What did you do to your subaru today?

I was also going to fix the passenger side vcg. But I changed my headlights and fog lights.looks like tomorrow will have to do for the gasket.

 

Made some stainless spacers for my kartboy end links, so i can get rid of the washers i used. The washers work just fine but i had time at work to turn some parts tonight. Also thinking of getting new hardware and bushings for the links as well. My buddy used them and sways (whiteline) on two previous vehicles (WRX, STI), they were showing wear before i put them on.

 

Installed cnt catback....It's pretty loud. I hope I get used to it soon. I would of probably blown out my ears if I would of gotten N1.

 

Picked up a GS Ceramic coated heat shield because I removed my stock one with a hammer when doing my downpipe.

 

Just put on my MNSubaru stickers I got from yesterday's meet

 

used it to haul more Mk1 vw parts home to fix up my rabbit

 

Finally put in my new head light connectors so I don't lose my drivers side anymore

 

Installed new door speakers. The stock Subaru components are next to worthless. Sounds much better, wish I would have done it a long time ago!

 

Which ones? How was the install?

 

The 2011+ WRX/STI has the upgraded "6-speaker" system and it is on par with aftermarket speakers. 2010 and prior WRX's had the crappy "4-speaker" system.

4-speaker vs. 6-speaker:
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-VwhmobGhq3a/learn/2008-11-subaru-impreza.html

The 11+ ones are decent. Similar to any of the $100 aftermarket sets. The ones in the older 08-10 WRX's are total junk (same ones that came in my Forester).

Some pics here:

http://mnsubaru.com/threads/wrx-speakers-in-forester.45036/#post-738656

 

I coulnd't believe how chinsy the factory speakers were. I'm suprised they even worked. I know the owner of Tintmasters is Burnsville/Apple Valley and they were having a garage sale so I just picked up some old speakers that were in a display. Huge upgrade from stock with minimal money spent. Brands are nothing special..

 

Yep, I had the crap ones in my Forester. They suck pretty bad.

 

Finally got around to installing this ps cooler. I bought it earlier this summer, I was running no cooler as the one that came with my engine was bent in half from shipping. The hose clamps are a little bulky for my liking, but it's not leaking! The hoses are take offs from installing trans coolers on Acura MDXs. "Don't leave nothin' unbagged, shave everything. I learned from the O.G.s to save everything"

 

Now you just need to bust out the aluminum sheet and make an airbox there @Sjogun I've got a sheet metal hand nibbler that works pretty well if you want to borrow it, unless one of the guys has a pneumatic or electric one (which are pretty sweet!)

 

Nice! I've been wanting to run a power steering cooler just due to the inherent and constant issues with subaru's pump and layout...but I just haven't taken the time to figure it out yet. What did you use for the cooler? What to plum one for me? lol

On another note, I ordered something for the STI today that's been a long researched, long awaited investment. Should hopefully arrive Friday and be installed by Saturday...pics later!

 

Yeah, I know I need to get that done..Probably an over the winter project.

The earlier jdm engines had one. I got it off rs25.com for $30. I don't see why one of these wouldn't work on a newer car.

 

Installed these last night. Wideband isn't hooked up to anything yet, just have the wire looped and ziptied in the engine bay until I get a new downpipe. Just didn't want to have to go through this process twice. Happy with how it turned out though.

 

Kinda looks like mine used to.

 

Painted my rusty top hats:

 

Just can't completely kick the Subaru curse, can ya?

Lol jk, nice pickup. I considered those, but the little 2.0L scared me away. What's your opinion of the power availability and driving experience?

 

Installed the GS license plate relocation kit and an STI front badge.

 

Got my Subie back from Morries. Heard a hissing noise over the last few weeks thinking it was a vac leak or something. Started to get a whine noise and it was getting worse. Great, center diff. Had Morries check it out and it turned out to be the output shaft bearings and viscuss coupler bearing. So i had them do the work and my extended warranty covered $1100 in parts/labor!

For those of you who don't buy the warranty on used cars, let this be a good example why you should spend the extra $ on one. It has saved my a$$ over gthe he last year and a half!

 

found stripped bolt on turbo, stripped stud too. The stud spun when attempting to tighten things back up luckily; so no turbo removal this round. I've ordered plenty of parts recently; love that mnsubaru discount...

 

Had a rather large boost leak, culprit was the elbow between the turbo and TMIC, the clamp holding it on went to one side and the hose went the other. Took a half hour to fix though thanks to gravity dumping th entire socket set off the car and into the parking lot I was working in.

 

Better than into the engine valley and other sensitive places, BTDT :/

 

I ordered a lot of stuff.

* Perrin Catback Exhaust
* GrimmSpeed 38/40mm EWG Uppipe
* Turbosmart Comp-Gate40 Wastegate
* GrimmSpeed Wastegate Bracket
* COBB STI Fuel Pressure Regulator Kit

 

Most definitely agreed. Had that happen with a 14mm on the previous car, never appeared again......

Here's the leak though:
Untitled by RooT1985, on Flickr

 

Did the timing belt and water pump yesterday, was not so bad. I Could not get the driver side cam gear off though so I did not replace the cam seal on that side. She does idle a little better now.

 

Grimmspeed Ceramic Coated heat shield installed as well as Stance-Suspension SS+ coilovers in too. Handles much better with the better rates and corrected camber in the front.

 

Switched to the all-seasons. Someday, I'll have some winters to throw on, but not in a huge rush as these all seasons still have a lot of life on them.

 

Finished half of the 06 center console swap into my 03 Wagon- just need to find a couple more pieces and it'll be complete. I like the E-brake position much better than the original setup.



Thanks to John, all the brackets and screws were on-hand and ready to go! @istoptofly

 

stud @turbo replaced
new invidia dp is in
my new center differential (from legacy gt) just arrived
while i've got things apart the prodrive axle back (oval) will go on.
Oh, and new winter wheels/tires are now on. (rota tarmacs)

after that one last thing to tackle and I should be good for quite while.

 

Shipping delay on said part, but it should be here today, and installed tonight. Pics later.

I was also vacuuming the car last night and saw a flash of a red logo from behind the speaker grills in the rear doors...low and behold, turns out one of the previous owners left some Alpine Type R speakers in the rear doors Too bad they still sound like poo poo with the stock head unit.

 

Is the 2008 STI head unit the same as the 2011 WRX? On mine the default setting on the head unit had a high pass filter on the rear door speakers. Zero bass gets sent through them. With the right combo of button presses you could get it to be "flat" and the extra bass from the rear doors made it sound a lot better. I believe Subaru's sets it up like this because sometimes the rear doors can rattle, and taking away all low frequency music reduces it.

 

You could install that pioneer head unit that you've has sitting around for a while.

 

Yea I thought I saw info about that once...I think the radios are different, but I could give it a try. It does sound like some bass is coming from them.

But I have to get a new harness for the 08, and I would like a harness for the steering wheel controls....and I hardly use the radio anyway.

Or I could just get a block off plate and remove the speakers to save weight becauseracecar.

 

No need for a plate. Just take it all out and stare at the wires.

 

Duct tape the pioneer remote to your steering wheel. DONE!

Yet you complain about sound quality...

But then you will disrupt the perfect weight distribution...

 

Installed this guy last night and got my wagon back on the road.
Now just need to find the time to install an EBH, thermostat, and special marinco plug for awesomeness

 

@Curry Something like this seems fitting.

 

I know a guy with a Kenwood head unit for sale that will fit right in...

 

I'll pass for now, but thanks!

 

And said part arrived today! Corbeau FX1 with double locking slider and seat base.

The install required the use of some tools from the Clarkson draw:


Followed by:



But other than that, I got the seat in. I lost some legroom, which sucks royally, but seeing as I don't normally drive the car long distances, I think I'll be fine. I ordered the FX1 for a few reasons:

-the seat belt pass through for the shoulder straps is actually high enough for my height. The is one of the very, very few seats that actually has a pass through high enough.
-It's an inch wider than that FX1 Pro, but not as wide as the FX1 Wide. I had sat in the FX1 pro before ordering, and it was very tight on my hip bones, to the point where it was very uncomfortable. Therefore I ordered the FX1, which as I discovered is a hair wide for me, but still fits fairly well. I may add some extra padding to the hip area in the future.
-None of the events that I have done up to this point have required an FIA certified seat, so that was not an issue.
-If I need an FIA certified seat in the future, there is a mounting hole where you can mount the seat back to a cage, floor, etc.
-tough to beat the price and quality (yes, apparently they last) from Corbeau

Installed pics:





...and before anyone bitches about safety, I retained the stock seat belt, and I don't wear the 4 point on the street. I'll only be wearing the 4 point for autox until I get a harness bar/roll bar, wherein I will wear the 4 point at the race track as well (I'll probably add the 5th point then as well).

Next up will in fact be a harness bar at a minimum, but I'm also considering a 4 point roll bar. I have a good friend that works at a race shop building race cars, cages, etc, so he can fairly easily/cheaply fab up either for me. If it was up to him, he'd be caging it lol.