New to Subies, wanting some info please!

[ZeroNZ]

Hey guys, I recently got myself a 1999 BE5 Legacy B4 auto for real cheap as someone traded it in through work.

I work at a Nissan dealership and there is also a Subaru dealership under our motorgroup, so I can get parts relatively cheap for what I want to do, so here's what I want to do.

- Convert to manual, I strongly dislike the slushbox thats in there and there seems to be an issue with it displaying the correct gear when in tiptronic mode (doesn't seem to affect the actual gear changing though). I've looked up on how to do this but there's conflicting threads all over, and the thing that concerns me is the electrical side of things like throwing up codes and not working properly.

- Convert to single turbo. This is mainly for the fact that the VOD has caught me out a few times trying to overtake and I get caught short and doesn't give me too much confidence in the car). A workmate has done this to his GTB wagon and just throws masses of info at me which doesn't all make sense to me (as I'm new to Subies lol).

I don't have too much of a budget in mind for this work, I just need to know what fits into the car and what parts do I need to complete the conversions? I was told a V8 WRX ECU would work with the car too, but aftermarket would be best? Also what sort of power levels can a stock EJ20 hold before any major work is needed? Any help would be appreciated.

[megamac]

V8 WRX ECU won't work - you'll need a V3/4 ECU as far as I'm aware. Personally I'm using a 6S from a V3 STi on my single turbo swapped BG5. Still retaining factory loom with just a few pinout modifications. Same injectors and air flow meter (y)

Do a single turbo swap + manual it, maaaad

[wrx_lou]

You'll need an version 5/6 non sti ecu. The wiring portion seems easy enough - there's a walkthrough around here somewhere.

I'm doing it and the hardest part to find so far has been the ECU.

Buy this http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/car-parts-accessories/subaru/ecus/auction-928433444.htm

[megamac]

 wrx_lou said:

You'll need an version 5/6 non sti ecu. The wiring portion seems easy enough - there's a walkthrough around here somewhere.

I'm doing it and the hardest part to find so far has been the ECU.

Buy this http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/car-parts-accessories/subaru/ecus/auction-928433444.htm

I stand corrected lol

[Marky]

My thoughts are if you got it cheap then just onsell it for more and buy a WRX or one already converted with the proceeds and save yourself the trouble

By the time you've manual converted it, single churrbro'd it and f'd around with making it look legit you'll still have something not that unusual and a bit of an orphan - there's normally a B4 or three on TM at any given time already single turbo, manual for 4-5k for what it's worth

But who knows it might be a way to kill a few weekends for you so go nuts

[ZeroNZ]

Hey thanks for the advice Marky. I work at a dealer that also has a sister dealer that sells Subarus so I can get the prices very cheap, and the engine in the B4 is displaying signs of one of the head gaskets being blown so I thought it would be a good project car.

The idea is that once it's all running mint and I've got my next car ready to go then my partner will be driving it so it won't be too powerful, just enough to get around the VOD haha.

I've been looking at various EJ20s and was told that the EJ20 twin turbo engine was a strong engine for single turboing because of the crankshaft is a different composition? Don't know how true that is though.

With the electrical side of things with the manual conversion, if I were to source a complete manual transmission and engine loom would that just bolt straight up to my body?

Thanks for the help guys.