2008 Hatchback STi
 

Its been awhile since I had a Subaru, but I am enjoying it.... forgot about the fuel and tax bills, but oh well.

I have bought a car that had 3 past owners, has a rebuilt engine, some parts, but with some issues (most of which I knew about). Not a problem as I like project cars. As its been awhile since I have been in a STi, I have questions

1. Car has a Cobra exhaust, turbo back, decat.... sounds decent and not too loud, but a friend that was following the car said its quite loud. So I am guessing it will not pass track noise limits, any advice on what can be done to get passed noise regs? Ideally not the weird cans that you stick on the back. -will most likely be going to a generic exhaust place and seeing if they can install a silencer in the exhaust somewhere, unless someone can offer a better solution
2. An issue I didnt know about - after 30-40 miles the car pops out of 6th gear.... Im guessing synchro or selector, but will try removing, cleaning and refitting the short shift - if that doesnt work, who is good for gearboxes? -Looks like a clean of the shift (under the boot) may have sorted the "jumping out of 6th" issue. There is a rubber boot underneath that is breaking up, lots of small bits of rubber. So cleaned it all up and so far no issues with 6th. If it happens again I will refit (and clean) the shifter
3. Whats the ideal/recommended wheel sizes for track?
4. Where can I find some removal guides for the door cards and centre console? Would prefer to not break things and is there a paint out there that matches the normal dash grey colour rather the bright silver thats on the centre console and doorcard handles (pic) -sorted
5. The rear wing.......... Im on the fence, its poorly done and the final paint looks terrible, but it looks different which I sort of like - also the way its been fitted means its a ballache to fix (see pics) -removed it
6. TMIC it has seen better days, so will be looking to replace in next few weeks what TM replacement options are there? Might go FMIC but happy to stick with a decent TMIC
7. Suggestions on good fast road/track disk and pad combo? Will most likely go to a BBK at some point in the not too distant future

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Welcome back to Suabru, hopefully you wont regret lol.

Guides for the door cars etc, it's all on you tube. The silver trim, unfortunately i think thats the standard colour, definately a good idea to have them off and go dark grey or black.

Welcome back, please remove the spoiler :thumb: nice wheels, I am assuming not on standard shocks/springs?

Cheers!

Yeah need to find a dark grey colour that matches the dash grey

Hahaaha! That was my first reaction!! Its growing on me, but as you can see the fitment is something else! 6 rivots and a load of tiger bond on either side, so its solid!

Tein coilovers of some sorts, Im looking for a 2nd set of wheels for the car, something like the Rota Grids, but want bronze and no stock. Will remove wheels and figure out the suspension, brakes when they are off. Which reminds me, suggestion on good fast road/track disk and pad combo?

I run Godspeed g hook disks and project mu hc400 pads which I have found very good.

Thanks - I forgot about GodSpeed, even though they did refurbs for me in the past.

wheels prodrive gt2
top mount process west
remove spoiler its ridiculous

I actually agree totally with this. The wing is a carbuncle! Don't buy a Mishimoto tmic as an upgrade, but fine as a replacement. Process West are excellent but pricey.

Not a fan of the Prodrive GT2 wheels at all.....

Spoiler is off

Both Brembo and Scoobyworx do good value discs, the former being plain, latter grooved. Brembo pads are fine for fast road.

Thanks

Take a look at this. I used it to remove my dash and it’s brilliant. has all the information you need to remove the dash and everything associated with it including the glovebox and centre console etc.

https://www.iwsti.com/forums/diy-mod...-2008-sti.html

Thats great, thanks!

Looks like a clean of the shift (under the boot) may have sorted the "jumping out of 6th" issue. There is a rubber boot underneath that is breaking up, lots of small bits of rubber. So cleaned it all up and so far no issues with 6th. If it happens again I will refit (and clean) the shifter.

Will most likely be going to a generic exhaust place and seeing if they can install a silencer in the exhaust somewhere, unless someone can offer a better solution

Regarding tyre sizes, whats the general setup for fast road and track? Square? Staggered? Currently on 235/40/18 all round

I think Cobra do a track friendly version, but it will be cheaper to go to a custom place.
Standard tyres are 245 40 R18. I've run Michelin pilot super sport XL for 5 years now, superb summer tyre but a compromise in winter.

Hayward & Scott also do a “track day” centre section with a silencer in it.

I contemplate getting one whenever my (lack of) rear silencer p1sses me off :lol1:

How wide are the stock wheels on the Hatch?

A word of warning on the H&S centre resonator. It did make mine a lot quieter for normal driving but it was still very aggressive on boost and I got black flagged at Bedford (admittedly they do have a very low db restriction though). Mine was reaching around 89-90db which is fine at most tracks.

Sounds ideal for road use though :)

Yep. Not too noisy for the neighbors and still a bit of a growl once you open the taps. :)

89-90db isnt too bad, but a lot of tracks are very strict on the drive-by which freaks me out!! Especially as some are not forgiving at all! Cobra needs to know exactly what exhaust is on the car and I have no idea, other than being able to see the Cobra markers on it. Think it will be easiest to just go and get a proper silencer fitted, open to ideas/suggestions/swaps if someone has a quiet exhaust they dont like.

My current wheels arent standard, so no idea what the standard widths are, is it 8 in front and 8.5 rears? or 8.5 all round? Currently my rears look a little stretched and I am not a fan

8.5 all around and tyres are 245/40/18 as standard

That extra inch everyone wants & the hatch was gifted it right out the gate :cry:

lucky me then :)

Thanks will start looking for some tyres

Recommendations for a good road tyre? Will have separate wheels for track

-Michellin Super Sport
-Yoko AD08
-Toyo proxes
- BlueEarth GT AE51

What about
-hancock
-nankangs (previous experience is a long time ago and they were shocking - sharp slow corner I know and love and they had no interesting in stopping or turning)
-Other options?

Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport.
£104 per corner from Camskill.
I don't think you can get a better road tyre (the Pilot 4S is not available in 245/40/18 unfortunately).
I had Michelin SuperSports in my previous FSTi and they were great but they are an old compound/technology now being 9+ year old.

Ps4
https://www.camskill.co.uk/m61b0s323..._Noise%3A_71dB

But yes quite old now

CUP2 are available also.

Happy with the PS4s I have on my hatch

:thumb:

New JDM grill will be going on, painting it now

Some Hella horns, standard subaru mod.....
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