Just bought an SF Forester GT 2001 model

taza

taza

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Oct 30, 2010
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Perth, Western Australia
I just bought an SF Forestet Gt 2001 model.
it is auto and now runs 13PSI of boost through the stock tiny turbo.
having driven manual Subarus turbo and not, low range and not over the past 5 years I'd definately say the auto turbo is the best.
A diff lock mod switch has been installed with 50mm lift all round. It is by far one of the most capable Subatus I've driven.
even as an auto the turbo makes it fun and fast to drive. The o ly thing it is missing is a good LSD in the rear to help with diagnal spin.
The diff lock makes an infinate improvement over the auto without or any factory manual awd Subaru.
 
Nice one Taza. It will bring you many years of joy.

Has it got any exhaust mods? That tiny turbo can spool up virtually from idle with a larger turbo dump pipe - even if the stock muffler is fitted.

I notice you mention the centre diff lock mod switch....does any know how the centre diff is set up on the MANUAL GTs? I know it has a 50/50 torque split - but is that locked at 50/50? Or is the centre an LSD too?
 
Nope stock muffler.
I just picked a TD04L turbo off a 2002 wrx for it.
With the manuals its a 50/50 split centre diff. With the auto its clutch packs which are 80/20 front to rear in normal conditions and vary depending on a few factors and can lock full 50/50 like an actual 4wd.
I've tried driving with it locked around a around about and the wheela started chirping.

Do you have a tune with yours? I don't reach full boost 12-12psi till 2900rpm which feels really late for such a small turbo. I was hoping to reach that at 2000rpm.
 
No tune at this stage. I only have a 3" dump and mid pipe which then constricts into the factory rear pipe/muffler/tip. By the time the gases have reached the narrower section at the back they have cooled a bit, so I still got a nice gain from the dump & mid pipe upgrade. It pulls nicely from 1100rpm, rarely stalls, and it's awesome when towing a 700kg boat.

Not yet on the car I have a WRX STi muffler which came off another SF so it has all the right hanging points. I am hoping this will flow better than the stock one - then I'll get a tune.

The little blow dryer runs out of puff at 4500rpm though so the optimum RPMs are a bit like a diesel which I have grown to like. It gets good fuel economy too. Then again, that TD04L should have enough breath to really stretch the GTs legs....whack a 3" dump (or 3" all the way) on it and it'll still spool up at low revs anyway. Then a tune on that will make it a true beast.
 
Ok no worries, did you do the dump and mid section as one or seperate?
As the car is now, stock apart from the bleed valve running 12-13Psi boost it goes good but doesn't have that throw back in the seat like a turbo car should.. I'm hoping the TD04L should do this... while still maintaining good spool. As the car is I have a fair idea that the new turbo with a exhaust and tune will make it spool better than it does now anyway. I'm only reaching 5-6PSI at 2500rpm..
Is your car much louder with the new exhaust and stock muffler? I like a boxer rumble but the stock exhaust is nice and quiet..

I managed a horrific 280km to the tank on the last... 15l per 100km.. I was driving like I stole it though haha

20141102_124558.jpg
 
I did the dump and mid as one. It's an off-the-shelf TurboXS brand jobbie.

The OEM 'cat back' muffles it quite a bit, you can hear a nice suppressed boxer rumble...but the thing I really like about it is the fact that the factory blow-off valve is audible now. It used to be silent with OEM dump.

12-13 psi should really be pushing you into your seat. Perhaps the ECU might be retarding timing or wasting boost out the gate due to something else (possibly high intake temps from small turbo working hard). A bigger turbo and tune will definitely fix that. At high RPM the small turbo is actually a restriction on the intake which is why the TD04L is a popular upgrade. I'd consider installing one too if the price was right.

So, are you planning on a 5" lift and wheel/tyre upgrade like on your 2.5?
 
I'm not sure about the lift... was thinking of lowering it. It'd be good in either application.

I picked up my TD04L for $200, \$18 for a gasket kit and installed myself. Having never done one before we did it in about 3-4hours taking our time.
The swap was really straight forward and with the bleed valve connected it flew!
However it was detonating like no tomorrow. I've since removed the bleed valve and put the boost control solenoid back to standard. With 6psi of boost it spools really late (full boost at 3500rpm) and is slow as aids.

Getting a Throttle Happy tune in the next few day which will push it to 12psi boost for now, increase out of boost torque and aim for a low spool. He can also modify the maps for the auto gearbox to make it more responsive.

I'll probably get the exhaust done between now and Christmas. Was quoted $~550 for a full 3" TBE to be custom made. Helps when you know people in the automotive trade :cool:
 
Be careful not to push too much boost through a tired engine, even if it does have good compression.

The guys on OzFoz are wizards with this stuff. Heaps of them have been there done that & can tell you exactly what works & what doesn't

I love the "push in the back"' lol. Had that with my RX3 turbo. Around 220kw atf and under 1 ton :lildevil:
 
12psi is safe... if it was low km or healthy I'd be pushing 16-17psi.
might have to source a spare motor just incase... I like to be prepared these days. Some people service their vehicles every 6-12months, I seem to change a motor, gearbox or clutch every 6-12months lol
She'll only be putting down around 150kw at all 4 with a tune. Nothing too excessive.
 
haha I admire your preparedness but perhaps skew your preparations towards not destroying the main mechanical parts of the car in the first place :) Should get plenty more kms out of the old girl if you treat her right.
 
12psi is fine for that turbo. 1 bar or 14.7 is max id push it. Any more on that motor/turbo combo and its blowing hot air!!
 
Stock is actually 6 on the GT. Mine was running 8 when I got it. Then I took it upto 13 on the stock turbo/tune combo.

Stock kwat is around 80... 130-140kwatw is achievable with tune and exhaust. Wrx turbo (TD04L), exhaust and tune you can get 140-160kw atw. My aim is low spool and torque down low, especially as its auto and the gears are quitr tall. That kind of power will still move it along ok. It might then beat my blue ej25 SF lol
 
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