In the quest for horsepower, I changed my mind a few times before I decided on an engine. My first engine in mind was a hot 1914cc type 1 motor. After learning more about it and actually calculating the costs of the engine build up, I was amazed on how much a decent motor would cost, even if I built it myself. Seeing how I was going to spend some money, I read into tuning theory, concepts, and many of the necessities that go into building an engine.  

Soon after I ran into a new engine. Yes, I fell into the type 4 realm for awhile. I liked the way the whole engine was put together, how it actually came with a oil filter stock, how it had an aluminum case for durability, how it had massive displacement stock and an abundance of cooling fins. Everything on this motor just seemed like it was designed to be, well, better. Many people were going through a ton of work to get this motor in their bugs because it had a crank mounted fan to cool the engine, similar to the Type 3.  This seemed it would have been a perfect motor for the notch. I wouldn't have to buy an expensive upright fan kit. At first, I felt a decent 2 liter would have been perfect, and affordable. But after pricing everything out to do it, I decided a 2270 would be the motor. I bought a 1.8 liter porsche motor locally, and used that as my base. I bought the DPR stroker crank, Keith Black 96mm pistons and cylinders. I got the case ready for assembly, even polished it up a bit. I went with a webcam and lifters. I scored some Weber 42 dcnfs and shorty manifolds so it would fit under the deck lid. Even though I was getting most of this for seemingly good bargains, it was adding up fast. I was getting frustrated on the lifter dilemma going on at this time, people were assembling motors, and having either their cam or their lifters going flat. Heads were another issue, to get decent heads for the type 4, you have to drop down some serious dough. It was around this time, I decided to give up and I sold it all off.

  I run into the EJ20.  I went to the dealership to test drive a WRX. It had the basic mods on it, exhaust, intake, BOV, etc. I took the car for a spin, and had a BLAST! The car was quick, and the sound was amazing. The deep rumble was music to my ears. I was addicted to horsepower from this point forward. I felt determined to make my notch a beast. I knew that the Subaru engine was a flat 4 turbo, similar in layout to a flat 4 VW.