orangemuffin

Hi, so wanted to throw up a build thread to track my progress but also to get some feedback to..So jumping straight in..here is the car in question.



Spec is - 1997 Wrx Sti Wagon (Import) with 69k on the clock. No tax but MOTtill September 13.

Stolen Recovered, thrashed, used, abused, crashed and generally treated like **** for god knows how long..but was won by me and 2 others in a Ebay auction for £1020. Pics show were taken from the ebay advert.

Car was located in St Leonard on sea....and we all live in the midlands so after the initial call was put in. The Sunday after the auction ended we were on our way on the 4 hr drive to collect it.

Now, the reason why there was 3 of us buying the car was that we have decided to take part in 'the great rally' which is basically a big euro roadtrip starting in Brussels and ending up in Amsterdam but stopping off at theRing, Chur, Spiez, Stelvio, Bolzano, Maribor, Budapest, Venice, Bratislava,Prague and Dusseldorf on the way.

We had a very long list of cars in mind, for ages we were convinced a BMW328 was the car for us, then it was a lexus is200 but once a Impreza was thought of there was no real going back and we sourced one pretty quick. Awagon was a must, something quick, reliable, fun but also cheapish and effective. To land this for 1k was at the time a bargain (or so we thought)

When we arrived we were greeted with the car. All good on the outside…butthe test drive alerted us to the stupid big wheels, lowered suspension and one horrendous scrubbing and rubbing issue as soon as someone over 2 stone got in the back. Ithink if the car had cost us any serious money we would have walked away but we found it funny if anything and handed over the money – happy days.







The journey home identified a multitude of problems with our new purchase. Firstly, the brakes seemed to be made of chocolate, none of the electrics on the right hand side of the car worked. The rear bumper was hanging off, the bonnet latch was broken along with the fuel cap latch, the grille was broken and it pulled horribly to the left….But we got it home and sat on it for a few weeks till we were all free to meet up and start the work.

JonMc

iTrader: (51)

Not a bad price for a good project

orangemuffin

First up on the cards was a good clean.



Then the work began....



Managed to fix the grille and bonnet latch straight off but found a nice big hole under the spare wheel and a lot of broken glass..Sorry, no pic...but we patched it up with some metal we had.



We then fixed the electrical problem by simply putting all the conections back together in the drivers side rear inspection panel. Why someone had taken them apart I have no idea but the rear clusters were full of water so out they came to be drained.


and once all put back together that was it for a day.

orangemuffin

Next I went and paid this a visit.






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and grabbed the stock rear springs of it...tbh by the time I got there there was much left.

Then ordered some bolt on's for it...



Cleaned out all the intake system and refitted it also as it wasnt sitting in the car right at all. Noticed the improved pick up straight away. Hate induction kits with a passion so I always go for a good panel filter.

Then for pure ***** and giggles we got this


There is no way we were going on a euro road trip with without one.Although as soon as were back it's coming off.

Then this came....



Again, If I only used the car for the weekly shop at Tesco's then granted it would be bull **** but for the trip it could prove its worth...so for the sake of the trip its on.

orangemuffin

Next up was the braking issue....

The car came fitted with EBC Red Stuff pads which we all know are track pads. They take a while to warm up and they probably were not the most sensible pads to have on the car so we swapped them for some Pagids all round...However, we found why the car pulled so badly to the left...this was becuase we only had 1 front brake. The drivers caliper was seized up like a good one but 3 hours of swearing later we were back in the game. Was a long day.

Then on went the new springs...



which sorted the rubbing and scrubbing issue out.

orangemuffin

Then some more of the cars original bits were sourced on ebay.

Load Cover - to keep all our stuff hidden across Europe.



and for some reason the Head Rests had been taken out ?? so in went new one's.

orangemuffin

So this was now how the car was sitting and with a fresh oil change it now had a new lease of life. It sounded 100 times better than when we first got it and felt so much tighter and more responsive. Funny what an oil change can do sometimes. God knows the last time it had one. Anyways...fresh stance and a another good clean..

orangemuffin

Then....er, this happened.





Not bad for £22's worth of Halfrauds primer / Stealth black & Laquer....alot of cleaning, sanding and prep...they have come out pretty decent. Oh, and changed the worse tyre on the car with a good part worn with 6mm on.

Actually starting to feel like were bringing this car back from the grasps of death now. Such a nicer car than when we first got it.

trails

iTrader: (41)

ebay FTW

orangemuffin

Yep, deffo...pretty much everything off the car has come from ebay so far.



***also, sticker disclaimer - There for the road trip purpose only***

trails

iTrader: (41)

good work, great feeling to achieve stuff on budget

can't see photos at work, photobucket is blocked

v5 man

iTrader: (4)

Excellent fun project and I totally get the stickers/VTA dump valve reasons

orangemuffin

Cheers Buddy, Yeah, the valve and stickers are just a bit of fun. Valve will sound good going through those Swiss tunnels at least. Everytime we drive it we all just pi$$ ourselves laughing at the psssssss noise.

Embrace the chav.

v5 man

iTrader: (4)

I think you're missing a "lucky charm" hanging from your rear tow eye, which in my opinion is perfect to compliment everything else you're doing

orangemuffin

OMG, you're right.

McDonalds Happy Meal Smurf toy is needed !!!!

orangemuffin

Big weekend on the car as running out of time now before the trip so it was big push time.

New front springs fitted on friday, front of the car seems very high but
Practicality will have to endeavour over style on thisoccasion.

On with the work anyway..

New filter on



then time to finsih the rims



prep made easy !




Primed, painted and awaiting laquer

hpoolsteve

iTrader: (4)

Genius Idea

orangemuffin

Then onto the big clean...

started with a good foaming







once all done with level 1 cleaning on to level 2





This is after a round of clay all over, another wash and the pre wax





Then waxed all over.











Little touch for the trip



Then threw these on as had them going spare in the garage from my Jetta build. Didnt even realise they were the same fitment. Fluke really.



and then were done....





....

to finsih here's a snap shot of my chosen kit.



Foamed with demon wash with a bit of glossworks added to give it a bit of extra density. Then fully washed with Meguiars wool mits and gloss works. Calyed used meduim valet pro with demon shine lube...and then washed again with maxi suds. Pre waxed using valet pro achilles prep and then waxed with collinite.

Firez34

iTrader: (5)

That's the best card trick I've ever seen, well done guy's & have a safe trip.

funkmasterjay

Awesome. Well done mate. Hope ou guys no roughly enjoy the trip.

trails

iTrader: (41)

just need some smoked side repeaters...wheels look cool

trails

iTrader: (41)

and front indicators

orangemuffin

Cheers, yeah, had thought about changing them for clears / smoked but will probably leave them now.

Rims look ok in pics but are dodgy as anything. Going in the bin as soon as were back (if we keep it)

orangemuffin

Well, Trip was amazing and car was truley awesome on the trip.

Its also now UP FOR SALE - £1200







All stickers now removed...if youre intrested drop me a line on 07966595435. Sorry cant seem to post a for sale add.