Author Topic: Masons Black & Decker SG5 Toaster (Read 3183 times)

Mason · « **on:** June 01, 2018, 03:41:32 pm »

Sold the GR STI to save some cash for purchasing a house with the intent of daily driving the work truck. About 2 days after selling the car our company decided to put GPS in our work trucks and every Km now has to be accounted. uckfay. Well the rush was on to find a new set of wheels before the GPS gets installed, so naturally I took the fastest possible way to buy a car... Import it from Japan. After 2 months of waiting I finally have my 2003 SG5 Cross Sport Forester!

Auction Grade of 4B with 134 xxx
Manual transmission
Questionable cheap wheels with BRAND NEW WINTER TIRES
Greddy Turbo Timer
Carbon Fiber Shift knob (JDM yo)
30 pounds of aftermarket electrical garbage
and a useless after market head unit

4D75C080-D082-4480-B9AB-15056FAA94CF by mason rice, on Flickr

082842BF-B87E-41DE-9899-0F575FD6F637 by mason rice, on Flickr

699E6C66-9C88-494D-ACE2-AADB026F6C42 by mason rice, on Flickr

First thing on the list to do is a full detail from front to back, inside and out.

SubieRoo · « **Reply #1 on:** June 04, 2018, 04:39:15 pm »

Looks good! Looking forward to watching what you do with it

DaDuke99 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 04, 2018, 05:34:18 pm »

Just throw a bike on it, it'll look like the GR never left

stampede1 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 05, 2018, 12:49:33 pm »

Looks great! Excited to see how this thing turns out

Mason · « **Reply #4 on:** June 07, 2018, 01:59:25 pm »

Week one of ownership:

Tackled the headlight restore over the weekend. Turned out pretty decent the second try.
Round 1
1)Wet sand with 400, 600, 1000, 2000, 3000.
2)clear coat. There must have been some contaminant on the lenses because the clear coat developed crows feet while drying

Round 2
1)Wet sand back to lenses with 400, then continue with 600, 1000, 2000, 3000.
2)RUBBING ALCOHOL to clean.
3)Clear coat.
4)Wet sand with 2000, 3000, 5000.
5)Quick polish.

14B09BAC-708C-4448-A373-60B5A66C5918 by mason rice, on Flickr

Next was to install Enkie Rijin 18X8 summer wheels and wrx suspension! Nice little drop and super easy install. Pretty happy with how it is looking.

8DE16226-1972-49B7-A3A8-8B69F929C3FA by mason rice, on Flickr

Next up is to swap the steering wheel (current wheel has a ton of wear) with a V7 wheel, and a to install touch screen head unit. Full exterior detail will come one day as well!

ScubieDoobieDoo · « **Reply #5 on:** June 07, 2018, 02:22:31 pm »

Headlight restoration looks awesome!

Player One · « **Reply #6 on:** June 07, 2018, 02:25:55 pm »

Looks good, man!

SubieRoo · « **Reply #7 on:** June 08, 2018, 11:23:28 am »

We should go do photos sometime, almost twinning at this point. Once my winter wheels are back on it'll be deadly close.

Dr Beans · « **Reply #8 on:** June 10, 2018, 08:18:13 pm »

The headlights look good!

I'm surprised that you are going with the V7 steering wheel... I hate mine.

Mason · « **Reply #9 on:** June 10, 2018, 09:36:01 pm »

Thanks everyone!

Quote from: SubieRoo on June 08, 2018, 11:23:28 am

We should go do photos sometime, almost twinning at this point. Once my winter wheels are back on it'll be deadly close.

That would be great! Still plugging away trying to un-Japan it. I attempted the exterior over the weekend and power polishing turned into a colossal disaster due to getting incorrect instructions. after a lot of swearing, a major sun burn, a minor break down, and some proper research I think I can get this thing looking good.

Quote from: Dr Beans on June 08, 2018, 11:23:28 am

I'm surprised that you are going with the V7 steering wheel... I hate mine.

I got a pretty decent price on it. The old wheel was completely mangled and swapping the wheel over was super easy. Still trying to figure out how to get the air bag swapped over since the plugs are different, but I don’t mind the size/shape

Mason · « **Reply #10 on:** June 13, 2018, 06:49:33 pm »

Week 2
Started the week with installing the steering wheel and new deck. nothing special, but functional. the climate control in my 2003 forester is nicer than old 2014 base STI. Also can anyone confirm if that is a short shifter? from what i can tell it is 2" shorter than anyone elses?

MVIMG_20180613_044454 by mason rice, on Flickr

Today was the day i made redemption on the polish. Here is the arsenal!

MVIMG_20180612_231530 by mason rice, on Flickr

This color is crazy

MVIMG_20180613_013020 by mason rice, on Flickr

Finished!

MVIMG_20180613_043607 by mason rice, on Flickr

MVIMG_20180613_043623 by mason rice, on Flickr

MVIMG_20180613_043632 by mason rice, on Flickr

MVIMG_20180613_043644 by mason rice, on Flickr

Still have to clean the door jams, trim, wheels, and windows. Pretty happy with the outcome! Not too sure what next week will bring

Dr Beans · « **Reply #11 on:** June 13, 2018, 09:00:22 pm »

Looks great! I like the flake in that paint!

jellynuts · « **Reply #12 on:** June 13, 2018, 11:15:33 pm »

Quote from: Mason on June 13, 2018, 06:49:33 pm

Week 2
Also can anyone confirm if that is a short shifter? from what i can tell it is 2" shorter than anyone elses?

Can't really tell from the top down angle. Can you take a side pic? How does it feel? Notchy and somewhat resistant? OEM is generally easy, but I don't know what a Forester or WRX 5 speed feels like.

And yeah, that OBP is out of this world.

diamondedge · « **Reply #13 on:** June 14, 2018, 01:47:24 am »

If you pop the shifter trim off you'll be able to figure out if it's a short shifter.

The stock shifter is a steel rod with a rubber inlay that holds the threaded rod for your knob to screw onto.

Aftermarket rods are usually just plain rod. No rubber.

Left vs right. Right being OEM.

http://www.scoobymods.com/attachment.php?s=&postid=233

Is the flake gold? Damn. Third favorite color after WRB and SWP... Might take second place from SWP now...

diamondedge · « **Reply #14 on:** June 14, 2018, 01:48:50 am »

Quote from: jellynuts on June 13, 2018, 11:15:33 pm

....but I don't know what a Forester or WRX 5 speed feels like.

You did at AutoX?

Ooooh wait you didn't shift out of first that one run.

Mason · « **Reply #15 on:** June 14, 2018, 07:28:44 am »

It's actually Java Black pearl. It just has gold pearl vs the blue/silver of OBP.

Quote from: jellynuts on June 14, 2018, 01:47:24 am

And yeah, that OBP is out of this world

It's definately a short shifter. Plain gold rod. Thanks for that link!

Quote from: diamondedge on June 14, 2018, 01:47:24 am

If you pop the shifter trim off you'll be able to figure out if it's a short shifter.

Is the flake gold? Damn. Third favorite color after WRB and SWP... Might take second place from SWP now...

SubieRoo · « **Reply #16 on:** June 15, 2018, 03:03:19 pm »

Man that's clean. I need to up my game.

diamondedge · « **Reply #17 on:** June 15, 2018, 03:11:06 pm »

Quote from: Mason on June 14, 2018, 07:28:44 am

It's actually Java Black pearl. It just has gold pearl vs the blue/silver of OBP.
It's definately a short shifter. Plain gold rod. Thanks for that link!

chyeah. gotchu fam.

jellynuts · « **Reply #18 on:** June 15, 2018, 08:14:27 pm »

Bah, Java Black; I'm out of my game.

Mason · « **Reply #19 on:** June 15, 2018, 10:45:01 pm »

Quote from: SubieRoo on June 15, 2018, 03:03:19 pm

Man that's clean. I need to up my game.

Hit those headlights with a polish and BOOM brand new car. There are several things that need to be addressed that are more than just a "buff out". The clear coat is gone off the roof rack and grill, the black trim is heavily faded, there is a few dents scattered over the car including a baseball size one on the drivers fender. The car wears its age for sure.

Mason · « **Reply #20 on:** June 15, 2018, 11:03:03 pm »

Had some time today and decided to try and tackle a few more things.

First off, replacing the cabin air filter. Not as bad as I imagined, but worth the 40 dollars and 15 mins to swap it. I replaced it with a FRAM filter from Crappy Tire for simplicity sake

IMG_20180615_082321 by mason rice, on Flickr

Next up, wiring in the V7 airbag. I uckfaying hate red and it was worth the time to swap over to get rid of the old badge on the cover.

IMG_20180615_102216 by mason rice, on Flickr

Last, I read up on how to restore the faded black trim. Initially I planned on spraying it a nice black to make it look fresh. A quick google search lead me to magical goop that makes trim look fantastic without the hassle of uninstalling and painting. I was sold with high hopes of this goop, so I headed on down to crappy tire to pick up a whooping 10 dollar bottle of "Mother Back to Black" Goop.
Before

IMG_20180615_084120 by mason rice, on Flickr

After

MVIMG_20180615_091532 by mason rice, on Flickr

Magic goop didn't work as advertised. It looks a bit better, but nothing that I am proud of, nor do I think it will last.

stampede1 · « **Reply #21 on:** June 16, 2018, 01:36:16 am »

Java black is such a nice colour when clean! Looks great man. Happy to see things coming along

Mason · « **Reply #22 on:** June 22, 2018, 11:24:31 am »

Week 3
I gave the "Mothers Back to Black" another try, and it actually looks significantly better this time. Hopefully is stays looking this fresh

MVIMG_20180621_094346 by mason rice, on Flickr

Pulled the seats to give the interior a better clean. These seats are just disgusting

MVIMG_20180620_010929 by mason rice, on Flickr

MVIMG_20180620_011432 by mason rice, on Flickr

MVIMG_20180620_010942 by mason rice, on Flickr

Not to mention the gnarly carpet under the seats

*scratches from my careless uninstall of seats*

IMG_20180620_011136 by mason rice, on Flickr

I took the time to shampoo, scrub and steam them... they were still stained and disgusting. Next step was to bust the pressure washer out and blast them clean. I hate these seats and was hoping the pressure washer would either make them clean, or destroy them to help give me more incentive to track down some better seats. I hit it with suction after pressure wash to get as much water out, and let them bake out side in the +30 for 2 days. Unfortunately they came out looking great and no signs of mold/mildew.

MVIMG_20180621_094519 by mason rice, on Flickr

MVIMG_20180621_094504 by mason rice, on Flickr

MVIMG_20180621_094459 by mason rice, on Flickr

I'm pretty much out of things to clean at this point. I think next up is to get a quote on pdr on some of the dents, and repaint the grill and roof rails.

LilDrunkenSmurf · « **Reply #23 on:** June 22, 2018, 12:54:37 pm »

Quote from: Mason on June 22, 2018, 11:24:31 am

Unfortunately they came out looking great and no signs of mold/mildew.

Hahaha. "Oh no, I did a great job restoring these, I guess I can't buy new unneeded things."
Why does this resonate with me so well.

Mason · « **Reply #24 on:** June 22, 2018, 03:11:38 pm »

Quote from: LilDrunkenSmurf on June 22, 2018, 12:54:37 pm

Hahaha. "Oh no, I did a great job restoring these, I guess I can't buy new unneeded things."
Why does this resonate with me so well.

I would set fire to these seats if a nice set came up for sale. They are the most uncomfortable, itchy, gross looking seats I have ever seen. I have attempted 3 different times to purchase other sets off Kijiji and the sellers just quit replying.

Author Topic: Masons Black & Decker SG5 Toaster (Read 3183 times)

DaDuke99