1:35 PMBack at XS Engineering, we had the STi strapped to the Dynamic Test Systems dyno for a baseline run. Our first pull landed 249.5 horsepower and 285.0 lbs-ft of torque to the wheels. If the engine really produces 300 horsepower this comes out to an 18-percent loss to the drivetrain. (Dyno knowledge: Factory ratings are measured at the flywheel but what most people don't know is these ratings are also measured with no power steering, air conditioning and alternator.) I don't know if the car we got was programmed wrong, or if it's California's shitty gas, but at 4000rpm, the engine pinged really bad and then the sound disappeared.
1:50 PMWe bolted on the RSR downpipe and exhaust for a quick pull on the dyno (the RSR numbers are based on a prototype exhaust sytstem). The car jumped up to 256.0 horses and 292.1 torque. That's a 6.5 horsepower gain and 7.1 lbs-ft of torque. Considering the exhaust and downpipe were tested together, this peak gain seemed minimal, but on the other hand we were able to make 15 to 25 horsepower from 5700 to 6500rpm.
1:55 PM Since we didn't have an aftermarket intake on hand, we decided to see what would happen by removing the filter completely. It turns out the computer (or mass air meter) doesn't like the additional airflow. We ended up losing 8 horsepower. Once again, this all comes down to programming the factory computer. If we are lucky, then the ECU can be flash ROM like the older model.
2:30 PMCar was back to stock.
Day Two (Friday)1:30 PMI left home and headed down to San Diego where we had a few more tests on the STi.
2:43 PMOn the way down, I eat lunch at Albertos Taco Shop. The car gets invaded with people wanting to check it out. I felt like a rock star.
3:30 PM Qualcomm stadium, Home of the Padres and Chargers! It turns out that when the teams are not playing at home there are a few motorsport activities that go on in the parking lot. Tonight it was an event called Race Legal, eighth-of-a-mile racing! This event gives those who thirst speed a chance to run up against other adrenaline-thirsty souls in the staging lanes.
4:30 PM Gates opened and racers and spectators flooded the parking lot. Little did I know that so many Subaru fans were in attendance and I forgot to bring my flyers with the mos-frequently-asked questions. As I answered the same questions over and over, I was finally able to make my way from the tech line to the staging lanes to race my first victim.
5:16 PMPedro in his Civic looked like he was no match for the STi, but then again, this was only the second time I launched the car. I was told prior to picking up the car that you could dump the clutch on the six-speed without a problem but I was worried about trying that so I rode the clutch coming out of the hole.
5:17 PMNot only did I smoke Pedro; it smelled as if I smoked the clutch doing it: .590 light 8.78 at 78.6mph to 8.97 at 83.9mph
5:59 PMNext up was a late-model Firebird. Scared of killing the tranny, I rode the clutch out again and once again I could smell the stench of burnt clutch. Smoked the Firebird in the process: .672 light 8.70 at 79.7mph to a 9.62 at 73.0mph.
6:38 PMLined up with another Civic, but this time I wanted to see what might happen if I turned the DCCD on LOCK. The car went extremely sideways but won: .567 light 8.85 at 77.8 to a 10.69 at 65.5. The clutch still doesn't smell good.