Topic: West Coast Express

[Vancouver98STi]

I very recently acquired a '98 JDM Impreza Sti wagon. I've been into Pontiac Fieros for the last 20 years (autocrossed them for the last six), but I wanted some additional grunt for the track. I still love my 5-spd '88 Fiero Formula, but I'm now willing to take on and learn a completely new (to me) platform. Having twice the horsepower now than I've been accustom to for the last couple of decades should be fun... although many years ago my 4-spd '67 Chevelle SS396 had even more balls. Yes, I'm very old. 

This STi appears to be relatively unmolested. I'm a little leery of the durability of the EJ20K engine, but since it doesn't appear to have been abused, I'm hoping it's going to stay in one piece for awhile. I suspect the clutch is still the original, and with 145,000 km, I wouldn't be surprised if that'll be my first major maintenance item. It'll be a good opportunity for me to install a 12-13 lb lightweight steel flywheel.

It seems to have been either raining (usual) or snowing (unusual) since I bought this car at the beginning of December, so I haven't had a chance to take a decent picture of it. The image in my signature below was actually from the Craigslist ad that I had responded to.

My thanks to forum moderator pistachoo for "approving" me. I was in registration limbo for a few days, but an email to my comrade from autocross quickly resolved the issue.

I look forward to asking lots of questions here. My Subaru journey has officially begun. 

[jellynuts]

Welcome to the club!  Post pics of your Fieros

[Vancouver98STi]

Post pics of your Fieros

Well okay... since you asked. 

I still have all three of these Fieros, although this Spring I really need to thin the herd.

'84 Fiero SE... 5-spd, 90 HP 2.5L 4-banger!


'86 Fiero GT... auto, 140 HP stock 2.8L V6


'88 Fiero Formula... 5-spd, 150 HP slightly tweaked 2.8L V6



And you may as well hear one as well.  This is the '88 Formula that I currently daily-drive... as well as autocross out at Pitt Meadows. Advance to 2:08 of the video if you get fed up with waiting for the run to start! 

[diamondedge]

Welcome to the forums!

Holy cow, that thing sounds so damn good on the overrun, man!

[Vancouver98STi]

Holy cow, that thing sounds so damn good on the overrun, man!

Thanks.  Yeah, the 60° 2.8 V6 Chevy engine sounds pretty good, especially with the very short exhaust system in a mid-engine Fiero... but they're rather old-tech. The heads and intake don't flow all that well, so that quite limits their potential horsepower. Lots of guys swap other engines into Fieros... including various V8's of course, but the best bang for the buck is the supercharged 90° GM 3800 V6. Those engines make pretty good power, but unfortunately they don't sound all that great IMO.

A big part of the reason why I was originally drawn to Subarus is the distinctive rumble of their boxer engine. Sort of reminds me of the sound of the old air-cooled Volkswagen Beetle engines from decades ago. They were flat-fours as well.

[Player One]

The Fast and the Fieros. Welcome!

[RockThePylon]

The heads and intake don't flow all that well, so that quite limits their potential horsepower.

Turbos fix everything.

boxer engine... ...reminds me of the sound of the old air-cooled Volkswagen Beetle engines

That's what my dad says. Age confirmed.

[jellynuts]

Man, those are clean. I was expecting beaters! I had a neighbor who had a Fiero, but his as well as others I've seen in Alberta all look tired and rusty. Thanks for sharing

That's what my dad says. Age confirmed.

lol

[Vancouver98STi]

The Fast and the Fieros. Welcome!

Thanks. Semi-fast might be more appropriate. 

Turbos fix everything.

Sure, on an engine with a stout enough bottom end. If not... kapow! 

That's what my dad says. Age confirmed.

Your dad must be old... and wise. 

Man, those are clean. I was expecting beaters! I had a neighbor who had a Fiero, but his as well as others I've seen in Alberta all look tired and rusty.

Oh, I've got "beater" Fieros as well... but those would be my parts cars. The great thing about Fieros is that the body panels are plastic and therefore don't rust. So rot is less apparent, but for sure, rust can still be found eating away the space-frame and suspension etc. Here on the west coast our winters are relatively mild, so fortunately for our cars, salt isn't used on the roads all that much.

[Markkenko]

Welcome!

[jellynuts]

Plastic eh? I wish more manufacturers went that route. I guess they just never washed their cars and dirt built up.  Either way, clean cars you have

We look forward to hearing of your autox exploits with the Wagon!

[wrx-zrx]

Welcome to the club.

You wouldn't happen to know a fella goes by the name of John Cracker would you?

[Vancouver98STi]

We look forward to hearing of your autox exploits with the Wagon!

One of my interests is shooting/editing video, so I'll certainly be posting the occasional video of my autocross exploits with this STi wagon during the upcoming season. I don't participate in the "slush series" during the winter though, as I'm only a fair weather autocross enthusiast. 

I need to find out from forum moderator pistachoo (whom I know from autocross), who else from local autocross is a member here.

You wouldn't happen to know a fella goes by the name of John Cracker would you?

I don't know all, but I probably know most of the people in the Lower Mainland who've been involved with Fieros... in the last 10 years anyway. Yes, I know John Craker. If he owes you money, I'm not collecting it. 

[wrx-zrx]

I don't know all, but I probably know most of the people in the Lower Mainland who've been involved with Fieros... in the last 10 years anyway. Yes, I know John Craker. If he owes you money, I'm not collecting it. 

No money owed small world is all. John recently moved local to me.
You Fiero guys are a unique bunch and seem to have the ability to find each other quick. He met a good buddy of mine, also an owner of a V8 swapped auto-crossing Fiero GT, within days of arriving.
Let me tell you, on track that car is a bloody handful and an absolute blast!

[Vancouver98STi]

You Fiero guys are a unique bunch...

Yeah, we're an odd assortment of misfits. 

[Jay89]

Welcome. Those are actually pretty nice fieros you have there. I expected much the same as jellynuts.

I too am looking forward to seeing what you do with your new car

[Vancouver98STi]

Those are actually pretty nice fieros you have there. I expected much the same as jellynuts.

You guys are going to give me a complex. 

I too am looking forward to seeing what you do with your new car

Being a typical Fiero owner, I'll be trying to personalize and improve the STi without spending any money. Heh heh...