My Blobeye WRX 2.35 Project
 

Owned my car since Feb 2008 so thought it about time it got it's own thread, as you can guess by the title there is a 2.35 on the way :D

But first lets have a bit of history from a fairly standard WRX PPP in 2008 to how it is now ;)

2008
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e.../SilverWRX.jpg

Although I had had experience of driving much quicker cars this was the fastest car I had ever owned, I thought that would be that, after years of wanting one I finally had my scooby. The modding began when Gemma (my wife) said I needed a new gear knob as the standard 'let the car down' :lol1:
So I hunted on the internet, found scoobynet and a prodrive gear knob. Perhaps in hindsight this is now something she regrets lol

Anyhow I quickly wanted more power and driveability and began speaking to Dave Ball at Tileys in Bristol, you could say the rest was history lol, the initial power hike was planned as a decat uppipe, prodrive cat, straight through centre section and rcm backbox. Then along came an sti tmic, vf35 and pink injectors just in time for it's first remap with Bob :lol1:

By September 2008 power had gone from 265bhp to 330 ish

Also durng this time I attempted my first styling mod, well we live and learn by our mistakes lol

http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e...DSC00257-1.jpg

That grill didn't last long!

As I had done a substansial power hike the next few years were all about styling and handling, here a few pictures of the evolution over the years.

http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e...d/DSC00370.jpg
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e...DSC00399-1.jpg
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e...DSC00439-1.jpg

First track day April 2009
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e...eCombe-1-1.jpg
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e...d/DSC00661.jpg
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e...d/DSC00659.jpg
Along came my greddy lip, xmas 2010
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e...DSC00807-1.jpg
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e.../Feb09-2-1.jpg
Lip balanced out with side skirts from ABW
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e...d/DSC00876.jpg
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e...avourite-1.jpg
More track pics
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e.../PAD2010-3.jpg

looks really good matey,you do know big power will destroy your 5 speed right?

Oops didn't realise I'd posted that, here are some more pics
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e...d/INT_9067.jpg

Japfest 2011
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e...fest2011-1.jpg

My brakes decided to pack up, my discs had cracked so a full set of ksports were found and fitted, spec at this stage is;
So spec at this stage and where I want to really start this thread from is;

Engine:
Decat uppipe
Prodrive sportscat with blanket
RCM centre section and backbox
VF35
STi Pink 550 injectors
STi intercooler
Walbro fuel pump
Green cotton panel filter
NGK PF7RB plugs
Stelrab 30row oil cooler
Fuchs titan/silkolene oil
Mapped by Bob Rawle

Suspension/brakes/wheels:
Tein-S-Tech springs
Whiteline 24mm rear arb with whiteline alloy droplinks
Whiteline 22mm front arb with Perrin droplinks
Whiteline anti lift kit
Front strut brace
K Sport 8 pot 356mm front brakes
K Sport 6 pot 356mm rear brakes
Carbotech XP10 pads
Godspeed rear handbrake shoes
Hel braided brake lines
Castrol SRF brake fluid
Buddy Club 18" alloys with yokohama parada spec 2 tyres for road use
18" innovit redlines with hankook semi slicks for track use

Exterior:
Greddy front lip
ABW side skirts
Scoobyworld mudflaps
Debadged upper front grill
Headlights detangoed and black light mod
8000k HID headlight kit
Tewiga rear tow hook
STi bonnet scoop with undertray
STi rear spoiler
STI fog light covers
PIAA sport horn

Interior:
Sony headunit with bluetooth
Single din pocket
Prodrive gearknob
Subaru WRX embossed mats
Prosport boost/oil temp/oil pressure gauges in centre pod
Sabelt 4 point harnesses
Momo Jet steering wheel

So with the wedding presents stuck on and me wanting more power it's time to get serious and raise the bar. So in 2011 I began collecting parts for a build and more power, this currently includes a set of RCM headers, perrin front mount, ej20 cdb, STI AVCS heads and a full 3" rcm exhaust system.

2012

So this year, I had an EJ20 cdb which I was planning to turn into a 2.1, but it always felt like my second option really. SO when this came up for sale locally to me I knew I had to have it :)
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e...d/DSCF1520.jpg

I knew I had to sort out the car management so a visit to Bob to get my 3" RCM exhaust system and a 3 port boost solenoid valve mapped in along with a new ecu and decided this was the best way to go :)
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e...d/DSCF1515.jpg

April this year
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e...D28thApril.jpg

More or less how it looks now
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e...d/DSCF1627.jpg

Current spec as above now includes a set of Tein Masterflex coilovers, here are some pics of the fitting session with my mate Andy making the mistake of agreeing to help me out lol

http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e...inprogress.jpg
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e...d/oldshock.jpg
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e...newshockon.jpg

Umm yes thanks lol

I had toyed with a few ideas before taking the plunge with a full on build. I had done too much to the car to get rid of, and before anyone says yes in hindsight starting with an STi would have been a better starting point, but I wasn't to know what I was getting myself into and I have done too much to her to change, also my wife has bought me too many things for it so if I change it now I may as well pop into the divorce lawyers on the way back lol. Besides this way I get more choice on what to do with things like the gearbox etc.

In 2010 the car officially became a toy as my work moved and I began getting the train to work. I'm using the car more and more for track days so the quest for more power begins, I've been running at safe limits for the gearbox and engine for sometime now, for a while I toyed wiht the idea of pushing the limits to the edge by going to about 380-400 but I realised this would be right on the edge, but I also knew that it wouldn't be long before I would want more, I didn't like the idea of being restricted so a full build became the new plan :)

It was actually quite a while until I engaged with a builder, I like to take my time and consider the different options so it wasn't until Feb this year that the build began. I had spoken with a number of tuners and after some careful consideration I chose Paul Finch to do the build :)

how you finding the k-sports matey?

Good reading Iain,really looking forward to seeing the progress:)

Looking forward to this Iain :)

Some pics of the engine;
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e...ord/235003.jpg
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e...ord/235006.jpg
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e...ilford1004.jpg

Engine spec;
EJ22 cdb
Wiseco ceramic coated pistons
Crower rods
Subaru nitraded crank shaft
JDM big port avcs heads (with a touch of porting and general tweaking :) )
Supertech valve train
Lateral cams
14mm head studs

RCM baffled sump
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e...d/DSCF1873.jpg
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e...d/DSCF1867.jpg
Got to love RCM's attention to detail, lightweight sump plug I think?!?!!!!
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e...d/DSCF1870.jpg

Project thread mmmmm :thumb::thumb::thumb:

Subscribed Iain, good luck with it :thumb:

I put that RCM sump on mine, you gonna run the track attack catch can and bypass?

The holes in the sump plug are to lock wire through and onto some where to stop the plug from ever coming undone :thumb:
They look the b*llocks and I am going to ring Olly to get one lol

Some Engine porn there Ian! Look forward to the updates...

Cheers Ryan and Banny, decided to take the plunge and post my own thread up, feeling a little out of my depth as I'm not as DIY or experienced as many on here but I will be needing some help along the way :thumb:

Shreksta, I find the Ksports and carbotech pads really good thanks, the only thing I have to compare them to though are what I was running before, which was the WRX 4 pot fronts with which I had the godspeed 335 mm conversion kit, 2 pot rears, ds2500's and hel brake lines. That set up worked pretty well and the k sports are a big improvement over that set up, no fade on track and lots of feel from the pads. Cant compare them to brembos or AP's but for me and the money I paid they are very good, although if you dont do many track days dont go for the carbotechs because they squeal like a bi8ch under normal driving conditions :)

After 4+ years of being a member on here I have just worked out how to multi quote :lol1:

Cheers Steve, yes that's the plan, maybe santa will be kind this year:D

PMSL!! I thought the .5 grams of weight saving was essential when running high power Ryan!

Thanks Kwik, going to take a while but I want to do it right and not cut corners :)

When we spoke and a thread was mentioned I said yours without doubt deserved a project thread mate.
Going by the parts it's going to be very very nice indeed:)

PMSL!! I thought the .5 grams of weight saving was essential when running high power Ryan!

:lol1: That does come into it as well.............:D

Other parts I've been collecting include a perrin fmic, RCM headers and a freshly powdercoated newage inlet manifold.

http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e...d/DSCF1619.jpg
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e...d/DSCF1620.jpg

Another recent addition, speedline turini's. they're in a picture above but any chance to show them off ;) Actually the 4th set of wheels I've had for the car and finally a set of wheels I want to keep!
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e...d/DSCF1615.jpg
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e...d/DSCF1625.jpg
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e...d/DSCF1623.jpg

Nice one Ian and nice write up :thumb:

Agreed on the RCM baffled sump,looks great


Jura

Very pleased with myself today. For a few months now I've had a knocking coming from the front suspension. It's been completely random, no consistency at all when it happenend. It was actually this knocking that caused me to fit the tein coilovers sooner rather than later, always part of the plan and probably better to sort the suspension before fitting a 500bhp motor.

Anyway I have been completely scratching my head over this, after the coilovers were fitted the noise was less but still there (annoying) I was thinking I'm going to have polybush the front end which is a few hundred pounds I dont really want to be spending at the moment. Also a knock may be a simple fix but can take hours to find it and with only having very limited tools at home I was afraid of incurring hours of labour charges at a garage.


Fortunately it turned out to be a VERY simple fix.



Jacked the car up.



Took the front wheels off.



Greased the front arb bushes.



FIXED!!

:luxhello:

Simple I know but hey, we live and learn :lol1:

Thanks Jura :)

Engine looks very nice .Good project . Did Paul finch clean and paint the block as part of the engine build or did you get it done Yourself ?

Andy

Brilliant write up Iain seems I was in a similar position to yourself being advised to sell up and buy an sti :cuckoo: same as you I'm getting my car the way I want it and changing things as I go along :thumb:

Looking forward to this, good luck mate ;)

Martin

Paul has done everything Andy and i'm pretty sure that the block has just been cleaned and not painted ;)

cheers Martin :)

Engine cases are soda blasted, i don't paint anything on Subaru engines.

Great thread, sounds like you've got a monster in the making. If I get my block looking half as clean as that when I give mine freshen up over the winter I'll be over the moon:thumb:

I was right then :D

Cheers Jon :thumb:

My car has spent some time in the bodyshop recently, I chose Ryan (Prodrive Rules) to do the work after all the good reports I have read and seen of his work on here, and I wasn't disappointed.

I have never really been happy with how my splitter was fitted, bit of a monkey job tbh, they didn't make any attempt to trim it for a nice fit, and after I moaned filled in the gaps with sealant and sprayed it. The paint is even a slightly different shade of silver. Getting it fitted properly was always the plan as part of this project, but I was going to wait until it was getting cut to make way for the perrin front mount and do it then.

However it seemed my MOT tester thought I should get it done sooner when he had a little accident with my car ............

http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e...-09-20-079.jpg
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e...-09-20-080.jpg
That nasty sealant
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e...-09-20-081.jpg

How it looks now :luxhello:
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e...d/IMG_0596.jpg
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e...d/IMG_0595.jpg
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e...d/IMG_0597.jpg
http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/e...d/IMG_0598.jpg

Very pleased with how it looks now and I can begin to move on with the rest of my project :thumb:

Looks a good job there mate. Ryan's work is quality and although he lives hours away from me I pop my parts in the post to him to sort out :thumb: one day when funds allow ill let him re spray the whole of the car :D

Again good work Iain :thumb:

Martin

Thanks Martin I am very pleased with how it looks now, much better than how it was before. Oh I have your handbrake shoes ready to go in the post tomorrow for you mate :)