I have had a right pig of a job trying to source a newage A pillar triple gauge pod suitable for 60mm gauges, I can't understand why nobody manufactures anything suitable.

I have sourced a generic item which will need major alterations to make it marry up to the Impreza A pillar trim.



I'm sure it can be done successfully and then moulded to make it look good, once it's finished I'll send it plus the other side trim and the Defi centre pod off for carbon dipping.

 

Ryan has carried out a little custom work for me this week, I wanted something a little special as a Christmas present for my nephew.

I presented Ryan with my nephew's scooter frame along with a new set of bars and asked him to carry out a colour swap on the frame and bars, plus source a set of replacement vinyl transfers from a company close to him who carry out one offs.

The frame needed quite a bit of preparation in terms of all the scrape marks and damage that a child's scooter will have to endure.















As you can see the scooter will certainly be noticeable as is required at the skateparks, the frame is Ford Focus RS Green (I'm not too sure of the exact colour name) and the bars are Apple Candy Red. The colours look a little flat in the pics above but having seen both colours in the flesh previously I know they are going to look stunning.

It will be having white tyres with a similar green in the wheel centres, plus of course new bearings, grips and deck grip.

Nothing to do really with the car but I just thought I'd post it anyway.

 

Sweet

 

Nice idea Ty.Looks the business.

 

Thanks Stu.

It certainly does that Dave, something a little different and I know he's going to love it.

 

I said to Ryan he should paint his project that Ford green,i love the colour.

 

It would certainly get the car noticed that's for sure, in bright sunshine it looks brilliant and it's the best colour for a Focus RS.

 

I have carried out a couple of minor jobs today to the S202, there were a couple of things that I wanted to get out of the way just to tick them off the list.

The major service is all complete all bar the coolant being renewed but it's pointless as the coolant would only have to be dropped again as I will be receiving the Samco engine ancillary kit next week.



All the Defi sensors are now in place and the looms have been routed to follow existing looms, hoses or pipework to ensure that it all looks OE and not like a dogs dinner like I have seen on some installs.







The Perrin cooling panel is in place plus as well the Perrin EBC 3 port boost solenoid is also in place, the return has been plumbed back into the inlet hose as is the factory fitment and not just venting to atmosphere like some do.





I removed the Japanese radio / micro disc / CD player and found a right jumble of wiring had been stuffed into the radio aperture, I am sure that removing that has lightened the car considerably.





I also removed the heater control trim panel in order to gain access to the radio, so whilst this was out I cleaned up all the crud which I believe was from some form of stuck on trim. It was really bad and needed to real effort to remove, thank god I had thinners to break it down but even then it wasn't that easy to remove.

The heater vents and the cup holder were also coated in this residue so they also had a clean up at the same time. They are going to have a repaint in matt black, as though they are 1000% better than they were they are still not as good as I would like them.



Before







After



The glove box was removed in order to gain access to the pollen filter, as the screws were so tight upon removal it was obvious that they had never been removed from the factory. I thought that having seen this that the pollen filter would be in a real state but upon opening the access flap it was found that there actually wasn't a filter fitted, that is either extreme weight saving for a paper filter or an oversight at the assembly line.

And just a couple of other minor jobs but more for asthetical reasons more than anything else - fit the Subaru tax disc holder I bought from Japan and to alter the rear spoiler to my preferred position, just so I could tick them off the list.












I have also made the decision now not to alter the suspension geometry by fitting an anti lift kit or a roll centre correction kit, I like the way the car handles as it is. I think STi got it right with this car as it left them so who am I to alter it?

And I am now not fitting the Defi EGT gauge that I bought included in the set of six gauges, so I now can easily source a twin pillar pod for 60mm gauges as trying to find a good quality triple pillar pod was proving impossible.

 

Nice work guys and coming together just nice and again good thinking on the geometry ty as this scoob is simply top of the line when it came off production to be better than the standard sti

Any chance of a blast in it one day ty ? You drive I mean tho lol

 

Good work Ty and you made the right choice in not altering the suspension setup. Like you said Subaru had setup that model to be at its best and had you changed it, you may as well of just bought an sti and uprated that with those bits.

Dont change it if its not broken :-)

 

Thanks Lee, you are more than welcome to have a drive of it. I know you wouldn't bin it and would drive it sensibly.

That is what I was thinking today, so I put the roll centre kit up for sale and it sold within minutes plus I was looking into sourcing an ALK but that idea has gone in the bin now.

It handles like no other car I have driven before (apart from my first S202 that is).

 

Good man, you know it makes sense

 

Nice one ty

 

Some good progress

Won't be long now 6 weeks and spring is knocking on our door

 

Good call Ty.

I think people tend to go a bit OTT sometimes, which i fine, but then dont end up tracking the car or doing any events, and never see the full benefits of all the outlay in money and work when using the car on normal uk roads. Dont get me wrong, its everybody's own choice to do what they want and how they want to theyre own cars, but imo, in a lot of cases, the drivers arent good enough to max out the standard set up let alone with eveything uprated.

Im sure youll be more than happy with the setup when you start driving the car properly, ffs my car with its previous standard 15year old setup has shown a clean pair of heels to a lot more superior cars in the past, its all about knowing your own and the cars limits.

Look forward to seeing her soon mate in all her glory.

R :-)

 

Ty,

The Prestone coolant is back in Costco.

 

Coming together nicely there Ty

 

Absolutely, no point ruining what's already nigh on perfect.

No problem Lee.

I've still got to decide on who to map it plus I want to get it up to Chevron Motorsport for them to set up the steering and suspension geometry, might not be fully ready for a while yet.

 

That's where I was heading Rob, doing too much could quite easily have ruined the car.

I stood back from the car and thought about it, then I realised how much I like it as is and how doing much more would trashed all the work by STi.

And you're right of course, I or we will run out of talent well before the car runs out of ability.

 

Could you get me some Ian? I'll send you a text message.

Thanks Simon.

 

 

Thanks Ian.

 

Good work Ty ,like you said no need to alter suspension .I have not altered a think on mine and it handles fantastic

 

Looks great Ty hope it gets to NBO

 

Thanks Glenn.

I hope so, it's just the 6 hours of driving there and back that might prove the stumbling point.

 

[IMG]
[/IMG]

Oops, the FMIC had to come back off as the SuperPro engine brace hadn't been fitted.

 

Anyone like jigsaws?

I received the Samco engine ancillary hose kit this morning, lucky I can get the stuff at staff rates from the factory shop.

 

I hope you ment TMIC Ty ha ha

 

Might have.

 

TOTB is nearer