The Bug - Refreshed
 

OK, so ive had MY51 Bug WRX for 3 1/2 years and a new job allowed me to take it of the road for an indefinite period of time to allow me to make some changes and generally freshen him up.

The plans are not crazy but to get it looking clean, updated / uprated and most importantly reliable.

At the moment what is on the car is as follows

Engine
RCM induction kit
Cobra sport cat back

Suspension
Front and rear Sti strut braces
Sti shocks with Eibach pro street lowered springs (-40mm)
Front Whiteline Drop links (to be fitted)

Brakes
Standard 4 pots fully refurbished by Godspeed
Godspeed discs and pads all round

Exterior

JDM Sti one piece grill
JDM Sti HID headlights
Ht Autos rear diffuser

so prior to taking it off the road it looked like this

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...ps97ca8186.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...ps597574f8.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...ps4fb83ddb.jpg

So let the journey begin....

I hope that some of you will find this interesting, and that other can guide and help me thought this process. :thumb:

So, With some of the panels looking a little tired and knowing that there was some hidden rust areas behind the front bumper i first set about tackling that

Off with the front end to expose the oh so typical rusty bumper support panel

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...pss2icqu1k.jpg

And fully naked
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...ps8kqwuatj.jpg

On Good authority from Ian (The Trooper 1815) i bought some Bilt Hammer Hydrate 80 rust treatment and set about treating the panel

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...psv8wyncun.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...ps4thhboam.jpg

On top of that went 3 layers of Rust Not primer

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...ps1xt1ckmb.jpg

Its currently awaiting a coat (or two) of black smooth hammerite.. the colour wont matter too much as it is all hidden

Thats today work out the way with. More tomorrow

Some simple stuff makes the world of difference - zinc plating nuts and bolts, powder coating brackest etc - DBM does come up nice with simple and subtle updates:norty:

Thanks Fella. I can get an abundance of St/St nuts bolts and washers from work. As for the powder coating ive seen some of the stuff that you have done on yours and got my juices flowing :norty:

By the looks i will end up having a full body respray in the new year as it needs it.

Looks good mate, I'll be keeping up with your progress. My bug could do with some similar treatment just don't have the time or skills to do it lol. ATB.

Thank you for the kind words. Im delving into the unknown so undoubtedly there will be some real dumb questions asked by myself on this thread....You have been warned :norty:

We all started somewhere :thumb:

Love a good project thread :) I'll be keeping an eye on this one to see how it turns out.
Bug is my 2nd favorite Impreza....after the Classic of corse :D

Cheers. I had always hated the bugeye and did for about 6 months after buying it. Now i couldn't be parted from him.
Only maybe for a Type R

I drove an early classic and was hugely disappointed and never thought I'd ever buy a scoob until I drove a bug - they'd never appealed to me until then but I consider them a mature choice:thumb:

Jon Are you sure we are not my long lost brother. :p

I have read through your build thread a number of times and got a few tips from it.
Ive got a set of front and rear drop links, ARB's and ALK to fit soon. so that should eb a challenge in itself. !!!

ARBs and drop-links are a piece of cake, the ALK can be a bit of a challenge:D

ive got the front drop links already but i havent got the nuts/bolts/washers and i cant find anywhere what size they are?
Any Ideas?

iirc they're M8 x 60mm assuming you've got alloy wishbones:thumb:

Good stainless ones are cheap enoughon ebay:cool:

Ive got whichever wishbones are standard on a WRX Jon, sorry for the nativity, all i know is that they are the standard type.

They should be alloy which will be silver and unpainted, but I've heard of some bugs having steel ones which are black painted. Best to check as they have different drop links...

Alloy

http://www.importcarparts.co.uk/pict...-ALLOY-ARM.jpg

Steel

http://oi61.tinypic.com/ndvkgl.jpg

Cheers for the photos.

I think i have the alloy type from memory. I will be having a good check tomorrow though, oh yeah along with another update.
you are a good man to know. ;)

When you do the ALK rotate the black bracket 180 degrees and you'll get even more caster but beware, the bolts can seize:wonder:

Good work Shaun she's going to look like new again

Cheers buddy. I guess I'm cursed with the SWS rebuild bug !

Another fairly busy morning and the removal of the back bumper, boot lid, autosol the cobra back box and removal of both the front wings.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...psfkscatsf.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...psenhues0b.jpg

First coat of smooth black applied to the support bar

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...ps6bdrviep.jpg

And as I want to inject a little colour under the bonnet I thought what the hell and tried out a bold colour on the RCM induction MAF tube

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...ps4sabxzwc.jpg

And whilst apart the K&N was given a wash dry and re-oiling.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...psour9w03d.jpg

More too come tomorrow

Great to see someone putting some love into this Bug :luvlove:

Far to many are being broken these day.

All the best Shaun :thumb:

Thanks Kev, if I can get this to half the standard of yours then I will be a very happy man.

Kevs is rubbish it's a rust bucket underneath it's just covered with under body seal lol

Alloy - Saloon
Steel - Wagon ;)

So between hurricane like wind and rain I managed to trial fit the induction hose and alternator cover.
What you all think of a little splash of colour under the hood?

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...psng37aqnm.jpg

Oh and I took of the strut brace and gave it the once over

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...pssdddftat.jpg

....... And it's two half's :Suspiciou


Stick at it Shaun and it will look good :cool:

This is coming along well Shaun, keep up the good work pal :)

Cheers Lee :norty:

We gots a way to go yet. Still undecided on a new wheel choice. and am always on the look out for a nurspec R.

Getting all of the engine tidying before the work starts on the suspension components

For those of you who want to buy new nuts/bolts and washers for front newage droplinks... Dont ask whiteline in Aussie land. They will tell you this

Bolts x4
Top to Bottom – 75mm
Thickness – 9mm
Thread – 30mm

8 Washers
ID – 11.5mm
OD – 30mm
1.5mm Thick

4 Spacers
ID – 10mm
OD – 24mm
Thickness – 5mm

4 Smaller Washers
ID – 10mm
OD – 20mm
Thickness – 1.5mm
and 4 Nuts to suit the bolts.

Ive only gone and ordered M8 bolts.... Arrrr Feck !!!!