SWAPPING HEADS CONTINUED
Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2001 2:48 am
About 18 months ago I was pulling out of a parking lot right behind what
looked like an Imprezza with a tricked out rear end treatment. I pulled
along next to it at the first light and sure enough, it was an Imprezza. I
yelled over that it looked and sounded pretty nice and asked the driver to
demonstrate how its' acceleration compared to my Turbo Legacy. I was quite
surprised by how quickly the lowly noisy Imprezza widened a gap between us.
I flagged the driver over, we got out, but before we could introduce
ourselves, I noticed the front end of the lowly Imprezza was half filled with
a front mounted intercooler. The interior was gutted, and fitted with a full
roll cage to compliment what was obviously a very expensive drivers' seat
tied to a five point harness. As my bulging eyes betrayed my suspicions and
wonderment, the driver popped the hood with a devilish grin to reveal one of
the most beautiful examples of custom turbo plumbing, fuel rails, and fully
braided steel hoses I have ever seen. This lowly Imprezza had been the
recipient of a transplant that would make Dr. Frankenstein envious. A race
prepped 2.2 LEGACY ENGINE was the platform chosen to transform the US spec
Imprezza into a vehicle with an engine which was the equivalent of a US built
22B, only more powerful!!! I know, there has to be someone reading this who
is scoffing with disbelief, as did many members of the Imprezza enthusiasts
STi-Mlist did when I posted that I had ridden in what felt like a 400
horsepower Imprezza. After inviting my new friend onto the list, his
continuous experimentation, tweaking, and changes, without regard for, or
proof of specific horsepower figures or drag strip times caused additional
scorn and disbelief. In the intervening months though, the skepticism
gradually diminished as more and more people were able to report their
witness of the machine in the flesh. The car is still driven on the street,
and capable of sustaining such incredible levels of boost, such that the 400
and then 500 horsepower barriers were crossed and left behind several months
ago. Today, Byron Leggett is somewhat of a legend in his own time, and
deservedly so, as the father of what just may be, the worlds' most powerful
Subaru. I admit to surprise and excitement upon reading Byron's insightful
reply to our question, I'll bet a dollar, I won't be alone;
Subj: Re: swapping heads
Date: 03/31/01 101:10 AM Pacific Standard Time
From: <A HREF="mailto:BSpecUSA">BSpecUSA</A>
To: <A HREF="mailto:Ssspoon">Ssspoon</A>
If you already have the 2.2 heads, take the time to work them. They can
outflow and outperform the 2.0 and the 2.5 heads. Valve size can be
increased to be larger than the 2.0 or 2.5 heads. Plus, it's already a turbo
head and has a great combustion chamber design. Don't be afraid to use what
you have, I stick to the 2.2 Legacy head, which can support over 600 HP --
why change, when it can barely be done with a 2.0 head?
PS B-Spec USA will gladly do your head and valve work for you!
Byron Leggett
www.B-SpecUSA.com
Thank you very much Byron, which for me have been words of encouragement and
enlightenment. After what Subaru Master Tech, Steve Powell said about the
2.2 engine being the best, and now this... I have to reevaluate some of my
thinking. That's all for now, but that's quite a bit. Hope we have more
coming. When and if we do, I'll check in. Larry Ssspoon Witherspoon
------------------------ ---------------------~-~>
Make good on the promise you made at graduation to keep
in touch. Classmates.com has over 14 million registered
high school alumni--chances are you'll find your friends!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/03IJGA/DMUCAA ... /X7OVlB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------_->
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
BC-BFLegacyWorks-unsubscribe@egroups.com
looked like an Imprezza with a tricked out rear end treatment. I pulled
along next to it at the first light and sure enough, it was an Imprezza. I
yelled over that it looked and sounded pretty nice and asked the driver to
demonstrate how its' acceleration compared to my Turbo Legacy. I was quite
surprised by how quickly the lowly noisy Imprezza widened a gap between us.
I flagged the driver over, we got out, but before we could introduce
ourselves, I noticed the front end of the lowly Imprezza was half filled with
a front mounted intercooler. The interior was gutted, and fitted with a full
roll cage to compliment what was obviously a very expensive drivers' seat
tied to a five point harness. As my bulging eyes betrayed my suspicions and
wonderment, the driver popped the hood with a devilish grin to reveal one of
the most beautiful examples of custom turbo plumbing, fuel rails, and fully
braided steel hoses I have ever seen. This lowly Imprezza had been the
recipient of a transplant that would make Dr. Frankenstein envious. A race
prepped 2.2 LEGACY ENGINE was the platform chosen to transform the US spec
Imprezza into a vehicle with an engine which was the equivalent of a US built
22B, only more powerful!!! I know, there has to be someone reading this who
is scoffing with disbelief, as did many members of the Imprezza enthusiasts
STi-Mlist did when I posted that I had ridden in what felt like a 400
horsepower Imprezza. After inviting my new friend onto the list, his
continuous experimentation, tweaking, and changes, without regard for, or
proof of specific horsepower figures or drag strip times caused additional
scorn and disbelief. In the intervening months though, the skepticism
gradually diminished as more and more people were able to report their
witness of the machine in the flesh. The car is still driven on the street,
and capable of sustaining such incredible levels of boost, such that the 400
and then 500 horsepower barriers were crossed and left behind several months
ago. Today, Byron Leggett is somewhat of a legend in his own time, and
deservedly so, as the father of what just may be, the worlds' most powerful
Subaru. I admit to surprise and excitement upon reading Byron's insightful
reply to our question, I'll bet a dollar, I won't be alone;
Subj: Re: swapping heads
Date: 03/31/01 101:10 AM Pacific Standard Time
From: <A HREF="mailto:BSpecUSA">BSpecUSA</A>
To: <A HREF="mailto:Ssspoon">Ssspoon</A>
If you already have the 2.2 heads, take the time to work them. They can
outflow and outperform the 2.0 and the 2.5 heads. Valve size can be
increased to be larger than the 2.0 or 2.5 heads. Plus, it's already a turbo
head and has a great combustion chamber design. Don't be afraid to use what
you have, I stick to the 2.2 Legacy head, which can support over 600 HP --
why change, when it can barely be done with a 2.0 head?
PS B-Spec USA will gladly do your head and valve work for you!
Byron Leggett
www.B-SpecUSA.com
Thank you very much Byron, which for me have been words of encouragement and
enlightenment. After what Subaru Master Tech, Steve Powell said about the
2.2 engine being the best, and now this... I have to reevaluate some of my
thinking. That's all for now, but that's quite a bit. Hope we have more
coming. When and if we do, I'll check in. Larry Ssspoon Witherspoon
------------------------ ---------------------~-~>
Make good on the promise you made at graduation to keep
in touch. Classmates.com has over 14 million registered
high school alumni--chances are you'll find your friends!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/03IJGA/DMUCAA ... /X7OVlB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------_->
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
BC-BFLegacyWorks-unsubscribe@egroups.com