Author Topic: Project ForeSTir (Read 34028 times)

teacherman · « **on:** December 12, 2009, 02:01:17 pm »

Well, here it is, the start of the transformation of this Forester into the ultimate sleeper. I will be trying to use as much of my wrecked 05 STi as I can. I loved what Angry Toaster did over on Nabisco with his, so I will be using some of the same ideas found on that car. I will be keeping the interior of the Forester stock, due to the fact it's a Limited, so heated everything, sunroof etc, and the dog can come with me again once I get the fence for the back.

This will be a fun process, and I'm sure I'll have some questions for the crew here, but the ripping and tearing starts in a week when I go on Christmas break. I just got the garage wired up for 240 this morning, so I will have a nice warm place to play this winter. There might be a need for some expert help during the swap, I've never pulled a dash out of one of these cars yet, but there is heat and perhaps some cold barley sandwiches for all involved.

I will try to update as progress is made through out the build.

Perfect Dark · « **Reply #1 on:** December 12, 2009, 02:24:18 pm »

/subscribed.

Good luck with the swap man!

flipincanadian · « **Reply #2 on:** December 12, 2009, 02:26:28 pm »

Nice choice for a swap recipient. Good luck with the swap man.

trevoroni · « **Reply #3 on:** December 12, 2009, 02:26:40 pm »

Awesome!
I can't wait to see how this progresses.
My next car is going to be a Forester and I would love to do this to it.

redevil · « **Reply #4 on:** December 12, 2009, 02:35:13 pm »

can't wait to see how this goes. I would love to do a complete swap with my Fozzy down the road as well.

silent · « **Reply #5 on:** December 12, 2009, 07:59:50 pm »

I may or may not have completed a few swaps (complete conversion identical to this job among others) and may or may not be a university student that works for beer/beer money.

If you need a hand, feel free to PM. I'm off for the break as well.

Waller · « **Reply #6 on:** December 12, 2009, 08:31:42 pm »

If you need anything let me know. I'd love to help.

Bruiser · « **Reply #7 on:** December 12, 2009, 09:01:18 pm »

Very keen interest in the ForeSTIr project! Good luck with the swap!

WRX_RA · « **Reply #8 on:** December 12, 2009, 09:02:46 pm »

sweet!!
always wanted to see this done step by step.

are you going to get a FMIC or a new hood with a scoop?

subscribed!
_Matt

teacherman · « **Reply #9 on:** December 12, 2009, 11:00:48 pm »

I'm going to try to keep the car as stealth as I can, so a small scoop on the hood will do. No STi decals anywhere, just the "WTF was that" reaction to my taillights is all I need

I have some stuff to button up the first few days of the break, but I hope to have the STi stripped before I go back to work at the beginning of January.

I will be selling off the parts from the 05 when they come off, and I will give first dibs to WSCers, then eBay the itshay out of them. So far it will be the passenger seat, back seat and all the good door panels. The passenger side doors are still ok, along with the trunk and the hood. I will post in WTS when they are ready.

bugeyesubie · « **Reply #10 on:** December 13, 2009, 12:19:25 am »

what other parts arent you gunna use, im interested in a lot, let me know

rs_two_five · « **Reply #11 on:** December 14, 2009, 03:05:12 pm »

Quote from: silent on December 12, 2009, 07:59:50 pm

I may or may not have completed a few swaps (complete conversion identical to this job among others) and may or may not be a university student that works for beer/beer money.

If you need a hand, feel free to PM. I'm off for the break as well.

what the hell.. you're back?

Good luck with the swap, and let me know about those parts if you end up not using them.

gd8 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 14, 2009, 03:25:45 pm »

Interested in giving a hand and learning... Let me know..

THE EDJ · « **Reply #13 on:** December 14, 2009, 03:28:18 pm »

Very cool project, definitely keep my eye on this one!

teacherman · « **Reply #14 on:** December 14, 2009, 03:30:40 pm »

Quote from: rs_two_five on December 14, 2009, 03:05:12 pm

Good luck with the swap, and let me know about those parts if you end up not using them.

PM sent

bolt · « **Reply #15 on:** December 14, 2009, 03:40:57 pm »

That's going to be one mean ForeSTir. If you need any non-expert help, let me know...

Tabibito · « **Reply #16 on:** December 14, 2009, 04:03:36 pm »

Sweet, good luck with the project!

Glad to hear your last car's soul will live on

kermit · « **Reply #17 on:** December 14, 2009, 04:04:00 pm »

Big Fan of Angry Toasters ride as well. Looking forward to seeing the project unfold.

jungle168 · « **Reply #18 on:** December 14, 2009, 05:00:56 pm »

Sweet! I love seeing different flavored Subaru swaps! Good luck on the swap.

teacherman · « **Reply #19 on:** December 14, 2009, 05:42:44 pm »

As I was driving the Forester home tonight, I started thinking about all the questions. This is just the start, and I will spend as much time as I can searching for it on my own, but here's the short list so far:

pedals... there are 2 in there now and I need 3, should be take out the old ones and bolt in the new ones?
will the center console fit without too much messing around?
why are so many`light bulbs burnt out in this car?
how do I roll the rear fenders to fit those fat meats in there?
will the STi gauge cluster fit the existing dash?
can I take the STi climate control/radio panel and the Forester dash and have them fit in a way that it looks like it belongs there?
is there a way to un-wrinkle an STi dash if it's not too smashed up underneath?

I spoke with Brian from Iwire last week, and he said if I use as much of the STi as possible, I can do the harness merge myself. The engine, trans, ABS, climate control and dash would be plug and play from the car, I would only have to merge in the cab accessories such as the seats, lights, sunroof etc. That should be no problem to do (I hope), Brian said the STi harness might have some of those options built in already because it's still based on a WRX harness. I'll check the manuals, and hopefully have it figured out before I get to that point.

Here's the game plan for now:

get the STi stripped, but in a way that I can find stuff (need to organize the garage a bit first)
after reading about "strut clunk" I realized that I suffer from it in the rear, so they will be done
the trans was giving me a little grief down shifting from 5 to 4, and sometimes into 2, so some nice steel syncros will find their way into the gearbox
I have to change the P/S rack on the STi after a previous excursion through the toolies created a vibration in the steering wheel
sell off all the bits and pieces I can't use in the Forester

That should get me to a spot where all of the parts are ready to go, and is hopefully wouldn't have to drive my POS Pathfinder for to long while the Forester's down.

The swap has already started, I had to put the battery from the car in yesterday, and I'll do the wiper blades tomorrow. This is going to be fun........

mojikita · « **Reply #20 on:** December 14, 2009, 07:29:33 pm »

Very cool project. Looking forward to updates and pics of the progress.

bejamin · « **Reply #21 on:** December 14, 2009, 08:00:40 pm »

If you need a hand i'm in the South of Calgary over the holidays.

teacherman · « **Reply #22 on:** December 22, 2009, 07:21:23 pm »

I finally have the garage in a state worthy of performing an operation of this magnitude. Time to pull the car apart. The damage on the drivers side created some grief, the door was a royal pain in the assay to get off, but after I won that battle, it was smoother sailing from there. Those plastic clips suck. And they are everywhere...

Tomorrow will be the rest of the exterior, as well as the carpet inside, might even go for the roof liner if its not to late.

I'm going to try and update everyday if I'm working on it, I think it will keep me motivated.

bejamin · « **Reply #23 on:** December 22, 2009, 08:00:59 pm »

If your in Calgary and need a hand stripping her down send me a PM, i rock with a wrench and your garage looks warm.

skylineguv · « **Reply #24 on:** December 22, 2009, 09:10:59 pm »

Yeah, yeah, very nice work and all that but, more importantly, HOW COOL is that Argocat?!