15/10/2026
🔥🔧 30 YEARS OLD, TRACK READY & BROUGHT INTO THE MODERN WORLD! 🔧🔥
Chris’s lovely early Subaru Impreza V2 WRX leaves us today after a solid week of upgrades at MB Developments & Midlands Dyno Centre! 💪🏻🏁
We first met Chris and his WRX at our recent rolling road day, where the old girl managed a respectable 275 bhp.
Unfortunately, that was only half the story… 👀
The boost and fuelling were all over the place! Power would peak, drop away and then try to climb again. Certainly not what we’d want to see, and we’re just glad everything stayed in one piece long enough to get it sorted!
The car already had a fairly serious specification, including an N14 STI thick-wall block bottom end, upgraded headers, full exhaust, front-mounted intercooler, induction kit and external fuel pump.
Plenty of supporting modifications, but desperately in need of some proper engine management to bring everything together.
After a good chat at the dyno day, Chris knew it was long overdue and booked the car in for the following week. 👍🏻
⚙️ TIME FOR SOME MODERN UPGRADES!
We got a Link G4X ECU ordered, along with our additional sensor package and tablet display.
To future-proof the ignition system, we also agreed on a Newage coil pack conversion using the Fuji Racing wiring kit, along with a Newage MAP sensor upgrade to replace the ageing original.
🔧 AS WITH MOST 30-YEAR-OLD CARS… THERE’S ALWAYS MORE TO THE STORY! 😂
Once we got the car into the workshop, it quickly became apparent that a few other areas needed attention.
The external fuel pump wiring was poorly installed and potentially dangerous, the breather system wasn’t correctly configured and the power steering pump was leaking.
Chris was already aware that some of the previous work wasn’t quite up to scratch, having tackled a few jobs himself with a friend, and was more than happy for us to get everything sorted properly.
So the job list grew a little! 😅
🔹 Link G4X ECU supplied and installed
🔹 Additional sensor package fitted and wired
🔹 Tablet dash display installed
🔹 Newage MAP sensor conversion
🔹 Newage coil packs with Fuji Racing wiring conversion
🔹 Fresh NGK spark plugs, correctly gapped to suit
🔹 RCM 550cc injectors with matching wiring plug conversions
🔹 Breather system corrected
🔹 Power steering leak addressed
🔹 External fuel pump completely rewired
🔹 Correctly rated power and earth wiring installed
🔹 ECU-controlled fuel pump relay fitted
🔹 Resettable circuit breaker added for additional protection
The fuel pump wiring was a particularly important one. Previously, the pump was permanently powered rather than being controlled correctly.
It’s now running through suitable wiring, relay protection and ECU control, making the installation considerably safer. 👌
With the original injectors also likely to limit progress, we were fortunate enough to have a set of used RCM 550cc injectors available, which were soon fitted and wired in.
🏁🔥 ONTO THE DYNO – FINAL RESULTS! 🔥🏁
With all the mechanical work complete, it was over to Midlands Dyno Centre, where Andrew Carr of Team Carr took care of the Link G4X ECU setup and custom mapping.
Working alongside Andrew, we got everything dialled in, making the most of the current setup while ensuring the fuelling, boost control and additional engine protection strategies were all working as they should. 👌
📊 BEFORE – 275 BHP
🚀 AFTER – 320 BHP
💪🏻 +45 BHP GAINED!
⚙️ +40 LB-FT TORQUE GAINED!
🏆 FINAL FIGURES – 320 BHP & 320 LB-FT!
The ageing turbo and actuator are now becoming the limiting factors, but that’s a job for another day.
More importantly, we’ve gone from unpredictable boost and poor fuelling to a much healthier, controlled setup, with additional oil pressure, fuel pressure and temperature safety strategies now configured within the Link ECU.
It’s not just about the extra power. It’s about having a car that performs consistently, drives better and has the engine protection that simply wasn’t available with the original management. 💙
A big thanks to Andrew Carr at Team Carr for his work on the calibration. Always great having him involved and making use of the facilities here at Midlands Dyno Centre! 🤝
❤️ AND FINALLY, A LITTLE APPRECIATION FOR CHRIS!
At 71 years young, Chris is still out there enjoying his Subaru, getting involved with the work and making plans for further upgrades!
We absolutely love seeing that enthusiasm, and the fact he trusts us with his pride and joy genuinely means a lot.
It’s been a pleasure having the old girl with us this week, and we look forward to welcoming her back for the next round of improvements.
Enjoy it, Chris — you’ve certainly earned it! 💪🏻🏁
MB Developments | Midlands Dyno Centre
