Project STI F5 (Refresh)
 

As mentioned before, seeing as though I can't sell the scoob and am not prepared to let it go for peanuts - I thought I'd make a project out of the car and sort the bugger out.

Fortunately, I have a company vehicle so the STI is a weekend toy now so I don't have to rush about getting it ready for Monday mornings!

On sunny days, the paintwork does look pretty good, but when the light fades - the paintwork becomes patchy and to be honest, it does look pretty sorry for itself. I've clay bar'd and used Meguiar's paint restorer polish, though there is a massive difference - I'm still not happy.


I've toyed with the idea of spraying the car matt black but I enjoy polishing too much, got a bit of an OCD there! So the search for a new colour continues.

After talking to a mate in a car spares shop, he suggested Kawasaki Ninja green. Great colour but Jolly Green Monster has sprayed his new project this colour so this has been ruled out.
While I was in the shop, I was buying some paint to respray my mountain bike and chose a dark blue pearlescent paint.
The first coat sprayed came out as purple, but as I put more coats on, the pruple changed to dark blue (a couple of shades lighter than DBM)

here is the (near) finished bike:

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m.../Photo0221.jpg

As with Pearlescent - depending on the light, it's either dark blue or dark purple, It's a nice colour to spray and am seriously considering spraying the STI with it! Though not sure at the moment what car the colour originally came from - will have to do a bit of digging!

The start of project F5.

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m.../Photo0222.jpg

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m.../Photo0231.jpg

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m.../Photo0230.jpg

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m.../Photo0223.jpg
You can see an example of the patchiness around the driver's door handle

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m.../Photo0225.jpg
Paint starting to go "crazed"

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m.../Photo0226.jpg

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m.../Photo0227.jpg

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m.../Photo0228.jpg

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m.../Photo0229.jpg

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m.../Photo0232.jpg
Engine bay will get a refresh also

Who ever sprayed the skirts didn't bother using primer, so the paint has started falling off, so as a temporary measure, I have vinyl wrapped them to tidy it up.

The front fog light cover has got a "snide" STI logo so that will need replacing.

The carbon fibre wrap on the spoiler seemed a good idea at the time but that's coming off.

I'm going to put the front indicator back in their original place - another "was a good idea at the time" ideas

I've fitted HID lights - What a difference they make, though they do seem to attract a lot of insects!!

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m.../Photo0220.jpg

The bike colour looks very similar to the Ford Melina Blue -

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...Xg1hH7fuBLUQig


:thumb:

Looking forward to seeing how you get on, my scoob is also getting poorly with age so need to think about a revamp as i couldnt sell it would break my heart lol

Unfortunately, IMO silver doesn't age very well and it's a nightmare to match up and spray. Also it didn't help my neighbour deciding to redesign the N/S front wing - the replacement is 406 silver - but it's lighter than the rest of the car, not to mention the wing has been keyed. It was the best I could get at the time so can't complain too much.

Does look similar!

To Do List

1. Steam clean engine
2. Tidy up engine bay / pipework
3. Fit flamer kit
4. Cut / fit mesh for front bumper
5. Refit front indicators
6. Fit UK spec rear lights
7. Fit oil catch tank
8. Change rear foglight switch to a genuine Subaru switch
9. Move I/C spray to front bumper
10. Repaint brake calipers and fit Mintex pads
11. Convert the rear spoiler into an air brake
12. Remove the piggies from the door mirrors

:cool::thumb:

A couple of little jobs done today.

I tinted the front indicators and put them back on the scoob, looks sooo much tidier now!

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m.../Photo0234.jpg


Another job, for some strange reason, JDM fuse covers are all in Japanese:wonder: so have sorted that out!

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m.../Photo0236.jpg



To Do List

1. Steam clean engine
2. Tidy up engine bay / pipework
3. Fit flamer kit
4. Cut / fit mesh for front bumper
5. Refit front indicators - DONE
6. Fit UK spec rear lights
7. Fit oil catch tank
8. Change rear foglight switch to a genuine Subaru switch - DONE
9. Move I/C spray to front bumper
10. Repaint brake calipers and fit Mintex pads
11. Convert the rear spoiler into an air brake
12. Remove the piggies from the door mirrors

Can't wait to see it finished mate :)

Some more jobs done today.

Engine bay before:

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m.../Photo0232.jpg


Engine bay after.
Rerouted and replaced a few hoses and gave the bay a little steam clean, not brilliant but a hell of a lot better, even found a can of CD2 engine detailer.

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m.../Photo0244.jpg


Mesh cut out and ready to be fitted:

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m.../Photo0242.jpg


To Do List

1. Steam clean engine - DONE
2. Tidy up engine bay / pipework - DONE
3. Fit flamer kit
4. Cut mesh for front bumper - DONE
5. Refit front indicators - DONE
6. Fit UK spec rear lights
7. Fit oil catch tank
8. Change rear foglight switch to a genuine Subaru switch - DONE
9. Move I/C spray to front bumper
10. Repaint brake calipers and fit Mintex pads
11. Convert the rear spoiler into an air brake
12. Remove the piggies from the door mirrors - DONE

Nice one Paul. Look forward to see it finished.

Thanks Steve.

Must admit, Frayz's build has giving me inspiration to sort the car out! - loads of nice touches there!
I'm on holiday for 2 weeks on Tuesday so will be spending a lot of time on the Impreza to really go to town and sort it out.

Nice to see it coming along :thumb:

How do you do No. 11 Convert the rear spoiler into an air brake ?

:norty:



Just a gimmick I've been playing around with to be a little different;):lol1:

The idea is to cut the top blade off, fit stainless steel bearings and shafts so the blade can pivot freely, stainless steel back stops so the blade returns level with springs to keep it in position when driving. An actuator will be used to bring the blade up Veyron stylee.

Will fit a microswitch under the brake pedal so that it only comes up when the brakes are used in anger.

I admit to doing a quick search but found nothing :lol1:
Be interesting to see it working :D

Iv got a v6 sti spoiler if you want one to practise on:norty:

lol, I've got a naff V5 replica spoiler on mine so cutting it up isn't a problem.

:thumb:

If you manage to find an actuator strong enough to operate it at speed it will be ripped from the car body.

Dangerous at best, so be careful fella.

You're absolutely right mate!

Problems with this project:

The spoiler is a poor GRP V5 replica and the sides are hollow - Not sure if the top blade is hollow too.
The top of the spoiler is only held on by 4 M6 bolts.
Legally, the braking system, including the lighting circuit cannot be utilised, so a new bracket will have to be made/fitted to it don't interfere with the original brake switch.
Also there's the question of where to put the actuators to keep a "standardish" look.

Simple idea in theory but a headache in reality lol - A project that can't be rushed and bodged!

Close , but no cigar :thumb:

The colour is GM/Opal/Vauxhall Crystal blue, paint code 219 according to Autocare's computer but I don't recall ever seeing a pearlescent blue Vauxhall:confused:

That colour is used on the mk4 astra cabriolet fella

Thanks for the info fella!

Looks likr the air brake project is on hold - the spoiler on the car has a few hairline cracks:(

To Do List

1. Steam clean engine - DONE
2. Tidy up engine bay / pipework - DONE
3. Fit flamer kit
4. Cut mesh for front bumper - DONE
5. Refit front indicators - DONE
6. Fit UK spec rear lights
7. Fit oil catch tank
8. Change rear foglight switch to a genuine Subaru switch - DONE
9. Move I/C spray to front bumper
10. Repaint brake calipers and fit Mintex pads
11. Convert the rear spoiler into an air brake - ON HOLD
12. Remove the piggies from the door mirrors - DONE


Flamer kit fitted - Chavtastic:norty: