Reuben's 98 GTB Limited - Massive pic dump, slow DSL need not apply

[Reuben]

1998 Legacy GTB Limited, Manual, Black.

I got the car in November 2007, and blew the engine 3 months later. I rebuilt it, and single turbo converted it, and have great plans for it. Here's the rundown. Blue items i have, but are not fitted yet, red is on order.

Engine
EJ207 S20C V7 semi-forged, semi-closed-deck crate motor from Subaru.
Reconditioned original EJ20R Heads
ARP Head studs
Baffled Sump

Single Turbo Conversion completed in Feb 2008, and ongoing engine bay mods;
WRX RA V2 Exhaust manifold
SG Up-pipe
VF39 Single scroll, less than 5000k's when purchased! (from a 2.5L STi)
Rage 3" Catless downpipe
Rage 3" midpipe, with high flow (Straight through) silencer
HKS 3" Silent hi power muffler (Straight through)
Snorkus removed
STi V4 Intercooler
STi V4 inlet manifold, (powdercoated for an extra 5hp :lol:)
Twin Reg Split fuel rail, using two factory right hand rails
STi V3 ECU
V3 Coilpack setup
HKS EVC III (Electronic boost controller)
Blitz Full auto turbo timer

The engine now basically resembles a stock V3 STi engine, with a VF39, and brand new forged internals (though being GTB, it's shim over bucket, rather than under), and 3" exhaust.
So it has A LOT of unrealised potential. Currently it's running 18 psi and probably around 250 HP At the wheels.

Handling:
Bridestone Potenza RE003’s on all 4 corners.
STi V8 KYB's
STi BG catalogue front carbon fiber strut brace
Cusco K-brace
STi V6 Alloy control arms
STi V3 Steering rack, 2.75 turns lock to lock.
STi V3 Short shifter.
STi Pillowball Pink Lateral/trailing arms
Front and rear camber bolts.
Rear subframe locking bolts.

Interior:
Defi Boost gauge
V3 STi cluster

Exterior:
Stock GTB limited all the way! And i'm leaving it stock too.
Factory spoiler (Had to get this as it came with an RFRB piece of shit)
STi Carbon fibre sump guard
Catalogue 17" BBS wheels


https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/06/dyno0608-1.jpg


https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/06/45lo01-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/06/02-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/06/01-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/06/12-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/06/19-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/06/interior06-1.jpg

[Reuben]

And the blown big end bearing...

Big end cone, car put on trailor :(

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/06/deadgtb-1.jpg

Lifting the engine out 1 (http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa208/Pilot_Reuben/enginelift.jpg)

Lifting the engine out 2 (http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa208/Pilot_Reuben/engineout.jpg)

On the stand and slowly getting pulled apart (http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa208/Pilot_Reuben/engine2.jpg)

Block apart, time to survey the damage (http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa208/Pilot_Reuben/splitblock.jpg)

Damn... that's a few fecked BEB's (http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa208/Pilot_Reuben/crandrods.jpg)

What no BEB with do to a crank! (http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa208/Pilot_Reuben/crankclose.jpg)

Comparing the damage (http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa208/Pilot_Reuben/crankcompare.jpg)

This is what piston slap looks like (http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa208/Pilot_Reuben/pistonslap.jpg)



Then the rebuild and single turbo conversion!

New turbo! VF39 (http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa208/Pilot_Reuben/VF39.jpg)

My new down pipe, catless 3" FTW (http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa208/Pilot_Reuben/dp.jpg)

The engine goodies arrived in the mail (http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa208/Pilot_Reuben/enginegoodies.jpg)

Mmmm, pistons (http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa208/Pilot_Reuben/pistons-1.jpg)

My new closed deck 2L block, to replace the origninal open deck (http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa208/Pilot_Reuben/closedopen.jpg)

Shiny new manifold (http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa208/Pilot_Reuben/redmanifold.jpg)

Split fuel rail (http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa208/Pilot_Reuben/splitrail1.jpg)

Engine together for the first time! (http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa208/Pilot_Reuben/enginedone1.jpg)

On the move (http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa208/Pilot_Reuben/onthemove.jpg)

Durty car is duuuuuuuurty! (http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa208/Pilot_Reuben/duuuuurty.jpg)

Engine finally in! (http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa208/Pilot_Reuben/finallyin.jpg)



Now this is what i'm talking about! The shiny new engine bay after 3 and a half long months!

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/06/enginebay-1.jpg

And it lives!

Video after start up, ne exhaust fitted! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL8u18MU7pk)

Video with zaust, after run in (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0OUuI2JDJc)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/06/exhaustvid-1.jpg

[peugoby]

I love your GT-B Reuben. I've seen in many times on Nasioc... it even made me visit clubsub.org for the first time! Its gorgeous, I hope someday mine is as nice as that.

Can you post up some more pics of the dark woodgrain trim you have? Normally I don't like faux wood but that just looks so damn good. Is that shift knob oem as well?

[Reuben]

I'm the same about fake woodgrain ay, but when i saw that for the first time i was sold :P

And yeah, OEM momo knob, it's lamination was peeling though so i have a version 4 STi leather knob now, red stitching and all.

Don't mind the hairy legs

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/06/dash-1.jpg


This is when i had the ZS sequential controller in to kill vod, before converting to single turbo :D

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/10/seq9-1.jpg

[Reason]

You pic whore!, I love it. I want that shifter trim with the pocket.

[Reuben]

Shamefully so :oops: But i have moved the pics from the intro thread here to reduce that double posting, didn't see this section when i joined up, lol.

As for that trim with the little pocket and lid thing, it's standard on GTB's i think. I'm sure you could get one from somewhere that has lots of JDM goodness floating around :razz:

[subba]

You need some suspension :grin: if you wanna see what your car will look like lowered, look at my thread...just picture it with a hood scoop and your color ha ha

[oskar_subaru]

Shamefully so :oops: But i have moved the pics from the intro thread here to reduce that double posting, didn't see this section when i joined up, lol.

As for that trim with the little pocket and lid thing, it's standard on GTB's i think. I'm sure you could get one from somewhere that has lots of JDM goodness floating around :razz:

we got that here in all the outbacks and "special" models like that.



sweeeeeet car man, i´m hoping to import one myself before next summer :grin:

[WinterKnoll]

Wow man, what a gorgeous ride, nice work.

[Reuben]

Got a new toy yesterday. Mmmmm

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/07/hksbox-2.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/07/hksmuffler-2.jpg


Just gotta get a 3" midpipe now, and put a new flange on the HKS to suit.

[99SUS SFD]

Kitty likey.

I really really really want your wheels. Really.

[Reason]

Ah you did the parallel fuel mod? How did that work out for ya?

[Reuben]

It's working fine! See the dyno above for the air fuel ratios. Keep in mind this is a JDM engine/ECU running on 98 octane, so they may seem a bit high - but they are perfectly fine.

[Reuben]

Got the HKS exhaust on at last!! Good god it sounds good... sounds SOOO good. I <3 3" turbo back exhausts

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/07/zaust2-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/07/zaust3-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/07/zaust4-1.jpg

[Reuben]

Thinking what next now... Got onto photoshop. Theres the obvious lowering, nothing major, stealth sleeper is the ultimate goal here.

I need to repaint the mags too, they are kerbed like hell - and matching the old colour will be impossible... And then thinking about tinting the front windows to match the factory rear tints. Yes, that tint is factory! JDM FTW

Original:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/08/stadium20708-1.jpg

Shoopdawoop:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/08/stadium207082-1.jpg

[wagonofdoom]

buy wier wheels lol


looks good thiugh

[Reuben]

i reeeeealy want some of these (http://www.rayswheels.co.jp/emenu/datas2/VOLK/040_CE28N/big.jpg), and in that colour too :3 17x8's would do the trick, but i would get a higher offset than you :p. But no cash at the moment, have far more pressing expenses approaching X(

[Reuben]

Update. Finally got round to making an exhaust clip for the new 3" turbo back. And i decided to get some interior shots too.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUtMd06XDwQ

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/10/lonelytrackvidpreview-1.jpg


https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/10/interior02-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/10/interior03-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/10/interior04-2.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/10/interior05-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/06/interior06-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/10/gtbseats-1.jpg

[99SUS SFD]

Sounds great man. I'm really jealous of your car. Love it.

[Huffer]

On that video clip you shouldn't have shifted up on the way around the lower corner... your RPMs dropped off along with the sound.

Make that girl scream! ;)

[Reason]

Wrong side of the road buddy!

[Reuben]

On that video clip you shouldn't have shifted up on the way around the lower corner... your RPMs dropped off along with the sound.

Make that girl scream! ;)

Yeah well there's like a 2nd/3rd gear corner right behind the camera which was a bit of a bummer.

Going to a crasskhana/motorcross this sunday, you should have some nice vids of me ripping it up in a paddock soon :D

[phat56pat]

so jealous nice!

[Reuben]

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/10/2008_08_ClubSub234-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/10/2008_08_ClubSub239-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/10/grskana21-2.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPzkd6HwULk

[Huffer]

Miss those days!

[henryq89]

sweet pics man...car looks realli great especialli in its natural terrrotiry hahaha....i miss rallying my BD :roll: lol

[Wagonista]

Nice to see you're putting that suspension to good use.

[iluvdrt]

Bump for a sweet ride! Any updates Ruben?

[Reuben]

Fraid not, the $$$ situation is pretty dire at the moment, i'm waiting on a big job/project to bring in some extra $'s at the moment.

In the mean time i've had to sell the low springs i got :roll:

[Reuben]

Small update of sorts. While the un-employment persists, i've managed to finally get the car back on the road after blowing up the tyres MONTHS ago. Got the bridgestone adrenalin RE001's, f'n fantastic rubber :3 Also managed to get some STi wagon springs for $40 from a mate, will be fitting them SOON. I mean it this time, in a week or two at most hopefully!

Took some pics.

Dirty un-used leggy is durty.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/04/IMG_4148-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/04/IMG_4149-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/04/IMG_4154-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/04/IMG_4156-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/04/IMG_4150-1.jpg

[henryq89]

I wnt u sexy turbod wagon Rueben lol.....looks great with all the JDMness u get to have ....any nice of the blue wagon in the garage?

[Shale]

Those new tyres make it stick like a sticky thing! I've actually been in the black beast (and driven it!)... totally one of my favourite cars EVER. :wink: )

Can't wait til it's lowered :grin:

[Reuben]

FINALLY lowered it. What a bastard of a job. Used stock GF8 STi springs. Total cost for job; $40

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/05/standsagain-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/05/rearbrakes-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/05/barebilsteins-1.jpg


New stance:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/05/IMG_4346-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/05/IMG_4348-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/05/IMG_4349-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/05/IMG_4351-1.jpg

[Shale]

EPIC WIN IS EPIC! That thing looks like pure secks like that...so much better than the skyscraper look :)

Bloody pity I can't see it in real life for once... :(

[scubydu]

So clean! So clean!Definitely one of my fav wagons on here.
I think the only thing I would do if she were mine :cool: is debadge the rear. I think it would smooth it out alot.
Beautiful though :grin: :grin:

[Reuben]

Cheers :smile:

only thing I would do if she were mine :cool: is debadge the rear.

Teeheehee, not a chance in hell, that thing is staying totally stock on the outside. :twisted:

[Benfolio]

Looks GREAT. :smt023

Why'd you pull the lateral arms off the knuckle?

[Reuben]

The bolt was SO tight, we had to get 2 power bars on it, and the only way was to disassemble the whole bloody thing...

Then it did this to one of the power bars:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/05/thatsbrokenasbro-1.jpg


I meant it when i said it was a bastard of a job! :lol:

Anyway, did the proper photoshoot today, got some nice happy snaps:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/05/IMG_4363-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/05/IMG_4364-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/05/IMG_4373-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/05/IMG_4374-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/05/IMG_4375-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/05/IMG_4379-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/05/IMG_4384-1.jpg

[Huffer]

About time. :P

[Shale]

Evil Legacy is evil. Man that thing looks tidy on its arse!

There better be petrol in the tank when I get back to NZ...

[sybir]

Looks awesome with the new stance, dude.

[B4legy]

Like this car-and i want the same wheels too-Volk CE28's-best lookin wheels ever.

[Reuben]

What's new? I got me a V3 STi Carbon Fibre strut brace, it's horny as :D When we were picking it up, i noted a puddle of coolant under the car, so i zipped back home and pulled the radiator out. Blown as a blown thing! Luckily i had a mate on hand who offered to lend me the cash for a new radiator, so i no got me a full alloy radiator, with a massive 50mm core! it's fantastic :D.

Did a photoshoot about a month ago too, never got round to posting these:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/07/030609001-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/07/030609002-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/07/030609005-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/07/030609006-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/07/030609007-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/07/030609009-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/07/030609012-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/07/030609013-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/07/030609015-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/07/030609017-1.jpg

[Shale]

...I really ought to edit and post those pics of both the Ltds :grin: om nom nom.

[geckoboy86]

Great pics. I WANT THOSE WHEELS (off the impreza or your Legacy).

[Shale]

The goldies go for less than $1000NZ sometimes. I paid $900 for those...they even came with absolutely roasted RE070s :wink:

[Reuben]

There's actually some of the impreza wheels up for grabs at the moment, see my parts thread (it's in the global announcements.)

[geckoboy86]

Your talking bout the "JDM parts direct from NZ, the little land of JDM" thread. I just did a quick search though it, didnt see anything (i was using the find function in my browser to find the word rim or wheel).

I love that GC8. Looks like Bunta's GC8 from Initial D (the video game version). Only differences is his is a 2 door and an STi.

[Shale]

I love that GC8. Looks like Bunta's GC8 from Initial D (the video game version). Only differences is his is a 2 door and an STi.


You're a friggen' sharp man. That's actually the inspiration for this car; Bunta's ver5 :grin: You get a whole tray of e-cookies. And a muffin.

(Sorry for the threadjack babe - BACK TO THE BLACK BEAST!)

[Reuben]

Your talking bout the "JDM parts direct from NZ, the little land of JDM" thread. I just did a quick search though it, didnt see anything


Woops, that's cause i failed, and decided not to stick them up. It's all pending on if i can afford to organise a pallet to the states. You have a PM.

[Zac]

Love your wagon dude!

Hey I was wondering, do you think I could install one of those digital HVAC controls on my wagon?

After some though i'm not sure I could since i'll need to have some actuators to move the cables and doors.

[slaytalera]

very nice drop, and i love the wheels!



Love your wagon dude!

Hey I was wondering, do you think I could install one of those digital HVAC controls on my wagon?

After some though i'm not sure I could since i'll need to have some actuators to move the cables and doors.


if memory serves me right you have to replace your whole HVAC system for it to work

[Reuben]

HVAC?

You guy's talking about the aircon computer? Cause yeah, i've heard the same thing, too much bother to bother.

[deez11550]

ur car is amazing it gives me a bonner. I was wondering what type of fog lights u have and not the outer ones the inner ones next to ur license pate, are the hella or piaa.
ur car makes me happy and tickle inside

[fwa2500]

those are the stock driving lights that are on the GT-B Limited ;)

[deez11550]

Oooo thanks alot, but wouldent u think they look a bit like these http://www.myhellalights.com/halogen_lamps/Hella_500_Fog_Lamp_Kit.html hahah and i just bought a 97 white legacy gt lastweek im trying to figure out what to do to it its a 97' like urs.

[Reuben]

Well, for one, my bumper is japanese only, so you won't be able to replicate myset up if that's what you were wondering. Also, it is very very much stock, and the lights are bosch. But they are just a standard size.. i'm going to be going for some narva's to replace them, since the bosch ones have smoked lenses, and only do like 25 or 50 watt's or something silly, narva have crystal and are 100w :D

Anyway, waxed the car on the weekend, took some pics of the paint:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/07/IMG_4875-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/09/IMG_4876-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/09/IMG_4882-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/07/IMG_4883-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/09/IMG_4885-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/09/IMG_4890-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/09/IMG_4891-1.jpg

[Shale]

Backbreaking work it is too, but dear god is it worth it. Didn't even realise it was Cherry Black til it was done :oops:

[deez11550]

OOoohhhh jezzzzus, ur car is amazing if it was a cookie id eat it in one bite. MMhhmm good

[BE-Fresh]

Looks sweeeet!


Anyone else not able to see the pics following the lowered ones?

[Reuben]

Got me some STi goodies. Just bought an STi quick steering rack, 2.5 turns lock to lock instead of the GTB's 3 turns. And some STi alloy control arms. All going in soon. Going to lift the engine to re-do my rocker cover seals, fit the quick rack, and alloy arms, then go get a proper wheel alignment.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/10/IMG_5048-1.jpg

Going to polish them up next week :D

[Steinbruchsoldat]

That looks freaking good... :smt023

I want them too... :smt006

[Huffer]

What version STi Reuben? GC8 v5/6?

[Reuben]

Yep, V5 STi.

[AussieDan]

They look real nice cleaned up :grin:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/10/DSCF2976JPG-1.jpg (http://photos.phpwerx.net/cars/Legacy/2009-10-09_Suspension/800x600/DSCF2976.JPG.html)
You planning to just clean them up to factory like that or actually polish them?

Edit: You also need the inserts for the ball joints, they're pretty cheap from Subaru if they didn't come with the arms. I'd definitely recommend the Whiteline Roll Center kit while you have it apart too.

Edit again: What's the ratio on the STi rack? I'm running an 04 USDM STi rack which is 15:1 and the difference is amazing! Also what brand is the alloy radiator?

[Kansei]

If it was me I'd get them powder coated or painted the color of my sway bars or something else that is painted under the car. I have white sways going in. but that would be me... "D

[Reuben]

I'll be giving them a good rub down with a fine wire brush. might brasso them if i get bore enough... and do you really need the ball joins? are they different from the steel ones?

And i don't know the ratio, i just know it's 2.5 turns lock to lock.


Oooo, also picked up a fucking HUGE front sway bar for $90, going to be finding a whiteline rear adjustable one to match it :D

[AussieDan]

The alloy arms have a separate cone piece that the ball-joint goes into, it's part 17 in this diagram for the '06 USDM WRX (http://opposedforces.com/parts/impreza/us_g11/type_3/suspension_and_axle/front_suspension/illustration_3/). You don't need to replace the balljoints, but if you have it all apart (and are going to need an alignment) then there's no better time to do it. The whiteline kits don't cost much more than replacement balljoints and tie rod ends, and will help the camber curve now that the car is lowered.

[Reuben]

"Lowered" It's factory GTB height man, it used to be raised, so when i lowered it, i took it to stock height!

Do whiteline do that little assembly there? cause if so, i'm keen. Otherwise i can go and try and extract the part from the car i got these off... but that will be impossible without putting the arms back on... it was bloody hard enough then too. I'll likely just get new. I have a mate who has a whiteline contact though, so i can get their parts for cheap :D

edit:
just found them http://www.whiteline.com.au/product_det ... ber=KCA313 (http://www.whiteline.com.au/product_detail.php?part_number=KCA313)

$250!!! fuck that! Right... and my car isn't even lowered beyond stock... I suppose the genuine part price won't be too different either :<

[AussieDan]

Haha fair enough then, I thought it was lower than stock. If your balljoints and tie-rod-ends are in good shape then stick with those.

You'll probably need a pickle fork or something to get the conical bits off the balljoints on the donor car, might be easier to drop the $30 or so at the dealer for new ones.

You'll need the conical piece regardless of what balljoints you use, the balljoints are all the same you just have to use that conical adapter with the alloy arms.

[Zac]

I agree with dan, while you have it all out you might as well replace your balljoints and tie-rods. Would suck to have to take it all out again when one of those parts fail.

[Reuben]

Would suck to have to take it all out again when one of those parts fail.

haha, you obviously don't lavish the opportunity to get dirty playing on your car like i do! (i'm actually excited i get to pull my engine out to do my rocker covers. Heck, you don't even need to lift the engine to do that, but i'm going to anyway. And i'm going to give it a good fucking clean too!)
What are tie rods btw, is that another name for the sway-bar end links? I heard the STi ones are pretty good, theres a debate on them at the moment on clubsub, and the consesus is stick with stock when it comes to alloy arms end links.


Anyway, sway bar and steering rack

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/10/IMG_5049-1.jpg

[AussieDan]

Tie-rod ends is the US term for the joints at the end of the steering rack, I forget what they're called back home.

Is that bar solid or hollow? Looks pretty beefy either way. I'm not sure what to do about endlinks either yet, probably going to wait until the spring to fit all the new suspension so it doesn't get all salty before I've even had a chance to enjoy it. The stock ones on the alloy arms certainly seem beefy enough, especially compared to the crappy plastic oem pieces on the Legacy.

[Zac]

you dont know what tie rods are? inner and outer tierods?

[Kansei]

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm295/KonaaHamiruton/IMG_5049.jpg

those are the tierods

[rougeben83]

And you need those cone spacer things that go inbetween the control arms and the balljoints btw.

[Reuben]

Well. I've got most of a part number. Luckally my parts guy at the dealership has a rally car and know his shit, he'll know exactly what i need. Chances are they are ex-japan though, so will take a while to come in.

Here's the differences:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/10/alloyarm-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/10/steelarm-1.jpg

[Reuben]

Little update. Took the engine out a few weeks ago, redid my failed rocker cover, it was a split half moon... blasted things... Also did some cleaning here and there. Found the source for my knock on gear change.... a blown engine mount. It was cracked, i proded it, and then it fell apart. so replaced that.

Installed the STi steering rack, i now have no steering controller, so it's a nice lovely feel, not the artificial feel of a normal legacy, it's also a bit stiffer, and is 2.75 turns lock to lock rather than 3. Put new boots on it, and got it new mounts. My steering now feels bloody perfect!

I didn't manage to install the alloy arms, so they are still waiting to go on, but i did buy the cones for em. $10. I am the man with my parts contacts :D

Also found the source of the turbo whine, it was a fubar intercooler gasket! so turbo went back on, and new gaskets went in, and it's back to it's old boost happy self. I missed 18 psi!

Pics of the new look engine bay to come soon as well :D

[Reuben]

New pics. No more blue in the engine bay, this is buy coincidence, but i like the all red look, so i'm going to stick to it :D

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/11/IMG_5197-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/11/IMG_5198-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/11/IMG_5199-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/11/IMG_5200-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/11/IMG_5202-1.jpg

[Reuben]

Time for another pictorial update of the black beast.

STi short shifter installed. Sex on a stick i tell yah.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_5240-1.jpg

Airport photoshoot, Time was limited, so not many shots.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/WarbirdsMDPI1-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/WarbirdsMDPI3-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/WarbirdsMDPI4-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/WarbirdsMDPI6-1.jpg

STi cluster test fit, yet to install it, still need some speedo cable parts.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_5553-1.jpg

Engine bay complete shots:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_5725-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_5726-1.jpg

Mates GTB limited getting it's single turbo conversion done

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_5727-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_5729-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_5728-1.jpg

Possum damage

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_5969-1.jpg

Clubsub track day

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_6057-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_6060-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_6086-1.jpg

[Reuben]

"Bestie" (as my ex would say) gets a wax, before a long road trip.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00060-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00064-1.jpg

And a tearful goodbye to her and her impreza

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00058n-1.jpg


Road trippin time. As i move from one end of the country to the other, North island to south island! My life packed in the car, and a set of wheens and box's of car parts too. :P

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_6442-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_6479-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_6459-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_6476-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_6483-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_6484-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_6487-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_6496-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_6510-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_6518-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_6519-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_6520-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_6521-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_6537-1.jpg

And at my new home...

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_6539-1.jpg

[Reuben]

Life ain't so bad in the Alps.

Went up a muddy skifield access road..

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC000051-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00008-1.jpg

My first snow fall....... in my life.......

(view from lounge)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00014-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00016-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00018-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00019-1.jpg

Went out for an explore a couple days later. What snow hadn't melted, grew fricken massive hoar frost. This is completely novel to me!

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00037-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00040-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00042-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00043-1.jpg

Went for another wander

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00047-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00048-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00049-1.jpg

Defi install

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC000561-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC000671-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00070-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00065-1.jpg

[Reuben]

Went for a trip up to glenorchy with a work mate.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC02744-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC02745-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC02746-1.jpg

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https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC02757-1.jpg

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https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC02766-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC02770-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC02772-1.jpg

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https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC02776-1.jpg

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https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC02786-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00072-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00073-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00076-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00078-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00079-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00081-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00080-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00082-1.jpg

[subie/legacy]

"Bestie" (as my ex would say) gets a wax, before a long road trip.


https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00064-1.jpg

Edit: forgot to say wow :shock:
you take great pictures too. keep it up

[sick240]

i want those seats.. do they only come the gtb?

[Reuben]

And some GT's and TS-R's and 250T's. Most the GT/TS-R/250T seats lack the boulsters on the seat base, but some did come with.

[httrdd]

Man that is really beautiful country! Put that one on my dream vacations. Oh and the cars looks good too! :grin:

[95USsubaru]

i agree with the beautiful country.... but first snow ever? welcome to rust? lol

[Reuben]

i agree with the beautiful country.... but first snow ever? welcome to rust? lol

We don't salt the roads here, we grit them instead. So it's welcome to stone chips and permadirty car. Would rather that than rust for sure!!!

[95USsubaru]

i agree with the beautiful country.... but first snow ever? welcome to rust? lol

We don't salt the roads here, we grit them instead. So it's welcome to stone chips and permadirty car. Would rather that than rust for sure!!!

arghh!!!!! lucky. haha congrats on the move tho i saw in a couple pics there were some subs living ahead of you. and the pics are epic deff keep it up :smt023

[Reuben]

haha congrats on the move tho i saw in a couple pics there were some subs living ahead of you. and the pics are epic deff keep it up :smt023

In queenstown, 50% of the cars are legacy's. :P i kid you not, it's entirely common to get 4 BG's park in a row like that.

[legacysti]

nice ride mate. im also gona do a single turbo sti conversion by end of nxt yr. any tips

[MRLancaster]

"Bestie" (as my ex would say) gets a wax, before a long road trip.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00060-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00064-1.jpg

And a tearful goodbye to her and her impreza

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00058n-1.jpg


Road trippin time. As i move from one end of the country to the other, North island to south island! My life packed in the car, and a set of wheens and box's of car parts too. :P

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_6442-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_6479-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_6459-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_6476-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_6483-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_6484-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_6487-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_6496-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_6510-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_6518-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_6519-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_6520-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_6521-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_6537-1.jpg

And at my new home...

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_6539-1.jpg


Nice Blue Ute in that picture :3

[aekOne]

nice pics mate. i was in queenstown last year and your right. seriously EVERY second car was a legacy. funny seeing old ladies driving gt-b's with rims and cannons lol.

[Reuben]

Welcome to NZ :p

I went for another drive....

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00092-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00096-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00098-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00099-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00101-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00102-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00112-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00116-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00117-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00118-1.jpg

[Reuben]

Moar pics.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00134-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/08/DSC00135-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/08/DSC00136-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00138-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/08/DSC00143-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/08/DSC00145-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00148-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/08/DSC00149-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/08/DSC00152-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00157-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/08/DSC00164-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSC00163-1.jpg

[ryu_haneda]

What do you like the most about going for a drive? I gotta be honest, sometimes going for a spin is seriously cleansing stuff...

[Reuben]

It's about 90% of the driving i do, my car is almost solely for the purpose of recreation now days. I go for big drives most weekends, usually spending $40 or $50 (NZD) in a single blow on petrol. It's my addiction, i look forward to it each weekend, i feel gutted if i haven't done a proper drive in a couple weeks.... It's the noise, the feeling, the being out there in that magnificent scenery

Pics from the last 2 weekends

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/08/DSC00185-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/08/DSC00194-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/08/DSC00196-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/08/DSC001981-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/08/DSC00207-1.jpg

~

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/08/DSC002071-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/08/DSC00210-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/08/DSC00213-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/08/DSC00214-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/08/DSC00215-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/08/DSC00218-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/08/DSC00221-1.jpg

Possum bourne, one of new zealands greatest rally drivers of all time, died on this road in 2003, whilst on recce for the race to the sky event that used to be held there. He was one of my hero's.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/08/DSC00225-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/08/DSC00226-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/08/DSC00230-1.jpg

[Reuben]

Some news for once, and not pic whoring. I hit a rather severe pot hole a month or so ago, and at first, there appeared to be no damage. But over the last few weeks, my right front bilstein has started knocking chronically. Adding that to the already worn rear shocks that knock, i've been putting on my unamused face every time i nip down to the shops, and positively grimace when going for my drives. Happily, perfectly timed, a set of V8 STI shocks and springs popped up, so i gleefully contacted the guy, and they are now in the mail for $300NZD total. Miiint. Should be nice to get em in, they will be a bit firmer than the bilsteins too, and i can now practice rebuilding inverted struts with the old billies. (i plan to fit the old original lift springs back on em, and get mud or snow tyres for the 16's, so i should be able to do some nice off roading every now and then!)

In other news, the up-pipe leak is pretty bad now, it has effected performance significantly. Boost is slow to hit, and it can only hold 18psi for a few seconds before tapering off again. In october, I am heading up to Auckland for a week and a bit, to see my favorite band (Pendulum) in concert. I will be paying my mates at the wreckers a visit, and intend to blow a good $400 there. Up-pipe off an SG, new gaskets, K brace, and maybe even a rear sway bar, if they find a 24mm adjusty in time (going to go the impreza route, and mangle my wheel well to get it in there).

I've also warped my rotors, with some lovely heavy braking, and with repeated downhill runs (What goes up, must come down, and I can only do so much engine braking). I'm currently pondering what to do with this. Do i ignor it, or do i upgrade to 4-pots, and run the 16's. The 4-pots will be a bitter sweat day... YAY BRAKES! Booo no BG wheels. BG GTB wheels don't fit over 4-pots :< I will likely go with face lift BH wheels, since they are still factory tan 5-spoke, and 17x7 (so i can keep my brand new RE050's) At this stage i can't afford any other option but to ignor it. Oh well, so long as the rotors aren't cracked, she'll be right.

SO, lots of mods over the next few months, huzzah!

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_6520-1.jpg

oh. my. god! :smt007

dude, whyd you take the lights outta your bumper?

[Reuben]

I've said this one many times before. A possum shattered one into a million bits, a motorkhana road cone split the other clean in half. $120 to replace, haven't had the spare cash yet, too busy spending on importand things like flights and struts :smt016

[Airgne]

first i will say get the 4/2pots.

second i will say i think i shall go to nz one time in my life just to drive those beautiful roads.

[d1giPhux]

WOW.. NZ is really nice! i should move there! haha.

How you like the sti setup as compared to the bilstein? Can you go into some detail about how it feels / drives / stance / height? Any pictures of it installed on the car with like a side profile shot? What year USDM sti would the version 8 be? Thanks man!

[Reuben]

They're still in the mail. I will be sure to document it.

Version 8 is known as peanut eye over there i believe, you random random people... The first USDM sti is basically a version 8 with a 2.5L. A crucial thing to note, the version 9 looks almost identical, only visual difference really is it gets the flaired arches, and 5x114.3... But, you can't run 5x114.3 struts on a 5x100 car, so basically the 04-05 sti i believe is the only STi struts you can use statestide.. Hawkeye is version 10.

Look up FWA2500's BK, to see USDM V8 struts on a BK.

[Reuben]

Yay! No more cla-clunk eeeh-eeer over every speed bump, she's now silent. Will have the before and after pics up tomorrow.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/09/v8stistruts-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/09/DSC00233-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/09/DSC002341-1.jpg

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https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/09/DSC00240-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/09/DSC00242-1.jpg

[Reuben]

Before, then after. Front remains the same height, rear end drops a tad. Either need to compress the fronts, or put spacers in the rear if i want perfection, but TBH, it can stay.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/09/DSC00235-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/09/DSC00254-1.jpg


https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/09/DSC00236-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/09/DSC00255-1.jpg


https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/09/DSC002371-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/09/DSC00256-1.jpg

[Zac]

looking great as always reuben!

Wish I could have kept my BG but i'm having fun with my BP now :)

[JunkerXL]

that car is so brutal. it makes me want to clone it and drive it around



:smt020

[d1giPhux]

Nice! VERY NICE! So how you liking the new Sti suspension as compared to the GTB / Bilstein setup? You gonna rebuild the bilsteins or scrap em?

I'm sort of debating the same thing myself. Because while i liked the Bilstein struts, my rear(s) need to be rebuilt, or I am debating just picking up some Sti Springs / Struts for cheap. Only thing I didn't like about the billies is that they aren't as stiff as the eibach setup I have now. Man.. i wish eibach still existed. Best springs I've ever used in my whole life.

Lets hear some details about how it rides, how it sits, etc! Looks like its a tiny bit lower then the bilsteins eh?

[Reuben]

The STi KYB's are much better, you can feel the road, and what the car is doing so much more, yet, they are barely any harder. Maybe i'm just used to hard suspension, but it's just soo damn good. The bilsteins are far better for cruising and touring, but i don't tour my GT, i rape it :D.


that car is so brutal. it makes me want to clone it and drive it around :smt020

You wait till i get my 720p camera, and start uploading video's :D

Anyway... Just went and got the alignment, fronts are all perfect, rears... less than ideal. Even the very minor squat the V8 struts have is enough to make the rear axles poit up, and the lateral arms are sitting dead level, less then ideal. And the rumor bout GDB struts causing positive camber in the rear is positivly true, +0.5º left, +0.1º right at the moment, with no way of adjusting it.

So, i'm gonna get me some of these:

http://www.jscspeed.com/catalog/Subaru/ ... X_STI.html (http://www.jscspeed.com/catalog/Subaru/02_07_WRX_STI/Suspension/Alignment_Tuning_Components_for_02_07_Subaru_WRX_STI/Camber_Adjustment_Components_for_02_07_Subaru_WRX_STI.html)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mrzezCtqh0


I was going to go the fitting factory bolts way, but then saw they were only $20 USD, won't be more than $40 NZ by the time they get here, seems alright, and less rangi than modifying the rear stuts to fit stock front camber bolts. When i do those, i'll also chuck the rear bilstein springs on the KYB's, and get that arse back to a proper level. Fuck. Just saw the above comparison pic, the bottom spring rainter/cup/holder thing is totally different... Smaller diameter, and with that kink in a different place to the bilsteins... .... rage!

The guy doing the alignment was a cool guy too. At first he didn't really want me hanging round watching the alignment get done, but we eventually got to talking. Turns out he used to live in the UK, and knew Colin McRae, and was working on caterham 7's. Said it was nice to talk to someone who knew what they were doing for a change. f***ing win.


Ooo, new machine
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/09/alignment1-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/09/rearaxle-1.jpg

[d1giPhux]

Looks good.. so are you gonna be getting the bilsteins rebuilt, or you like these better?

So are the sti struts / springs streetable? They arent super harsh ride are they? How much more stiff would you say they are over the bilsteins? Interesting.. very interesting!

[fwa2500]

i cant speak in comparison with the bilsteins, but the STi struts and springs are very much streetable; i have essentially the same set-up on my car and love it. reuben seems to be liking the STi bits very much and i suspect he will stick with them. also, he mentioned to me that a wile ago he hit a massive pot hole and borked something on the bilsteins (along with essentially destroying one of the front top-hats) but ill let him speak for himself when he wakes up (middle of the night/early early morning there right now)

[Reuben]

Looks good.. so are you gonna be getting the bilsteins rebuilt, or you like these better?

So are the sti struts / springs streetable? They arent super harsh ride are they? How much more stiff would you say they are over the bilsteins? Interesting.. very interesting!

Of course they are steetable, they are stock damnit! They are only marginally harder than the bilsteins, though i'm starting to notice much more. You can feel the road A LOT more, which is fantastic when going fast.

And yeah i'm going to see about rebuilding the bilsteins myself. Need a new top hat for em though. Would be a shame to let them waste. Will probably stick the original lift springs my car had back on em, and use them for 4x4 weekends :P

[Lone_legacy]

Beautiful car. I like the new stance. No more ass-sag. Very nice pics too!

[Reuben]

Strut towers look just fine, thank god. Spent a good 5-10 mins looking at them and comparing etc, all looks in order. A mechanic mate of mine suggested they could be fucked from the impact that rooted the struts, but no, they are fine

Then i took my strut bace off. This is the little broken foot thing i was talking about.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/09/DSC00244-1.jpg


Also bought some saggy butt spacers and camber bolts from Turn In Concepts, they should hopefully arrive before my next rostered days off.

[Yamazaki]

Now you need to upgrade your brakes! :lol:






:wink:

[Shale]

But that'd involve having to upgrade the weels as well. :smt016

[Reuben]

I'm pretty keen on BH wheels, i've discovered they look sick on black GTB's.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/

Would be keen on face lift ones too

But alas, i'm spending on fixing my up-pipe, and getting that K brace first, and with luck, some sway bars. THEN i start saving for the wheels and breaks.

[ryu_haneda]

Reuben, keep on enjoying the roads. Your GT-B wagon is one of the reasons I got into Subarus in the first place, and New Zealand has to be one of the most beautiful countries in...the...WORLD.

Your driving sounds full of purpose. You got soul, man... God bless you, and God bless New Zealand!

[Reuben]

Cheers mate!

Makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.

Anyway, I fixed my strut brace with a hammer. I get man points for that one, fixing anything with a hammer = man points :D I just put the little mounting foot in place, and used a ball peen hammer to peen it back on, and it worked a charm, solid as a rock again.

And the positive rear camber has had a fun fun side effect, the reduction of grip in the rear has killed to death any last remnants of my understeer (not that there was much left to kill). Going too hot into, or Dabbing the brakes in a corner just helps it turn, the rear end just goes out and points you in the right direction, I had a f***ing ball playing with it last weekend up the coronet ski field road (sealed). I'd love to get that sort of handling under normal circumstances, I think some beefy sway bars are well well overdue!! I've told the wreckers in Auckland to keep an eye out for some 22mm or 24mm adjustable impreza bars for me, hoping they find some by october when I visit :D

[Shale]

Fixing anything with a hammer is win...epic man points.

As soon as the hammer doesn't help, double man poins minused. Like when Pie-Hoe took a chunk out of the guard on my impreza by wielding a hammer on a part that didn't need it, swung like a hero and hit my car like a douche.

^ trufax.

[Reuben]

Note to self, never let that man anywhere near my car.

[LiCelsior]

damn i love ur car.

[Shale]

Note to self, never let that man anywhere near my car.

Unless you like oil literally pissing out your oil seals, and nice big chunks out of your paintwork. And broken struts.

[Reuben]

Went and dropped $80 on gas for a blat.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/10/DSC00303-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/10/DSC00306-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/10/DSC00307-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/10/DSC00308-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/10/DSC00309-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/10/DSC00310-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/10/DSC00311-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/10/DSC00313-1.jpg

[Shale]

Note to self. Get new diploma...move to Queenstown.

*drools*

[Reuben]

Yay, finally got me camber bolts and spacers. Will try install them tomorrow, will see how it goes (have tonsillitis at the moment :< )

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/10/DSC00322-1.jpg

[Reuben]

Installed the things pictured above.

The white things are spacers, that sort out the minor ass sag from running impreza suspension. The downside is, the studs on the top hats are just 2mm too short for me to be able to have the strut brace bolted in. So it's either get the thinner spacers, or go without a strut brace. Grumbles.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/10/DSC00325-1.jpg

These things just magically work to give you camber. But only after you say the magic F, S, and C words.

Going for an alignment today tomorrow, we'll see if the camber is sorted :D

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/10/DSC00332-1.jpg






https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/10/DSC00331-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/10/DSC00329-1.jpg

[Navi271]

That sucks the spacers didn't work like they should have. And those camber bolts look exactly like the ones I had to get when I lowered my car. If they are the exact same, then I agree! They were hell...

Otherwise, your car still looks great!

[Reuben]

Turns out there's a trick to em, the second bolt was far easier :D

Oh, and brasso metal polish for the win, cleared my headlights.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/10/DSC00334-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/10/DSC00335-1.jpg


https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/10/DSC00337-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/10/DSC00339-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/10/DSC00341-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/10/DSC00347-1.jpg

See, you can still have fun with STi suspension :P

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/10/DSC00351-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/10/DSC00358-1.jpg

[Reuben]

And went to get the alignment done today, we hooked the car up to the machine and found... it was sweet. I had set max camber on the bolts, then wound it off 45º on both sides when i installed them. It's very easy to see what they are doing with these aftermarket bolts... Turns out that gives me -0.6º of camber, pretty much what i wanted. Sweet. Toe was sweet too, so we didn't bother changing anything. We both agreed the car's handling pretty nice now. Also ended up chatting with the alignment guy for ages again, he's got some pretty neat stories from when he was working on super bikes :D Turns out he really is a bikie though, he asked me what the intercooler was when he was looking in the engine bay :D

Anyway. time will tell how it's going. I no longer have a rear strut brace thanks the the spacers being too big, so we'll see how it's turned out.

If i can find some adjusties in future that aren't too stiff, and pretty much match the STI KYB's, i will be a happy man. Cause i'm loving these shocks, but the little mods to fix their fitment issues are just annoying.... Oh, speaking of which, i chucked some all purpose auto grease on them, and they have stopped knocking. Fantastic. Going to add that to the list of things to do every second oil change.

[Reuben]

Made a photostitch, thought i'd post it here.

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa20 ... eights.jpg (http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa208/Pilot_Reuben/Kelvinheights.jpg)

[Reuben]

Twas me birthday yesterday, 23, went to the dairy to pick up milk and cerial, and a slice of birthday cake... Naturally i ended up on top of coronet peak yet again. I gotta stop doing that that! Yeah, it was raining in town, but i could see it was snowing up in the hills, so i thought i'd eat my cake in the snow, rather than the rain :D

Photo-blog GO!

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/10/DSC00363-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/10/DSC00365-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/10/DSC00366-1.jpg


Shopping secured.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/10/DSC00368-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/10/DSC00369-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/10/DSC00374-1.jpg



And the complimentary stitch. I like this new toy.

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa20 ... nowpan.jpg (http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa208/Pilot_Reuben/snowpan.jpg)

[Reuben]

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/10/camphoneHDR-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/10/DSC00394-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/10/DSC00425-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/10/skipperspan1s-1.jpg

[Reuben]

The up-pipe Job. What a bitch!

So after my Auckland trip, I have come back with a pile of goodies. Replacement spotties, Under body K-brace, SG replacement up-pipe+gaskets and a bunch of 14mm nuts, clips, and random shit that's good to keep in the tool box.

Why do i want to run a forester up-pipe? Well, the one on there came with my V2 WRX RA headers, and is poked. Has a hole in the flexi join, and a rattly heatsheild. I went SG simply cause it's the newest strong had. Gerald at strong reckoned I could do the up-pie job without removing the turbo. Just take the downpipe off, and slide it out the back. Neat idea, and it could have worked... except I'm too much of a perfectionist for my own good, and decided to use the factory up-pipe brackets when I did the single conversion! Said brackets make the described method impossible, and can only be removed by taking the turbo out first. So the 3 hour job turned into a 5 hour job, with sunburn and destroyed arms included! Oh well, it afforded me the opportunity to inspect the VF39. When I last looked at it, it had chips all over the impeller wheels thanks to a bung HKS air filter that was in the car from the previous owner (that I never thought to replace). This time round though it's looking far far better, the chips aren't as big as I remember, and there's no play still. So I'm very happy to see it's still pretty healthy, even after nearly 40,000 k's of 18 psi and dusty NZ roads (I bought it near new, off an employee at subaru. It came off a test car, and had less than 5000 k's on it, so was basically a virgin turbo!). With the turbo out, the up-pipe is damn easy to change, it slides right out with miles of room to spare.

Everything went back together far easier and quicker than it came apart, and the new up-pipe is working quite nicely! Only one problem... The oil level is now so low that it's no longer on the dipstick. Only 2000 k's/3 months since the last change!! I've decided to do it 6 monthly or 5000 K, whichever is the sooner, rather than just every 5000 K. But I still have another 3 months to go, so I'm going to have to shell out for a $90 bottle of edge to top up 2L or so. Damn you edge, and only being avail in 5L bottles!!!

Pics:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/11/DSC00488-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/11/DSC00489-1.jpg

Celebratory test drive

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/11/DSC00490-1.jpg

[Reuben]

Fitted the K-Brace today, and OH. MY. GOD. What a difference, wow! I did not expect that at all, I thought it'd be barely noticeable, but nope, probably one of the best handling improvements yet.
The turn in doesn't really feel any better (unlike when I fitted the alloy arms, that was a great improvement), but when you tighten up the corner, *suddenly GRIP* I was Giggling like a girl going through some of the local hairpins up the crown range and coronet peak. It just keeps on gripping the tighter you go.

A friend remarked "BG's must be more flexy than BF's", and I'd tend to believe him, because the change was quite something (and they are wollowy old boats, softened up since their rally days). That and I guess I know the better than the back of my hand, I have a problem with picking up on the little things, and exaggerating the big things.

Also rotated the wheels, the fronts had worn quite a bit on the insides. Quicker than I had anticipated.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/11/DSC00676-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/11/DSC00678-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/11/DSC00679-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/11/DSC00682-1.jpg

And customary celebratory test drive. Was still giggling from the ride up, while taking the shot :D

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/11/Coronet2s-1.jpg (http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa208/Pilot_Reuben/Coronet2.jpg)



Oh, and another shots I didn't post up.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/11/remarkspan1s-1.jpg (http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa208/Pilot_Reuben/remarkspan1.jpg)

[httrdd]

No too many comments huh? Pics look good and the car is looking very good also.

[Reuben]

No too many comments huh? Pics look good and the car is looking very good also.

It's called oversaturation (I'm such a post whore :P).

[aekOne]

those lower chassis braces are no joke! when i put mine on i was amazed at the different it made. MUCH more noticeable than the front strut brace

[Yamazaki]

I think those chassis braces are more effective on the older models. I didn't notice a difference on the S401 after installing mine.

[Zac]

nice brace!

You work on your car in the street? :O

[timhortons]

Loving those pics! And the car! Absolutely superb. I love how it sits, looks like it's hugging the road, and it has the engine to back it up too, it's a sweet machine :cool:

[ryu_haneda]

Driving a Subaru in New Zealand = WIN

[Dead91silvia]

I dont get jealous vary easy, but I am now! haha! I almost got a half cut of one of those a year ago and just decided to wait. I want the digi climate control! Thats sweet!

[Reuben]

I think those chassis braces are more effective on the older models. I didn't notice a difference on the S401 after installing mine.

Thats because STi's are made of win. NOW GO AWAY



:wink:

And yeah, I do work on the road, don't have an option.

[Reuben]

So, while on my way to work today, I spotted my usual park outside the flat was free. So I did a U-turn out from my park at work, and into my parking spot outside the flat like I usually do... Only to find the chip on the edge of the windscreen that's bee there for about a year had finally decided to crack. And it's a big fucker too, about a foot out from the side of the windscreen. I'm blaming the heat, it hit 29ºc today, and inside the car was about 50 times hotter than that. I swear, any spider or ant of whatever living creature that may have been inside the car is now an EX-creature, for sure...

Le sigh, and right when I've just spent every penny I have on that DSLR of mine, with more to come to get lenses for it. Going to have to live with the crack for a few weeks yet, and hope I don't get pulled over (has been well over a year since being pulled over, 3 years since a ticket, touch wood)...

I have insurance, but the winscreen excess is $150 XD

[Reuben]

Washed the car yesterday, and waxed the upward facing surfaces today. The clearcoat is def showing it's age, damn black cars. But every time, without fail, my wax amazes me. Takes 5 years off just like that....

Before = bottom, After = top... Spider webbing and clear coat damage be gone!

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/12/DSC00755-1.jpg https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/12/DSC00753-1.jpg

[MikeyMeyagi]

Your car, and your country are absolutely stunning Reuben......

[Reuben]

Why thank yah. I should remind you all, if any of you folks stray down this way on vacation, I will be MORE than happy to show you guy's around!

[Reuben]

All I have to say right about now, is that 450D's are made of PURE WIN.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/12/IMG_00191-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/12/IMG_0031-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/12/IMG_0039-1.jpg

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https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/12/IMG_0053-1.jpg

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https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/12/IMG_0075-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/12/IMG_00922-1.jpg

[Reuben]

Click to zoom

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/12/Kelvinheights2s-1.jpg (http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa208/Pilot_Reuben/Kelvinheights-2L.jpg)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/12/IMG_0466-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/12/IMG_0430-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/12/IMG_0464-1.jpg

Click to z00000m

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/12/Kelvinheights3s-1.jpg (http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa208/Pilot_Reuben/Kelvinheights-3L.jpg)

[Navi271]

Dang, those pictures are beautiful! Reminds me of when I went on vacation to the mountains in colorado.

[Reuben]

Cheers man :D

[ryu_haneda]

Oh... wow...
The scenery is divine. Praise God!

[bigran82]

Great photos and nice ride!!

[elislider]

your car is awesome
you live in a beautiful place
i am jealous

[anothernord]

New Zealand must be a horrible place to live. Awful scenery, no JDM goodness...

[Reuben]

Oh... wow...
The scenery is divine. Praise God!

Hehe, you praise him all you want :smt016

Some more remarkable scenery.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/12/IMG_1002-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/12/IMG_0999-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/12/IMG_1080-1.jpg

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https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/12/IMG_1235-2.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/12/IMG_1370-1.jpg

[MRLancaster]

one of the photos looks like where frodo and gollum and sam were climbing around in the mountains.

[sauceyf4]

great car! looks great lowered!

[stiboy007]

hey mate im new to the subies whats the diff between closed deck and open deck im getting my engine block from possum motor sport and am told they are closed deck i have a 95 rs sedan twin turbo with a ej20h with blowen #4 piston im getting engine from them due to seeming stronger 22psi

[stiboy007]

add: i noticed you had picture of the two blocks next to each other is the left1 the closed deck block?

[Reuben]

one of the photos looks like where frodo and gollum and sam were climbing around in the mountains.

Probably because that's where Frodo, Sam, and Gollum were climbing in the mountains :p

And when it rains, it pours...

So, as I was at the supermarket today, some kind fellow GT owner pointed out I had a flat. How embarasing that I didn't notice it myself earlier, and it was quite low down too... That would explain the nocks I was hearing last night as I was going over bumps in the road though.

So I got back home, and found my rego renewal reminder in the mail box, and my WOF reminder in my inbox... Great...

Took the car out to firestone to have a look at the wheel, and guess what. Fucking gash in my sidewall; the tyre is unrepairable.

WOF: $60
3mo reg: $77
2x New tyes: $500

FFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU...

[Reuben]

add: i noticed you had picture of the two blocks next to each other is the left1 the closed deck block?

Closed deck basically means re-enforced. The PBMS engines are damn good, make sure you convert to single turbo when you put the engine back in. Instructions can be found here: http://www.dirtyolbc.co.nz/community/to ... thread-30/ (http://www.dirtyolbc.co.nz/community/topic/487-the-single-conversion-thread-30/)

[Reuben]

My favorite place of all.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/01/Coronet3s-1.jpg (http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa208/Pilot_Reuben/Coronet3L.jpg)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/01/IMG_2429-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/01/IMG_2507-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/01/IMG_2578-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/01/IMG_2586-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/01/IMG_2597-1.jpg

[Yamazaki]

Good lord! :shock: That scenery and road look amazing in the pictures; I can only imagine what it's like in person....

[zmiko]

Thats looks incredible! I must go there someday

[Reuben]

It's my special road :3

[Yamazaki]

It's my special road :3
I'll trade you. You live here and I'll live there. I would kill for a road that is flat and even for longer than 500 meters at a time.

['Buru in the Burgh]

oh muh gawd those roads are incredible

[mike-tracy]

Thanks for sharing. I've always wanted to visit NZ (closest I've been is southern Australia), and these awesome roads are just icing on the cake. Question, how strict is the law enforcement there? Are they like in Australia with the strict zero tolerance anti-hoon laws?

[Reuben]

Compared to Australia it's relaxed as f**k. Not many cops down this way either (unlike around the big cities, which are swarming, and made of fail). It is still pretty strict compared to a lot of other places, and the speed limits are slow. Generally though, coronet peak is pretty much a ski field access road. Just paragliders, and tourists going for photo's, cops will catch FAR more people down in the basin doing 111kph on the straights.

Got more. Apparently i'm not the only one that likes to go for a fang up there.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/01/IMG_2606-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/01/IMG_2617-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/01/IMG_2620-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/01/IMG_2628-1.jpg

[nasioc]

My favorite post...nice photo ya, keep it up!

[Danny-G]

That bc is pretty, same color and style as mine and almost my final gaol. Loving the scenery and roads. Maybe a trip to NZ is in my future now lol.

[Reuben]

Hehehe, my threads seem to have that effect now.

Wee update. Found my oil leak, tis the turbo oil supply pipe washer, on the block. Also got my windscreen due for replacement tomorrow morning too, which will be AWESOME. Old windscreen is old... and very much cracked.

[Reuben]

Update time.

Did my registration. Went for the Warrant of Fitness (like the UK's M.O.T), and failed. Exhaust too noisy. Sweet, i've only been passing wofs for 3 years with this damn exhaust. Picky pricks.

Buuuuut, I go through this every time, so I'm finally doing something about it. Tomorrow morning the beast is going in to get another 3" straight through resonator put in, that should reduce the noise by about 2db, which will be enough to go through the wofs, and if need be, a certification.

Still waiting on tyres. For now i'm just topping up the flattie every time i go for a drive, seems to be doing the trick. If it comes to it, i'll put on the snow tyres and just slowly save.

And a present.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/02/IMG_3640-1.jpg

[slaytalera]

You need some new fog lights while your at it :razz:

looking great otherwise :smt023

[xoSubieLegacyxo]

My favorite place of all.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/01/IMG_2578-1.jpg

It looks like your flying! hahaha
I love your wagon, and where you live! Its like Subaru Paradise!!!!!

[Zac]

dude I just saw the quakes on the news! Hope you are ok and safe!!

[datdookie]

^+1 on being safe and okay.

[mike-tracy]

Reuben lives 300 miles from Christchurch, so I'm sure he felt it. Hope you're ok buddy.

[fwa2500]

hes fine, however, someone smashed one of his mirrors :(

[Reuben]

Sup ladies. Long overdue update time. Not a whole lot has happened in the last year, just a bit of suspension work, and in the last few weeks, prep for my first track day.
And yeah, the Christchurch quake didn't affect us down here in Qtown, thankfully. Can't believe it's been over a year since then, and the japan quake already...

As FWA said, some cock intentionally broke my mirror (it folds back and forth, the force was applied vertically). Fixed that all up all good.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/IMG_4071-1.jpg

Then I went for a drive and whiped out 2 possums and 3 rabbits...

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/07/IMG_4941-1.jpg

So I fixed all that up, washed the engine bay, and finally ordered some replacement lights.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/IMG_4999-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/IMG_6367-1.jpg

Note the yellow opaque lights

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/IMG_7597-1.jpg

to

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/07/IMG_8174-1.jpg

Then I finally managed to score a place with a garage, and could take him off the road, and out of the harsh NZ sun.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/IMG_8208-1.jpg

And had some fun in the mid summer snow (yes, we stole your snow America, bwahahahaah)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/Coronet6s1-2.jpg

[Reuben]

Then, I FINALLY did one my more interesting mods.... Impreza gauge cluster....

Since the car has basically an Impreza engine in, which has an 8000rpm redline, and limits at 8250rpm, felt kind odd having a redline on the cluster showing at 7500, and the rev limit literally off the end of the cluster! So i wanted an Impreza tacho, that went up to 9K, so the needle wouldn't wonder off the end like it did on the Legacy cluster.

So I bought an sti cluster... (this was 2 years ago!!)

Here's my forum post from DOBC.co.nz

The STi Cluster Saga.

170,173km -> 151,431km = -18,742km

So about 2 years ago, I spotted a V3 STi cluster on the shelf at strong. I noted the tacho went up to 9K, and showed the correct redline for my engine (on the leggy cluster, the car actually limited OFF the clock, 8250, where's the legacy tach stops at 8K)... It also had a carbon face plate that was sexy as, branded with STi, and I very much liked it. I asked Gerald to put it aside for me, while I did some research. Later that week I went to pick-a-part, took a wee V2 N/A cluster out, and chucked it in a nearby BG, and surprise, it was virtually a perfect fit. The mount positions were different, but once you had the surround on, that held it in place. So back to strong I went, and the cluster was mine! Now some fools asked why I didn't get a later one with awesome cool blingy lit needles etc. Well, those are later generation speedo's, the glass curves the other way, and flat out would NOT fit in my dash, and would look out of place, and the dash is not designed for that inverted face. Some have done it, but I think that's rangi as fuck, and ugly as fuck.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/09/IMG_5548-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/IMG_5550-1.jpg

Test fitting to confirm it does fit soon after buying.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/IMG_5551-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/IMG_5553-1.jpg


Sweet. Now, a few issues. No pinouts of clusters avail on the net, and 3-plugs vs 2-plugs. The Impreza cluster doesn't have individual door lights, it just has one light for all. It also doesn't have a fuel warning light, and, biggest of all... Has a mechanical speedo... Aaaaaawwwweeeeesssooommmeeee.........
Never mind that, a few weeks later I got a speedo cable, and then, just sorta got lazy. A few months later I moved to QT, where I had other things on my mind. about 6 months later on a trip back up to Auckland, I finally got round to getting a mechanical sender. But a case of the lazies hit again, and it wasn't until a few weeks ago that I finally decided to get off my arse and to this mod.

So Again, out came the legacy cluster, and thankfully since both have the printed circuits on the back, you can line trace all the pins, so I made myself a pinout of each cluster. They mostly matched, there's not a whole lot different between them, as mentioned above. I decided to make the fuel warn light actually the auto "POWER" light (yeah I know, STi clusters still have provisions for autos...), and just had to live with joining all the door lights into one. There was just a few wires that were odd, the legacy speedo had a wire labelled as "4P-O", and the Impreza clusters corrosponding wire read "RSW". I went out on a limb, and classed them as the same thing.

After the pinouts were done, I went down and actually, FINALLY, got round to installing the cluster. Was just going to do the wiring at this stage:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/IMG_0780-1.jpg

And as you can see above, there's no where for the speedo cable to come through... so out came the trusty hole saw.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/IMG_0781-2.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/IMG_0783-2.jpg

IT's at this point I got a phone call saying my grandma had passed away, so, it was down tools, and off to Auckland. Then when I got back, it was a road trip down to Dunedin to welcome Amy to the deep south. Here's the genius of the wiring though, It may be messy, but it's all spliced in with tee's, so I can actually swap back and forth with the clusters. This proved its weight in gold, as I needed a cluster to drive south, and If I had hacked and slashed with the wiring, that would not have been possible, as I ran out of time half way though! I did manage to squeeze a speedocable less test drive in at some stage before work, and everything worked, except I got a CEL for 'Speed sensor', which meant that my V3 STi ecu was looking for it's speed signal from the cluster...

Anyway, This weekend was the first weekend since my Auckland and Dunedin trips, so I thought I should rip into it nice and early. 9am I started, and it wasn't till 3pm, that I was done and dusted. Out came the old cluster for the last time, and I threaded the speedo cable through. Got it in position, then went to go swap speed senders, and hit a hurdle. Electronic senders are too large and too close to the gearbox case, that you can't even get a spanner to turn one more than a 16th of a turn. Meaning once you loosen it off the first tiny bit, no matter how you position and flip the spanner, it can't turn it. Aaaawwweessooommmeee. So off to repco I walked, (only 5 min walk, perfection), and finally got round to getting a pair of vice grips. They did the trick nicely. New sender went in, I connected up the cable and sender, and there was more than enough room behind the cluster to play around and connect it up, though it's a CUNT of a job with a dash that was designed for a different shaped cluster, that only ran on electronic speedo. I finished off the wiring, and plugged her all up, went for a test drive, and IT WORKED. FIRST TIME. And read accurate too, 105kph/3000rpm/5th gear as it always has. Had taken about 4 hours to get to this point now.

As I went to go put the surround back on... I discovered it no longer fit. After about 10 mins of cussing, I found it was the speedo cable, it didn't have enough space behind the cluster, and was making it so that the cluster couldn't sit high enough to actually fit in at all... So out she came again, and out came the hole saw. This time, sadly, it had to attach the air pipe running beind the cluster to the right hand drivers air vent. Yerp, had to cut up my air vent piping... Manly tears were shed. You can see the vent being a cockblocker in the pics above.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/IMG_1130-2.jpg

Thankfully it's quite large, and once taped up, only reduced the pipe size by about half. Sadly this does mean that the right vent only blows half the air as the rest do... Aw well, AT LEAST IT STILL WORKS.

After that, final checks, sender all nice and tight, cable firmly attached, all wiring complete, though I fucking missed the bulb in the power/fuel light though (need to take out the cluster again and put a bulb in there). Funny thing though, the fuel light pin in the legacy cluster is the same pin as "POWER" in the impreza cluster. I lol'd. Hooked up the cable again, and put on the surround... HUZZAH, she fits perfectly!!! A test drive was in order. Also, no CEL light for Speed sensor, so magically the sti cluster is getting signal. From the sti clsuter. I can only assume it was that one un-known wire on the back of the speed, "RSW" ("4P-O" on the legacy cluster)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/IMG_1142-1.jpg

All 100% working.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/IMG_1143-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/IMG_1131-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/IMG_1134-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/IMG_1939-2.jpg



/wall of text

[Reuben]

Then cusco brake master brace:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/IMG_1926-1.jpg

And 22mm cusco sway bars (yeah, gold ones from cusco... some sub brand I can't recall). These fucking things improve handling SO MUCH OMG. And it's only an extra 3mm over the stock GTB ones!

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/IMG_24291-2.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/IMG_2427-2.jpg

Next week, it's new brake rotor time, and I'm getting some pagid blue pads. Noooommmmmssss....

[Yamazaki]

So this is why I haven't heard from you in awhile... it looks like you've been busy. Welcome back! :wink:

[Reuben]

Just been living on the forums over at Dirty Ol BC, lol.

Also... I have a new baby... Post soon.


































https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/IMG_5818-2.jpg

[hansvonaxion]

I don't always update, but when I do...

Damn.

I remember your car popping up all over the place when I was researching the purchase, and others have told me the same. You're so famous. Good to see you're still keeping it looking as good as always.

[Reuben]

:D

[hansvonaxion]

Did you notice any/much difference with the master cylinder stopper?

I still haven't gotten around to doing the braided lines, I've been happy with the 4 pots so far, but I found a dirt cheap strut tower bar with stopper attached and it got me thinking...

[Reuben]

Not a huge difference at first... But now whenever I get in the car after driving my BC for a week, I'll 'lightly touch' the brakes while going down the drive for example, and the car jerks to a stop.

I have utterly terrible disks and pads right now though, I imagine I'll see a big difference after getting rid of those. I got the brace for a grand total of $60NZD, so, for that price, why the hell not eh?

[hansvonaxion]

I'm a bit skeptical about it making a huge difference myself but if one comes up cheap, like you say, why not?

The only reason I didn't jump on the one I saw was because it was a strut tower bar so the bracket would sit on the strut and mean I couldn't really use my strut tower bar and that bar was a bit dodgy - I just wanted the stopper. Just had a look and it's sold now anyway.

[Dead91silvia]

Good stuff!

Hey, could you take a close up pic of your driver power window switch block? There is something I have been wondering about... Also, loving that Carbon Fiber in the cluster!

Where did you get the Limited light replacements? I want some new housing since mine are all fogged up... They are a Bosh part number if I remember right...

[Zac]

I still effing love this car, I want it so bad.

[Reuben]

Good stuff!

Hey, could you take a close up pic of your driver power window switch block? There is something I have been wondering about... Also, loving that Carbon Fiber in the cluster!

Where did you get the Limited light replacements? I want some new housing since mine are all fogged up... They are a Bosh part number if I remember right...

From my good friends and Strong for Subaru (http://www.strongforsubaru.com/_index.php), (They ship overseas). Living in NZ is pretty much better than living in japan, when it comes for 10 year old used subaru parts!!! If you want, I can take a close up of them, to see if you can pull a part number. If you do, let me know, becuase ALL used ones are opaque. I currently have 100W bulbs in there, and i can't help feel they are being slightly wasted with all that smoke in the way....

And for interior pics...
http://s197.photobucket.com/albums/aa20 ... 0interior/ (http://s197.photobucket.com/albums/aa208/Pilot_Reuben/GTB%20interior/)

Best close up I have, let me know if you want one closer and more in focus.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/IMG_4235-2.jpg


I still effing love this car, I want it so bad.

Move to NZ and you can get one of your very own! There are two other beast replica's out there now! Though in different colours. One white one, one LTD yellow. Both have my official seal of beastie approval.

[Dead91silvia]

That pic is perfect... Confirmed what I was thinking... We have different power window switches. Do you have a close up of one of the other doors with the single switches?

[nikolaus.conrad]

Your GT-b is superb!! I wish to own one as good as yours someday.



https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/09/IMG_4876-1.jpg

I thought I've seen this picture somewhere before...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:GTB-Limited.JPG

[Reuben]

Your GT-b is superb!! I wish to own one as good as yours someday.


-pic snip-

I thought I've seen this picture somewhere before...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:GTB-Limited.JPG

hehehe, yeah I had a cheeky edit of the wiki, figured it looked stock enough to rep the LTD's!


That pic is perfect... Confirmed what I was thinking... We have different power window switches. Do you have a close up of one of the other doors with the single switches?

Take a look at the album I linked, tis all I got. So do you guys have the pre face lift style switches, the little sorta... had to describe... black stalks, sorta go forward and back, rather than up and down like the later ones.

[Zac]

As much as I love your GTB I really like my BP5 though, Maybe i'll have to bug you more often to scour the junkyards to find parts for mine :D

[nikolaus.conrad]

Definitely looks good! I just think it's awesome it's an SLi member has a picture of their car on wikipedia :smt023

The only thing I can really complain about these cars are the switches for the windows, I feel they're mounted on the car wrong. Flat with the door panel and all, kind of a pain in the ass.

[Kansei]

thats what i was thinking. one of these days i'm going to have a gtb ltd bumper..... one of these days.... hahaha

[Reuben]

Definitely looks good! I just think it's awesome it's an SLi member has a picture of their car on wikipedia :smt023

The only thing I can really complain about these cars are the switches for the windows, I feel they're mounted on the car wrong. Flat with the door panel and all, kind of a pain in the ass.

Perhaps it looks wrong, but when in the car, it's feels more than fine, never had an issue with em. lol.

My one complaint about them, is that the rolled out of the factory with twin turbo! That was a mistake.

[hansvonaxion]

My one complaint about them, is that the rolled out of the factory with twin turbo! That was a mistake.

Amen.

:twisted:

You get used to the switches.

The drink holder is in the wrong place though, it blocks the navigation.

[Yamazaki]

You guys just bought the wrong twin turbo, that's all....

[mike-tracy]

You guys just bought the wrong twin turbo, that's all....

LOL. Where's the fun in driving a stock TT? (not to include yours)

[Kansei]

whats wrong with the twin turbo?

[hansvonaxion]

Valley...of...DEATH!

[Reuben]

You guys just bought the wrong twin turbo, that's all....


Pfffffff, you bloody troll :P

One day I'll get to drive an S401, seen more than a few around the place in NZ now, but still pretty bloody rare and expensive though.

That said, the BE5D/BH5D TT is pretty bloody compitent at what it does, only took subaru like 7-8 years to get to that bloody point... Only to ditch it for twinscroll a few years later. Which I also don't want to bother with, I QUITE like having a high boost threshold (lag), that kick you get in the back when boost hits just makes driving so much more fun.



whats wrong with the twin turbo?

(This isn't a rant at you btw, it's just a sore point for me, and i see the question a lot.)

Short answer, Everything.

Long answer:
Having a dead spot in the middle of the rev range which you aren't allowed to use, is something highway drivers don't mind, but i'm not a highway driver, and new zealands highways aren't that straight either, there's no such thing as an 'interstate' here, instead our highways look like this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealan ... _Highway_4 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_State_Highway_4) (i would get pics, but i'm on dial up speeds right now thanks to our awesome ISP's). Beast is a gran tourer, but in NZ that means you need to handle like an impreza too, and TT just doesn't fit with that picture.

Then there's the modifyability of it, you basically cant, well, not outside of japan at any rate, single turbo lends it self to modifcation quite easily though, and gives me room to chase power.

Then there's the reliability, primary turbo's get overworked, since the spool so early, they are used far far far far more than any single turbo. As a result, by the time these cars get close to 10 years old. the primary turbo's start giving up. And because everything is so jam packed in the engine bay, they are a fucking cunt to replace. Believe me, been there done that. Then there's the solenoid box too, they fill up with blowby, and stop working, giving terminal twin turbo error codes, and if you put one of about 28 vac hoses back on in the wrong place when re-assembling, shit goes out the window, and the cars go into limp mode. I've even seen a car that was boosting on primary, but not on secondary, and chucking codes... My mechanic mate who worked on the car eventually foiund it was because the pod filter the guy fitted was too small... worked fine for primary, but on secondary, the car was getting starved, and losing power. Simply using the wrong air filter is enough to cripple the TT system!!!

I have replaced TT engines with TT engines, and so long as you know what you are doing, it's ok, and easy. The issue is, 99% of mechanics and car enthusiasts in NZ DON'T know what the fuck they are doing when they start tinkering with TT's, and I am forever offering tech support for them on the forums.

I hope it's now easy to see why I'm rather jaded on the matter, and simply default to "Just fucking single convert it" whenever someone brings up the subject of twin turbo!!! :D

[lord flashheart]

i am madly in love with your car!

[camroncamera]

Reuben - Your GT-B Limited (and all the amazing scenic shots of it in this thread) has completely inspired me these last several months. My wife's daily driver is a black USDM Legacy GT Wagon (BK/low roofline) N/A EJ25D. I'm planning a complete cosmetic conversion to GT-B Limited due in large part to your awesome pics here. I've even scored a Limited bumper with all the foglights! This bumper MAKES the 2nd gen Legacy, IMO. Converting to turbo is unfeasible for me, so for the time being it will stay stock N/A under the bonnet.

Glad to see you've stopped back in after all this time; I can now give you my thanks and admiration :)

And THANKS for the link to Strong for Subaru (http://www.strongforsubaru.com/_index.php), I'll be checking them out!

[Kansei]

i'll have to say that that.... makes me sad... i wanted a twin turbo so bad... i was even thinking somewhere down the line building one out of a ej257 and using factory manifolds from a gtb and using slightly bigger turbos on a postal wagon... i guess its not worth it... oh well. guess one can dream, just have to do it rationally.

[Dead91silvia]

These are the switches we have in the North America... The pods for the power looks is a little different for 95-97 and 98-99, but everything else is the same...

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/IMG_5887-2.jpg

[Reuben]

Yeah, we stopped using those in 96, when the face lift came out. All JDM facelifts have the style that mine does.

And, kansei, Given what I said about that TT with the small pod filter fucking things up, imagine if you did a TT on a 2.5... For a start the yellow injectors would starve, and it would likely throw errors, thanks to the different boost curves with the different displacement. TT is more hassle that its worth, is less reliable, less drivable, more expensive for replacement parts, and less modifyable than single turbo.

Sorry to shatter your dream, I recommend you make a new dream, one that involves a JDM EJ20K like that's in beast... :D

[Dead91silvia]

Yeah, we stopped using those in 96, when the face lift came out. All JDM facelifts have the style that mine does.

And, kansei, Given what I said about that TT with the small pod filter fucking things up, imagine if you did a TT on a 2.5... For a start the yellow injectors would starve, and it would likely throw errors, thanks to the different boost curves with the different displacement. TT is more hassle that its worth, is less reliable, less drivable, more expensive for replacement parts, and less modifyable than single turbo.

Sorry to shatter your dream, I recommend you make a new dream, one that involves a JDM EJ20K like that's in beast... :D

Good to know! I needed to know this stuff for the new thread I'm working on...

As for the TT swaps people do... Another problem is, if I'm right, all BG/BD TT's are OBDI, all USDM cars from 1996 are OBDII. I think some 96's where OBDI but not too many. So if you have to go through smog, that will be a problem.

When the time comes, I'm going to look for an STi, FXT, of Legacy GT 2.5 swap. Keeping with USDM just makes things easier when looking for parts and making everything work...

[Reuben]

Absolutely, I'd only go STi myself though, EJ257's are nice engines. I would run a 2.2L block myself though, higher revs and later boost threshold FTW (suits the roads and my driving style in NZ at least).

[Shiv]

Love your work Reuben! The car is something to be truly proud of. Some very tasteful and effective mods there, keep it up ;)

[Reuben]

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/IMG_3544-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/IMG_3532-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/IMG_3463-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/IMG_3464-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/IMG_3468-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/IMG_3474-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/IMG_3480-1.jpg

[Yamazaki]

Man, I love it when you post new pictures.

[Reuben]

:D

The Americans are going to like this one....





































































https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/IMG_35231-1.jpg



And these too

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/IMG_3447-2.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/IMG_3448-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/IMG_3449-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/IMG_3450-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/IMG_3452-1.jpg

Got dodge ram holset? 2.5L AVCS, twin injectors, variable vane twin scroll... that fucker... spools at something stupid like 2500rpm... ALL OF MY WHAT!?
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/IMG_3454-1.jpg

[nikolaus.conrad]

:smt007 :smt007 :smt007 :smt007 :smt007 :smt007 :smt007 Amazing photographs!!

[xoSubieLegacyxo]

LOOK AT THOSE TURBOS! DAMN!

[Reuben]

And only one car in this pic is an N/A, and he was keeping up with the fast boys round the track, the driver was bloody good!


Click to see full res.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/Ruapuna1s-1.jpg (http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa208/Pilot_Reuben/Ruapuna1-L.jpg)

Or cropped down to just the cars here: http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa20 ... una2-L.jpg (http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa208/Pilot_Reuben/Ruapuna2-L.jpg)

[AussieDan]

Looks like a fun outing!

[Zac]

Variable vane eh? We have those turbos come factory on our diesel trucks, I want to see that sucker in action!

[hansvonaxion]

Rexy.

[kimokalihi]

Which car is this intercooler from? I need a different intercooler because my 06/07 WRX TMIC BPV location is blocked by my IAC and yours has a nice elbow off it that's further out so it doesn't interfere with the IAC. I have a 97 JDM forester manifold which looks just like yours.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/11/IMG_5200-1.jpg

[Reuben]

Then it stands to reason you need a 97 JDM fozzy intercooler.... :P

Version 3 and 4 sti, (MY96 and 97). Or basically anything SINGLE turbo between 96 and 98.

V5 and 6 moved to the BOV-bolted-to-intercooler style... They look the same but don't bolt up.

[Hinyo]

MOAR PICTURES!!!!!!

[anothernord]

Which car is this intercooler from? I need a different intercooler because my 06/07 WRX TMIC BPV location is blocked by my IAC and yours has a nice elbow off it that's further out so it doesn't interfere with the IAC. I have a 97 JDM forester manifold which looks just like yours.


Just relocate the IAC!

(I hooked up the coolant lines later)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/12/IMG_1408-1.jpg

[Reuben]

That looks like a huge fricken derp just to get around having the wrong intercooler... I guess you can go that route if you happen to have a really nice condition IC, or REALLY want the finer core of the V5/6 IC's. I like the V3/4 cores though, 100 times easier to unbend folded fins.

[TexasLegacy2.5GT]

Without a doubt the best GT-B thread that I've seen. The NZ crowd have the best Legacy mods in the world IMO.

Reuben, have you heard anything in regards to people making mods to the twin turbo making them run parallel instead of one after another?

It was mentioned HERE:

http://www.gtr.co.uk/forum/94493-legacy ... post932577 (http://www.gtr.co.uk/forum/94493-legacy-twin-turbo.html#post932577)

[Reuben]

Possible, but why would you, when you can run single turbo? (parallel essentially operates as a single turbo, only has twice as much complexity and components to fail)(half the reason for conversion was reliability and ease of modding)

Also... beast is getting a present...

http://asset0.spiffyserver.com/sites/1707/products/69457_sti_arm1_large.jpg?1336965953

[SILINC3R]

Very new to the BDs, in fact I don't have one yet. Anyway, what year and trim is you interior from? I am only aware of the GT black leather that is here in the States. I am having trouble finding a GT and would settle for that interior. I think the seats look pretty cool. And thank you for stressing the TT setup. I have been thinking about it as they have them on ebay quite often and would be an easy way to make RHD. Now I just need to decide sedan or wagon? Thanks in advance.

Beautiful car by the way.

[subba]

Nice Ruben, happy to see you still enjoying the Legacy!

I really Really miss mine :(

[Reuben]

Very new to the BDs, in fact I don't have one yet. Anyway, what year and trim is you interior from? I am only aware of the GT black leather that is here in the States. I am having trouble finding a GT and would settle for that interior. I think the seats look pretty cool. And thank you for stressing the TT setup. I have been thinking about it as they have them on ebay quite often and would be an easy way to make RHD. Now I just need to decide sedan or wagon? Thanks in advance.

Beautiful car by the way.

Hehehe, you'll have to move to Japan or NZ if you want my interior, JDM only :smt002

But yes, FYI, tis 96-98 B-spec interior. GT spec was the same, but with different (Darker, and more missmatched/contrasting) colours.

Cheers though :D

[kimokalihi]

Then it stands to reason you need a 97 JDM fozzy intercooler.... :P

Version 3 and 4 sti, (MY96 and 97). Or basically anything SINGLE turbo between 96 and 98.

V5 and 6 moved to the BOV-bolted-to-intercooler style... They look the same but don't bolt up.

I have one but it's huge on the back and won't clear my firewall. Doesn't help that I couldn't use the nice short throttle body that came on the forester engine because it has a different TPS sensor than my car is made to run on. If someone can show me how to use that TPS sensor with a JDM EJ20G WRX ECU and my 91 Legacy Turbo harness then I could probably fit it. The 91 SS throttle body is a lot longer and since the intake is JDM and the IAC is in the way I had to mount my TB upside down so the throttle linkage was on the proper side but then my TPS sensor hit the intake manifold so I had to make my own 1/4" spacer so it was even closer to the firewall. Pain in the ass all over. Just because of a stupid TPS sensor. Anybody get the JDM 97 TPS sensor to work?

[kimokalihi]

Which car is this intercooler from? I need a different intercooler because my 06/07 WRX TMIC BPV location is blocked by my IAC and yours has a nice elbow off it that's further out so it doesn't interfere with the IAC. I have a 97 JDM forester manifold which looks just like yours.


Just relocate the IAC!

(I hooked up the coolant lines later)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/12/IMG_1408-1.jpg

You got anymore info on this?

[admiral snackbar]

Reuben, just want to say I love your wagon. My wife and I spent some time in New Zealand a year ago and fell in love. From Christchurch down to Queenstown it was beautiful. I'll definitely be back there soon. This time though I don't think I'll be staying at the same backpacker. Bumbles wasn't exactly fancy.

[Reuben]

Update time.

Hokay. So, windscreen update. As some of you may know, when the glass company and insurance company did Beasts windscreen, they put in a windscreen without the heater elements under the wipers....

Finally got round to calling the insurance company, and they said 'Not our fault, talk to them'. So I talked to them, they were a LOT nicer, but basically said the companies will always want the cheapest option, and usually say NO to the heater elements unless specifically requested, and even then, NAC usually says no anyway... So basically I'm stuffed.

However, he did say they have some customers in pretty much anually getting new screens, and while I was in there, well, there were two next to new SUV's getting their screens done. He said it'd probably be no issue just to file a new claim this or next winter, and specfically ask for a genuine screen. By next winter I will be 25 too, meaning no longer do I have to stick with boy racer cheapo insurnace companies... And the other bonus is NAC don't keep record of windscreens, so nothing will be passed over to a new company.

So essentially, trying to get it out of the glass company is pointless, it'd be far far far easier just to get a new claim in and do it right this time, no fights, no blood, just a happy customer.



And also, regarding the rose jointed STi rear suspension stuff, next week that will be paid off, and shipped down to me! Huzzah!!

[Dead91silvia]

I had a window put in my old 142 Volv back in the day. They messed up the seal and it started to leak. Even though I had a warenty, they didnt fix it, so I will just not use them again. Bastards...

I'm about to see if they had the heated windshield in the USA. If so, I might have that one installed. Mine is sand blasted, chipped, and just not the best.

You know, I dont even have insurance on my windshield. My deductible is about what I can get a new window for including install for half my rigs. The Volvo and the Pulsar are another story. As for the getting older and better insurance, it is definitely a perk when your 31! I pay about $100 a month for Toyota and the Leggy with full coverage.

Whats different about those arms anyway?

[Reuben]

Rose joints, rather than rubber mounted. And i currectly have only one solid lateral a side, the rears... The front laterals in Beast are just N-shaped folded sheet metal.. This way I get all solid laterals, stronger trailing, rose joints, and superior sway bay links (like what you get with alloy arm front links). Worth it really.

Plus this stuff would have been standard on an STi BG, or BG "S400", if they ever made such a thing, so it HAS to go in, because that's what my goal with this car is, to effectivley make what the S400 would have been (or to be specific, S401, had they started with the BG instead of BE)(Because I love the BG, and am gutted they remain the only generation never to get an STi version). Engine bay is more or less finished, suspension will be finished soon too... squeeeeeeee. All that will remain will be... Gearbox and interior touches... and well, I suppose I gotta rice it up a bit with some STi badges....

Anyway

Oh the ever neglected Beast (as of late)... Blighter has been stealing his lime light... Ah well, big service on the cards soon, will be doing the gear box and diff fluids, and taking the intake manifold off, to do the heater core hoses, re-do the split rail, probably install a silicone intake (S201's had silicone intakes, so beast has to have a silicone intake), and will be running with a new intake manifold, going to buy another and get it done with proper crinkle matte red, rather than the glossy shit i've been stuck with for the last 5 years!.

In the mean time, beast got a bath.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/07/IMG_41021-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/07/IMG_4106-2.jpg

[Stasis]

Hokay. So, windscreen update. As some of you may know, when the glass company and insurance company did Beasts windscreen, they put in a windscreen without the heater elements under the wipers....
:/ I also have this problem on my gtb, windscreen previously replaced by last owner without the heater elements -_- would be extremely useful down your way.


Finally got round to calling the insurance company, and they said 'Not our fault, talk to them'. So I talked to them, they were a LOT nicer, but basically said the companies will always want the cheapest option, and usually say NO to the heater elements unless specifically requested, and even then, NAC usually says no anyway... So basically I'm stuffed.
NAC are horrible, nothing but expensive horror stories from their customers.


However, he did say they have some customers in pretty much anually getting new screens, and while I was in there, well, there were two next to new SUV's getting their screens done. He said it'd probably be no issue just to file a new claim this or next winter, and specfically ask for a genuine screen. By next winter I will be 25 too, meaning no longer do I have to stick with boy racer cheapo insurnace companies... And the other bonus is NAC don't keep record of windscreens, so nothing will be passed over to a new company.
Lol conveniently need a new one :P i'm 22 and only pay 49 a month with state for full ridiculous amount of cover o-o although obviously no where near as modified as your gtb D: hopefully all this quake bs won't reflect car insuring prices when you ditch nac, home insurance is impossible at the moment :/


So essentially, trying to get it out of the glass company is pointless, it'd be far far far easier just to get a new claim in and do it right this time, no fights, no blood, just a happy customer.
Yeah here's to hoping they do it properly next time!

[mike-tracy]

When I had my glass replaced the last time, the guy said the heated windscreen was only 30$ more than the regular one. Course I paid out of pocket for the job, my insurance deductible is about double what it would cost for a new windscreen, lol.

[Reuben]

Windscreen cover is pretty much standard in NZ with full cover. Pretty much everone that does full cover, will do free windscreen replacement, or like NAC, only have a small excess of about $100 (normally my excess is $1000).

You just gotta declare war on your insurer if you want a genuine screen though. Most are happy to, but some are NOT.

[Stasis]

Your excess isn't much higher than mine (mine being $850) o-o

Although when I got quotes NAC wanted to charge me 140 a month and 1200 excess >_>

[Reuben]

They wanted $1700 for my premium when I lived in Auckland, the moment I moved out of the city, wham, down to $1000 per anum.

Can't wait till I'm 25 (october), Will be going on the hunt for a new provider!!! Much research will go into it, I care not for premium and excess, what I care for is agreed value, and actually getting paid out!

Market value for the GTB is around 4-6K, it's actual value is pretty much 10K! What i've spend on it is close to 25K....

[Stasis]

4-6k is a big short, I see ones with much higher k's than ours go for 7 or 8k :S

Although I suppose they are getting on with age now :(

[Reuben]

I don't know what planet you're living on if you think the market value for a BG GTB is anything close to 8K!!!

No, ask an insurer, pretty much the most you can hope out of an insurer for a BG now is about 5K, unless you have an explicit agreed value.

[Stasis]

Fair point.

[ags18]

I don't know what planet you're living on if you think the market value for a BG GTB is anything close to 8K!!!

No, ask an insurer, pretty much the most you can hope out of an insurer for a BG now is about 5K, unless you have an explicit agreed value.


Ugh!! That is so much car for the money.

I'd pay 8-10K if they were available here in the US.