Author Topic: Chronicle of Jer's Subarus (Read 46006 times)

jer · « **on:** March 16, 2009, 09:00:44 pm »

Well it all started WAY back in 2003 when I started searching for my first car. Frankly I was completely sold on finding a turbo Eclipse (third gen) and looked high and low. I finally found one at Southside Mitsu and wanted to have a look. Would you believe the sales guys wouldn't even look at me much less say "hello"? So be it. I walked across the street and found this sitting in the corner:

I honestly had no concept of these cars but had instantly fell in love with it just from having watched a few rallies. I though to myself there was no way I could afford it, but apparently it was priced just right and I came to be the proud owner of a 1999 Impreza 2.5RS in Silverthorne.

The day I brought it home:

After this the details are a bit fuzzy but basically here's how it all went down:

OBX short shift(with not pictured cobb bushings) and Kenwood Headunit:

Clear Corners:

Group N Pitch Stop Mount:

Group N Transmission Mount:

I also did the motor mounts but can't seem to find pictures of those.

Intake:

Kakimoto 3" catback:

Bug deflector removal

Which showed a damn big rust spot, so she got painted in a speed-paint flat black:

I also added a Stage II clutch (and unpictured stainless clutch line)

Also added a dual gauge pod with AFR and VACCUUM/boost gauges:

Painted the cluster bezel silver. Gave it that brushed aluminum look:

next came a ver6 wing:

And now mudflaps:

Added TWE Stg II cams and valvesprings along with OBX EL headers(all not shown) and apexi SAFC-I for a/f control(pictured):

...Somedays I miss that lil monster.

jer · « **Reply #1 on:** March 16, 2009, 09:01:05 pm »

The Winter of 2008 came time to see the above beast go. I waited a month or two and amongst other test drives, meandering, and pondering I finally settled on a 2006 WRX wagon in grey.

Here Roxanne sits as I found her (yes the sold sign was for me

):

She already had a Borla hush CBE:

First mod came was a set of Crucial Blue Springs:

Blues vs Stockers:

Before:

After:

Also needed some saggy bum spacers

:

Next mod - Rear Strut Bar(Genuine JDM STi wagon bar):

Some bling - Carbon grill:

before:

after:

Some long kartboy exhaust hangers to stop the CBE from banging on the rear subframe:

I never did get pictures of the DP, but we've got a downpipe and a STGII OTS map sitting on her:

More to come I'm sure

jer · « **Reply #2 on:** March 16, 2009, 09:19:46 pm »

yes, that TQ does make me say "wheee"

pearl boxer · « **Reply #3 on:** March 16, 2009, 10:24:04 pm »

Nice RS jer.

You may miss it, but I'm sure every time you hit the loud pedal on your WRX it's all just a memory

GrantC · « **Reply #4 on:** March 16, 2009, 10:42:02 pm »

Nice!

(Time to do some more logging so you have a more "normal" looking graph.

)

Hurricane · « **Reply #5 on:** March 16, 2009, 11:24:20 pm »

Quote from: jer in his Rant/Rave Thread on March 08, 2009, 10:07:32 am

Proper spelling(we do have a built in spell checker)

Were you referring to things like this: "Chronicles of Jer's Subarus"

Quote from: GrantC on March 16, 2009, 10:42:02 pm

(Time to do some more logging so you have a more "normal" looking graph. )

Yup, you need a full pull there Jer.

Great write up and a couple great choices in cars.

jer · « **Reply #6 on:** March 17, 2009, 06:23:38 am »

Quote from: Hurricane on March 16, 2009, 11:24:20 pm

Quote from: jer in his Rant/Rave Thread on March 08, 2009, 10:07:32 am
Proper spelling(we do have a built in spell checker)
Were you referring to things like this: "Chronicles of Jer's Subarus"

Interesting. I didn't think it looked quite right but aparently both the built in checker and my browser spell checker skipped right over it.

Quote from: Hurricane on March 16, 2009, 11:24:20 pm

Quote from: GrantC on March 16, 2009, 10:42:02 pm
(Time to do some more logging so you have a more "normal" looking graph. )
Yup, you need a full pull there Jer.

I blame the helper I had and the lack of having my own tactrix cable... :p
Once I can squeeze some sunny time in somewhere...

jonny · « **Reply #7 on:** March 17, 2009, 11:22:59 am »

awesome journal jer

TWRC · « **Reply #8 on:** March 17, 2009, 12:08:58 pm »

Quote from: jer on March 17, 2009, 06:23:38 am

Quote from: Hurricane on March 16, 2009, 11:24:20 pm
Quote from: GrantC on March 16, 2009, 10:42:02 pm
(Time to do some more logging so you have a more "normal" looking graph. )
Yup, you need a full pull there Jer.

I blame the helper I had and the lack of having my own tactrix cable... :p
Once I can squeeze some sunny time in somewhere...

Hey, not true. We did a bunch of logs.

Awesome chronicle though Jer.

jer · « **Reply #9 on:** May 20, 2009, 08:22:50 am »

finally got around to doing a proper log.

There's a bit of activity in the FLKC from learning view which seems to have removed a few tq-bots from the 2500-3400 RPM range but other than that...

jer · « **Reply #10 on:** May 20, 2009, 09:07:45 am »

I'm not sure if I used the spreadsheet correctly and I know I forgot to log the KC but *someone* requested timing as well:

and for reference:

jackal · « **Reply #11 on:** July 31, 2009, 07:13:10 pm »

Sweet ride Jer. Next ASA event, I'd like to go for a ride and see how the springs feel compared to mine.

jer · « **Reply #12 on:** August 25, 2009, 07:09:53 am »

Been a while since I updated.

[GrantC]Modify within the rules[/GrantC]

Control Arms
In accordance with ESP classing rules I am allowed to change control arms. Lucky for me blkbox had a set of aluminum control arms from an STi for sale (thanks again). With a generous helping hand from GrantC we installed these. Notes:
1. PITA to replace. those mounting bolts are obnoxiously hard to loosen
2. If doing this mod on a wagon don't plan on driving the car unless you can do a rough alignment. We showed 4" of total toe in.
3. Since it's on a wagon it also pulled the camber down to -2.2 (WIN!) on OE suspension parts

Rear Camber bolts
I grabbed a set of these to help out the rear camber (or lack thereof really). Thanks to Tony and Grant who helped with the install/alignment

Fluids
- Replaced the brake fluid (dirty DOT3) with Motul DOT5.1 (see: http://www.westernsubaruclub.com/smf/index.php?topic=7880.msg121055#msg121055 for more info)
- Replaced the rear diff fluid with Royal Purple 75w90 (note this fluid could be chocolate pudding since the WRX has a sealed unit)
- Replaced the Transmission fluid with Redline 75w90. I did want to use 75w90ns but lack of availability kinda made it an issue.

Milk Jug removal
With a bit of a hand from GrantC (again. am I seeing a pattern here?) we removed the plastic milk jug looking air intake silencer from the fender well. Makes for barely audible ricey "whoosh" noises.

STi struts
I snagged a set of STi struts from Zaider (thanks!) that have since been installed. These are a *much* better match to the crucial blue springs. notes:
1. This reduced the camber on all 4 corners since they've been installed on the narrower wagon track. Front camber was reduced to -1.5ish and rear is +/- 0
2. always regrease the struts if they haven't been done before. This is very simple and I will do a writeup when I do my winter set

3. bump stops are inside the strut body.

jer · « **Reply #13 on:** August 25, 2009, 07:17:39 am »

en route:
~~Clutch and lightened flywheel~~ installed and now removed. Gah.

Need to install:
[/s]Stainless braided brake lines[/s]

Need to do:
~~HPS+ front pads~~
DCCDpro controller (manual)
~~Rear subframe bushings~~

Wishlist:
Koni inserts for the WRX Wagon strut bodies
Engine/tranny mounts
pitch stop mount
27mm FSB + RSB
endlinks
shifter bushings
steering rack bushing
subframe bushings
STi rear lateral links
whiteline tophats (camber/castor adjustment)
STi TMIC
Fender flares (like goldrush: http://www.westernsubaruclub.com/smf/index.php?topic=7430.0)
~~Enkei RPF1 17"x8" wheels in silver~~ - ended up with OZ Ultralegarra 17x8 wheels in matte black
Header
~~STi 6spd + rear diff + DCCD~~ - complete! yay!
19T, HTA68, or 16G
DBA 4000 6x6 slotted front rotors
Fender braces

jackal · « **Reply #14 on:** August 25, 2009, 10:18:09 am »

Great build so far. I like the wish list. The whiteline top hats are next for me too.

pearl boxer · « **Reply #15 on:** August 25, 2009, 11:02:47 am »

I really like your mod path Jer. I personally love a nice WRX wagon done up to handle any corner thrown at it.

Nice work.

jer · « **Reply #16 on:** September 21, 2009, 07:21:15 am »

did some more logging this morning. Learning view looked a bit wonky but I forgot to save the screenshot (get it on the way home).

Boost and WGDC. Might be more room to grow depending on IDC's.

Timing

and the requisite dyno

GrantC · « **Reply #17 on:** January 17, 2010, 04:52:15 pm »

I'll let jer speak to the details...

But I'll tell a story with some pics.

A bunch of us met up at his garage over a couple days

To swap one of these for one of these:

One of these for one of these:

This:

For that:

And finally one of these for one of these.

People seemed to have a good time:

Ta-Dah!

All my pics are here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/grant_subaru/sets/72157623105922861/

silent · « **Reply #18 on:** January 17, 2010, 05:22:45 pm »

Quote

Quoted for posterity. Everybody knows that snackers doesn't do work.

Wally · « **Reply #19 on:** January 17, 2010, 05:24:52 pm »

jer · « **Reply #20 on:** January 17, 2010, 05:40:13 pm »

Thanks for the photos Grant.

I've managed to get my hands on a trans, diff, prop shaft, rear axles, slave cylinder, clutch fork, and shifter assembly from an 05 STi. I also grabbed a 02-05 WRX pressure plate (thanks Shane!) so I can use my newer flywheel and clutch disk (rather than buying a full STi setup).

Anyway, she's all setup and in the car minus the rear axles (waiting on the JDM hubs and rotors) but once she is complete I'll come back and report on how it feels with a stgII 2.5WRX motor versus a stgII STi motor. (yeah yeah I know, time to do the turbo next)

Some notes:
Thrust bearing is directional, meaning there is a way it's supposed to sit with the tabs (for the pull style)
The shift knob (oe linkage/shifter) sit a LOT close to the steering wheel
You need to pull one cable off the trans for the rear 02 sensor
as you can see from the pictures above, EVERYTHING STi is beefier

Special thanks to:
Stu - bringing all the jacks/stands and special tools needed
Cam - bringing all the regular tools I don't have yet (and trouble light lol)
Grant - being the punching bag
Matt - delivering the axles from Shane
Wally - crawling under the car
John - Timmies and moral support
Shane - the find on the trans and the extra parts

Honorable mentions:
teg09 (sorry I forget your real name) - lending some yellow to the mix
Dwayne - for making this look good
Steve - for getting big parts out of my garage

jackal · « **Reply #21 on:** January 17, 2010, 06:18:47 pm »

She's going to be a monster on the track this year Jer.

Give me a shout for the next round, I'll be happy lend a hand, tools, or both.

silent · « **Reply #22 on:** January 17, 2010, 08:12:11 pm »

You'll probably find that your turbo will be running out of steam quickly, the gearing is ridiculously short compared to what you're used to. You really don't realize it until you DD both for a period of time, but the great thing about the 6 speed is that you're always in the right RPM range when you're driving. I'm interested to hear your views on the TD04 coupled with the 6-speed though, maybe a monster autox setup?

jer · « **Reply #23 on:** January 17, 2010, 08:15:41 pm »

exactly Chad. I really expect it to run outa steam as a DD but I think on a tight auto-x course I think it will be a BLAST

wingless · « **Reply #24 on:** January 19, 2010, 12:03:02 pm »

Glad to see this coming together well!

So she'll be ready to abuse on Sunday?