RexNuts Subaru Forums

I've been researching for months about 06-07 WRX's with a VF43. I can't find much about this turbo on this model car.

Rexnuts members with this car-turbo combo, could you tell me your results and your mods. Most of all are you happy with the car and how is the gearbox holding up?

My parts are:
VF43
Turboxs Stealthback exhaust
Cobb SF intake
Sti Diff Muffler
Grimmspeed Boost selonoid
STI Spec C TMIC
Walbro fuel pump

I'm tossing up whether to take it to Paul at Pulse Racing ($1195 just 4 tune) and pay more money or take it to Michael at MSR ($700 just 4 tune) and go for the longer drive. I'll will be travelling from Orange NSW.

Take it to michael, the guys a genius you won't be dissapointed

Definately take it to Michael. No hesitatation there..
Gearbox will hold with that turbo no worries provided you dont do constant launches..

What kind of power figure are you after?

Close to 200. But I'm after the torque. The push in the seat feeling.

I got an 07 with 201.1..

VF34P18
HiTech zorst with MSR dump mods, 3" to 2.5"
Silicon intake
Resonatorectomy
STi TMIC with MSR mod
MSR tune

Plenty of low down torque.
I live more than 1.5hrs out further than you are to the Central Coast, and still wouldnt take it it anyone other than Michael. Well worth the 6hr drive for me :p

MSR doesnt aim for power, he aims for torque

"Torque is everything and horsepower is nothing without it." -MSR

MSR doesnt aim for power, he aims for torque

"Torque is everything and horsepower is nothing without it." -MSR

What a great quote!

Forgot to ask.

Does anybody know about or has the MSR OEM STi 3 inch muffler mod? Does it really flow better and how much did it cost for Michael to get the work done. I'm looking for better flow but not much increase in noise.

If it is worth it I'll get Michael to do it.



   

To answer my own question. I emailed Michael and the answer was -

"HI,

The sti diff back with 3" pipe is the go, keeps it quiet and on cruise can't hear it in the car, no loss in power.

If you supply the muffler it is 300 to do it and fitted."


I'll just get him to do the exhaust.

I'll just get him to do the exhaust.

I live in Orange NSW and the roads are shit. I have been running on Rota Gravels 18" wheels for awhile. The car rattles and shakes more than ever. All the bumps and pot holes go straight through the car. The tyres are Kumho ku31 235/40/18. I have been trying different tyres pressures and I'm on 36 psi (think so)at the moment. Do you think the pressure should be lowered?

Lowering the tyre pressure will only make the car so comfortable. The noticable comfort increase will be seen if you go for a larger profile tyre.

I assume you are on lowered springs?

How many records do rotarys hold down the 1/4, not much torque in those things but plenty of power, I do know where you are coming from however.


thenic123 - most on here are MSR lovers, he is a guru but Paul at Pulse can tune just a good, I'm not going to say one is better than the other because I don't know but both have worked together in 02 and both have good reps, tell Paul MSR is doing tunes for that price and he might go easier on the quote, maybe thats just the first up tune and on going tunes will be cheaper.

Good luck

i ain't on lowered springs. i'm telling the truth, the roads in orange are really bad. they are not for this model on 18s. the rates are about 415 quarterly. they spent 7 mil on a bypass road, its not finished and they have already had to fix the finished sections cause it rains.

Damn, that sounds like some really sucky roads!

Any other members out there with the VF43 set-up?

Also I find it a bit weird that Michael does his communication through Email not by phone. I don't know about you but I'd like to speak to the person who is going to charge me $1k + and do work on my car. I'm not that fussed about it.

Just saying...

Reason being, hes a 1 man team. If he stopped to answer the phone everytime it rings, he wouldnt get anything done with the amount of info and people who require his knowledge.

Trust me, when you drop your car off, he will take your number, and he calls you with any updates. Hes a very nice guy, so dont worry about him preferring email. If he needs to contact you, its always by phone. It just much easier to keep track of everything if its on paper.

Iv had him do work on my car 3 times now, and will be going back up to him for a 4th time when he gets some new mufflers in stock.


In response to your first question, there was another member on here with a blue 06 wrx that installed the vf43. Ended up with 206kw or something similar and enjoyed it.

Thanks Prezza. I understand. I have been emailing Michael lately and he's been helpful. Can't wait to get the car up to him. I have to install the fuel pump i keep putting off. Is it ok to run the fuel pump without a tune for a while?

Nick, the answer to your fuel pump question is yes - perfectly fine.

And Prezza is 100% on the money with his explanation of the email vs phone thing. I'm exactly the same with the large majority of my customers, and I use/prefer email as the best form of contact. It also keeps a record of prices quoted, and things discussed, that can always be referred to later. If someone ever wants to have a chat to me or whatever, then i'm more than happy to provide a number and have a chat over the phone or in person, but believe it or not - email is easier.

I'm not going to bother ringing Paul and trying to get the tune cheaper. I'm not a good haggler. Michael seems the way to go. I ain't going to go to sydney for tunes very often. Maybe once every 5 years. That depends on what I'll will be driving then. Hopefully a scooby...

Another question how long does Michael spend on the dyno tuning the car? When I spoke to Paul from Pulse Racing, he spends 4hrs+ then road tests it.

Just want to say that the car is booked in at MSR in September, if all goes to plan. Just like to also say that I still have second doubts why i'm doing this for some extra HP's when we drive at 50-70kms/h most of the time. I'm going to do it still .

Found a really good FAQ page http://flatironsrally.typepad.com/faq/

You probably know this stuff but some might not.

All credit goes to

Jon Cooley

Flatirons Tuning

Quite a few hours.. Think he spent almost a day on the tuning when I first got my car done with him (When he was road tuning).
Even when i got a simple upgrade (an extra 11kw), it was on there for a couple of hours while I waited. Michael makes sure the tunes are as best as you are going to get it, and tries various other ways just to make sure.

Did the fuel pump today, what a messy job to do. Fuel went everywhere, made sure i cranked th engine until it died. Then when i put new pump in and hooked up the lines, the car wouldn't start! I had to jump start it with jumper leads. IT STARTED!
The inside of the car smells like fuel, I smell of fuel. No wonder they charge a bit for this job.

.

Thanks for the hosesty.....can't make the tune as your dad is ill in hospital......then next one was no money.... hope it all worked well for you....