2013 Subaru Impreza WRX STI - Project Log

[Fat Charlie]

As an added bonus you don't need an empty road, much less a day at the track, to get some great numbers.

[UltArc]

Originally Posted by Smurf

Jedi Sol said:

a lot of things tuners do to make their car faster can also apply to ecomodding (ie aero parts)


I absolutely agree, however convincing many of them is near impossible. To me, ecomodding is sport-driving in itself. Anyone can drive 90+ mph, however very few can maintain even 30+ mpg. Add in the cost of traffic tickets, insurance, and higher possibility of a traffic accident, and I'll take ecomodding over performance any day.

By the way, your grill block and foglight fills look GREAT!

I couldn't agree more. 600 horsepower is useless on a 35 mph road, if you value human life or money- heck, much over 200 is overkill depending on vehicle size & characteristics. But a few horses feels more like a stampede with better aero, less weight, and skinnier tires

I think the fog light fills look great, but the front end (grille block) looks like my first one did...rough...lol. I think it's the multiple pieces, and uneven lines. I don't mean it like you did a bad job, I know my first one was rough, a couple others I goofed up, and I used a lot of coroplast to get it just right (good enough to me, not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. No where near the craftsmanship seen by others on here).

Constructive criticism, no hate.

[jedi_sol]

**updates**

Building the side skirts and upper grill block (updated 1st the first page)

Ultarc, i agree, my lower grill block is a rough mockup. I'll build a solid one-piece eventually, when i figure out how much blockage i can go before running into overheating issues.

[UltArc]

Originally Posted by jedi_sol

**updates**

Building the side skirts and upper grill block (updated 1st the first page)

Ultarc, i agree, my lower grill block is a rough mockup. I'll build a solid one-piece eventually, when i figure out how much blockage i can go before running into overheating issues.

I know on mine, I do 100% block and I occasionally get to operating temperature. On the highway, after about 20+ minutes of driving (from completely cold engine) I bounce between 208-220. When I had the v6 fascia, and taped it off to an extreme, driving at 8 over the speed limit (78) for three hours made me go above 220, but I never hit 230- 226 is the highest I remember, but I KNOW I never hit 230.

I believe something happens at 218-220, because it starts to drop until I get to 210~, and then it floats in that range. I don't know if thats a fan kicking on, or something else happening, but it doesn't go up any higher in it's current state. There are no obvious signs of something changing other than the temperature fluctuating.

I believe with cars this new, a full block in non desert conditions works without issues. Even at a drag strip, I would keep it on to help the aero, air is going to get in and force itself in regardless, I would sooner keep the aero advantage than risk trying to get some more air rammed in. A track day, where I need more cooling for continued performance, I would probably remove my center lower grille block, and go from there. Hopefully it would not need more, but I don't think abusing continuously for 15-20 minute periods would be okay for the engine without adequate cooling.

Of course, better safe than sorry, and your situation may be totally different, but this is what I have experienced and taken away from it.

[UltArc]

Just saw the upper, it looks good! I do hope you put something on there for the STi badging, and give it some credit- I get keeping it low key if that's your game, but I would either cut out a spot for it, or put a badge on it.

(Honestly, I would have cut out the STi portion before I cut out the Stars of Pleiades lol Not all Subarus are STis, but all STis are Subarus!)

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by jedi_sol

Yes I've considered a gear swap. Is putting a wrx 5th gear as my 6th gear possible? I'm just worried it might void my factory warranty.

I think it's the final drive, but not sure. Also the 2013 might have different gearing, your 60mph rpm sounds pretty low. Could be lower though, with a 2.5 maybe 2000rpm at 60mph would be nice, if possible.

[pgfpro]

On my car the largest coolant temperature increase is with the belly pan on and not so much with the grill blocks in place and belly pan off.

I think because air needs to escape out from the engine compartment.

[Jasen]

Originally Posted by pgfpro

On my car the largest coolant temperature increase is with the belly pan on and not so much with the grill blocks in place and belly pan off.

I think because air needs to escape out from the engine compartment.

would reducing a bit of your grill block help move a little more air through the motor bay to help cooling without notable reduction of your FE.

[pgfpro]

Originally Posted by Jasen

would reducing a bit of your grill block help move a little more air through the motor bay to help cooling without notable reduction of your FE.

Nope. I used crash wrap for testing purposes and started removing it a little at a time. It got to the point where almost all was removed.

[SON1C]

interesting