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I think I've caught the bug. Bought an '03 WRX STi a couple of weeks ago as a garage princess and as much as I love it, my mind is already turning to mods.
1/. Deep clean (£400) for full valet - car formerly lived on a farm so there's some mud underneath, and paintwork could do with some tlc.
2/. Remap - think it's never been mapped, but has induction kit and Cobra back cat (£500).
3/. New mats / gear **** (£120)
4/. Brakes
5/. Forged engine / engine rebuild ? (£5k+)
6/. What's those red things on some modded Impreza's you can see through the grill? Looks awesome 😀
7/. New turbo?!
Think I've already spent £10k modding a £7k car.... What's your list? Looking for inspiration....
Looks very similar to my STI. Mines totally standard but 2 friends have well established mods on theirs so given the choice between a conservatory for the missus or improving the car my list so far is
Decat exhaust system
Improved discs/pads all round
uprated clutch/flywheel
800cc injectors
255 fuel pump
Decent exhaust manifold
Performance radiator
Turbo (tba)
Not sure about ecu yet
Cosworth panel filter
Possibly some handling improvements
My mate runs his as a daily with 411bhp and has done 20k in it in 3 years without an issue, and did it with a similar budget to me so hopefully I have the same luck.
Personally on my classic this would be christmas/ lotto win for me :
1. Bigger turbo (standard fit, if not go rotated) maybe more depending on which turbo
2. Supping mods for said turbo - fmic, bigger injectors (740+), uprated fuel pump (min 255) , cold air induction kit
3. Decent aftermarket ecu with lc/al/boooooooooost (apexi)
4. Strong 6 speed gearbox with all associated shafts / diffs
5. Fpr, 3 port bcs
Then I could start on the rest of the car!! Haha suspension/brakes etc
I'd add a 3 port boost solenoid at the same time as the new turbo, and also get a decent catch can set up. Once it's been mapped it'll be plenty fast enough.
After that I'd have a look at handling mods. Suspension refresh or coilovers, Arb's and drop links, anti lift kits, new bushes, basically whatever takes your fancy from the whiteline or superpro catalogue.
And brakes. The brembos are good but can be made even better with a brake stopper and some braided hoses. Plus decent pads.
After phase one
Engine bay
Phase 2
Rust on arches
Phase 3
Suspension and brakes
Cost probably twice what the car was worth
Phase four starts on the Greenwagon in the autumn
Underneath where nobody sees
Everything Rusty to be replaced
Wishbones
Rear subframe
By Subaru parts and will be powder coated blue before fitting
All nuts and bolts
All other bits to be replaced by hardrace bits
All cleaned and undersealed and black and blue
After phase one
Engine bay
Phase 2
Rust on arches
Phase 3
Suspension and brakes
Cost probably twice what the car was worth
Phase four starts on the Greenwagon in the autumn
Underneath where nobody sees
Everything Rusty to be replaced
Wishbones
Rear subframe
By Subaru parts and will be powder coated blue before fitting
All nuts and bolts
All other bits to be replaced by hardrace bits
All cleaned and undersealed and black and blue
The brief is an open cheque book job for Rob
Then phase five is being thought about for 2017
That looks smart. May I ask how much the respray set you back? Would love to have mine resprayed/new bodywork trim, but I'm thinking a bill of at least £5k (I absolutely would not trust myself to do this).
Ohlins
Arb front n rear
Anti lift kit
And few more suspension mods car is finished then
I don't see need at the moment to go 2.35 but it's a possibility
56/58mm silicon intake hose with one take off for the recirc valve.
Like hens teeth can't find a decent one anywhere
RCM have been waiting ages for stock from Samco
Patience is a wonderful thing. I waited ages and a full set of samco came up on here and the intake hose a few weeks later. water hoses were brand new and the intake was as new. Got the whole lot for £200
Keep checking a few times a day because you have tobe quick
56/58mm silicon intake hose with one take off for the recirc valve.
Like hens teeth can't find a decent one anywhere
RCM have been waiting ages for stock from Samco
Yes, I'd like one too.
My mods inc. the Forge MY97/98-pattern recirc DV and an oil catchtank setup, so all I need is a quality silicone with just the single takeoff. As you say, like RCM's one.
That looks smart. May I ask how much the respray set you back? Would love to have mine resprayed/new bodywork trim, but I'm thinking a bill of at least £5k (I absolutely would not trust myself to do this).
The rear arches were £140
Plastic trim was £100 aprox
Cutting out amd fitting was about £700 as there was other work does at the time
So under a grand
Money well spent
Not sure how much a full respray would be