cams, EL headers, lightened flywheels/pulleys. Or you can do the high comp 2.5/2.2.

Search and you'll find all sorts of answers regarding this topic.

And yes, an STi swap will just make you as fast as an STi. However, with a lot of work you can take a stock STi with a modded Legacy.
Lee

93' SS, 5mt swapped, 182k, not stock...
96' N/A OBW 5sp, 212k, Couple mods... RIP
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Adam_Ant
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Post by Adam_Ant »

So are the turbo version of the legacies just as quick as an STI. If I was to want to swap a turbo engine in is the best bet the ej20.
skid542
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Post by skid542 »

Stock, no. Not even close. You have to do a lot of work and put in a lot of money.

Not to sound like a prune, but seriously man, spend a couple hours searching this forum and a lot of these questions will be answered and you'll have much better understanding of what's invloved.

If you just want something as quick as an STi without doing a lot of work, just go buy an STi. There is a reason they cost what they do, power isn't cheap, nor are the neccesary mods to control that power. You start pushing things with that much power and stock bushings, brakes, etc. and you're going to wind up dead.
Lee

93' SS, 5mt swapped, 182k, not stock...
96' N/A OBW 5sp, 212k, Couple mods... RIP
99' N/A OBW, 4eat, mostly stock.
555BCTurbo
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Post by 555BCTurbo »

Splinter wrote:A modern STI weighs about the same as our generation of legacys. Plus their chassis is stiffer and has a better suspension design.

A legacy with an STI drivetrain would not be faster than an STI
Try 300 lbs more than our Legacies...

And the suspension design is very similar...

And pretty sure that 300hp in a 3050lb car is going to be faster than 300hp in a 3350lb car.
Nick

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Splinter
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Post by Splinter »

The 6MT with DCCD is going to add around 100lbs to the weight of the car, keep in mind. As nice as it is to pretend, drivetrain swaps can add weight.

The STI weighs 3300lbs, not 3350
The Legacy weighs 3100, not 3050. Im not exactly sure where you're getting your numbers from.

So thats a 200lbs difference, 100lbs of which you lose with the 6 speed and related components

You're left with a 100lbs difference in a car thats 15 years older with worn bushings, tired suspension and a flexy chassis. The STI will be faster, straight line, gravel or track.

Im not saying that you couldnt make the Legacy faster than the STI, my legacy should be eating STIs for breakfast when Im done... but with the amount of money ive sunk into my car, I could have actually bought an STI.

What it comes down to, is that its not as simple as an engine swap.
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Post by BXSS »

The r180, BIG brakes, & 17" wheels/tires will easily add the other 75-100lbs to a LSS to even it out with an STi - in terms of weight @ least.
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Legacy777
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Post by Legacy777 »

Enough about the stupid minor differences in weight.......you could have a fat driver and a skinny driver.....100-300 lbs really shouldn't make that much difference.....
Josh

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slowjoe
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Post by slowjoe »

well said indeed!
94 AT FWD N/A wagon-gutted daily driver.
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