Before they could even drive the WRX on the rollers, however, they found out the turbo already blew. Witkin replaced the blown snail with a sleeve bearing VF-34, which was the same size as the previous but with a faster spool up. He also installed a remote map selector, a test and up pipe and a high-performance boost controller all straight from the Turbo XS catalog. To mix quality-fed fuel into the chambers, Witkin fit in a dual Walbro high-flow fuel pump, and customized and flow tested 780cc fuel injectors from GearboxTech.com. He also made sure the engine bay looked as good as it ran, so he mounted an APR carbon fiber radiator shroud, used a Blitz radiator cap, invested in a set of Samco hoses, and added an LNR 3-piece carbon fiber engine dress-up kit. To top it all off, the engine features a direct port nitrous kit from NX, providing even more scary horsepower down the streets and strips. He didn't bother to dyno the car this time, but Turbo XS estimated the car was making upwards of 280hp, a number that exceeded Witkin's goal of 275hp.
Satisfied with the engine's power at that particular moment, he moved on with modifying the exterior. Witkin wanted it to be black and have the stealthy, mean look. To complement the style, he put on a genuine C-West body kit further capturing an onlooker's visual capacity. The fierce V2 front bumper was accentuated by a set of APR carbon-fiber air splitters, custom-made carbon-fiber fog light covers, and is rounded off by a GT Spec-replica Liberal front grille. Behind it sits a Kaminari carbon fiber reverse cowl hood, segueing perfectly to the Fourstar Motorsports carbon-fiber WRC Rally-spec side mirrors. Applauding from the back row, an APR GTC-200 carbon-fiber wing chops through the air, while the V1 rear lip reduces drag as the WRX tries to gain optimum downforce. As final touches, Witkin blacked-out the taillights to match the stealth bomber scheme.
His car stayed this way for nearly a year until his transmission blew like his second turbocharger. "Every tooth was shredded off in second gear," explained Witkin, "This is typical of a WRX transmission and every Subaru geek knows that." Naturally, he sought out the best and strongest transmission fit for his car. Some advised him to swap in a six-speed transmission from a WRX STi, but Witkin didn't want to bog down his WRX with the 80lbs. of extra weight and wasn't enthusiastic about the prospect of having an extra gear to grind. He just wanted to go as fast as mechanically possible. Thankfully, his long-time mechanic Andrew Yates secured the sole U.S. distribution rights of Pfitzner Performance Gearbox (PPG), creators of the most coveted transmissions and gearsets in Subie land. Owning their products with the revolutionary tooth and ring profile, lightweight dog rings with distinctive radii and smooth and rapid gears meant that they were serious tuners.