2004 wrx sti

Sjd6795 · Apr 26, 2015

So on top of the 91 talon I will be getting I might be going to check out a 2004 wrx sti sometime this week. It looks to be a very clean car and estimated around 430 HP it has a td06 20g so it isn't that questionable.

Here is a picture of it let me know what you think!

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

lasershark · Apr 26, 2015

I love the look of the 04+, love the sound too. My wife really wanted one, we thought hard about getting one. Then we started noticing that a lot of them with over 100k on the clock had rebuilt or replaced engines. I don't know if its due to neglect or if there is certain years to avoid, never really looked into it, but it scared us away. I would love some knowledge on the matter though. Because we do like them!

AlwaysSunnyOhio · Apr 26, 2015

The exhaust of those cars has the best sound. I've always loved them. They are just too pricey for me. Looks real nice though.

BogusSVO · Apr 26, 2015

Ahh a Subbie!

There are 3 different stock conn rods in the EJ engines, depending on what it was dropped in, the Legacy rods are spaghetti thin and use a bolt/nut set up

Then the WRX have a bit beefier rod and run a cap screw

Then the STi rods are even stronger than the basic WRX rod, and run the same cap screw.

Most of the failures I have seen in the EJ is one of two, spun rod bearings, or busted ring lands from to tight of a ring end gap on the factory pistons.

Also it seems common that the block cylinder to split once you get up around 700hp to the wheels

The stock crank is a throw it away and replace it part with a spun bearing, just due to the narrow rod width, none of the machine shops have a crank stone thin enough to grind it.

Porting the heads is a bit odd, due the casting and runner placement, you can not port it symmetrical like a 4g head.

The blocks are seldom milled square to the crank centerline, commonly .003-.008 off and the worst I have found is .014

Also avoid the ARP case bolts, they are really not needed until you get the block sleeved, and it will be mandatory to get the block lined bored.

Sjd6795 · Apr 26, 2015

BogusSVO said:
Ahh a Subbie!

There are 3 different stock conn rods in the EJ engines, depending on what it was dropped in, the Legacy rods are spaghetti thin and use a bolt/nut set up

Then the WRX have a bit beefier rod and run a cap screw

Then the STi rods are even stronger than the basic WRX rod, and run the same cap screw.

Most of the failures I have seen in the EJ is one of two, spun rod bearings, or busted ring lands from to tight of a ring end gap on the factory pistons.

Also it seems common that the block cylinder to split once you get up around 700hp to the wheels

The stock crank is a throw it away and replace it part with a spun bearing, just due to the narrow rod width, none of the machine shops have a crank stone thin enough to grind it.

Porting the heads is a bit odd, due the casting and runner placement, you can not port it symmetrical like a 4g head.

The blocks are seldom milled square to the crank centerline, commonly .003-.008 off and the worst I have found is .014

Also avoid the ARP case bolts, they are really not needed until you get the block sleeved, and it will be mandatory to get the block lined bored.

You seem to know your stuff about subaru's! So do you think this will be a good deal? It has 104k on the odometer and seemed to be owned by a tuner, it has a td06 20g turbo, new timing belt and spark plugs, brembo brakes, performance suspension, gunmetal bbs rims, borla exhaust, and aluminium radiator. Other then all of that it's all stock and vehicle options seem fully loaded. It's about 1h 30m away from me and I may be going to test drive it sometime this week.

RallyEclipse98 · Apr 26, 2015

Why no mud flaps! First mod. Definitely.

I know nothing about buying a Scooby but they do look sweeeet. And that sound!

Sjd6795 · Apr 26, 2015

RallyEclipse98 said:
Why no mud flaps! First mod. Definitely.

I know nothing about buying a Scooby but they do look sweeeet. And that sound!

Mud flaps = more air drag

BogusSVO · Apr 27, 2015

The car looks clean.

So its really up to you and what you think.

This is just another platform I have not owned, but Have been building the engines for.

The highest HP build I have heard back on is 570hp to the wheels.

From what I have heard is the 5 speed is weaker than the 6 speed.

So basicly what I know I posted.

But what I can recall, the factory ring gap is about .014 on the top ring with a 99.50mm bore

Keep in mind that on a 4g build with an 85mm bore, top ring gap it commonly set around .020

Sjd6795 · Apr 27, 2015

I'll bookmark this thread for sure. The transmission is a 6 speed so I guess I'm good there. I'm not looking to go deep into modding it, it will be my daily driver. It currently has a td06 20g from what the dealer has listed and around 430 hp I'm assuming at the crank considering no injector upgrades or manual boost controller is installed.

CrackedDSM · Apr 28, 2015

It's not gonna be 430hp. It's just a 20G on a stock motor and a stock setup, probably not even tuned. I wouldn't expect much more than it makes bone stock.

CiscoBite1Time · Apr 29, 2015

my brother has a 06 or 07 STI. Had it for about a year or so now. Basically stock car minus CBE and some BOV. HKS I think. So far it's been a good car. His oil picku tube cracked on him about a month ago. Got a killer bee oil pickup. Fixed that problem. Also heard from him and my other brother with an 02 WRX that anything beyond full TBE and very minor bolt ons you need the car tuned. The only thing I know of as far as tuning is Accessport.

That's all I know about subarus until my brothers run into more issues. Nice cars though.

Dsmkauai · Apr 29, 2015

My friend had a 04 sti with a 20g we got it from the bank for $500 LOL

. That's how much a sti is worth once a 20g is turned up and not tuned hahah. My other friend has a 04 and cracked the ring landing in #4 cyl. All because he miss shifted a couple times, which is his own fault. Now he can't stop breaking axles and bought a built motor and still can't run 11's. Shoot he's still fighting mid 12's. My gst ran faster with a stock block and small 16g! Lol

Sjd6795 · May 1, 2015

I went and test drove the car just a few hours ago and the exterior and interior was good for a 2004 Subaru. However the dealer wasn't willing to budge on the price and the tires were pretty much shot. Everything was accurate about the car borla exhaust, cobb downpipe, 20g turbo as far as aftermarket goes. But I can tell from driving it, it was no where near 430 awhp. Pushing 17 psi on a 14b in a gst with intake, intercooler, and exhaust I had just as much 2nd to 4th gear power as it. It did have me beat on torque but it wasn't impressive at all. So I'm backing out on it but I will be going to pick up the 1991 talon tsi tomorrow around 9 am so I look forward to starting a build thread and getting some pictures up.

The Top DSM Community on the Web

2004 wrx sti

Sjd6795

lasershark

AlwaysSunnyOhio

BogusSVO

Sjd6795

RallyEclipse98

Sjd6795

BogusSVO

Sjd6795

CrackedDSM

CiscoBite1Time

Dsmkauai

Sjd6795

Similar threads

Latest posts

Build Thread Updates

Vendor Updates

Latest Classifieds