Hi guys.
Bit bored, so after about 7 years of being on scoobynet I'm going to start a project thread!
I'll start with a little history and story or how i came into the scooby world and then get you all up to speed as to where I am now, and hopefully I'll remember to update it as I progress!
So back up to 2009, I was still in my low 20's and had just been made redundant from a decentish paid job and I found i could only get a job at a supermarket. So I sold my remapped B6 Audi A4 2.5tdi quattro sport that I had spent quite a lot on and was in the market for something cheaper but i wanted something at least as quick as my previous car.. well some of my younger mates were banging on about subaru imprezas because they were quick and relatively cheap, and one had just got a V5 2.0 sport for his first car and I thought it was actually quite a nice looking car (previously I hated subarus as they had been a staple chav car) and then I happened to run into an ex work colleague who had just bought a turbo2000 and let me test drive it. After overtaking 3 cars in a row in a national speed limit with ease i was won over. I was definately getting an impreza!
So I went on the look for a version 6 with around 70k on the clock which was standard, and after looking for a few weeks I went to view a green v veg. I wasnt too bothered about the colour but the car was the right price and spec so I went and viewed it and it was in pristine condition and completely standard and seemed to be just what I wanted.. at this point I was probably a bit too excited and it didn't help I wasn't allowed to test the car myself.. I was taken for a drive by the seller and everything seemed fine so I bought it there an then. At first I was just surprised how quick the car was, it gave you butterflies at the end of the gear (I now realise the car wasn't standard) so cruising home i soon I notice the steering is a little iffy. I wasn't too fussed I'll just get the alignment done.. then I start to notice a funny rattle.. in the background.. but onlt noticabe at mid rpm.. maybe a shield rattling? well I'll get it fully serviced anyway and checked over.. get home and looking around the car.. had been raining on the way home.. boot carpet is sodden. Meh it's still quick.. well I took it to get serviced and checked over.. turns out the steering rack is bent and the rattle is death rattle. Suspected piston 3. Fuming to say the least. I checked the guys details I bought from. Turns out he's selling several cars as a private seller.. quick check online confirms if you sell more than 3 cars a year (I think) you classed as a dealer and have to sell a car correctly described.. quick call to the seller and I'm off a fee days later for a full refund! Lucky.
So desperate for another I start looking and found myself struggling. After a few weeks and desperate for a car I found another green one. 70k, exhaust, tints, at a garage and only an hour away, so I went to view it with a lift from a mate. This one was visually a POS. The car was in a state. Got taken out for a test drive again and can see the guy holding the steering wheel wonky and it keeps stalling coming up to every junction. So obviously no good, i get in my mates car and ask if it's worth just viewing another one I rang up about earlier which wasnt too far away from where we were, but was more expensive and had higher mileage than I was looking for and a lot of owners, but to make the most out of a trip we went.
Pulled up to the garage this one was at. Saw it straight away and I turn to my mate and said "that's what it should look like!"
Had a GOOD look around it, the things spotless, Not a mark, I'm under the car and nothings bent, and it's clean too. Ask for a test drive, And get handed the keys - At last someone's letting me test drive the car! Took it out. The cars straight and tight, And the engines quieter and has no rattle of any kind and is smooth. Stuff 2/3 owners and low mileage I think. It only takes one bad owner to wreck a car! And that's it I was having this silver one. So after some hefty bargaining as I didn't even have the asking price and the sales guy had to get the manager for the lowest possible price, I saved about 500 on forecourt price. And came home with me was my current W reg royal silver Version 6 turbo 2000. Completely standard except for a forge BOV.



TBC..

 

So I've got my impreza. One which wasn't broken when I bought it lol. As I said it was more miles than I was looking for (advertised as 90k but had 98k lol) And Its had 10 previous owners!! But supposedly 4 of them had been in the same family(?!).
But this was effectively an inbetween car for me until I got a better job, And as I said it was spotless, so I was happy! I was literally going to just put an exhaust on it for the burble as it had the standard twin exit pea shooter and that was it. (Or so I thought!)
I get my back box sorted within a few weeks and was very happy with the sound! Generally the car was great! And it was for few months! I'm just driving normally and I notice my water temp gauge a bit high.. take it to the garage. It's bloody overheating and its a suspected head gasket!
After being stripped down, turns out it's a cracked head! So a new head was sourced and it was built back up with the addition of a performance gasket (sold as Roger Clark but I'm not sure if it is now I know more about this garage - I don't go there anymore but that's another story all together lol) and a new cambelt kit and oil change and by now the bill I've just had means I'm going to be keeping the car a little longer than planned!
So I continue ordering a few bits and get some work done.. I was desperate at the time for some carbon fibre and got a decent priced sti style carbon wing and I also wanted the FMIC look ( yes I'm aware an fmic isn't really required until you have 400hp+ but modding is about what you want and I had already now started dreaming of more power, if anything this future proofing loll) I also fitted a decat downpipe and centre section.









TBC..

 

So I think I also fitted a turbo timer and obviously air filter with the fmic, and I decided on more power and as my garage had told me my turbo was on the way out I got a td05 16g and a samco inlet hose. thing is I was on a budget and thought, hell, how bad can an cheap china eBay turbo be?! Haha. 12miles it lasted. I drove it home from the garage and let it cool.down on the turbo timer.. left it an hour and went to take my mate out in it, warmed it up a bit then went to just spool the turbo and it started to spool then splattered and lost all turbo power. Garage couldn't find a problem so I arranged to return the turbo, but by now was so skint that I couldn't afford to post it back, Then the insurance and tax was due and I was forced to put the car off road.
Here's a pic of the offending turbo:



Now is the start of my project subaru.
At first I thought I would do just a few things. But as you probably know, it's never just a few things haha.

I took the front bumper off as I had some refitting of the bumper around a few other things (I honestly forget at this point I'm just going through a few old pics before I got really interested lol)



TBC (it's late now.. I'll be back to update more!)

 

Been busy so not updated for a bit longer than I hoped but I shall continue!
So with my car off the road I sorted out a turbo (went for a vf23 as it has the largest exhaust housing, shared with the vf22 but a smaller compressor allowing quicker spool and less lag.. also these turbos were fitted to the 22b so o thought I'd give it a go..) And whilst waiting to get myself sorted to afford the insurance etc I got little bits like a radiator hose kit etc..
Then I started the oh I'll just get this bit whilst I have this off and I'll do that and well you guys know..
So I started buying bits and at some point w few years ago I made the decision I was just going to keep the car for fun and learning and to eventually get it to track spec.. so in no order Ive ended up doing the following:
Equal length manifold(won it via bidding for practically nothing so thought what the hell - I'll get a different one in the future but I wanted to try out an unequal length manifold..
Got a perrin 3 port boost solenoid under recommendation of the standard being crap.
Got a new performance radiator to help cooling
Went to larger side feed 550cc injectors and high flow fuel rails, but sold that set up as I didn't like the quality and went for a top feed conversion with 565cc injectors which I've had cleaned and flow tested. I also set up a parallel fuel rail for reliability (and coolness haha) with an aem adjustable FPR.
Got an up pipe which I've ensured matches my manifold.
I got some inlet thermal raisers to help temps.
Also got a 12mm oil pump with updated pressure relief valve from AA to help reliability.
Got a RCM baffled sump plate.
RCM low temp thermostat.
Got some 17" Rota grid wheels.
Carbon bonnet and front diffuser.
I've also painted a lot of my engine parts.
In preparation for tracking the car I've removed the ABS and aircon and I've also removed the standard HVAC system and will make my own lightweight demister.
Started chipping away at sound deadening.
Removed front bulkhead sound deadening
Removes carpet throughout.
Removed rear trim And door cards (leaving front atm for functionality.
Got sparco 4 point harnesses.
Have a rear fia approved firewall.
Have a full rear brembo 2 pot fitting kit and calipers but need discs and pads
TBC..

 

well done for sticking with it, look forward to seeing the progression.

 

Another update to get this thread up to where I am now and then I can continue it as it happens!
First I'm sure after all the text above I need to upload some pics of the car as it is..

Most recent:


Old photo trial fitting bumper with front diffuser



Fia approved firewall. Requires fitting - need to sort out a welder.



Here's some random pics of the engine bay. I have wrapped my intercooler pipe from intercooler to engine I gold heat wrap too.
Also you may see my turbo is colourful. Had spare paint lol. Polished my compressor side aswell and I mildly ported and polished my turbo compressor inlet and outlet as well as ported/up pipe matched my exhaust side as Well as smoothed around the Watergate to prevent creep.

 

Things left to do to get the car on the road:
Fit all rad/coolant hoses
Fit vacuum lines and 3 port boost solenoid.
Catch can fitment and piping
Tighten down turbo to up pipe and fit down pipe/rest of system
Sort clutch return spring (my spring and bracket have disappeared?!?! Never even took them off. Bought a new spring.. need to sort out bracket.
Sort out power steering system. I wanted to relocate my power steering res as it's in the way.. got a new age pump but it has a different pulley spline( I have a light weight pulley for a gc8) and the pipe connections are different.. I want just the adapter but struggle to find it for sale in England lol. (No local subaru garage unfortunately)
Fit intercooler and piping
Fit front bumper
Fit oil cooler and mocal sandwich plate - unfortunately doesn't fit with my headers but been advised it will fit if I remove the oil modine.
Fit rear brembo handbrake kit and calipers. (Require discs and pads)
Fit front brakes (none at the moment - thinking of getting Godspeed AP kit 330mm.)
Engine oil (going for titan I think, 10w50 possibly)
Gearbox oil.
Need to fit front and rear whiteline roll bars and anti lift kit.
Need to pipe in brake lines from master cylinder. I have an adjustable brake bias valve. (ABS delete)
Need to fit front bucket seats (getting sparco grid IIs - my standard ones are up for sale )
Need to fit rear bumper.
Need to fit dash and demister system(req an inline fan)
ABW arches (40mm) required (having a mate make spacers for now at an aerospace engineering company before going widetrack and getting wider wheels with correct offset)

Things I want in the future:
Roll cage, weld in.
Lexan side and rear windows
Fibre glass doors and roof
Carbon fibre bootlid
Custom rear diffuser
Fully rebuilt and forged CDB 2.5 with avcs heads.
Rotated turbo kit
Wide track 6 speed conversion
Full respray
Uprated suspension.. not sure on coilovers or just springs and dampers.
Will be looking to aim for 600bhp appx in the future, although power for now when remapped will be aiming for somewhere between 320-350bhp.

I'm sure I've missed plenty of things out but that's as much as I can remember for now. I will continuing updating his thread as it happens now, although it won't be quick as I have a lot of things to do and if you've seen another thread I've posted, I'm currently going through the process of getting my bike licence sorted out lmao.
TBC!