Gonna attempt to make the longest first post in a thread ever. Not really, just should have started a build thread rather than this one, and don't want to create an additional thread to refer back to this one.........
The How, The Why, The Build, The Destination.
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*** Sorry for the terrible pic quality, iPhone 3s FTL
Better pics everntually... ***
The Build
So here’s the story on how and why I picked up an ’04 STi, how and why I modded it, and how it’s used, and abused.
In July, 2010, I bought a high-mileage 2007 WRX Wagon to use as a fun, practical daily driver. My Grand Cherokee was starting to give me fits, and at 150k I knew it wouldn’t be daily material for much longer.
No intentions of any real mods, and this was my first Subaru. I had always wanted an STi, but I was a terribly underpayed internet guy at an online snowboard shop, an STi wasn’t in the books. I quickly replaced the stock wheels with a set of Rotas - 17x7.5 G-Forces in Flat Black, with a set of used 225/45 RE070s.
I did a little poking around, joined a local Subaru forum, ended up replacing a failing stock clutch with a used Exedy Stage 1, and picked up a used Invidia downpipe at the same time. Found a Biltz Nur Spec Tourning catback, had the car reflashed to Stage 2, competed in a double-header autocross weekend, and started looking for and picking up autocross oriented suspension components.
A few months later, in March of 2011, just after securing a new job (with a drastic paycut) and a few days before starting it, I was dropping off my wagon at KSpeed/KStech in Sparks, NV, to have the suspension components (springs, struts, etc) installed, an alignment, and a check-up of the tune as I was experiencing something along the lines of boost surge. I had parked next to a clean silver STi and said to Matt Taylor, owner of KSpeed and KSTech: “I still wish I could afford an STi.” “Well, that one’s for sale, and it’s got a brand new engine. Bone stock though, putting the whole thing back to stock.”
Sunday night I posted the wagon for sale. Monday (my first day at the new job), after work, I showed the car to an interested party. Friday afternoon I was signing loan papers for the STi. Why? While the STi cost a little more than I owed on the wagon, my loan rate was so good I saved a couple hundred a month, making my new paycut a little easier to live with.
Within the next couple of months I installed the RCE Yellow springs on the stock struts, the matte black limited run 17x8 +45 RPF1 wheels that I had bought for the wagon, Com C and Group N strut tops, and a few other bits. I had just finished break-in of the new engine, and had a stock tune flashed. That weekend I ran my in third autocross event, first in the new car.
Being unhappy with the ride of the stock suspension and seats, I tracked down a set of used Momo seats. They were firm, and a bit too aggressive. More supportive and more comfortable than stock, but not good for 40+ miles a day, everyday. I tinted the windows too, so the sun wouldn’t eat up the blue interior, and to hide the fact that the interior was blue:
Somewhere along the line I decided I should rejuvenate my Grand Cherokee – use it as a winter beater and summer dirt toy. I’m about to redo the suspension again to go bigger and higher, but I went from a 2” lowered, 20” bling machine street Jeep to the below, 3” lifted, 31” tire’d, dirt-ready 5.9L luxo-cruiser.
Then I decided to sell the last of my Volkswagens, a ’60 ragtop, pan-off, nut and bolt resto, all done by me, driven about 300 miles in two years. It was a waste to keep it, and I wanted some suspension goodies for the STi.
So, within a few weeks I tracked down some used KW V3 coilovers, used STi trailing links, new Kaminari adjustable lateral links, Project Kics lugs, some Cusco bits, etc. At some point I had also acquired a used Invidia N1 Street turbo back, 52mm Pro Sport Premium boost gauge in a SubieGal dash pod, and had KSTech build me one of their shortie intakes before a Clark Turner/KSpeed Stage 2 tune. I’m pretty happy with the power. Looking to pick up a ‘08+ STI turbo for a bit more juice and to avoid the ’04 turbo crack before it happens.
Unfortunately, my progress was delayed when we woke up to this one morning, a rebuild is in the works for this winter.
I was pretty happy with the way the STi sat:
But something was missing. The Momos sucked. Didn’t suck as much as the stock STi seats, but they still sucked. That got me thinking. Back before I bought the WRX I was about to sign a shitty deal for a creampuff of a 32k mile, 2006 Mitsubishi EVO IX SE in Tarmac Black – Diamond Black BBS, leather and suede, carbon trimmed dash, the works. Mmmmmmm Recaros. That's all I could think of when I thought of seats - that EVO IX SE, and those Recaros. It took a while - a long while, but after months of searching everywhere I could, I finally found a set. And bought them. And stared in awe.
A plan was hatched to have the seats installed and a new trunk shaved with a molded mines spoiler painted and installed before my wedding in July. 2011. Paint delayed the car coming back to me. It didn’t make it. We left the wedding in a cloud of tire smoke burning off the narrow ass tires on my dad’s freshly-finished, two-year body off resto-mod ’66 Corvette convertible. Shortly after the honeymoon the paint was done, turning this:
Into this:
After some doing, I had modified the Wedge Engineering brackets that came with the Momos enough to fit them to the EVO IX MR SE Recaros. Fvck yes. Some more searching, a lot of for sale ads, part outs, eBay, Nasioc, other forums….. and I had really good condition carpet out of an ’03, an ’03 WRX Sedan back seat, ’03 WRX factory leather door cards, and new floor mats from RSD. The last piece for this swap – a one-off leather seat cover from LeatherSeats.com. Charcoal/Graphite/off-Black leather with red double stitch – a perfect match for the EVO seats, the Impreza plastics, and just plain awesome. Install of the cover took a couple hours. Swap of the carpet, door cards, back seat, install of rear door speakers, etc took a few hours. Easiest interior job I'd ever done. Why didn’t I go for a fully matching leather/suede rear seat? Kids are planned for the not-too-distant future, and I know that leather will be way easier to keep clean and stain free than suede. I just didn’t want to risk getting upset if my future newborn got carsick going through the woods to grandma and grandpas house.
A couple last items to finish off the interior before I’m truly happy included a new stereo to play my iPod without any transmitters or other bs, and doing something with the center console to unsilver-ify it. Haven’t figured out what to do with the dash, but I tracked down a decent and cheap Pioneer head unit that let me change the colors to match my all-red lighting.
What’s next?
They should be here next week. Fitting them won’t be as fast. I’m out of money after selling what I could, so modding is going to slow down from here.
Everything I’ve done has been for one main purpose – enjoy my daily drive as much as possible, and be able to have fun on the weekends. The car’s been in a few autocrosses, a bunch of mountain/canyon runs, and a few blasts up St. Rte. 341 to and from Virginia City – also known as the Virginia City Hill Climb, or Spectre 341 challenge. Living in Reno has its advantages, and roads are one of them, weather being another. The STi won’t be on full-time winter duty this year – any bad days I’ll be in the Jeep, but unless I have to pick something up, drop something off, or there’s a foot of snow on the ground, the 40-mile commute is handled by my STi, in the soft, plush, warm and fuzzy comfort of suede covered Recaros floating on KW V3 coils at their lowest setting.
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The Destination
Just read Ferg announce the upcoming Top Scoob to begin in January will be for Stanced Scoobs - I think all types. Saw a little note in the Stanced Scooby thread on Nasioc, not sure if it's posted anywhere else. Well, I want to see how far I can make it, how feeble my attempt will look compared to the rest of the world.
I just finished converting to a full black leather/suede interior using EVO MR SE Recaros - the leather and suede ones with red stitch. I also sourced an '03 WRX rear seat with arm rest, and covered it in black leather with red stitch. Then sourced '03 WRX factory leather door cards, and '03 carpet. Not sure how everything ended up being from an '03, kinda creepy.
Nonetheless, I think I may be one of the few entering this run with decent suspension components (expecting to see 90% of cars on BCs) and a thought out (rather than flashy/Brides) interior. So, I figure I have a microscopic chance here.
Anyway, the point of this thread was to request some help for work that needs to be done, and I'll modify my previous WTB thread with what I still need to make this happen. I blew my car budget on suspension, and a new set of wheels, and was planning on waiting til spring to do (and afford) any further work... What follows is the work that I need to accomplish to start to have any sort of fighting chance at this comp. If you think you can lend a hand in any way on any aspect, please let me know, I'll return the favor in kind:
Exterior/Body:
- Fender roll/pull, all four
- Install front lip (paint it first?)
- Re-Install Vortex Generator (yeah, really, trust me
)
- Source and install '08+ STi grill and trunk badges, and trunk Subaru emblem
- Install hood struts
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Interior:
- Steering wheel swap - want '05+ STi or, better yet, '06+ WRX airbag (only) if it'll fit my '04 STi wheel
- Wrap/Plasti-Dip console and vent surrounds (planning on carbon vinyl)
- Install Forester stereo pocket
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Suspension:
- RCE Lowering Camber front plates, Vorschlag (or something else) rear, and an alignment (you ready Cory? At least 3*F/2.5*R) - Also thinking of having my springs powdercoated while the coils are apart.
- Need to get the FSB bushings from Ray and install F&R sways
- Dial in ride height for new shoes
- Install new shoes
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Misc:
- Photoshoot
There's honestly not a lot there. My main concern is the roll/pull. Stuffing 18x9.5 +30 front, +33 rear after spacers, planning 255/35, so it's not going to be easy.
Pretty sure no pics of my car have made it to Nasioc or anywhere else, at least not recently. A lot's changed, and this will be the first time it's whore'd out. So it'll be an unanticipated entry.
There it is. Let's bring Top Scoob to SECCS!