legacycentral bbs

I see tons of guys running 400-700+ HP STIs all the time over on NASIOC. I have yet to see someone run even 400WHP in 1st gen Legacy.

What are the major differences besides displacement of .3L between an EJ22T with DOHC and larger injectors/turbo/intercooler upgrades that are holding us back from achieving the big HP numbers the STIs are hitting?

Is it the OBD2 ECUs? Is it better flow in the heads? Why can't we have more power!

Its the butt dynos.

But seriously if you put all that stuff in your car it will do the same thing.But then our trannys break so we need one of theirs as well,and then this and then that,and on top of it all our cars are heavier.Also remember those numbers are not WHP,theres alot of guys around 400HP at the crank and and more.It seems to me that in this forum people tend to post what the WHP of there car is rather than the BHP,which is for good reson.

I think most of it is just time and effort and money. With an STI there are tons of available bolt ons versus having to research and figure things out yourself on an SS. anyone can plug in an accessport, not everyone is willing to splice into a wiring harness for EM.

Then there is starting with a 130whp car versus a 230whp car. There's just less work involved all around on an STI. And 400hp on a stock SS suspension and drivetrain would be scary, versus the 6mt and STI suspension. The GD and GR chassis is also much stiffer, so it makes more sense to build one of those if you want that much power.

kimokalihi wrote: I have yet to see someone run even 400WHP in 1st gen Legacy.

Hey, you forgot me!

But then I did it with a 2.5 block.....

I have never run a ej22t block simply because I always got the 2.5 pistons for cheap....

Yeah, Doug always buys a 12 pack, of pistons.

Doug, I wanna see you work your magic with a 22T.... if you can find one for cheap of course.

I have 3 ej22ts......

Just don't have any forged pistons for them...

To run a reliable and controlled 400whp in a first gen Legacy, you will spend what a new WRX will cost.



With these old cars, most people aren't willing to put the work and funds into an old less sexy car to make that kind of power. Also, not many are willing to run a large enough turbo with the supporting mods to do it. Are talking pump gas, race gas or corn? 400whp on pump fuel is tough for a 35R. Who wants to run a 40R on a 2.2?

I see. Makes sense.

^^ it never makes sense LOL

but i wont let you down !!! in do time, maybe this week if i can sleep and wake up like a normal person. what i think, but dont quote me on it! i should make 400+ with my 93 legacy.

i think the north america sti 2.5l motor suck's !! i didnt see a sti try to break the legacy speed record, it would blow up at 200,000kms. i didnt see a sti win five rallys in a row to make it the worlds best.

i could go on and on, lol but i wont, i want to but i wont go there lol.

Another reason...one that might bug a few folks here...is that for "most" people, these old Legacies are a second (or third, fourth, etc.) hot-rod, if it's considered a performance car at all. Most of the people who own these have another car they spend the "real" money on. I love my SS and I drive it all the time, but it's always going to be something of a low-budget car to me.

I agree with SLODRIVE. I haven't had this car long, and I'll admit when I picked it up I had delusions of 400whp daily driving, but I would much rather spend the money on having 400whp in my S2000 and more like 250 in the Legacy to get it on par with the more modern WRX's and such.

kimokalihi wrote: Is it better flow in the heads?

This is probably the biggest reason.

Everthing else is a bolt on upgrade, ie bigger injectors, turbo, intercooler, piggyback.


Then you have to think about it, even the STI making 400plus whp has to upgrade everthing as well. Its not like they just turn the boost up..... 400whp on a 22t or a 2.5 still requires bigger everything.....


And 400whp is a fuck load of power. I want more of course, cause I have tasted it, but damn its still stupid fast.

douglas vincent wrote:I have 3 ej22ts......

Just don't have any forged pistons for them...

one day?