COBB Tuning Blog

COBB Tuning is excited to announce immediate support for the 2012 Subaru STI and WRX! Now owners of the latest high-performance Subarus can attain the same level of power and control with the AccessPORT as enjoyed by previous model year owners. Our AccessTUNER software has also been updated to allow custom tuning of the 2012 STI and WRX by both professional tuners and DIY tuners alike. Read on for more details about the work COBB Tuning is doing to make sure the AccessPORT is the most comprehensive tuning solution for Subaru performance enthusiasts.

2012 Subaru STI and WRX AccessPORT

2012 Subaru STI and 2012 Subaru WRX are shipping now, preloaded with performance enhancing Stage1 and Stage2 maps to get new users up and running with the push of a button. The AccessPORT also comes preloaded with our unique Non-Performance maps for fuel economy, valet parking and anti-theft to help protect your wallet and your investment.

The 2012 Subaru STI and WRX AccessPORTs come with all of the same features released on previous versions, including Real-Time tuning, Launch Control, Flat Foot Shift, Performance Monitoring, and Live Data and Datalogging of over 100 ECU monitors. A full list of AP-SUB-003 enhancements are available in the AP-SUB-003 AccessPORT Firmware Release Notes. All late-model Subaru AccessPORTs (AP-SUB-003) can be updated for free to support the 2012 STI and WRX with a simple firmware upgrade.

AccessTUNER Tuning Software 1.9.1.0-3119

Both AccessTUNER Race and AccessTUNER Pro tuning software packages have been updated to support the 2012 STI and WRX. 2012 STI and WRX owners can bring their cars to a professional tuner for a custom tune to maximize power output. Experienced self-tuners can download a free copy of AccessTUNER Race and make modifications to their own calibrations. Both software packages have access to our database of Off-The-Shelf maps. These are great starting points for your custom tunes. Existing AccessTUNER users can update their existing software to the latest version following these Step-By-Step Software Update Instructions. New AccessTUNER Race users can acquire their copy of the software by filling out the AccessTUNER Race Request Form.

In addition, AccessTUNER receives new features to include an axis label to better identify ECU flash type (Reflash Only, Realtime/Reflash, Realtime Only), new labels to better identify the Multiply and Edit dialog boxes and a bug fixes that addresses the disconnect issue experienced by some users when writing large amounts of real-time data using AccessPORT passthrough as well fixes the Manage Maps button to launch AccessPORT Manager. A full list of AccessTUNER enhancements are available in the Subaru AccessTUNER Release Notes.

Please note that maps that are updated using this software require that the AccessPORT it is to be installed on is at the following firmware version:

• AP-SUB-001: 1.6.4.0-1960
• AP-SUB-002: 1.6.4.0-1960
• AP-SUB-003: 1.6.4.0-3099
   

Step-By-Step Guides

• Follow this Step-By-Step AccessPORT Firmware Update Guide to quickly and easily update the firmware on your AccessPORT.
• Follow this Step-By-Step AccessTUNER Software Update Guide to update your software to the latest release.
• Follow this Step-By-Step AccessPORT Map Download and Transfer Guide to download maps, transfer them to your AccessPORT and flash them to your ECU.

To learn more about the AccessPORT for the 2012 Subaru STI and WRX, or to get answers to any questions you may have regarding COBB Tuning products, please call our Customer Support Team at 866-922-3059.

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EDIT 10/7/11: As noted by a few readers, the build work was done by Craven Performance in St.Peters, MO and AMS Performance did the tuning.

AMS Performance recently finished a 653 WHP 2011 STI sedan build that is running low 11 second 1/4-mile times! Their customer, James from St. Louis, wanted a big horsepower Subaru, but needed it to drive like the stock vehicle since the car is still a daily driver. The build started with the AMS 900HP Shortblock, built heads with Cosworth cams, Injector Dynamics ID2000cc injectors, and the AMS 950R turbo kit. For tuning, AMS relied on the COBB Tuning AccessPORT and AccessTUNER Pro for it’s ease of use, real time tuning, graphical interface, and customer support.

So what does it take to make over 600 wheel horsepower and still be able to make the car perform well as a daily driver? “It takes a good amount of time to dial in the large MAF paired with large injectors” said Mitch Mckee, an AMS Performance ECU Calibrator. Mitch also noted that “some people like kill mode all of the time”, but using the map switching abilities of the AccessPORT, he can create multiple boost level maps since most customers prefer to have it “turned down just a bit for softer driving when on the street.”

“It drives like stock on E85, just much faster!” Using the AccessPORT, James can switch between E85 and 93 octane maps for the track or street. When at the drag strip, he takes full advantage of the AccessPORT’s Launch Control and Flat Foot Shifting features. James noted the AccessPORT datalogging “makes it easy to communicate back and forth with my tuner even though he is 300 miles away.”

Check out the video above of James’s STI at the drag strip! Don’t forget to check out AMS Performance and if you want to learn more about the AccessPORT and it’s features, just visit COBB Tuning.

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COBB Tuning is proud to announce the release of our latest addition to our line of Subaru performance parts: The COBB Tuning Catless Uppipe. These kits are made for the Subaru enthusiast looking to unlock the hidden power in their vehicle’s exhaust manifold.

The COBB Tuning Catless Uppipe is constructed of rugged, 14-gauge,  2-inch diameter polished stainless steel tubing to endure the intense exhaust gas temperatures these turbocharged engines put out. These Catless Uppipes are CNC mandrel bent, ensuring precise and consistent fitment. The Catless Uppipe inlet diameter matches the inner diameter of the gasket to maximize flow to the turbo. The extra-thick flanges are cut from 1/2″ 304 Stainless Steel to prevent warping and eliminate high pressure exhaust leaks. The five turbo-flange studs come pre-installed. This gorgeous Uppipe is built to last for many long years of service.

Does your 2002-2005 WRX, Forester XT or Legacy GT still have the stock uppipe with wound metal cat? Get rid of it and install a high-quality COBB Tuning Catless Uppipe! The factory metal cat is a known failure point and can melt and break apart causing catastrophic turbocharger damage. Additionally, the stock uppipe is restrictive and can inhibit spool-up. Our units feature a 2-inch pipe and are made of T-304 stainless steel and are compatible with all stock-location turbochargers and stock exhaust manifolds or stock fitment header systems. Bring your Subaru up to date and enjoy the benefits of a free-flowing uppipe today!

The COBB Tuning Catless Uppipe is available for all late-model turbocharged Subarus (does not include 2010+ Legacy GT). For more information, visit the COBB Tuning 2-inch Uppipe Product information page.

Stay tuned for more COBB Tuning parts for your Subaru, visit our website at COBB Tuning.com, visit the COBB Tuning Forums or call us at 866-922-3059. To join in on the COBB Tuning conversation, head over to our COBB Tuning Facebook page and click the LIKE button to stay plugged in, or follow us on Twitter!

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COBB Tuning is happy to announce the return of the COBB Tuning Double-Adjustable Short Shifter for Subaru 5-speed and 6-speed applications. These shifters are made of light-weight, high-quality aluminum and hard-anodized steel and will greatly improve shifting feel while reducing shifter throw for more precise shifting.

A shorter shifter does not mean losing shifter height! COBB Tuning short-throw shifters are double-adjustable for both throw and shifter height. Most short throw shifters also shorten the shift lever, resulting in a longer reach to the shifter. But with COBB’s exclusive double-adjustable shifter, you can shorten the shifter throw while maintaining your shift lever at the stock height for faster shifting, without the extra reach!

The COBB Tuning double adjustable shifter is constructed of a billet, blue-anodized 6061 T6 Aluminum adjustable shift lever clamp with COBB Tuning engraving and zinc-coated black, steel upper and lower levers and ball joint for maximum strength and longevity. All hardware required for installation is included as well as allen-keys for adjusting your shifter.

The COBB Tuning double adjustable short shifter is available for 99-2001 Impreza, 2002-2007 WRX, 2008-2011 WRX, 2004-2007 STI, 2008-2011 STI, 2005-2009 Legacy GT, 2006-2009 Legacy SpecB and 2004-2005 Forester XT. All COBB Tuning short throw shifter kits are compatible with COBB Tuning’s 5-speed and 6-speed shifter bushing kits and rear shifter stay bushing kit and 5-speed and 6-speed shift knobs. Complete your shifter kit with these high-quality shift linkage parts and never miss another shift!

For more information on the COBB Tuning Double Adjustable Short-Throw Shifter, visit the 5-speed and 6-Speed product information pages. Stay tuned for more COBB Tuning parts for your Subaru, visit our website at COBB Tuning.com, visit the COBB Tuning Forums or call us at 866-922-3059. To join in on the COBB Tuning conversation, head over to our COBB Tuning Facebook page and click the LIKE button to stay plugged in, or follow us on Twitter!

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COBB Tuning is happy to announce more billet parts for your Subaru engine bay; our Battery Tie Downs are back in Black, Gold and COBB Tuning Blue and constructed of 6061 T6 Aluminum. Replace your factory stamped-steel tie down with this stylish piece, that not only looks good, but won’t rust, flake or crack like the stock galvanized strap.

The COBB Tuning Battery Tie Down is available for all Subaru applications and can be used on older models as well. These units were designed with the factory battery in mind, but can be made to work with aftermarket lightweight or dry-cell batteries.

For more information on the COBB Tuning Billet Battery Tie Down, visit our Product Information Page. Stay tuned for more COBB Tuning reissue parts for your Subaru, visit our website at COBB Tuning.com, visit the COBB Tuning Forums or call us at 866-922-3059. To join in on the COBB Tuning conversation, head over to our COBB Tuning Facebook page and click the LIKE button to stay plugged in, or follow us on Twitter!

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COBB Tuning is happy to announce addition of a new color of our popular, billet aluminum Lightweight Main Pulley for all EJ-series Subaru engines. Black anodized pulleys are now available in addition to Gold and COBB Blue. These pulleys are lightweight and extremely durable, made from anodized billet 6061-T6 aluminum taking unwanted, power-robbing rotational mass off of your crank, freeing up horsepower and letting the engine rev more freely.

The stock crank pulley is not solid, but is made of two sections held together by soft rubber. Over time, this rubber can become brittle and the pulley can separate. When this happens, catastrophic engine damage may occur. That is why COBB Tuning retail stores include a billet Lightweight Main Pulley with every new engine build.

The COBB Tuning Billet Main Pulley is compatible with 2002-2011 WRX, 2004-2011 STI, 2005-2009 Legacy GT, 2005-2009 Outback XT and 2004-2011 Forester XT, but it will also fit older EJ-series engines as well. The COBB Lightweight Main Pulley is available from all COBB Tuning retail stores and dealers in COBB Blue, Gold and now, Black. Stay tuned for other COBB Tuning billet engine accessories in matching colors to round out your engine bay!

For more information on the COBB Tuning Lightweight Main Pulley, visit our Product Information Page. Stay tuned for more COBB Tuning reissue parts for your Subaru, visit our website at COBB Tuning.com, visit the COBB Tuning Forums or call us at 866-922-3059. To join in on the COBB Tuning conversation, head over to our COBB Tuning Facebook page and click the LIKE button to stay plugged in, or follow us on Twitter!

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COBB Tuning is happy to announce the re-release of our popular billet aluminum Oil Cap for All Subaru vehicles. These rugged and handsome pieces bring a bit of bling to your engine bay with a selection of colors. Available in COBB Blue, Gold and now Black, these billet oil caps will keep oil in your engine with a bit of style. The stock oil cap will get brittle and discolored over time, but our anodized pieces will keep their color and their style for years to come!

For more information on the COBB Tuning Billet Aluminum Oil Cap, visit our Product Information Page. Stay tuned for more COBB Tuning reissue parts for your Subaru, visit our website at COBB Tuning.com, visit the COBB Tuning Forums or call us at 866-922-3059. To join in on the COBB Tuning conversation, head over to our COBB Tuning Facebook page and click the LIKE button to stay plugged in, or follow us on Twitter!

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COBB Tuning is pleased to announce the return of our popular shifter bushing kits for Subaru 5-Speed and 6-Speed transmissions. COBB Tuning shifter bushing kits are direct replacements for the soft rubber OEM bushings and greatly improve shifting feel for faster, more positive shifting. The COBB Tuning shifter bushings are made from high-quality, high-durometer urethane and come with everything needed to install with simple hand tools. These bushings are compatible with all factory shifters and aftermarket short shifters that are direct OEM replacements.

5-Speed Front Shifter Bushing

6-Speed Front Shifter Bushing

Rear Shifter Stay Bushing

Bushings for Older Subarus

Do you own an older 5-speed Legacy or Impreza? Is your shifter sloppy, imprecise or just plain worn out? The COBB Tuning 5-Speed shifter bushing kit is a great way to improve your shifting feel or just get it back to where it should be. Our front and rear bushing kit will fit most transmissions starting with the 1st generation Legacy and Imprezas. Don’t settle for poor shifting because you have an older car, update you bushings and make your car shift like new.

For more information on shifter bushings for your Subaru, visit our website at COBB Tuning.com, visit the COBB Tuning Forums or call us at 866-922-3059. To join in on the COBB Tuning conversation, head over to our COBB Tuning Facebook page and click the LIKE button to stay plugged in, or follow us on Twitter!

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This year was COBB Tuning’s second time out at Wicked Big Meet, and we decided to show a larger presence to better support the Subaru community. Wicked Big Meet is the largest all-Subaru meet on the East Coast, so I knew it would be a ton of fun. We also planned to cruise the East Coast and visit as many of our dealers as possible to get a feel for how the right coast does it.

But just getting from Austin to NY can be a challenge, especially for a few small town boys visiting the Big Apple for the first time! An early morning flight out of Austin to Detroit to LaGuardia got Braden Berger, Lance Lucas and me into New York in the early afternoon. We very quickly learned about New York traffic as we were sitting in it for an hour or two on our way to our first stop: Vinny Ten Racing.

Vinny graciously welcomed us to his shop with hot Italian food (chicken parm) waiting for us. He has a great staff on hand in a well-kept facility. Braden spent the afternoon and early evening training tuners Vinny and Steve on MAZDASPEED while Lance and I mingled with the staff and got an idea of their work-flow and how they use our products. After a long day we decided to start the quest for New York pizza. After another hour or so in traffic, as well as leaving our car in a questionable “parking garage”, we made it to Lombardi’s for their famous pizza. The food was fantastic! After that we drove around and saw some of the sights New York had to offer: Central park, Twin Towers memorial site, Wall Street, and Times Square. Time didn’t permit us to spend a lot of time at any specific location, but it was an experience that left us all wanting to come back to New York just to see the city.

The second day we met with No Limit Motorsports and Dave at MSPT. Dave showed us around his new facility, including some great customer builds that were in progress. He is getting setup to do some great work for customers using the AccessPORT for tuning. After MSPT it was back to Vinny Ten to tune an EVO X. Lance spent the early evening with Vinny and Steve teaching tuning on EVO X while Braden and I chatted with the staff and customers that were arriving for a meet Vinny was holding that evening. We all stuck around for the Vinny Ten meet and met some very enthusiastic AccessPORT customers with both MAZDASPEEDs and GT-Rs. After the meet we met up with Dave at MSPT where he very graciously took us out for some amazing food which included awesome steak and “bacon slabs”. We were able to have some great conversations with Dave about the market and feedback on our products.

On the third day we were up bright and early to take a prop plane (the vomit master 2000) into Bradley airport. From there we met with Paul at ECS and got a tour of his great facility. Paul had a lot of very nice and very big builds ranging from Subaru, to GTR, to Ford Mustang. We spent the majority of the day there training GT-R software with Paul and I spent a good amount of time working with him on some software issues he had as well as a lot of great feedback. We had planned on a MAZDASPEED Demo but were short on time. We are scheduling a followup to get him trained on the MAZDASPEED platform as we speak. After that we headed over to see Chris at EFI Logics to check out the shop and go out for dinner.

There was some pretty incredible rain happening that caused a rollover on the freeway which resulted in more traffic. Four hours later we made it to EFI. EFI has a top notch crew and have built an amazing shop out of what started as a temporary location. They had a variety of customer builds they were working on while we were there that were all drool worthy. EFI showed us their east coast hospitality by having us out for dinner with their crew which was a great time. After that we were headed back to the hotel for our precious few hours of sleep.

An early morning saw us arriving to Wicked Big Meet at 7:30 and we had planned to set up right away, but we had to wait a bit for our gear to arrive. The event officially kicked off at 10am but we found our booth slammed starting at about 9am. From 9am to 4pm our booth had a line of anxious customers at it the entire time that kept us busy! We had a mix of people who had never heard of our product, people on the fence ready to purchase our product, and people with our products that wanted to stop by and say hi! It was a great experience to meet all of these enthusiasts at this great event.

We talked to so many people that were blown away by our products and service. We had a few customers name Ian and Chris Haag specifically as customer service advocates that have made them loyal customers. On top of the sales aspect we were able to meet with several customers and sit down to discuss technical questions and issues they were having as well as diagnosing and swapping out a bad OBD-II cable for one customer who left ecstatic. We had the good fortune to have some of our vendors come and meet with us at our booth (as we couldn’t find a way to escape our booth until after 4pm!) and spend time with us giving us great feedback and having some great discussions about our market and products. After 4pm me and Lance made some rounds visiting some other Vendors, while Braden bravely held down the fort.

Chris at EFI showed us a great time at an amazing burger restaurant where I met my true love…. the Fatty Melt. The Fatty Melt is a 1/2 burger put between two grilled cheese sandwiches that acted as buns! After dinner we headed back to the hotel to try to organize all of our stuff to return back to Austin. Three hours of sleep later we headed home, looking forward to returning to Wicked Big Meet next year!

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This summer, the COBB Tuning Surgeline crew has just been slammed with cars. It seems like every day there are throngs of people in the shop and we have kept ourselves incredibly busy just doing what we do best, building fast cars! However, I was looking forward to an opportunity to break out of the four walls of the shop and get out into the world and see all of these cars being enjoyed in the wild. The BIG NW Subaru show gave us a chance to get out there and have some fun with our customers and friends and enjoy the fruits of our labor.

I love being out into the world and gathering together with the community. Subaru has always been “my home” in the car world and so it’s good to get back my roots. I helped organize the first ever Subiefest at Pacific Raceways almost half a decade ago, so going back to Pacific for the Big NW Subaru meet is like going home in some ways.

The show was very laid back, letting Lance, Linc, Geoff, Nick and I talk with all the friendly faces that stopped by the booth, as well as let us stroll around and talk with friends and colleagues that we don’t normally get to see!

The show was a good chance for us to see what everyone in the NW is doing with their cars. I personally liked the BG Legacy wagon with the 240SX drif body kit and RWD conversion, but that is just because I am a ricer at heart. Then again, I did love Jamie “SubieGal’s” Subaru 360 van. I don’t know if I would drive one on the freeway, but maybe a small back road to the coast… maybe.

While this event was more of a field meet and not a “driving” event, there was an autocross and I got to see a few people attack the cones. While it wasn’t a Subaru, the Merkur X4RTi with anti-lag was good fun to watch as it spat fireballs across the parking lot.

Of course, having Yukio “Yukes” Taira on the mic doing the announcing made the show complete. Yukio is one of the announcers for the Redline Time Attack series, and after listening to him and John, “Nads”, Naderie banter on and on for hours and hours at event after event last summer, it felt oddly comfortable to have Yukes’ silver tongue in my ear again. I don’t really know what he was talking about for 8 hours non-stop, but that velvety drone is somehow musical to me now.

At the end of the day, the Big NW Subaru Show was a huge success and a chance for us to see our friends up north that we don’t get to see too often! There needs to be more get-togethers like this in the Northwest and I can’t wait for Big NW Subaru show part 2, next year! Also, congratulations to Patrick Jo for winning a COBB Tuning downpipe in the raffle! And special thanks to Brett Michael, Brant Proden, Gamma Aguilar-Gamez and Matt Kincaid for lending us their cars and helping represent COBB Tuning!

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