I'm in the market to buy either an 02 wrx or a 99 g20t. and before all of you tell me there's no comparison bet the 2 performance-wise..Im fully aware of the tuning potential the wrx has but I personally like how the g20 feels and looks a lot more. not to mention the g20 is going to run me more than 6 grand less. the power issue of the stock sr20 motor is really going to get to me though so I was seriously thinking about going with an aftermarket turbo set-up but was dissuaded from owners telling me how the swap would be a much better and more efficient option. Should I go with the bb swap instead of the gtiR? I heard that I might run into problems with the obd2 and wiring with the gtiR motor. If i do decide to go with the bb motor, how hard relaly is the install? and as far as maintenance goes...would a typical guy like myself be able to upkeep it? I plan on using it as my daily driver. If any of you guys have any insight, please let me know. THANKS!

Steve

why do a swap on it? your g20 SHOULD have very few miles on it..buy a manifold, turbo, intercooler and associated piping, then get a jwt ecu, motormounts and bigger injectors and use your stock sr20de.

lower compression = more boost, you also get some trick stuff like piston oil squirters.

Now that I am without a car - crashed my Y2K b15 SE, I am really thinking about getting a 1999 G20t automatic (family can’t drive standard). From what I heard (could be wrong) the stock P11 automatic transmission, like that of the B15's, can handle about 180 - 190 whp. (I plan on getting torque converter and valve body work from levelten - full transmission rebuilt is a bit too much $$$ currently)

Can a P11 auto could handle a stock bluebird or avenir DET swap, with a stock transmission?
The number look like it will work.

I happen to own a 99 G20t with a BlueBird swap. In fact, I think I might be the only one who can say that. I wish I had a turbo DE in the motor just for emissions reasons, but the swap was performed right before I bought the car. The car actually runs beautifully with a 95-97 B14 JWT ECU. Feel free to email or PM me with any questions.

Greg from the g20.net forum has a P11 with the original 9.5:1 motor and a GTi-R turbo setup, and he laid down almost 300 whp. You might take a look on the forum at www.g20.net and search for his posts. His handle it MrFancyPants.

Thanks for the reply - I have been snooping around G20.net for a while now so I have seen a thread or two about your car. Currently I do not really want to have to deal with a shady smog test to pass a turbo charged G20.

I have not heard anything lately about the JWT CARB legal low boost turbo kit - that might be a better (but more expensive option) for emission reasons.

Btw I do not currently own a G20, just looking into it.
Edit:spelling

Originally posted by blairellis
why do a swap on it? your g20 SHOULD have very few miles on it..buy a manifold, turbo, intercooler and associated piping, then get a jwt ecu, motormounts and bigger injectors and use your stock sr20de.

higher compression = more power and less boost, but easier detonationi

You know, if you really want to do a comparison then you should talk to Luke at Digital Racer. I bought the G20 from him, and he's the one who did the swap. At the time, he mentioned looking for a new car and I told him he should test drive a WRX. He did, and ended up buying it. They're both great cars and Luke's in a great position to objectively compare the two.

He posts on the G20 forum as LukeAtMe, and his email is luke@digitalracer.com

wow- if not for the subscribe to a thread email, I would have completely forgotten about this thread. I'm no longer looking for the g20 only for real long term reliability and ease of maintenance issues. I'm in the market now for an 04 wrx. Now-if my insurance costs more than 5 grand a year, I might truly have to reconsider. Thanks for the informative replies. and I remember Luke's silver g20, beautiful! do you have any recent pics of it dan?

No recent pics. It looks pretty much the same from the outside.