Upgrade for tmic

wzrd

wzrd

New member
Want to upgrade the stock tmic in my car this spring.Was wondering what advice you all might have for me.Im in my 06 rex and was thinking about upgrading to the STI tmic,which is aprox 20% larger then the one i have now.[want to cool down my core temps for the summer].Want a brand that will bolt right on with none/not many mods needed.no fmic plese....Chances are ill stay with my original turbo untill problems occur,and then id only go one size larger if any....New tmic must be compatible with all my cobb stuff....Any info or idea's would be apreciated. thanks/wzrd

 
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Want to upgrade the tmic in my car this spring.Was wondering what advice you all might have for me.Im in my 06 rex and was thinking about upgrading to the STI tmic,which is aprox 20% larger then the one i have now.[want to cool down my core temps for the summer].Want a brand that will bolt right on with none/not many mods needed.no fmic plese....Chances are ill stay with my original turbo untill problems occur,and then id only go one size larger if any....New tmic must be compatible with all my cobb stuff....Any info or idea's would be apreciated. thanks/wzrd
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use the STi tmic, you can get it for 300 or under at this point. best tmic is spearco but way bigger than you need.

 
Yeah the STI tmic with the vf39 turbo,and im done...That would be good for aprox 285 whp and not put a beating on my tranny.Stage 3 here we come

 
Look into picking up a low miles VF48 (08+ STI turbo). They can be had on NASIOC for around $500. They are a direct bolt on fitment like the VF39. But with a redesign that gets away from the VF39 crack issue and slightly better flow characteristic. Its a great turbo, and with all the 08+ turbos coming from cars with low miles, its a great choice.

As for intercooler, STI intercooler seems to be the right choice. Are you stage 2 at this point?? (sorry I forget) With only a stock TD04, you might not bother with an intercooler yet. TMIC are still known for the downfall of heat soak no matter if its an STI part or a stocker. BUT, after spending some time with developing a stage 2 map on my car, temps under boost are still dropping on the stock unit when moving. It might not be that advantageous to upgrade right yet. Might be better to wait to upgrade untill you turbo swap. Just a thought.

I recently received my PERRIN TMIC and will be putting it on ASAP. But I've been running a turbo swap on my stock unit. I just kept my boost down to about 17. I should be retuning for 20psi with the new TMIC.

 
If you go with a STi intercooler with the stock turbo, you may have to have a longer intercooler elbow. I did on mine. If you do the VF39 or similar turbo swap, use the STi intercooler elbow and it will fit perfect.

 
i think bratman's right, i'm not positive because i did a swap on my sti and then back to stock. as for ease of installation wzrd, if i was able to do it alone, ANYONE can. i actually did it in the body shop of moody's in gorham. 2 bolts on the IC, 2 on the BPV, and 3 hose clamps

 
Look into picking up a low miles VF48 (08+ STI turbo). They can be had on NASIOC for around $500. They are a direct bolt on fitment like the VF39. But with a redesign that gets away from the VF39 crack issue and slightly better flow characteristic. Its a great turbo, and with all the 08+ turbos coming from cars with low miles, its a great choice.
As for intercooler, STI intercooler seems to be the right choice. Are you stage 2 at this point?? (sorry I forget) With only a stock TD04, you might not bother with an intercooler yet. TMIC are still known for the downfall of heat soak no matter if its an STI part or a stocker. BUT, after spending some time with developing a stage 2 map on my car, temps under boost are still dropping on the stock unit when moving. It might not be that advantageous to upgrade right yet. Might be better to wait to upgrade untill you turbo swap. Just a thought.

I recently received my PERRIN TMIC and will be putting it on ASAP. But I've been running a turbo swap on my stock unit. I just kept my boost down to about 17. I should be retuning for 20psi with the new TMIC.
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Great info...Yes,my 06 wrx is stage 2,cobb tbe and thier ots stage 2 map with the stock turbo...I want my turbo to pull early in the rpm's,and im not looking to go past 300 whp so dont want to get into new fuel rail /injector stuff....the lightly used 08 turbo sounds like a good direction.....As im peice mealing the build,ill still probly start with the new tmic and then i ready for the turbo wqhen the time comes.
 
i think bratman's right, i'm not positive because i did a swap on my sti and then back to stock. as for ease of installation wzrd, if i was able to do it alone, ANYONE can. i actually did it in the body shop of moody's in gorham. 2 bolts on the IC, 2 on the BPV, and 3 hose clamps
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IT all goes to evergreen,where mr inski will do his majik...i do wenches not wrenches
 
Its not a bad way to do it.... Getting the intercooler now and turbo later is fine. I just don't think you will see much of the benefits of the larger intercooler before the swap. And I think when you go to a larger intercooler its not as much added power from cooling (as you would normally think) as it has to do with flow characteristics. The larger intercooler is more free flowing. This in turn gets more of that already cool are to the motor.

Honestly I wouldn't even be swapping mine at this point in the game if it wasn't for the crappier LGT style intercoolers that they use on the new WRX's. They use a metal core coupled to plastic endcap intercooler setup. These intercoolers like to blow the end caps right off the core with anything over 18psi. There are other mods I could be buying with the hefty amount I just dropped for the PERRIN. But being able to boost more efficiently without worrying about my intercooler is pretty essential.

One other thing to mention is: you may be required to step up at least one size on your injectors, and possibly a new fuel pump at a minimum. Im not 100% familiar with the 06-07 style, but STI injectors might work for a swap of that nature. A Walbro 255 fuel pump is a standard upgrade along with it also. I think you will find that a new turbo upgrade (with the right tuning) will max out your fuel system.

Good luck, you may wanna do some searching to see if the newer 08+ STI intercoolers bolt up the same way as the oder ones do. You just might be able to score a package deal (turbo, intercooler, injectors) off a low miles car for the right price.

 
From the little research ive done so far,As long as i stick to the oem STI upgraded part's that will basicly bolt right on my rex ie: STI tmic,sti-vf39 turb. Yes,ill be maxed out at 285-300 whp, But the combination will work together fine, no other suporting parts needed .except maybe that thing bratman mentioned....Plus.. my accessport has a map for that exact set up.

 
I'd suggest getting what you want, but waiting and throwing it all together all at once. it will take 0 extra time while it's all apart already to put the new intercooler on and everything so don't bother putting it on sooner. I know the shiny new parts always need to be put on asap, but there is absolutely no reason to put it on yet.

 
you'll love the sti setup wzrd. i'd suspect your feeler for sale thread would quickly disappear once you drive it put together like that for the first time.

 
you'll love the sti setup wzrd. i'd suspect your feeler for sale thread would quickly disappear once you drive it put together like that for the first time.
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Yeah,chances are i wont sell her now she's paid off and getting close to where i want her...Was just putting it out there,i could always use a second home more then the 2nd car.I would go further with the build but have no interest in taking past the "safe range" and ending up flatbeding her to mass or conn every time i need a tune.
 
If you get the STI intercooler you can (and should) also run the STI shroud in order to seal it to your hood properly. 06/07 share the hood scoop with the STI already so no need to worry about it fitting. You will need a different elbow coupler to make it work with the stock turbo. You can get a 2" 90* but I'd suggest throwing down the coin to get a set of Samco hoses for the STI. The elbow has a formed offset and you'll get the throttle body couple and bpv hose as well... plus they will be shiny! I have an issue with the driver's side bracket on my 07 that I haven't resolved yet.. going to track down the STI one and see if it mates up. It doesn't move with the passenger side bracket and couplers nice and tight though.

You should have plenty of headroom with your fuel injectors running a VF39/43/48. Pump would be a good investment for the $80 it costs.

 
Just from what I've seen over time and/or what I've spent in the past:

VF low miles in good condition - get all associated hoses attached: $400

Walbro GSS342: $80

STI tmic: $300

STI splitter/bellow: $65 <-- what I paid from NASIOC salvage vendor

 
Just from what I've seen over time and/or what I've spent in the past:
VF low miles in good condition - get all associated hoses attached: $400

Walbro GSS342: $80

STI tmic: $300

STI splitter/bellow: $65 <-- what I paid from NASIOC salvage vendor
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Apreciate the info,im not familar with the shroud[and ive looked at so many STI's] So that is a stock STI part i can order?splitter bellow?....My downfall-I dont/wont work on my car,I like new part's,and im not rich.Like the list,thanx for the idea's. wzrd/out

 
Yeah the shroud is the intercooler splitter, it bolts below your hood scoop. I put one on for my STi TMIC. I may also suggest getting an STi hood scoop, to get as much air as possible onto the intercooler

 
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