Less Lag.

Hi all,

As per my previous blog entry, I've started going down the path of building a Time Attack style car.

A LOT has happened since my last entry. From May this year:

- I've sourced and installed a 6 speed out of an 02 STi. (thanks dtrally!)
- At the same time, an 06 STi helical front LSD was fitted. (thanks dtrally and Mister Two!)
- A Cusco Tarmac Gear 35:65 “Gymkhana Spec” centre differential was also sourced, and this will be fitted in due course. (thanks Mister Two!)
- A 2 way rear diff is also on the cards, but one step at a time.. diffs are expensive!!!

From this , I enjoyed the 6 speed for 3 months.. but tired very quickly of waiting for boost. The FMIC needs to go!!

In a moment of stupidity back in August, I removed the FMIC before I’d even decided what I was going to do with the intercooler setup! From here I sat down, and started asking questions and searching various forums. I want to maintain some sort of power whilst minimising lag. The only option at this point was a big TMIC.

After a month of researching (thanks to everyone who helped me decide my direction with the car), I decided that the 08 STi TMIC is one of the better ones, and being massive (as far as TMIC’s go), it’s going to support my level of modification as well as power requirements.. plus its OEM quality 

From here, I began the conversion back to TMIC. It involved me raiding the boxes of parts in my shed (and Jme’s too) looking for OEM brackets, fasteners, BOV, and all other bits I’ve removed since going to FMIC.

I found these, put them in a big pile, and began sourcing some other bits and pieces with the help of some fellow PWRX’ers, such as:

- 08 STi TMIC
- Turbosmart silicone coupler to suit TMIC to throttle body connection.
- BOV gasket and grub screw (for the stock BOV grub screw modification, thanks Jester )
- Walbro fuel pump
- Replacement fuel pump cradle and strainer (thanks Jme )
- Cusco water spray controller (thanks American Dave )
- STi water spray bottle (thanks American Dave )
- STi water spray nozzle (thanks Jme )
- STi braided clutch line (thanks Jme )
- Prova air intake guide (thanks Jme )
- New guard liners (thanks Rossco )
- JDM bumper beam (LIGHTWEIGHT).
- New hoses for catch can

In the mean time, the FMIC was sold on Rexnet.. and there was no turning back!

SOOOOO, to convert back to TMIC, it wasn’t that easy.. apart from having to find all the OEM bits and pieces in my shed and sourcing the missing ones from various places, every time I did something on the car, I created another job for myself.

So far, I’ve done:

- Remove FMIC completely.
- Re-fit OEM bumper beam until my JDM one arrives from All Things Subaroo in QLD.
- Re-mount HID ballasts.
- Re-fit stock coolant overflow tank.
- Put new Walbro fuel pump in with replacement new pump cradle and strainer.
- Straightened TMIC fins (took me a week of evenings to do it with a small screwdriver!).
- Re-fit TMIC brackets.
- Cleaned and re-oiled K&N pod.
- Removed cruise control in anticipation of installing water spray tank in that location.
- Re-fit factory heat shield (modified to fit bigger turbo) and heat shield brackets.
- Began to re-run catch can hoses .
- Fit new guard liners.
- Fit Delco air-temp sensor in manifold.
- Modified BOV with grub screw and fitted to TMIC.

All I have to do now is:

- Re-fit bumper, headlights and grille
- Re-fit TMIC
- Modify drivers side bracket to suit (needs to be extended).
- Finish running catch-can hoses
- Water spray setup
- IC splitter (modify stock one to fit bigger intercooler)
- TUNE

Also I will be sourcing a new bumper to replace my stock one that was cut to suit the FMIC, and when my JDM bumper beam arrives, I’ll mount the HID ballasts to it with the JDM brackets (they bolt straight onto the JDM beam).

I will outline a few of the various tasks I’ve done in photos below.

Here’s to no lag and better area under the power/torque curve!!!