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

[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.



Going to polish them up next week

[Steinbruchsoldat]

That looks freaking good...

I want them too...

[Huffer]

What version STi Reuben? GC8 v5/6?

[Reuben]

Yep, V5 STi.

[AussieDan]

They look real nice cleaned up

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

[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. 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

edit:
just found them http://www.whiteline.com.au/product_det ... ber=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

[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]

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:

[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

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

[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

[Reuben]

Time for another pictorial update of the black beast.

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



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









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



Engine bay complete shots:





Mates GTB limited getting it's single turbo conversion done







Possum damage



Clubsub track day

[Reuben]

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





And a tearful goodbye to her and her impreza




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





























And at my new home...

[Reuben]

Life ain't so bad in the Alps.

Went up a muddy skifield access road..





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

(view from lounge)








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!









Went for another wander







Defi install

[Reuben]

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

[subie/legacy]

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

Edit: forgot to say wow
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!

[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