Maintenance and upgrades on '98 Forester - Recommendations, please.

[wtdash]

Hi,

I'm buying a 1998 Forester S in the next week or so that has 170K miles and the infamous failed Head Gaskets.

It will be receiving an EJ22T block w/the EJ25's DOHC heads/JDM EJ20K turbo cams/TD05-16G turbo and other related goodies.

I intend to Auto-X the car, but it's also going to be my daily driver, too, so needs to be reliable.

While the engine is out and it's accessible, I'm very interested in what suggestions for updating/upgrading are out there?

Here's a partial list I've started due to the car's mileage:

- WRX/STi Rack and related suspension pieces.

- STi Brake booster (if it'll fit the SF)

- WRX brakes - 11.4" vented twin-caliper piston. - Are they worth it and do I need the calipers/pistons/brackets? (Running 16" wheels for now)

- Clutch- was replaced @ 80K, but since it has 90K on it, it's due - Looking @ an upgrade that can handle (ultimately) 250hp/300 ft-lbs.

- Will the rear wheel bearings strand me if they go? They're original. If I get some warning I'll just let 'em be.

- Engine management for the turbo (15-20psi): fuel/timing/boost control

- Fuel Pump - Walbro?

Thank you!

[Legacy777]

I don't see a reason to swap the brake booster, but if you've got one, it probably couldn't hurt.

 

You sure that forester S wouldn't already have the 11.4" brakes?? I don't have any info on the forester brake sizes, but I'm sure they are similar to the Impreza stuff. So if you do have to swap something, I'd check what it's going to with the brake bias/balance with my brake spreadsheet calculator.

 

Stock WRX clutch will handle that power. You can probably pick up a lower mileage clutch & pp for a reasonable price. If you want new, you could try OEM or Exedy (pretty much same thing)

 

EM, since it's OBD2, I'd try and run an ECU that is supported by Open source ECU and/or the cobb accessport.

 

Yes, get the walbro pump

[wtdash]

Thanks Josh.

 

The Forester/OB have the 'heavy duty 10.7' dual-piston, which I'm wondering if it's really worth upgrading to the WRX 11.4 dual-piston? Maybe just get better pads? On the other hand, after 170K miles maybe they need replaced or rebuilt.

 

For EM - Is "Open Source ECU" the same as Megasquirt? The COBB AP didn't include the '98 MAF-based systems, just the '99 and newer MAP, from what I've found so far.

Right now I leaning heavily towards a Greddy Ultimate. I've hear it's a PITA to tune, but there's a THREAD on NASIOC that is for my same setup, so it'd be pretty much a 'plug-n-play' from my end.

 

Thanks,

Td

Edited April 5, 2010 by wtdash

[Legacy777]

Yeah....I'd probably just upgrade the pads. If the boots are not torn, and aren't leaking, then the seals are probably ok.

 

No, open source is actually modding the stock ECU code.

 

http://forums.openecu.org/