robj2502

Well after owning a 98 Impreza turbo 2000 previously and then going away and getting mixed up in french tin for a little while I thought it time to come back so have been out and purchased this:

















Its a 97 turbo 2000 in what I think is called reddish blue it came with some nice parts fitted already as can be seen above with the prodrive 330mm alcon brake upgrade and prodrive wheels. It also has the 3inch HKS Hi power silent system fitted along with a ninja sports cat. It came with a nice amount of history including receipts for an engine rebuild some 50k miles ago carried out by Subaru and a shed load of service receipts

Current plans are:
keep it looking as clean as it currently does (pictures above do it no justice so will have to get some better ones over the weekend)
Get the later facelift front bumper and crystal lights (as I think it will freshen up the car)
Change the exhaust for a 2.5inch system to see if this brings any driveability benefits and find something with a smaller rear pipe (as not a fan of the 5inch) maybe the prodrive system??
Replace some of the bushes for the poly type
Anti lift kit
Coilovers
STI lower arms
Late type STI TMIC
Gauges for boost, oil temp and oil pressure
a new stereo (currently has the original Subaru tape player)
Change the steering wheel (either the later type standard Momo or an aftermarket OMP)
strut braces (front and back)
Guess thats all for now but I am sure this list will be added to over the coming months

robj2502

so the first job to be done!!:

As the car came with the original Subaru tape player (who even owns tapes anymore!!) I thought I had best invest in some kind of reasonable CD player/headunit I ended up choosing a Kenwood KDC3051G and its the G in the model number that is the important bit as that denotes green backlight which matches nicely with the rest of the dash pics below:
Before:

After:

Green backlight:

Really happy with it to be honest well worth the £55 (plus a fiver for the conversion loom) that I paid

zippy!

iTrader: (1)

looks tidy mate welcome back

robj2502

thanks very much will hopefully only get better from here

robj2502

Gave the car a clean and went out and got some better pictures over the weekend so here they are:

Irontusk86

Looks really clean mate congrats, what are your plans for it?

robj2502

Thanks very much

Plans in the near future are to source, paint and fit a facelift front bumper as I think they are much nicer than the early type and much more agressive looking. Fit some gauges so I know what the turbo is doing along with oil temp and pressure (thinking of custom making something into the centre air vent). Possibly a smaller exhaust although this HKS one is growing on me its just im not so sure the 3inch pipework is doing my lowdown power and torque any favours and a whole raft of suspension upgrades.
Then in the long term more power haha

BLU

iTrader: (27)

Nice

Looks like 65c Reddish Blue to me

robj2502

Cheers

Haha I have been trying to work out what colour it is!! Will check out reddish blue

BLU

iTrader: (27)

Look on the chassis plate under the bonnet for the code. If 65C is present its reddish blue

Looks the same colour mine was until I painted it

robj2502

You are correct BLU it is 65C reddish blue first post edited

BLU

iTrader: (27)

Make sure you keep this thread updated

ironbridge

iTrader: (3)

Prodrive Alcons look great. Car looks very tidy too!

robj2502

I will do

hopefully have some nice updates coming up next week

thanks very much the alcons do look great

Yeah it's in very good condition for the year will hopefully only get better

bioforger

iTrader: (1)

That is mint. What year is it 96 ?

robj2502

Thanks very much

It's a 97 P reg

robj2502

Well decided I wasnt liking the plastic steering wheel at all so had been looking for a replacement (untill I could afford an OMP/sparco one) that wasnt too expensive managed to find a late spec impreza MOMO wheel that was for the right money so:
Before:

and after:


It has a little wear and is a little tattty in places but is much nicer to use/hold than the plastic one and it will do for now

I have also managed to pick up a later spec low mileage gearbox, diff, shafts and prop off of a bugeye WRX for decent money so thought it would be rude not too especially as I have the very slightest hint of a crunch into second on some changes so thought it best to have the spare just in case then worst ways if the box holds out then whenever the clutch gets replaced the box etc will be fitted. Anyway here are the pics:

Kwik

iTrader: (10)

Absolutely lovely condition Rob, great example.

robj2502

Thanks very much

robj2502

Some good and bad news:

Good news
one facelift front bumper with v spec splitter:



and an STI carbon brace:


and the bad news is one of the rear dampers is completly gone so the rear of the car doesnt sit square and its making a nice rattling noise so have just had to buy two new KYB rear dampers

robj2502

Some more parts purchased:
One scoobysport mk1 exhaust with decatted downpipe (will be sticking with my existing downpipe):

and my two new rear dampers arrived:

alphaj12

So that's reddish blue, been wondering for years every time I saw it in a thread.

Looks lovely, not sure I'd facelift it but I know what you mean about it looking more aggressive.

New shocks is standard when you buy an impreza isn't it? Lol

robj2502

Yeah reddish blue is a really nice colour especially under bright sunlight (when we finally get some I will take some better pictures!!)

Thanks very much. I would prefer to keep it standard but really think the front bumper lets it down ( especially from the side where it ruins the line going from the side skirt and makes it look like there is something missing!!) and a by product of the swap is it makes it look more aggressive which lets be honest can never be bad

Haha yeah I think you may be right at least they are not terribly expensive but I would of preferred to spend the money else where.

robj2502

Went to fit the smaller exhaust today and what should have been an easy job turned into a bit of a nightmare:

So started by removing the HKS one which was a bit of a pig due to rusty fixings and cleaned everything up got the new exhaust on the hangers did up all of the fixings only to realise the back box is now touching the rear ARB!!
It looks like the downpipe is too short (and after some reading I am guessing its a new age downpipe as apparently they are shorter) as its pulling the exhaust towards the front of the car as the exhaust bushes don't sit right. It completley pi**ed me right off as it was a waste of a couple of hours as I ended up putting the HKS one back on!!

So looks like the decat downpipe will be making an appearance after all

robj2502

And more problems:
Firstly the existing down pipe is stuck on and I cannot remove the down pipe to turbo bolts/nuts for love nor money. I have tried everything heat them up rapidly cooling giving them a nudge with a hammer but nothing!! I'm going out to get a nut splitter tomorrow to see if that works but so far not having much luck with the exhaust!!
Seeing as I couldnt continue with the exhaust I thought I would swap the rear shocks for the new ones so removed one of the struts to find that the top mount is shot so I would imagine the other is the same if not worse so will need to get two new mounts before the shocks can be replaced.

So not the best start to be honest but I think I may hold out till next payday buy two new shocks for the front some decent lowering springs and I have also found some adjustable top mounts for the standard suspension and do the lot together

BLU

iTrader: (27)

Doh you are having a tough time!
I had similar problems getting mine off! I persevered and won in the end but had plenty of skin missing on my knuckles to show for it!

robj2502

Yeah it's been a tough couple of days

robj2502

Well finally managed to get the exhaust off ended up having to grind off the two top turbo to downpipe bolts which then left enough room to remove the rest so here are some pics:

Downpipes together (decat top obviously)


Exhasuts together:


3inch versus 2.5inch:


Newage and classic hangers (newage right)


Finished article:
Before:

After


So much happier with the smaller tip and it looks far neater from the back of the car. Also the car now picks up much better from low revs and seems smoother on throttle so was worth the considerable effort to swap it over

robj2502

Late spec grill turned up today:



Just need to decide on keeping the v spec splitter or getting a P1 type one

robj2502

it was nice Sunday and I was bored so thought I would go get some pictures: