96 Sub Legacy L 4 wheel ABS - increase horsepower

[milty60]

My son - 18 - lots of testosterone - I remember those days   - wants to increase engine horsepower but not break the bank - the used Legacy he purchased came with headers.

 

Thinking about air induction - or removing intake silencer - change computer chip - son also saw online that a WRX engine can be swapped into the Legacy (pick one up at a bone yard) - said stock engine has more horse power.

 

Beyond boring out cylinders - new camshafts , etc - all too costly - you guys have any advise?

 

....Milty

[1 Lucky Texan]

"it's more fun to drive a slow car fast, than a fast car slow"

 

 

you might try to get him involved in SCCA and local autoX. There are 'classes' to compete with almost any kind of vehicle. I also recommend HPDEs . wish I had paid for my kids to go a coupla times.

 

(cops won't let you go straight very fast, but they don't care much how quickly you turn)

 

 

 

that said;

 

best power upgrade is sell what you have and get a WRX that hasn't been reamed-out by someone else's 18 yo son.

 

next best is probably a wrx swap.

 

 

You may want to read-up a little over at NASIOC.com .

 

 

If he just want to drive a car fast in a straight line, just get a Mustang.

 

if he wants to experience acceleration, get a motorcycle.

 

 

Edited October 26, 2016 by 1 Lucky Texan

[janas19]

This is the old catch 22 dilemma. You want to go faster BUT with only bolt-on modifications. Sorry, it doesn't work that way. The truth is you're looking at 10 or 15 HP max at the TOP end of the RPM range. On a 135 HP engine.

 

If the goal is just go fast cheap, get a Honda Civic coupe and put a junkyard high displacement 2.2 or 2.3 Accord engine in it. That's the best, cheapest street car and Hondas have TONS of aftermarket support.

 

If the goal is AWD and fast, my advice is sell the Legacy and get an Impreza manual coupe. The 96 AWD Legacy L is 2900 lbs. 93-95 AWD Impreza are 2500 lbs. Then do the Phase II 2.5L 165 HP swap for cheap:

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/topic/81023-swapping-a-phase-2-ej25-in-an-older-legacy-or-impreza/

 

You will have a much better HP to weight ratio that won't break your bank.

[1 Lucky Texan]

^^^ man, if you could loose 400 lbs, that's freeing-up close to an extra 35hp or so.

[milty60]

Thanks for all the tips.

 

 

Milty

[AdventureSubaru]

An older legacy is the perfect car for an 18 year old. Dependable, durable and cheap and easy to repair. At age 18 he should be trying to learn how to be unconsciously competent. That place we eventually reach where you can do something well without even thinking about it. In driving it's where we are scanning our surrounding constantly and instantly aware of dangers while not putting real thought into what we're doing. Teen driving fatalities are off the charts compared to other people since they have the least experience and the most desire to perform recklessly and speed. I'd try to steer him toward taking care of the car. Teach him good maintenance and how to care for his things and make them last rather than thrash a car into an early grave in order to drive fast and recklessly. Endangering himself and others. At his young age he is starting patterns that may follow him the rest of his life. Fast, reckless and often illegal driving habits that shorten the lifespans of cars and their drivers is not the direction I would recommend.

 

If he is set on going fast, as mentioned, he should do so off street and on a track. In which case for speed, I'd search for an impreza or similar.

Edited October 27, 2016 by AdventureSubaru

[wtdash]

This is the old catch 22 dilemma. You want to go faster BUT with only bolt-on modifications. Sorry, it doesn't work that way. The truth is you're looking at 10 or 15 HP max at the TOP end of the RPM range. On a 135 HP engine.

 

If the goal is just go fast cheap, get a Honda Civic coupe and put a junkyard high displacement 2.2 or 2.3 Accord engine in it. That's the best, cheapest street car and Hondas have TONS of aftermarket support.

 

If the goal is AWD and fast, my advice is sell the Legacy and get an Impreza manual coupe. The 96 AWD Legacy L is 2900 lbs. 93-95 AWD Impreza are 2500 lbs. Then do the Phase II 2.5L 165 HP swap for cheap:

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/topic/81023-swapping-a-phase-2-ej25-in-an-older-legacy-or-impreza/

 

You will have a much better HP to weight ratio that won't break your bank.

Just a 'heads up',  Phase II/2 '99+ 2.5 aren't a plugNplay in the '90-'98 stuff....covered on here and I thought on LC BBS. too.? :-)

 

Otherwise, this IS a good route to go. The 1st Gen Imprezas are a lot of fun, even in stock form.

[wtdash]

My son - 18 - lots of testosterone - I remember those days   - wants to increase engine horsepower but not break the bank - the used Legacy he purchased came with headers.

 

Thinking about air induction - or removing intake silencer - change computer chip - son also saw online that a WRX engine can be swapped into the Legacy (pick one up at a bone yard) - said stock engine has more horse power.

 

Beyond boring out cylinders - new camshafts , etc - all too costly - you guys have any advise?

 

....Milty

The stock air intake on a Subaru  is a CAI, and most mods just move the power band UP, but doesn't make noticeable power. If he wants some noise, look up doing the 'snorkus delete'.

 

No chips or other easy ECU/ECM upgrades for the '95-'99+ models. And the WRX engine only makes more power due to the turbo which requires a lot of wiring, time and $$ to make it work in a '96. 

 

Unless this kid has raced go karts, e.g.every F1 driver,  handling and braking upgrades are more important to a new(er) driver than power.

 

Maybe he needs a new hobby that uses up some of that energy..that doesn't involve cars? :-)

Edited October 27, 2016 by wtdash