Introduction
My name is Jeff and I live in Thornton, CO. This is my first member journal ever, so bear with me as I add to this over time. I started this journal so that I can document, in very good detail, the conversion that my 1998 1995 Impreza L coupe will go under very soon. I am not new to the Subaru community, I have a 2005 blue/gold STi in the garage that I adore very much, but I was ready to ditch my Focus RS conversion and take on something with AWD.
UPDATES:
Post #13: Car changes
Post #26-27: EJ18 gets ripped out
Post #30-31: Interior gets Roto-rooted
Post #32: First hit on a potential donor car in Japan
Post #50: Plans change, going USDM STI
Post #56: 2006 Donor STi ARRIVES!!!
Post #57: Color Schemes Pondered...
Post #61: Compression Test, Blitz FMIC, JDM AL hood, shopping list
Post #62: Body Prep Pics
Post #65: Shopping - E85 conversion parts, Hydra EMS, 97-01 dash
Post #71: Shopping - Zeal coilovers, up-pipe, APS inlet
Post #72: Dash Conversion How To!
Post #73: BBS LM F1 Championship SCORE!!!
Post #76: New (Old) Roof is in! +++ Vent
Post #89: Aerosim widebody kit progress
Post #94: Driver's Side DONE!!!
Post #96: Paint Part DEUX!!!
Post #105: Car is PAINTED!!!!
Post #106: Rear Harness Installed
Post #125: Engine/Transmission are IN!!!!!
Post #153: 2.5i manifold and Fuel System Upgrade
Post #162: Trouble's abrewin'...
Post #193: A Walk Down Memory Lane......
Post #289: The Titanium Fisaco
The Car
I purchased the 1998 Impreza L coupe in December 2008 from a dealership in Michigan after an exhaustive 4-month search. I was completely set on 3 things: Coupe, White, and No Rust. I got 2 of the 3 (some minor rust is apparent on the driver's side rear quater panel, which will be fixed soon)The purchase price was $3,000, and had 174k miles on it at that time. It was shipped to my house where I took delivery and started daily driving to keep the miles down on the Focus so that I could sell it.
Update: Sold the 1998 Impreza L, bought a 1995 Impreza L coupe with a blown clutch for $1000. This is why some pics are of a white car, and others are of a red car. The 1995 is the red one, but soon to be Aspen White.
Current Pic:
Goals
My goal with the car was somewhat simple: keep it light, keep it nimble, make it powerful. I am most likely going to be daily driving this after the swap is complete, so I want some reliability, but not a dyno queen of power. 350WHP is plenty on a 2700 lbs car if you ask me.
Plans
I knew that I would be doing a swap on this car, the question was which swap was going to occur. I had 3 paths to explore: USDM STi, JDM GC8 swap, or JDM GDB swap. All of them have pros and cons, and I consulted a fair amount of Suby people to get their opinion on how best to attain my goals. The first option I threw out was the JDM GDB swap. Although these cars are built superbly, the only ones I would like are the V8/9, since they come with the 6-speed DCCD tranny. Since these clips go for around $10,000 and the amount of exterior parts I would get with the clip wouldn't bolt on, I threw this option out. So it was down to 2.
After deciding on either USDM STI or JDM GC8, I was given the opportunity to buy a wrecked 2006 STI from Kevin at Garage Tuning. I pounced on the chance, and while the conversion might be a bit more difficult, in the end, I think I will have a far superior car.
Mod List
Power
2006 EJ257 STI swap
Hydra EMS (v2.7)
Element Tuning rotated turbo kit
gλµk FMIC piping
Garrett GTX3076R turbo (4" inlet, 0.63 A/R hotside)
TurboSmart UltraGate 38mm wastegate (non-recirculated)
ID1300 injectors
2.5i intake manifold
KSTech 19mm phenolic spacers
Radium Engineering Multi-Pump Surge Tank
Radium Engineering PTFE fuel lines
AEM 320lph E85 fuel pump (to surge tank)
Walbro 485 lph E85 fuel pump (in surge tank)
Cosworth fuel rails
Moore 2.5i manifold fuel rail spacers
Aeromotive FPR
Aeromotive 40 micron stainless steel fuel filter
Grimmspeed ported/coated headers
Grimmspeed coated crosspipe
ATI damper pulley
JIC Spartan De Type 1 full titanium exhaust
Blitz FMIC
Tial Q BOV
Koyo R1819 radiator
JDM coolant overflow tank
Denso Iridium one-step colder spark plugs
Evap system delete
A/C delete
Engine Build
EJ257 704 new block
OEM heat-treated crankshaft
Element Tuning forged rods
Cosworth 99.5 pistons
King bearings
11mm oil pump
Gates Racing timing belt kit
Tomei belt guide
LIC adjustable idlers
ARP head studs
Exedy lightweight flywheel
Exedy Stage 1 HD clutch
2006 WRX single AVCS D25 heads (raises CR to 8.7:1)
Kelford R-199-B camshafts (WPC treated)
OEM buckets
Ferrea Competition Plus +1mm intake/exhaust valves
Ferrea titanium retainers
Ferrea road race dual valve springs
TIC FU bolts
LIC halfmoons
Nameless EGR deletes
Mild bowl blend
Dry Sump System (Coming 2016)
ARE oil pan
Peterson 3-Stage pump (1.00" pressure section)
Peterson 2 gallon lightweight oil tank
Peterson 60 micron oil filter
Peterson catch can
Brown and Miller hoses
Handling
AST 5200 2-way coilovers
MSI Competition top hats
TurnIn Concepts lateral link/lower trailing link bushings (Sport)
STI pink trailing links
Whiteline 27/24mm F&R sway bars
Whiteline rear sway bar mounts
Whiteline anti-lift kit (Sport)
Whiteline roll center kit
JDM STI carbon fiber front strut bar
Cusco rear strut bar
STI Group-N transmission/engine mount kit
Beatrush pitch mount
Kartboy F&R endlinks
BBS LM F1 Championship Edition (17x9 +20)
Dunlop Direzza 255/40/17
ARP wheel studs
Muteki lug nuts
AP Racing big brake kit
Ferodo DS2500 (F), EBC RedStuff (R)
DBA slotted rear rotors
AP Racing brake/clutch fluid
DCCDPro
Exterior
Aerosim Research widebody kit with Burn-Up style lip
JDM V6 aluminum hood
JDM tail lights
JDM corner lights
JDM clear banana/side turn signals
JDM 22B hood vents
L'Aunsport WRC carbon fiber mirrors
JDM Type R roof vent
Aero locking gas cap
Bakemono V6 carbon fiber wing
Nurburgring trunk decal (fo sho!)
Interior
fully stripped (no carpet, plastics, radio, A/C, heat, airbags, sound deadening)
Prodrive WRC carbon fiber seat
Takata 5-point harness
2008 STI Sparco harness bar
STI titanium shift knob
Works Bell Quick Release (silver)
Works Bell short hub
Nardi Deep Corn steering wheel
AIM Sports MXL2 (oil pressure, oil temperature, fuel pressure, EGT)
JDM V6 STI Limited instrument cluster (repinned for GD STI swap)
JDM hazard button
Advanced Keys push button start system with JDM STI button
Flocked 98+ dash
Zeitronix ECA2
4-panel rear view mirror
Braille 11.5 lbs battery (mounted behind passenger seat)
gλµk carbon fiber switch panel
My name is Jeff and I live in Thornton, CO. This is my first member journal ever, so bear with me as I add to this over time. I started this journal so that I can document, in very good detail, the conversion that my 1998 1995 Impreza L coupe will go under very soon. I am not new to the Subaru community, I have a 2005 blue/gold STi in the garage that I adore very much, but I was ready to ditch my Focus RS conversion and take on something with AWD.
UPDATES:
Post #13: Car changes
Post #26-27: EJ18 gets ripped out
Post #30-31: Interior gets Roto-rooted
Post #32: First hit on a potential donor car in Japan
Post #50: Plans change, going USDM STI
Post #56: 2006 Donor STi ARRIVES!!!
Post #57: Color Schemes Pondered...
Post #61: Compression Test, Blitz FMIC, JDM AL hood, shopping list
Post #62: Body Prep Pics
Post #65: Shopping - E85 conversion parts, Hydra EMS, 97-01 dash
Post #71: Shopping - Zeal coilovers, up-pipe, APS inlet
Post #72: Dash Conversion How To!
Post #73: BBS LM F1 Championship SCORE!!!
Post #76: New (Old) Roof is in! +++ Vent
Post #89: Aerosim widebody kit progress
Post #94: Driver's Side DONE!!!
Post #96: Paint Part DEUX!!!
Post #105: Car is PAINTED!!!!
Post #106: Rear Harness Installed
Post #125: Engine/Transmission are IN!!!!!
Post #153: 2.5i manifold and Fuel System Upgrade
Post #162: Trouble's abrewin'...
Post #193: A Walk Down Memory Lane......
Post #289: The Titanium Fisaco
The Car
I purchased the 1998 Impreza L coupe in December 2008 from a dealership in Michigan after an exhaustive 4-month search. I was completely set on 3 things: Coupe, White, and No Rust. I got 2 of the 3 (some minor rust is apparent on the driver's side rear quater panel, which will be fixed soon)The purchase price was $3,000, and had 174k miles on it at that time. It was shipped to my house where I took delivery and started daily driving to keep the miles down on the Focus so that I could sell it.
Update: Sold the 1998 Impreza L, bought a 1995 Impreza L coupe with a blown clutch for $1000. This is why some pics are of a white car, and others are of a red car. The 1995 is the red one, but soon to be Aspen White.
Current Pic:
Goals
My goal with the car was somewhat simple: keep it light, keep it nimble, make it powerful. I am most likely going to be daily driving this after the swap is complete, so I want some reliability, but not a dyno queen of power. 350WHP is plenty on a 2700 lbs car if you ask me.
Plans
I knew that I would be doing a swap on this car, the question was which swap was going to occur. I had 3 paths to explore: USDM STi, JDM GC8 swap, or JDM GDB swap. All of them have pros and cons, and I consulted a fair amount of Suby people to get their opinion on how best to attain my goals. The first option I threw out was the JDM GDB swap. Although these cars are built superbly, the only ones I would like are the V8/9, since they come with the 6-speed DCCD tranny. Since these clips go for around $10,000 and the amount of exterior parts I would get with the clip wouldn't bolt on, I threw this option out. So it was down to 2.
After deciding on either USDM STI or JDM GC8, I was given the opportunity to buy a wrecked 2006 STI from Kevin at Garage Tuning. I pounced on the chance, and while the conversion might be a bit more difficult, in the end, I think I will have a far superior car.
Mod List
Power
2006 EJ257 STI swap
Hydra EMS (v2.7)
Element Tuning rotated turbo kit
gλµk FMIC piping
Garrett GTX3076R turbo (4" inlet, 0.63 A/R hotside)
TurboSmart UltraGate 38mm wastegate (non-recirculated)
ID1300 injectors
2.5i intake manifold
KSTech 19mm phenolic spacers
Radium Engineering Multi-Pump Surge Tank
Radium Engineering PTFE fuel lines
AEM 320lph E85 fuel pump (to surge tank)
Walbro 485 lph E85 fuel pump (in surge tank)
Cosworth fuel rails
Moore 2.5i manifold fuel rail spacers
Aeromotive FPR
Aeromotive 40 micron stainless steel fuel filter
Grimmspeed ported/coated headers
Grimmspeed coated crosspipe
ATI damper pulley
JIC Spartan De Type 1 full titanium exhaust
Blitz FMIC
Tial Q BOV
Koyo R1819 radiator
JDM coolant overflow tank
Denso Iridium one-step colder spark plugs
Evap system delete
A/C delete
Engine Build
EJ257 704 new block
OEM heat-treated crankshaft
Element Tuning forged rods
Cosworth 99.5 pistons
King bearings
11mm oil pump
Gates Racing timing belt kit
Tomei belt guide
LIC adjustable idlers
ARP head studs
Exedy lightweight flywheel
Exedy Stage 1 HD clutch
2006 WRX single AVCS D25 heads (raises CR to 8.7:1)
Kelford R-199-B camshafts (WPC treated)
OEM buckets
Ferrea Competition Plus +1mm intake/exhaust valves
Ferrea titanium retainers
Ferrea road race dual valve springs
TIC FU bolts
LIC halfmoons
Nameless EGR deletes
Mild bowl blend
Dry Sump System (Coming 2016)
ARE oil pan
Peterson 3-Stage pump (1.00" pressure section)
Peterson 2 gallon lightweight oil tank
Peterson 60 micron oil filter
Peterson catch can
Brown and Miller hoses
Handling
AST 5200 2-way coilovers
MSI Competition top hats
TurnIn Concepts lateral link/lower trailing link bushings (Sport)
STI pink trailing links
Whiteline 27/24mm F&R sway bars
Whiteline rear sway bar mounts
Whiteline anti-lift kit (Sport)
Whiteline roll center kit
JDM STI carbon fiber front strut bar
Cusco rear strut bar
STI Group-N transmission/engine mount kit
Beatrush pitch mount
Kartboy F&R endlinks
BBS LM F1 Championship Edition (17x9 +20)
Dunlop Direzza 255/40/17
ARP wheel studs
Muteki lug nuts
AP Racing big brake kit
Ferodo DS2500 (F), EBC RedStuff (R)
DBA slotted rear rotors
AP Racing brake/clutch fluid
DCCDPro
Exterior
Aerosim Research widebody kit with Burn-Up style lip
JDM V6 aluminum hood
JDM tail lights
JDM corner lights
JDM clear banana/side turn signals
JDM 22B hood vents
L'Aunsport WRC carbon fiber mirrors
JDM Type R roof vent
Aero locking gas cap
Bakemono V6 carbon fiber wing
Nurburgring trunk decal (fo sho!)
Interior
fully stripped (no carpet, plastics, radio, A/C, heat, airbags, sound deadening)
Prodrive WRC carbon fiber seat
Takata 5-point harness
2008 STI Sparco harness bar
STI titanium shift knob
Works Bell Quick Release (silver)
Works Bell short hub
Nardi Deep Corn steering wheel
AIM Sports MXL2 (oil pressure, oil temperature, fuel pressure, EGT)
JDM V6 STI Limited instrument cluster (repinned for GD STI swap)
JDM hazard button
Advanced Keys push button start system with JDM STI button
Flocked 98+ dash
Zeitronix ECA2
4-panel rear view mirror
Braille 11.5 lbs battery (mounted behind passenger seat)
gλµk carbon fiber switch panel