beano

How possible/easy would it be to upgrade a wrx wagon with a STI motor? I think it would be cool to have a 300 hp wagon for haulin' the kidos around.

LjasonL

Wouldn't be too hard. A TS wagon would be a cheaper starting point.

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beano

approx. how much time and money would I be looking at? I think I'd like to stick with the WRX model for the interior differences, and I assume it also has upgraded brakes and suspension from the TS.

LjasonL

There aren't as many differences as you'd think once you get past the drivetrain, which you'll be swapping anyways. The parts are all still high dollar right now, you're probably looking at over $10,000 just for the drivetrain.

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beano

wow, 10,000! I'm still a few years out from getting my car (I still have to pay off the minivan first), so hopefully by then stuff will be cheaper and easier to come by. Thanks for your input.

ragnarok

Several months ago an import magazine did a motor swap on a wrx wagon. They said it was fairly difficult because of the drivetrain. Everything has to be swapped out basically. Price was well over 10 grand i believe but the car was awesome. Only 6 in the world too i think they said.

fatray

I did it and it wasn't that hard at all. Bolted right up with no modifications at all. All I bought was the longblock from a JDM STI Spec C and used all my bolt ons. Went from 13.4 1/4 mile times to 12.6 1/4 times, but I think the clutch had a lot to do with those times. I can hit 60 in 3.98 seconds, and all in a station wagon.

http://www.ray.wroten.com/interest.htm

LjasonL

But he's talking about the 2.5 from the new STi, it's even more rare and expensive than an older JDM STi engine. I haven't heard of anyone swapping one into a wagon yet.

If you just want 300hp, it could be done a lot cheaper with the stock engine, or an older STi engine like fatray is talking about.

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fatray

You can pick up a shortblock 2.5L engine from the STI for $1,500 from any Subaru dealer. The whole motor, harness, ECU would be a different story and should run you about $7,000. I picked up my STI RA Spec C longblock for $3,500 USED and thats a good price. Just got the ECU for my motor directly from Japan last week for the ungodly price of $930.
I did most of my shopping and get my know how from www.nasioc.com

ragnarok

You could get cylinder heads etc for the engine from cobbtuning, might as well build it up good since the motor is gonna be out anyways. With the harness though, probably will just have to submit to the high prices of the dealership.

beano

Your motor, STI RA Spec C longblock, is that a 2.2L from Japan? If so, what kind of condition was the motor in? I've thought about doing a jdm engine swap with my wife's old civic to see how had it is, and if it is something I would be able to do with the wrx in the future. I'm a little leary of buying a motor sight-unseen over the internet. It sounds like you had a pretty positive experience though (0-60 in 3.98 sec.... WOW that's fast)

2turboimports

you can put the new USDM STI engine in an subaru with an EJ series engine/tranny and have them bolt up. the 6MT swap is a bit more extensive b/c you have to replace the, and correct me if i'm wrong, axles, driveshaft, and then all the bits that go on/in the brake assembly to accomodate the new axles.

LjasonL

The spec C is a beefed up 2.0, I think it's closed deck too. The spec C is the factory race car, better engine and suspension, lighter than the normal STi, meant for people to buy then turn into their rally cars.

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mattio781

ive seen a ts wagon with sti setup, in washington, total sleeper, hate to try to race him get my ass handed to me

kman10587

Rather than swap in an STi motor, wouldn't it be cheaper to just tune up the 2.0 already in the WRX? Or do you want the extra displacement?