stage I/ stage II

[somerandomguy175]

Reading a lot on here about guys with stage II upgrades and what not, what exactly do the different stages mean? Yes I know new guy, but hey just trying to learn!

[Dookie]

Here is the general basics of each Stages.

Stage 1 - Foam panel air filter, Stage 1 Tune
Stage 2 - Filter, Gutted DP (Downpipe), Stage 2 Tune
Stage 3 - Filter, Gutted DP, Turbo Upgrade, CBE, Stage 3 Tune


3 general ways to tune your car:
1) Acessport - A hand held device that you connect to your car with preloaded "maps" to recalibrate the ECU.
2) OpenSource Tune - Use your own Laptop, free software, and VagCom to connect to the ECU. Contact an E-Tuner and they will make a custom tune based of the data you provided to them. This is usually the cheaper route.
3) ProTune - Find a respected tuner and have them tune the car on a dyno.

[somerandomguy175]

Cool thanks, that I could understand! I've noticed this isn't going to be a cheap hobby lol

[TSi+WRX]

^ Remember that what Dookie gave you is just one interpretation of "Stages" of modification.

Different vendors/tuners - and also different car communities - can all have their own take on what any particular "stage" means. So while it's OK to talk among friends in terms of that word, when you're getting services done on your car or when you're discussing the car with owners who may not be familiar with the usual Subaru nomenclature (and, specifically, in this case, it's the Cobb Tuning "staging" that we're talking about - and even so, know that there's differences in how Cobb Tuning itself defined the "stages" in the past, over the years).

[somerandomguy175]

So having tinted windows, nightshade tail lights, boost gauge, and motegi rims dose not make me any closer to stage II?? Hahaha

[somerandomguy175]

Oh and that sweet custom exhaust!

[Dookie]

Originally Posted by somerandomguy175

So having tinted windows, nightshade tail lights, boost gauge, and motegi rims dose not make me any closer to stage II?? Hahaha

You're almost at stage 2 cosmetics.

[somerandomguy175]

Sheesh how much more do I need?!

[Dookie]

Stock grill or aftermarket (DIY) grill?

This will get you to stage 2.

[somerandomguy175]

I'm really debating if I wanna mess that up trying to cut pieces out....although it has crossed my mind....

[Dookie]

Here's a pic of mine. It's fairly easy to do....cut, sand, bondo, sand, and paint. Plasti-Dip works great too, as it hides a lot of the scratches and imperfections.

[somerandomguy175]

That indeed does look pretty damn sharp...i just don't have that much confidence to tackle that task alone. Just like blacking and clearing the headlights, I wanna do it so bad but just afraid I'm gunna mess it up.

[Dookie]

Here's the DIY toughness scale. 1 easy - 10 hardest

Grill - 7

Clearing Headlights - 3

Headlights are quite easy and I found it easier to do with a heat gun. It's simple, heat the sides of the housing until you see the adheshive becomes wet. Pull the two housing apart, pull the amber out, and reheat the adhesive to press the housing back together. I believe there are 3 screws on the outside to remove first along the edges.

[somerandomguy175]

No one has had a problem with fogging? I would do both if I knew someone around me that's done it before.

[Dookie]

I've had no issues, and I've done 3 sets. The most important thing when pressing them back together is reheat the edges for 2 or 3 times and make sure the adhesive is full sealed.

What state are you in? There's a lot of members over on .com that may live near you and be willing to help.

[somerandomguy175]

I'm in NE Ohio. I didn't like the way the .com guys were putting people down for some of the stuff they did to their cars. I'm more of a to each their own kinda guy, I don't make people feel dumb or whatever just cuz they put a boost gauge on their steering column.....(which I did)

[Dookie]

Yea, .com has become a bantering community. I hang out there most of the time helping members solve their issues, but I also do my share of bantering the old timers on there.

Send a PM to TSI+WRX and see if he knows anyone up in your area, he's from OH.

[somerandomguy175]

Thanks man ill hit em up. I may try one more time over there and see how it goes, I may offer to do taillight nightshade in return for the assistance.

[somerandomguy175]

how do I pm him

[TSi+WRX]

The LERSOC group is really into DIY. Let me know if you don't get activated over there, their sign-up system sometimes goes haywire and new perspective member's activation messages go the way of the Intr4w3bz black-hole.

LERSOC has a really rich technical resource, and most times, members there work for much less than shop hours (like BigMike, who is a genuine Subaru tech. at one of the local dealerships and also wrenchs at Slick or Storm, who is a veritable guru of Subiness) for labor. knedrgr - I don't know if he's still offering to work on cars for others, but he's the guy to go to for headlamp clearing: he did a ton of GD/GGs.

Forced4s is usually much more active: during the in-season, people tend to talk more at meets than they do online. I'm not sure how much of a "core" Subaru group there still remains there, though.