[JO5HUA]

I finally have an Impreza! I was still stuck on my FXT and searching craigslist high and low for a black 05 and kept coming up short. I decided to look at for GC Imprezas to see if anything good popped up and came across this black beauty in Samammish priced at $3400

The guy I bought it from had a shop and he was using this car as a service loaner, the body looks pretty good just a lot of dings

The tires are pretty new and the maintenance looked good, I got to see it on a lift and everything looked great

The tan interior is not doing it for me at all but it is in decent shape I suppose, I do like the accordion shift boot though. The car has just over 200k and looks as well as I would expect with barely a spot of rust, I test drove it and about pooped myself when I hit the brakes doing 40. When I picked it up yesterday I was still thinking I would just keep it a while until I find another Forester but on the ride home I fell in love, just really want to upgrade the brakes

- Current Mod List 11.8.2022 -

Engine

• Subaru (2005 Forester XT) EJ255
• IHI VF39 Turbo
• Subaru (2008-14 STi) Intercooler
• iWire GC/GR Intercooler Splitter
• Cobb LF Bypass Valve
• Samco Sport (TCS292) 2004-07 STi Silicone Intercooler Hoses
• Cobb (AP3-SUB-002) Accessport FXT+VF39 v350
• Invidia Equal Length Exhaust Manifold
• Invidia (HS02SW1UPP) Cat-less Up-pipe
• Invidia (HS055SW1DPO) 3" Divorced Wastegate Downpipe
• TurboXS (WS202-MP) 3" Midpipe V2
• TurboXS (WS202-RMA-TI) Rear Muffler Titanium Tip
• Cobb SF Air Filter
• DeatschWerks (9-201-0791) DW200 Series Fuel Pump
• Subaru (2005 Forester XT) Fuel Tank
• Subaru GC8 Koyo Radiator
• STi 1.3bar Radiator Cap
• Subaru GC8 JDM Coolant Expansion Tank
• iWire (Build #1303) Merged STi Harness
• Subaru EJ257 Oil Pan & Dip Stick
• AVCS Oil Screens Removed
• Killer B Oil Pickup
• Killer B Sump Baffle
• Crawford V2 Air/Oil Separator
• Tomei Timing Belt

Coming Soon...

• IHI VF48 Turbo
• Cobb (COBBEBCS-SUB) 3-Port Boost Control Solenoid

Suspension

• Whiteline (BSF33XZ) 24mm Adjustable Rear Sway Bar
• Cusco (666 474 LB) Adjustable Rear Lateral Links
• Subaru (2004-07 STi) Aluminum Rear Lateral Links
• Perrin (PSP-SUS-212) Rear Sway Bar Spherical End Links
• STi Pillowball Trailing Arms
• Whiteline (BSF33X) 24mm Front Sway Bar
• Subaru (2004-07 STi) Aluminum Front Control Arms
• Cusco Front Sway Bar Pillowball End Links
• Cusco GC8 Type OS Rear Strut Tower Bar
• Cusco GC8 Type OS-T Rear V-Brace
• Cusco GC8 Type OS Front Strut Tower Bar
• Swift (4F005) Sport Lowering Springs
• Tokico (2002-03 WRX) D-Spec Struts
• Whiteline Com 'C' Caster/Camber Adjusting Strut Mounts
• TSS Tubular Rear Subframe
• Subaru (2005 Forester XT) Front Subframe
• Cusco (666 477 A) Front Subframe Brace Type II
• Subaru (2005 Forester XT) Steering Rack
• GC/GD Hybrid Steering Shaft U-joint
• Whiteline Steering Rack Bushings

Coming Soon...

• Subaru (2004 STi) Rear Knuckles

Brakes

• Subaru (2000-04 Legacy) 289mm Rear Rotors
• Subaru (2002-03 WRX) Rear Calipers
• Suabru (2005 Forester XT) 292mm Front Rotors
• Subaru (2005 Forester XT) Front Calipers
• Stoptech Stainless Steel Brake Lines
• Subaru (1990-94 Legacy) 1" non-ABS Master Cylinder
• Grimmspeed Master Cylinder Brace

Coming Soon...

• Subaru (2004-07 WRX) 4/2 Pot Calipers
• DBA Gravel Spec Rear Rotors

Drivetrain

• Subaru (TY752VB5CA) Type-RA Transmission
• Exedy (15802) Stage 1 Clutch
• Fidanza Lightweight Aluminum Flywheel
• DCCD Pro Manual Controller
• Cobb Adjustable Short Throw Shifter
• Kartboy (KB-002) Shift linkage Bushings
• TIC (1001-01-0003) Shift Linkage Update
• Perrin (X-PSP-SUS-522) Differential Front Support Bushings
• Subaru R160 4.44 Rear Differential
• Subaru (2005 Forester XT) Rear Axles
• GSP (NCV66505) Front Axles
• Subaru (2005 Forester XT) Knuckles
• Cusco Engine and Transmission Mounts
• Kartboy (KB-025) Transmission Cradle Bushings

Coming Soon...

• Exedy (15802HD) Stage 1 Heavy Duty Clutch
• Subaru R180 4.44 Rear Differential
• Subaru (2004 STi) Rear Axles

Interior

• STi Duracon Shift Knob
• Sparco (015TMZSI) Steering Wheel
• Sparco (01502033) Hub Adapter
• Subaru (2002-03 WRX) Red Stitch Parking Brake Lever
• Subaru 2.5RS Black Flocked Dash
• Subaru (2000-02 Forester) Double Cupholder
• Subaru (2000-01 2.5RS) White Face Gauge Cluster
• Top Dash Pocket Replacement Triple Gauge Pod
• VDO Boost, Oil Pressure & Water Temperature Gauges
• Subaru (2000-04 Legacy) CD Player Head Unit
• Subaru 2.5RS OEM Tweeter Upgrade
• Polk Audio 6.5" Speakers
• Subaru 2.5RS Black Interior Set
• Autopower (1993-01 Impreza non-Sunroof) Street Roll Bar
• Recaro Profi XL Seat
• Recaro Profi SPG Seat
• Planted (1993-01 Impreza) Steel Seat Bases
• Planted Aluminum Side Mounts
• Schroth 6-Point Harness
• Schroth (SR20013) Profi II-6H 2" HANS Harness
• Subaru (2008-14 STi) Seats
• 6OVRCRST Rear Seat Delete

Coming soon...

Exterior

• Subaru 2.5RS Front Bumper Cover
• HT Autos 2.5RS Fog Covers
• Replica STi Front Lip Spoiler
• Subaru GC8 JDM Lightweight Front Bumper Beam
• Subaru GC8 JDM Clear Corner Lights
• Subaru GC8 STi Version 5/6 Grille
• Subaru GC8 STi Aluminum Hood
• Subaru 22B Hood Vents
• Subaru GC8 JDM Smooth Rear Bumper
• Subaru GC8 JDM Rear Spats
• Subaru GC8 JDM Lightweight Rear Bumper Beam
• Subaru 2.5RS Sideskirts
• Rallitek Mud Flaps
• Subaru 2.5RS Fender Liners
• Subaru GC8 STi Fender Badges
• Subaru 2.5RS Fender Braces
• Subaru GC8 STi Side & Trunk Decals
• Subaru STi Version 5 Rear Spoiler
• Subaru GC8 JDM Tail Lights
• Subaru GC8 STi Type R Tail Light Trim
• Subaru GC8 STi Type R/RA Roof Vent
• Shaved Door Mouldings
• Subaru GC8 JDM Rear Glass With Wiper
• Unknown Manufacture Hood Dampers

Coming Soon...

• Repair Busted STi Sports Front Bumper

Wheels & Tires

• Braid Winrace T-Acropolis 15x6.5J ET+45 - Kumho Solus Xpert 195/60R15
• STi 5-Spoke 16x7JJ ET+53 - Hankook Ventus V2 Concept 2 225/50R16
• Prodrive P1WRC 17x7J ET+52 - Falken Azenis RT660 225/45ZR17

 

[trx450r1989]

That is a very clean car! What's your plans for it?

 

[JO5HUA]

That is a very clean car! What's your plans for it?

FXT swap, rally suspension but not lifted this time

Before I got my Legacy I was looking for a black RS coupe and was always a day late or a dollar short. I settled for the Legacy and I liked it but all the while I still wanted an Impreza. Naturally, when it was totaled, I looked for a black coupe again. Finding nothing but crap I looked for a Forester and found a salvage title that proved to be a disaster. The only thing that could make up for that heartbreak is now mine

So happy I got an L almost entirely for the lack of sunroof

The body and paint is really good aside from the small dings in the doors and rear quarters

Why Subaru decided to put a sedan wing on a L coupe and no wing on the L sedan I will never understand

The amazing features of this car, it has this awesome tape deck, power windows and locks and a great enthusiast base! The best part is what it doesn't have though

It does have air conditioning which is always nice in a black car

Single stage booster, pretty much everything about the braking system is awesome except the calipers and drums

No EGR on the 2.2, cable clutch and no cruise control

Found one of the PCV hoses disconnected and fixed that real quick

Kind of wondering what I should use to clean the VIN plate since it looks so rusty

 

[Dylabeatus]

:banana:

 

[SyNtEcH]

You going lifted with this one too?

 

[JO5HUA]

You going lifted with this one too?

Not lifted this time, suspension needs some work though. The brakes NEED to be upgraded they are incredibly weak even in great condition. I'm going to put studless m+s tires on my braids and street tires on my Forester wheels to fit the WRX fronts and Legacy rears.

I took the headunit out of my forester and got that hooked straight to the polk speakers I've been holding on to. The plan is to use a small amp on them to take some duty off the deck, nothing crazy but anything is better than stock

Just test fitted the dvd player since the dash is coming out

The window switch was dangling right on the speaker so I tied it up, I am so smart

The rear deck carpet was held in by the window silicone so I got angry and destroyed it as you can see

The sound deadening mat seems excessive to me so it's coming out, you can kind of see the carpet that's stuck in the window sealer

Got the rear half of the interior out and put the rear speakers in along with the rear strut bar, I kicked up so much old dust my nose is hella stuffy today

The strut bar is nothing fancy I was planning on getting the mounts boxed first but what the hell

It looked to me like the lower bar was just to reinforce the seating but it actually is quite rigid. When I used it to shake the car it didn't flex at all, I can't say the same for the strut brace unfortunately

I took the side impact beam out but it's going back in, the legacy leather didn't fit even without it and my daughter is far too precious for the minimal weight savings

All in a few hours

I'm a little upset that one of the speaker leads broke on me. Now I have to break out the soldering iron and fix that, all the wiring for the amp still needs to be run... I'm thinking this car will be without an interior for a little while longer

 

[JO5HUA]

I got a few more things from a partout in Everett like the airbag and center console along with the buttload of clips I'm missing. While the carpet was removed I wired my old 4 channel amp, like really old, I seriously got it in like 2001, and thought I would share how to get the wire thru the firewall hella easy

One seriously overkill ground bolt later and the amp is installed! Most of the interior is black now, I just need to swap the dash and get door cards for it to look legit

The speakers are Polk 55rms and there is no way that amp will over power them. I fixed the rear carpet by letting it get wet outside and laying it flat. I cleaned the tire mark off with oxy clean and I would have installed it but it's still wet. Well, that and I broke the lead off the other rear speaker and I can't find my soldering iron to fix it

I have an assortment of shifter trims now, the accordian boot which I think looks the best, a leather RS boot with a hole in it and another leather one with the fake carbon overlay on it. I did like the RS knob better though so I'm gonna use it

FXT wheels and tires totally fit! 215/60-16's and they barely clear in the rear but no rubbing

I tried to fix this broken speaker terminal

It worked but when I installed it I didn't know about the amp problems so I assumed it was broken for good

 

[Screwbaru]

So awesome ... totally molested... right... lol

 

[BRZCory]

Stock L 1-piston front calipers FTW!

:lol:

 

[George.of.the.Jungle]

go low or suck. that is all.

 

[ivonko]

Yeaaaaaahhhhh buddy, looks awesome josh about time you actually join the rs25 community lol

 

[Crash187]

Coils!

 

[subiwag]

Nice coupe man. I will always lust for a black or white coupe.

You should consider swapping in the fxt dash. Slavik.86 did this in one of his previous builds and it looked awesome.

 

[Ted]

So is this one going to be a monster truck or a frame scraper?

 

[equinox92]

subbed before this one gets rear ended too

Looks awesome man.

 

[JO5HUA]

So is this one going to be a monster truck or a frame scraper?

Neither, stock height stiffy

subbed before this one gets rear ended too

Looks awesome man.

I kill you :unamused:

When I went to plug it in and try it I noticed the other rear speaker wasn't moving at all. The cone was seized and just the tweeter was putting out sound. The two rear speakers I assumed were toast so I went looking for replacements. I ended up getting a cheap set of Pioneer 35W 3 ways to go up front and I discovered that the speaker fix actually worked and it was the amp that sucks. I tried putting it in 2 channel mode because I thought the right input was just bad but it turns out that channel is jacked up regardless. So I did the next best thing and I'm running the rear speakers at 2 ohms on the left channel. They were way louder than the fronts though so I switched on the low pass filter and the stereo sounds great. Later I came home and my RS rear seat belts had arrived courtesy of Mike, thanks buddy. After getting all that installed proper I noticed I forgot about the rear carpet plugs

I also took the time to install the LED panel dome lights

Yesterday I took the wheels in to get tires swapped, haven't seen the inside of the braids in a long time

Good thing the wife called in sick today because I got to use the Forester and do it all in one trip

Done and done

They had a mint set of blizzak take offs 196/55-16 asking $200 or a trade for my BFG's. I took the deal and mounted them on my FXT wheels. So I traded 8 tires for new Blizzaks and free mounting for 8 tires, I think I came out pretty well

The ancient relic amp finally gave up and I needed to get a new one, ended up getting this Kicker with perfect power for the speakers only $170 new. Then discovered the other speaker, the one I didn't solder, was blown and voice coil seized. I have a new set Polk db651 ordered for the fronts and I guess now I have a spare db650 in case another rear speaker decides to die

I ended up getting the Blizzaks, I'm probably going to be painting the wheels gold but it's pretty far down on my priority list

I tried to tackle the front and rear brakes today but after just doing the fronts I'm done. It's hot and I had too many problems with the driver's side and it discouraged me a lot. The awesome thing was that a random stranger stopped by to help. Well not really, he stopped to talk about suspension lifts and I put him to work. The stock L front bakes were in great shape but even in perfect condition I can't see them performing well

The WRX calipers from my Legacy need some cleaning up but the Hawk HPS pads are still good

 

[swimsurk]

looking good so far man

That tire is real close :noes:

 

[Crash187]

You need a set of these Light Bar Cold Air Intake Subaru Impreza Legacy Baja Forester - Gorilla Offroad Company - PRODUCT DETAIL

 

[Spec R]

wouldnt be a build thread on rs25 without other people telling you what you "need".

great progress so far!

 

[JO5HUA]

The frustration begins with a seized slider pin, took a lot of grunting and swearing to get it out of there. Irritation level is growing...

I got it polished up nice, the pitting wasn't actually that bad. I used a gun cleaning kit to clean out the bore and the pin slides in and out smooth with fresh lube. There's a your mom joke in there somewhere but it escapes me at the moment

The disc brake hardware kits for front and rear, totally worth it to replace these. There was a burr on the driver's side bracket that wasn't letting the clip seat properly so I filed it down flat, irritation level rising...

I used some 120 grit to scuff up the rotors, cleaned the calipers and new hardware, fresh grease and red stuff should have these in tip top shape

I used a plastic brush to clean the surface of the pads and added the braided lines.

When I had my new friend push the brakes to bleed them I noticed hella fluid coming from the hard line connection. Tried tightening it and no luck, there was a scratch on the mating surface of the hard line and I had to buff it out. It sealed up eventually but not without getting me super irritated. Thankfully the other side went perfectly and I had no issues

The new Polks are a lot beefier than the old ones, they come with an adapter plate since they aren't drilled for multiple applications like the older models

The new speakers sound great but it sounds like they don't produce as much sound as the rear, older speakers. The s/n ratio is the same, all the specs are the same actually, but I hear the rear speakers a lot more than the front. It could also be the acoustics of the car and I sit really far back

My first day at the new store I go to unlock my door and go wtf? If you see your kids playing with your car keys and putting them in the house door my advice is to stop them. I got out my vice grips and carefully massaged it to the point it was accepted by the locks

I sold the TurboXS muffler for Forester that took forever to ship and I threw a huge fit about and got a WRX cannon. The transaction with rallysportdirect.com went smooth as baby buns this time around and I got an Invidia up pipe from them too

I started getting the motor ready to pull and taking the exhaust, top mount and turbo off got me really excited about the swap. After pulling a bunch more from the Forester I coated the new Invidia up pipe I got with my cannon