Category: BRZ

Justin’s 2017 Subaru BRZ.

Selling My BRZ

Posted on | by Justin M.

3 reasons I’m selling my BRZ.

This is a sad day! I have owned my 2017 Subaru BRZ for over 2.5 years now. So much time, work, and money has been put into this car over the years. I have been very successful with the car in autocross and put in plenty of track days as well. However, after months of deliberation, I decided that I will be selling my BRZ. Since I started taking public transportation to work last year, my BRZ very rarely gets driven. As a result, I feel like this is the best decision. Check out the video below where I go over all the details!

BRZ Oil Cooler

Posted on | by Justin M.

Installing a BRZ oil cooler can help keep oil temperatures under control during spirited driving.

When engine oil temperatures get too high, it can mean bad news for the longevity of your engine. A BRZ oil cooler is one way you can help keep the oil temperature down, so it does not damage your engine. There are a couple different types of oil coolers. One of them being a water cooled style oil cooler and the other being an air cooled style oil cooler. I recently installed a sandwich style oil cooler to test out, from NED autoparts. It is basically an OEM Subaru style oil cooler. It provides small benefits but is only suitable for street driving and should not be used on the race track. For those in cold climates, it can be helpful

JDL Ultra Quiet front-pipe

Posted on | by Justin M.

The JDL Ultra Quiet front-pipe replaces my old Berk front-pipe.

I have gone through quite a few different catback exhaust systems on my 2017 Subaru BRZ. However, I have always had the same front-pipe, which is the Berk high flow cat version. After a few years of use and abuse on the track and autocross course, it seems this pipe has finally started to fall apart. First, I noticed a hissing sound of sorts coming from my exhaust system. It got worse over time. Finally, I pulled the exhaust system from the car and found a hole in my Berk front-pipe! So, my broken BRZ exhaust needs to be repaired or replaced. I chose to replace the Berk front-pipe with a brand new JDL Ultra Quiet front-pipe instead of attempting to repair the hole in the Berk pipe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7LkdqVo7Qw

Best BRZ Exhaust

Posted on | by Justin M.

Is this the best BRZ exhaust yet?

It seems like I have spent years trying to find the best BRZ exhaust for my racing requirement! Some of my favorites have been my single exit Tanabe Concept G exhaust and the Blitz Nur-Spec VSR dual exit exhaust. However, both of those exhausts had their flaws. They were either too heavy (the Blitz), or too loud in the case of the Tanabe exhaust. Now, I have picked up yet another exhaust to review. This time, I ordered the Dezod Motorsports Dual Catback exhaust. Will this be the last exhaust I will ever need for my 2017 Subaru BRZ? I hope so!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwlIH1kttq8

OS Giken Differential Install

Posted on | by Justin M.

OS Giken differential install process for your Subaru BRZ, Scion FRS, or Toyota 86.

The OS Giken Super Lock limited slip differential is a high end product that will improve your cars cornering grip. This is the latest in my Subaru BRZ upgrades for competing in SCCA STX autocross. The OS Giken differential install process is fairly straightforward. However, it does take time and some familiarity with how the rear differential comes out of your car. With the OS Giken unit installed, you can expect improved grip during mid-corner and corner exit phases. Going fast requires putting the power down and the OS Giken differential definitely helps with that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQbHA6zT59Y

Boxer Rumble

Posted on | by Justin M.

What makes the boxer rumble sound?

Everyone loves the boxer rumble that comes from WRX’s, and even our BRZ, FRS, and 86’s. But, what makes that sound? Why does a stock BRZ/FRS/86 not have the boxer rumble? In this video I compare the exhaust sound differences between an unequal length style header to that of an equal length style header. Which exhaust note do you like best? If you would like to know more about my BRZ exhaust system setup, take a look at my ACE A-350 header installation video.

Loudest BRZ exhaust ever!

Posted on | by Justin M.

I think I found the loudest BRZ exhaust ever!

In my quest to find the lightest BRZ exhaust I could find, I think I also found out the loudest BRZ exhaust combination in the process. Nameless Performance has crafted exhaust components for the BRZ, FRS, and 86 for some time now. I wanted to try out their new 2017 BRZ track pipe, which weighs in at a scanty 5lbs. I also used a small track pipe of my own that I already had, in the comparison. Both track pipes are of course super light weight. However, both of them are also very loud! If I had a stock header with a catalytic converter in it, I think the results would be different. But, with a catless header, both of these track pipes are just loud loud loud!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpJX-L0ONgk

Best BRZ Wheels?

Posted on | by Justin M.

The WedsSport TC105N wheels are probably the best BRZ wheels you can buy!

Wheels are one of the most important modifications for your performance car. I have used a few different sets of wheels for my 2017 BRZ to date. I am always searching for the best BRZ wheels I can buy. However, I think I finally came across a near perfect setup for my car! I recently purchased a set of WedsSport TC105N wheels in the 17×9 size with a +35 offset. The TC105N is a super light weight wheel while remaining very strong. The Weds TC105N is a proven track performer and in addition, looks fantastic! The combination of great looks, light weight, and strength has convinced me that the TC105N are among the best BRZ wheels you can buy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSzR35sfSF4

ACE Header Dyno Results

Posted on | by Justin M.

Did the ACE Header dyno results exceed expectations?

The ACE A-350 header is not cheap. But, like a lot of things, you get what you pay for. The ACE A-350 header is a top notch product that provides top notch gains as well. In the past, I have used the trusty RevWorks UEL header on my Scion FRS and my Subaru BRZ. This header provided decent power improvements, while also saving weight. After reading all of the hype on the ACE A-350 header, I finally gave in and bought one to test out. As part of the test, I first took a number of dyno pulls with my Subaru BRZ and the RevWorks UEL header. With those power numbers recorded, I could then install the ACE header and get the car re-tuned. Once that was done, I went back to the dyno to get the ACE header dyno results. The improvement in power was pretty shocking, actually. My latest video goes over all of the details and clearly shows where the ACE A-350 made more power over the previous RevWorks UEL setup.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggQspB1P7a4

ACE Header BRZ Install

Posted on | by Justin M.

Swapping out UEL for EL in this ACE header BRZ install video!

After 2 years running my RevWorks un-equal length header, it is time for a change. My equal length ACE A-350 header from CounterSpaceGarage.com is ready to go in! The ACE header BRZ install process is just like any other header you can get for your BRZ, FRS, or 86. The design of the ACE A-350 header is slightly different which contributes to its unique performance. After installing the header, I also go over the basic tuning process for the ECUtek tuning platform. It won’t be long now and we will have the dyno numbers to compare this to previous BRZ dyno sessions!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEJgk6skuX0