STB Butty

If you must put some fogs on then don't use the ones fitted to to the WRX or my Spec D, they are quite useless - but then all OEM foglights I've ever had on cars have done sweet FA. If I could be bothered to change mine then I'd fit some driving lights instead.

The 6 speed box will take 500 hp in its stride. For 400 hp its a turbo, 3 port boost solenoid, alternative headers or ported std ones, larger injectors or just an FPR and push up the pressure using the standard injectors. Nick

kev, looking at your description, my recommendations would be: Replace induction system with std air box, snorkel and panel filter - £50 from breakers. Filter £35. Walbro fuel pump £80. Prodrive sports cat and short section decat. breakers/Ebay etc £275 put back a std dump valve. Should cost £0 if you sell the one you have. Remap £650. For about £1000 (ex labour) the car will reach 340/350 bhp on good quality fuel. I'd personally recommend Zen performance in the East Midlands, but if you are driving back via the Ferry then there's a few mappers along the South and SW coasts nick

I'm sure the likes of AndyF and Paul ' Zen would welcome a bit of Winter sun. They have been known to do mapping around the world, but it helps with costs of a number of people need a remap. I can't see why they wouldn't bring over all the other trimmings and fit at a local mechanics as well. If the car hasn't been remapped with that intake then I'd be very wary of leaning out mixtures and losing the engine. nick

I think that looking at your filter answers that question. The induction kit may be a Chinese copy of a K & N system. Nothing wrong in that if the car was mapped to that intake and the air flow over the MAF is stable. BUT - the air filter looks like a K & N copy made with inferior cotton and a poor stainless steel mesh. Both have deteriorated and don't help air flow. The filter may also not be very strong and at high flow could be collapsing on itself - restricting air flow and causing the symptoms you have. Best filter for that position would be an un-oiled foam one like Hyperflow- but expect to clean it quite often. BTW, I am running a Chinese copy of a hyperflow intake. Its a bit quirky and will be examined shortly to see the state of the filter as I'm getting an odd cut of power in high gears and 5k rpm. Nick

Did the work done by the previous owner include new pistons? Does the engine sound "slappy" when being started from cold? Nick

I'm having to pull out of tomorrow, so I have a ticket for the SIDC stand /parade lap available FOC for an SIDC member + Subaru. You also need to take a licence if going on the parade lap. It can be picked up from Rushden (near santa pod) this afternoon or evening. (Hope this switch is OK with organisers?) Nick

I've got to pull out , so I've got a ticket/pass FOC to anyone who can pick it up in Rushden this afternoon/evening. nick

I take it the heat shield had come away and was squeaking? 1 hour labour to change an uppipe is good going as it can go very very wrong with siezed bolts. Even so, they couldn't have stopped for a cuppa to get that done so quickly. I can't see a problem with the overall cost, just an issue about being a non warranty item. Nick

Carbon Mods were doing some very nce mini flaps a few month ago for about £60. http://www.carbonmods.co.uk/Default.aspx Nick

Its never been fitted but Colin has first dibs on it. I fitted a proper STi one and it required about a dozen bolts as part of the fitting kit. Took about 30 minutes to drill and fit. Nick

I've got a brand new Revolution splitter for a blobeye for sale at the moment - £85 plus postage if interested. Nick

Hi, I have a Spec D and bought it new for £21,000. - there's some details of it here: http://bbs.scoobynet.com/plusprofile.php?u=3630 As said already, I think the understated looks didn't go down too well and many were sold cheap in March 2007 to sell off the model. One already with PPP on it is very rare - so If you can risk the warranty then fro about £1500 you can release about 340 hp/380 lbft. If Swindon is going to be your home then Bob Rawle from BRD developments is based there and is very well respected. As for US power levels, the generic ECU map for the States has to cope with a very wide range of climate, altitude and fuel quality, so a compromise had to be made on power output vs warranty claims. If you PM me an email address then I can send you the Spec D brochure. Nick

I've just reached 20k miles on the first set in a year and although I can pick fault (tramlining & bouncing on smooth roads) the benefits outweigh the niggles. The bad tramlining was ironed out with proper alignment and the bounce may be a combination of the hard sidewalls and poor rear strut control - I am awaiting them to start knocking soon. When these have worn out then I've accumulated another 2 very cheap sets of near new ones from owners who hated them. nick

The oil pressure warning light will flash when starting over so you'll know then if it is working. If you see it at any other time then it is either faulty or the engine is dead. Its a waste of time TBH. swap it with another one that triggers at 2 bar would be more helpful. My Spec D (aka MY06 STi) is also tuned to a similar level but never uses that amount of oil - probably 1 litre every 5k miles. It has needed a catch tank fitted tough as ther was a noticeable increase in oil coming from the crankcase vents. Your oil use is very very high and needs to be checked out. Engine rattling is not good sign - ring damage could explain your problems. Nick