Currently I drive an Evo X 2008 MY with 5speed manual gearbox. With simple mods like catback, intake and some mild suspension upgrades, stock tune. I can't stop thinking about SST. I realised that i don't really need 5speed manual for it's strong points - making a lot of power. Because I drive half a year in winter, I won't change turbo to smth like fr red or garret 30-35. I need fast spool, minimal lag and strong midrange for winter. So my plans for power - is to stay around stock turbo and to add bolt-ons. Also half of my driving is on highways, so I will be glad for 6 speed. I do a lot of auto-x and small tracks (2-3-4 gears with a lot of gear changing) and I think SST gearbox suits me better for those tracks. So below are my questions:

1) Tuning the car with SST. Is it really harder to tune than 5speed car ? My tuner haven't tuned any cars with SST yet, so I might be first ... Also do cams trigger any codes in SST ?

2) Durability of SST. As i said my plans for power are stock turbo with boltons. TBE and Tomei cams are sitting right now at my home Can SST handle such mods for long period and for track usage ? I will not modify my gearbox - that means stock clutches and all gearbox internals. However i may buy additional fluid cooler.

3) 2008 and 2010 SST cars. Is there any difference ?

 

Here's a MR vs GSR take from my tuner @ RRE

MRs make less power than GSRs. That article is a GSR. It eventually made 400 WHP that was trackable.

There are some big differences deep in the mapping between the GSR and MR. Knock sensitivity levels are totally different for example. The more dangerous minimum timing maps have been found now. There is a bunch more stuff regarding the way the motor and tranny ECUs talk to eachother that still needs to be fully understood.

Worry less about a specific number. Get the mods that fit your budget and get it tuned.

Do what ever you can afford and want to live with on the exhaust side. What ever cat/no cat you prefer. A short DP. Long DPs I dont feel are worth the expense for the part and install on a stock turbo I think.

I would be happy with a drop in filter. An AEM intake if you must. Intercooler pipes wont make any power alone. If you upgrade the intercooler, then do intercooler piping.

The stock fuel system is good to 350 whp.

If you need more power then cams are next.

If you really need 350 whp and 330-340 wont do, then a turbo upgrade. But that knocks over a bunch of dominoes with fuel pump, injectors, more tuning, tranny cooler not to mention $1700 for a turbo and over $500 for the install.

They the basic stuff and see if you can live with 320-330 whp. See how well your tranny likes it. If not, get ready to spend big. The sweet tranny shifting bennifits of the MR tranny in normal traffic situations start to decrease with big power. Things get grumpy and finicky and you start to lose the reasons you bought the MR for. If you have goals over 350 whp you really should be thinking GSR. In a few years it might be different. It wont ever be cheaper but more will be understood.

Mike W

 

Thanks for answer. No, I have no goals for over 350whp. I really like to drive in snow or in rain, I don't need big power for those conditions, just 4wd and fast response While my almost stock 5speed evo is a little slow on tarmac compared to my previous suby, in slippery conditions it is an absolute joy even almost stock thanks to S-AWC system.

I plan to use auto shifting only at track. Manual mode all the time for city.

 

HP won't be the problem, its the torque that will be the problem since the OEM clutchpacks can only handle so much torque.

 

No, you have 350whp mixed with 350wtq (which has been fixed at this point).

I know a few guys that run over 400whp on a dynojet for over a year now on 100% stock transmission. No issues what so ever. It's all in the tuning. There are quite a few SST tricks in the software. Personally, I recommend someone that knows what they are doing with the SST if you're going to get a tune. Even a basic tune up to 300whp. HB Speed, GST, English Racing, Ivey, etc. They all know the SST and have these tricks organized enough to adjust them. I say, if you're going to go with a SST, make sure you get a reputable tuner to do it. Just my .02.

 

Knock tables are exactly the same on MR / GSR / RA btw

- Bryan

 

What about 2008 vs 2010 models with SST gearbox ? Any difference ?

 

manual!

 

Trust me if you want to tune get a manual, lobe the sst but i just sold mine and bought a 06 sti.

 

Man I'd much rather have my X MR than a 06 STi. If you like it though, that's cool.