Shale's INFAMOUS N/A Impreza

[Shale]

Yeeeeah...a few of you saw this coming.

In amongst the screeds of awesome, sexy, fast cars here sneaks a cheeky little N/A Impreza that has gained notoriety from it's sheer AUDACITY...it loves to join in! :cool:

Meet Shale - the reason I have my username. Rather than the 'Little N/A That Could', he's the 'Little N/A That Wants To'...the current motor is a 2.0L SOHC, makes 135hp from stock. That's up a little now, but no idea what an accurate measure would be as the one dyno run he's had was a failure - it was calibrated for a raft of heavy STis, rather than a 1180kg N/A. Blast. Butt Dyno says 150hp...but who knows.

This is my project car. The HX20s is a pretty darn light Impreza for an AWD, and being a GC8 it has the framework for greater things.

But I must say...grey (yes I know, Blue Steel) cars are cursed. He's been broken into three times, stolen and joyridden, half-demolished by a truck... :-? At a recent track day, three grey/silver cars suffered mightily. One was coughing out great plumes of smoke, two others blew the bearings and joined the Subaru BEB Club. These things...they are cursed.

Here he is though - still intact after over 3 years of ownership, looking prettier than ever, and permanently sucking on my wallet.

Here's the vital stats:

Base:
1998 Impreza HX20s sedan - version 4 equiv.
2.0L SOHC, AWD
Manual (of course :smt002 )
Stock weight 1180kg
Originally silver

Exterior work:
Version 6 STi complete body kit
Respray in good ol' 86F...Blue Steel
Version 3 STi rear brakes
Version 8 STi 17" alloys (also occasionally seen in Version 7 WRX anthracite 16" alloys)

Interior work:
Version 9 STi front seats
Version 7 rear seats
Version 4 STi Type R gauge cluster (mmm DCCD)
Pioneer HU - matched with Alpine Type R 12" sub until thieves stole the amp -____-

Handling:
Version 4 STi struts - rear
STi Showa Gymkhana struts - front (makes coilovers look wussy)
STi RA rear swaybar

Performance?! (huh?)
5Zigen A-Spec 2.5" WRX catback
POD filter (shush)
Somewhat tweaked knock sensor

(It's at this point I realise I've forgotten 60% of what I've done to the darn car - spent $25,000 on upgrades but wtf are they...blast.)

Future stuff:
Version 8 STi 6MT (purchased and waiting in storage)
Version 10 STi Brembos (ditto)
--> source the rest of the parts for above and do the full Version 8 conversion
EJ22 Frankenmotor - STi heads, custom manifold, high compression pistons...you know the drill.
Finish post-truck respray
Finish audio system
Rear struts to match front struts
STi strut braces (mmmm carbon)

Here's some eye candy :)

Before/After paint job...
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/5223/shalenosehi0.jpg

Shale with...uh...his ex-girlfriend :-(
http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/8449/03ei4.jpg

Pretty wheels are pretty.
http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/9664/08kt3.jpg

Fail-mark. He was parked at an intersection. Mitsubishi Fighter forgot to stop.
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/5251/dsc00056a.jpg

Post-fail is an EPIC WIN!
http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/9761/dsc00028q.jpg

Hanging out with his new buddies :grin:
http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/6079/dsc00017u.jpg

Sexy Subie is sexy.
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/9797/dsc00030f.jpg




Now...when Frankenleggy is running again...it will be HER time to shine instead of this cheeky mongrel :)

[henryq89]

OMG ive always loved rs ..this one is stunning!

[99SUS SFD]

Looks great! Could use a little drop :smt016 :grin:

[Huffer]

You spent $25k on this thing... wow.

Ms. moneybags!

[MyogiNightKid]

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/04/1234215006794-1.jpg

Looks great! <3 the colour even if it is cursed.

[T_F_E]

looks awesome!

[impreza_GC8]

Looks great. I've read about the HX20S in the Impreza book I've got but we never got those cars in the states. Personally I would've stuck with the Ver1-4 front end but only because we never got that front end in the states either. I can understand your reasoning for wanting an upgrade when there are plenty of Ver1-4s running around in your country. Where are you located? Here's my US-market Impreza 2.5RS:
http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v196/170/25/1299990492/n1299990492_30765881_646.jpg

[Shale]

Lol... thanks guys :grin:

99SUS SFD - hehe...yeah I've considered giving him a bit more of a drop, but Auckland roads are SHITE. Anything lower is going to get exhaust ownage happening :(

Huffer - I wish :oops: Would be moneybags with decent brakes + gearbox actually IN the car... hurrhurr.

MyogiNightKid, T_F_E - thanks :) Bit of a catwalk model this one... looks pretty but not a lot of substance. YET.

impreza_GC8 - the ver3-4 front end is a dime a dozen here, and has nowhere near the aggression IMO of the 5-6 bunch. But hey, at least he wasn't a 1-2...with sleepy-eyes! :lol: I'm in Auckland, down yonder in New Zealand. Your baby is BEAUTIFUL! I adore that colour. All she needs is the big honeycomb grille and she'll be a knockout :grin:

[TheAngryPidgeon]

Sex on 4 wheels. Makes me and one of my friends jealous (the three others that actually fit in the back of my Legacy aren't quite so much) :smt016

[Huffer]

more of a drop, but Auckland roads are SHITE. Anything lower is going to get exhaust ownage happening :(

You have NO idea what shite roads are. Try living in a country where the seasons are dictated by when the orange cones come out. Spring+summer = roadworks, winter = salt corroded roads.

You can afford a small drop. Go visit King Springs in Manakau.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/04/040305_Lowered_sml-1.jpg

[99SUS SFD]

Yeah I hear you about the roads. Due to the deep snow we get and deep mud ruts in the spring, I refuse to lower my car too.

Still looks great!

[impreza_GC8]

impreza_GC8 - the ver3-4 front end is a dime a dozen here, and has nowhere near the aggression IMO of the 5-6 bunch. But hey, at least he wasn't a 1-2...with sleepy-eyes! :lol: I'm in Auckland, down yonder in New Zealand. Your baby is BEAUTIFUL! I adore that colour. All she needs is the big honeycomb grille and she'll be a knockout :grin:
You would notice the grill. There's a only a few items keeping it from being a complete Ver5 STI clone and the grill is one of them. I'll pick one up this summer. I think I'm keeping the rear wing though, the STI one is almost too flashy for me.

[Shale]

You can afford a small drop. Go visit King Springs in Manakau.


NYOOOOOOO!! :smt010 I couldn't bare to replace my gymkhana springs with Kings! The car handles like rails as it is and they height doesn't bother me...it means I can reverse up onto the grass at Bastion Pt next to the Legacys and Leone, while the Foresters (wtf?) stay on the tarmac because they're too low to get over the kerb... :grin:

The Legacy, however... if ever a car needed Kings...this is it! THAT car will be heeding your advice :grin:

Btw - were those 40 profile tyres on your car? I've switched to 45, they seem a little more forgiving, and fill the wheel arches nicely.

impreza_GC8 - There are a few nitpicks yeah...the bump strips, while incredibly useful, are one. Have you got the post-ver2 rear bumper? As it is, especially with the plate, you're at risk of looking like a mirror image ver6 :grin: She's wicked!

99SUS SFD - It's high but it's not THAT high...just stock STi gear in there after all. In the rear, anyway. Lmao. This thing is already useless out Te Akau and Port Waikato way (mmmm, gravel roads) because it feels like you're being put through a blender... :-? I can't compete with your deep snow and mud ruts though!



...and now I stop post-whorin' until I have new shiny stuff... :grin:

[impreza_GC8]

impreza_GC8 - There are a few nitpicks yeah...the bump strips, while incredibly useful, are one. Have you got the post-ver2 rear bumper? As it is, especially with the plate, you're at risk of looking like a mirror image ver6 :grin: She's wicked!

I have the USDM rear bumper which is similar to the early version WRX bumper. The spats will still fit with minor modification but the rub strip goes all the way around as you can see. I might change it someday but its not a priority just yet. When the car gets new paint (someday) I'll consider having the rubstrips shaved.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/04/0622_5919_JLD-1.jpg

[keltik]

Needs a turbo :twisted:
Or at least another dyno run

[Shale]

LOL! Cheeky! :lol:

Meh, later this year I'm giving up on the SOHC...it can go in something significantly smaller than an Impreza. I'll try my luck with an SRX motor as an intermediate while I build the EJ22. I want more like 170hp for my car on a 2.0...

Ah, I luffs j00 Keltik. :grin:

[Zac]

Very nice shale! Anxious for you to start this NA build! Are you really going to need a closed deck EJ22 for this? STi heads will prob lower compression too much me thinks.

[Shale]

"Will I really need the EJ22..."

Think about the shape and dynamics of the block ;) It's never, EVER about absolutes; particularly when it's a woman doing a custom build. Your answers lie outside the square ;)

[WinterKnoll]

That's the best color Subaru ever produced a car in, fo sho.

[B4legy]

Thats a good clone-most here are 1.6 n/a in green and sonic blue. Seein as you all seem to like imprezas heres a good friends one-most people will possibly never have seen one.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/04/065-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/04/066-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/04/067-1.jpg

All comments and questions welcome!

[BenO]

I envy them... :shock:

[B4legy]

So do I! But the guy paid somethin like 50000euro for it bout 5 years back. It ten years old now and its still only got 30000 miles on the clock. Ive driven it more than him in the past year.

[Shale]

A few of my mates have them. S'funny, I wouldn't mind a 22B but I'd prefer an S201. Faster, noisier, rarer. :smt007

That's a very pretty, very clean example though. Nice!

(I'd prefer that 22B stock, tbh...)

[impreza_GC8]

Beautiful car. Not sure what I'd do if I ever saw a 22B in person. I might cry.

[Shale]

Lol. I nearly touched myself when I saw one. Tell you what though, the two S201s I've seen had more of an effect. 22Bs are a leeeeettle bit common, considering there are nearly 10 here now. The S201? Well... one has the plate '1 IN NZ' and the other has an absurd aero kit added instead of the epic slabs and right angles from stock. They are loud, flat and RIDICULOUSLY FAST. THAT made me nearly slam on my brakes and pass out the second time...and I tripped over my own feet the first :grin:

As an on-topic update...anyone who's seen my Legacy thread a forum up will know I'm about to purchase a new engine. Which leaves me with a spare.





.......*epic grin*

[Shale]

PIC SPAM.

http://a.imageshack.us/img695/5788/territory02.jpg

http://a.imageshack.us/img63/35/territory01.jpg

http://a.imageshack.us/img94/2039/poser02.jpg

http://a.imageshack.us/img97/1064/hallofmirrors.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/09/IMG_6070-1.jpg

HOPEFULLY the next update will be more meaningful. Front Brembos imminent. :cool: