t3hWIT's Impreza L Buildup

[t3hWIT]

I pulled the 2.2L out of my totaled '97 Impreza, and immediately set to work on it. I suspected that one of the head gaskets was leaking (long story), so I replaced them both along with the timing belt and tensioner. Chad (irishhockeypimp) left me the aluminum underdrive pulleys, which I also installed on the engine. I then spent two weeks after work cleaning, painting, and polishing various parts with a Dremel.






Big thanks to my friend Erik, who gave up his time after work to help me out with the gaskets and timing belt. Oh, and for posing for this pic:



Next up, almost half a liter of displacement gained in 10 hours.

[BrightonGC8]

I hate you i hate you i hate you. Car looks is d balls. You need a V2 hood.

[t3hWIT]

Originally Posted by BrightonGC8

I hate you i hate you i hate you. Car looks is d balls. You need a V2 hood.

Dude, I was this >< freakin close to buying one a few weeks ago! I need the money for Japan and the UK though.

[t3hWIT]

Giving credit where it's due, big thanks to Jim and Todd for helping me out with the swap. In ten hours, we accomplished the following:
-sourced another Sawzall, then an air compressor to remove a stripped engine mount.
-pulled the 1.8L
-removed, stripped, and painted the intake manifold
-ran for food
-reassembled the manifold, and installed it onto the 2.2L
-ran for food again
-ran for gaskets
-installed the 2.2L and got it running.







It started up first try, with a bit of yelling and a cloud of smoke (there was oil in the manifold). Here's a video of the startup:


This is a video of the car backing out of the garage. The car is loud and raspy because all it had for exhaust was a 2.5" headerback with a high flow cat and a resonator:


That was definitely one of my proudest moments. We made a shakedown run without the hood, and got some funny looks at the restaurant we turned around at.

Along with the exhaust, I wired in the '97 coil pack so I could use some NGK spark plug wires I just purchased. NGK V-Power plugs were installed, and I ordered the NRG Grounding Kit that was just introduced.



After years of watching it, I finally thought I had a car worthy of entering into the Great Pottsville Cruise. I was wrong, and hardly received a nod. It was more like dirty looks for entering a "stock" vehicle into a car show.

[Subru]

Anything on how you did the lip of the wheels?

[t3hWIT]

After a few WTT ads, I traded my OBX/headerback hybrid for an APEXi N1, and dug up a set of side skirts, all in time for the East Coast Suby Shootout.



We went down early and got a good parking spot right in front of the ESX trailer. Someone pointed out that the ESX crew were right in front of my car, so...





A few weeks later I made a trip down to Phildelphia, PA to pick up a few things I've been wanting to replace for a year.



Autumn makes for good photo ops.







That fall I picked up some synthetic micro-suede and began wrapping interior pieces. I intended to wrap most of my interior, but the weather turned, leaving me few warm days to do any more major work. I also picked up another set of Supertones, installing them behind the front bumper.

[t3hWIT]

Originally Posted by Subru

Anything on how you did the lip of the wheels?

I just taped up the lip, and taped the newspaper to that.

[t3hWIT]

Around this time I lost my digital camera. Pics will be kept to a minimum here.

After selling the 2.5L I intended on putting in my car, I purchased a JDM rear bumper. To hold me over until I could afford paint, I installed the rear spats and mudguards on my stock L bumper. I ended up trading the mudguards to Xtian, as his spats were in better condition. As an impulse buy, I also purchased a set of rainguards, had Ryno50485 install the Home Depot lip, and traded my Eibach springs for Tein S-Techs.







I read a thread on Nasioc about spraying Plasti-Dip on interior pieces. Alot of guys used it on small trim pieces, but I decided to go all out and spray all of the interior pieces, including the headliner and dashboard. The only parts I didn't paint were the parts that I would constantly be touching.



I also took this picture, showing you just how much support the JDM seats offer.



Over Easter break, I was talking to my buddy Erik, trying to figure out small things I could do to my engine bay for the handful of shows I wanted to enter in over the summer. We both seemed to agree that the intake was a major downfall under the hood. I removed the hideous Nasioc decal, wet sanded the aluminum up to 3000grit, and polished it up by hand. He was planning a trip down to ExtremePSI, so I tagged along. I purchased some HTS Silicone couplings and reducers, along with stainless steel T-bolt clamps. They were way overkill for what I'm doing with the vehicle, but I wanted it too look clean under the hood. I also bought a light blue filter element for the HKS filter I just received, but decided that the standard green element looked better.



Rally-Fast posted for sale a set of coilovers, and they were exactly what I was looking for as far as ride height goes. After spending a full day and half the night in the freezing cold and occasional bit of rain doing a clutch and timing belt on his car, the coilovers were mine. Tired of the open spaces for my foglights, I got ahold of HT Autos for a set of their foglight covers. I installed these about a week before the PC Customs spring car show.





Almost caught up. Summer of 2007, and how the car sits today!

[cmiovino]

I read it all.

Good job.

[t3hWIT]

This summer brought little change, as I decided I'd rather put my money towards a vacation. I was able to purchase a rear spoiler off an early WRX, the same style as the RS coupe. I also replaced a wheel bearing, only to realize that my front differential is shot.



After the previous photo was taken, I decided I couldn't deal with the coilovers knocking anymore, and went back to my S-Techs.





For the trip down to Myrtle Beach, I went overboard covering the front end in painters tape. At least the car was clean and chip-free when we arrived!







On a different note, I entered my car into the St. Clair Cruise, and won my first trophy! Third place, Best Import (Sponsored by Snyder's Funeral Home )



Another note, Rally-Fast and his wife drove up from West Chester and helped me out with swapping a halfshaft... again. For pictures, refer to the DIY I posted.

I also picked up an STi Duracon shift knob from WRXjp93. Easiest installation, evAr.