Allllll right then. Bit of an update for my first update since I got the car.
So the first thing I did was gauges: Went pretty well, only broke one clip on the pillar interior panel which is better than some of the posts I've read haha. Wiring is a bit of a nest but it works.
I used some electrical tape to make the gauges fit snug in the pod and to stop the sun visors from spinning around and rattling.
What I learned:
Wires poking you under your nail hurts.
Use a screwdriver to pry the interior panel off... stick it in right beside the clip and pry against the clip so they don't break.
Next thing I did was my spark plugs which was pretty run in the mill other than just how bad the stock plugs were.
While I had the intake off I replaced the air filter as well.
Next, with the help from Tom, Kevin, Bevan, and Beer, I did an oil change and my brake pads and rotors.
Before I start explaining anything I NEED to strongly acknowledge Jason at Dale's Alignment and Brake in BC. Tom referred me to him and I have to say, he is the most stand up guy to deal with for brakes, jdm and usdm. He knows his stuff and is always friendly and wanting to help.
So here we go. Rears first:
Rotors went on great but I received the wrong pads, Jason sent me the correct pads on his dollar and paid the shipping on the wrong pad return trip. The new pads fit great but I haven't driven with them yet.
Now the nightmare that is my front rotors:
I ordered the GD WRX rotors that seems to be common for jdm 4pot brakes. DBA 4000 series. I installed them along with my new HAWK HPS pads and all seemed to be fine until I began to drive away. There was a terrible squeak coming from both front wheels but I figured it was just because of the brand new pads and rotors and they needed to be bedded and such. So I did the bedding process while driving home on 127 street at 1:45AM when it was pitch black and the sound didn't go away... so I just started going home normally and when I get to about 80kph, a glowing chunk of metal shot out of my front left wheel well. I didnt stop because I was in the middle of a pitch black field with zillions of mosquitoes and absolutely no hope of finding the broken piece without taking the wheels apart. The rest of the ride is uneventful but the front right is still squeaking. I took the front right wheel apart, rotor and all, and found that my tone ring was sheared of.... great!
So I ground it off because it could only do damage by staying there...
So my front left is still in there ... or maybe not... I'll check when I have time but obviously I wont be driving it for a bit.
So I called up Jason and asked him what the heck the problem was, I wasn't angry, just frustrated, and when I told him what was going on he seemed to realize what the problem was. The abs system in 97 was designed differently than the year the new rotor came off of. Here are a couple diagram illustrating this:
My cars design
http://opposedforces.com/parts/impreza/en_g10/type_13/suspension_and_axle/front_axle/illustration_1/The design of the car the rotor is for
http://opposedforces.com/parts/impreza/us_g11/type_12/suspension_and_axle/front_axle/illustration_3/This is a huge red light, red flag, warning, tip, whatever you want to call it to anyone with a version 3 STi:
According to Jason, there is only one rotor that is made in North America that will fit my Version 3 STi, otherwise I have to order direct from Japan.
That rotor is a DBA 5000 2 piece rotor that costs an arm and a leg... the only note worthy difference between the two rotors in terms of dimensions is a slightly tapered hat to clear the tone ring.
This part is not exactly common either... It's very hard to come by from the sounds of things because Jason actually had to go to his third choice guy to order them in for me because no one else had them.
Needless to say I have them on the way. The only other option is to buy the ones for the GD wrx and get them machined (which I just don't feel like dealing with).
Jason is being super cool with it all and is willing to take back the rotors he sent me and eat the shipping both ways once again. Seriously, huge props to this guy! The only reason that we are having so much trouble is that this is the first Version 3 that he has dealt with.
So now the plan is to bring the car in and have the front axles, cv's, boots and such replaced because of broken boots ( have to do it to pass inspection anyway) and while they do that they can replace the tone rings and abs sensors if needed. then she should be good to go for OOP. Happy hunting other version 3's, she's a cold world out there for us right now haha hope this helps someone save $500 or so bucks.