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Old 08-18-2015, 12:27 AM   #1
Recoil
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Member#: 278895
Join Date: Apr 2011
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Olympia, WA
Vehicle:
2004 GG WRX
@s hitwgn (no spaces)

Default 04 WRX Wagon - a different approach.

Disclaimer: Many of you will find the content in this thread to be sacrilegious in nature.

A bit of history:

When I decided to tear this car down and rebuild it from the ground up, I had been having a sour taste in my mouth regarding the Subaru "scene" for some time. The 2004 WRX had been my dream car since I had seen the early commercials for them on TV. For a time after I purchased my WRX, I was enticed by many of the things that are now stereotypical of Subaru owners. This turned into doing the typical "full bolt ons" build. I enjoyed this fully for a short period of time and almost over night became sick of it. I started to fall further and further away from the brand-biased nonsense that unfortunately plagues a lot of this community.

Somewhere between the endless photos of Subarus with mud flaps and knock off wheels all over the internet, I felt it was time to push in my own direction with the car. I looked at all of the car makes and models that I liked, and borrowed ideas where appropriate. It made sense to me to strip the car down to its bare bones and start fresh. In retrospect, I should have sold the car and bought a shell to work with.

Here's the car when I made the choice to push in the direction I'm headed now. I often look back at photos like this and wonder what the hell I'm doing.


The story so far:

When people ask me if I'm building a show car, I always respond something like this: "I'm building a car that will hopefully be so well built that I can bring it to and enter it in a show. I want a driving car first." I've tried to keep that attitude foremost in my mind as I go along through this process.

I had a vision in my head of the direction I wanted to go. I knew I wanted to build a car that would put me in the 500AWHP-600AWHP range. I also wanted very aggressive body styling with a focus on function as opposed to form. I drew up this sketch once I had made decisions about how I wanted to proceed. It should give you an idea of the direction I'm going.


After doing most of the major tear down on the car, I sent it up to Godspeed Fabrication to have the first of the fabrication work completed. I had decided that if I wanted to make the car truly wide body, I should give it big enough wheel wells to take advantage of the new roomier fenders. In addition, I deleted some brackets and had the unnecessary holes in the engine bay, and the firewall welded.




None of the off the shelf full wide body kits really caught my eye, so I decided to mix and match parts from two manufactures to get the look that I was after. The front fenders are Chargespeed vented +25mm. The rear fenders are L'aunsport. Here they are, along with a Chargespeed lip mocked up onto the car.


The car sits just about 6 feet wide front and rear and has room for a 12" wide wheel inside the wheel wells.

At this point I felt confident about the direction I was taking the car and finished tearing the car down to a bare shell. I spent a lot of time cleaning, degreasing and removing excess seam sealer. It's still not where it needs to be, but it is incredibly tedious work, so I do as much as I can in a sitting. Due to some really poor decision making and workmanship somewhere in the car's history, I also had to remove the roof skin that was on it.




Most recently the car was mocked up with a mock up EJ257 and V7 STI 6 speed and sent up to Speedfactory Racing to have the exhaust system built. That is where the car is located right now.
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Old 08-18-2015, 12:27 AM   #2
Recoil
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 278895
Join Date: Apr 2011
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Olympia, WA
Vehicle:
2004 GG WRX
@s hitwgn (no spaces)

Default

UPDATED MOD-LIST AUG 2016

Anything with a[*] next to it still needs to be sourced/purchased.

Exterior
JDM rain guards
JDM fog light bezels
JDM multi-color fog lights
JDM GD roof vent[*]
USDM 04/05 STI front bumper cover
USDM Saab 9-2x roof rail deletes
USDM Saab 9-2x rear bumper cover
USDM Saab 9-2x hatch
USDM Saab 9-2x tail lights
Morette 04/05 STI headlights[*]
APR Front under-tray[*]
Chargespeed front lip
Chargespeed vented 20mm front fenders
Kaminari reverse cowl hood
Singular Motorsports hood louvers
Aerocatch locking hood latches
L'aunsport 25mm GG rear wide body
Shine Auto Project side skirts
Liberal grille[*]
SAA turn signal mirrors
ABW passenger headlight dummy with NACA duct
Voltex Type H2S II hatchback GT wing
Voltex GD diffuser

Interior
02-07 WRX/STI dash - trimmed and electrostatically flocked
05-07 WRX/STI center console - trimmed and electrostatically flocked
02-07 JDM red hazard button
Sparco Pro2000 seat
Flossy super heavy griptape knob
Aerosim Research Carbon fiber front door panels

Electronics
Link G4 ECU[*]
RacePak digital cluster[*]
Mojave box windshield defroster[*]
Iwire milspec harness[*]

Motor
Benson Machine sleeved and o-ringed EJ257 short block
Headgames motorworks pocket ported EJ257 heads[*]
ARP case bolts
Outfront Motorsports 1/2 inch head studs
Killer B Oil pan
Killer B baffle
Killer B pick up
JDM STI 11mm Oil Pump[*]
GSC S2 cams[*]
GSC beehive springs/retainers[*]
Supertech valves[*]
Pauter X-beam connecting rods
CP pistons
OEM STI nitrated crank[*]
ACL bearings[*]
LIC motorsports adjustable idler[*]
Tomei timing belt guide[*]
Fluidampr harmonic balancing crank pulley[*]
Accusump[*]

Fuel
Radium FCST 15 gallon fuel cell with internal surge tank
Radium FCST external fill neck
ATL Dry break female fill receptacle[*]
Injector Dynamics 2000cc top feed injectors[*]
Radium Fuel Pressure Regulator[*]
Radium top feed fuel rails[*]
-6AN PFTE E85 safe soft fuel line[*]
-8AN PFTE E85 safe soft fuel line[*]
Radium y block[*]
Radium inline fuel filter[*]
Radium fuel filter cooling block[*]

Turbo/Cold/Hot Side
Garrett 3582r (106ar) (T4/V-band)
Tial 38mm EWG (V-band)
Tial 38mm EWG (V-band)
Speedfactory custom rotated downpipe (V-band)
Speedfactory custom rotated up-pipe (T4-V-band)
Speedfactory custom equal length header (V-band)
Speedfactory dump tubes (V-band)
Blitz Nur-Spec (V-band converted)

Engine/Power Misc.
Cosworth reverse manifold
IAG billet TGVs[*]
AEM Map sensor
Grimmspeed 3 port EBCS
Tial Q BOV[*]

Drivetrain
JDM Version 7 STI 6 speed transmission (non-DCCD)
Cusco tarmac front differential
OEM Subaru Legacy Spec B 5th gear
OEM Subaru Legacy Spec B 6th gear
OEM Subaru Legacy Spec B Carbon Synchros
Cobb double adjustable short throw shifter
JDM Version 7 STI R180 rear differential
Cusco 1.5 way rear LSD
Driveshaft shop front axles[*]
Driveshaft shop rear axles[*]
OEM STI 5x114.3 hubs[*]
OEM STI 5x114.3 knuckles[*]

Safety
Godspeed Fabrication custom (welded) roll cage
Godspeed Fabrication (welded) harness bar
Godspeed Fabrication (welded) rear tubular bumper beam
Lexan rear door windows
Lexan rear quarter windows
Harnesses[*]
Fire suppression[*]

Misc. Fabrication
Front fender tubs
Rear fender tubs
Rear wheel arches
Smoothed firewall
Rear quarters trimmed
Rear doors gutted and trimmed
Spare tire well deleted
Trunk panel
Fuel cell mount
Quick-release core support[*]
Semi-tubular front end[*]
Rear tow hook[*]
Front tow hook[*]
Battery box/mounts/brackets[*]

Brakes
Rooducts brake ducts
Chargespeed brake duct fog light covers[*]
Wilwood proportioning valve[*]
Chasebays Brake Booster Eliminator[*]
Stoptech stainless brake lines
Custom routed brake lines[*]

Suspension/Handling/Bracing
2016 STI 13:1 steering rack
TSS front subframe
TSS rear subframe
TSS T bar
TSS adjustable control arms[*]
Cusco steering rack brace[*]
Custom aluminum fender braces
Custom integrated front strut tower bar
Whiteline bump-steer kit
Whiteline rear differential outrigger bushing set
Whiteline front swaybar
Whiteline rear swaybar
Kartboy Endlinks
Kartboy rear subframe lockdown bolts
Tigwerks solid transmission mounts
Fortune Auto air piston lift coilovers
Swift springs
Viair compressor
Viair 3 gallon air tank

Undecided
Brake Calipers/Rotors
Surgetank fuel pumps
Turbo cold-side (VMIC vs Shrouded/stacked FMIC/Radiator)
Air box
Throttle body (3")
Peddle box
E-Brake
Gauges
Switches/Kill-switch
Driveshaft
AOS/Catch-can
Roll cage padding
Interior lighting
Battery
Power steering pump
Wheels
Rear-view mirror

Last edited by Recoil; 08-22-2016 at 12:52 PM.
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Old 08-18-2015, 10:36 AM   #3
Recoil
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Member#: 278895
Join Date: Apr 2011
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Olympia, WA
Vehicle:
2004 GG WRX
@s hitwgn (no spaces)

Default

A better photo of the rear widebody


Early on I knew I wanted to have a GT style wing on the car. A friend of mine had recently come in possession of a Big Country Labs wing. Although I wouldn't personally buy one, it gave me a good idea of how the car would look with one behind it.



I have since seen a few wagons with GT wings mounted with the risers coming off of the bottom of the hatch. They all looked tacky and poorly put together. I opted to go with the Voltex HS2 II because it was specifically designed to sit on top of the hatch. I'll need to come up with a bracketing solution for it, but in the scheme of things, that's an easy job.

As of right now, I don't have a definitive timeline on finishing the car. I've been taking it one piece at a time and trying to do it "right" rather than doing it quickly. Upcoming modifications include:

2015 STI 13:1 steering rack conversion
Hydraulic hand brake
WRC style quick release radiator support
VMIC or shrouded FMIC set up
Clipping out unnecessary connectors and routing the 06 STI harness
Converting parts of the harness over to mil spec cannon connectors

Lately, I seem to spend more time reading about the modifications I want to do than I do actually doing them. I'll try and keep this updated as I go a long, but just like this build, it kind of goes in spurts. I keep trying to tell myself "It's a marathon, not a sprint."
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Old 08-19-2015, 08:53 PM   #4
Gigs90
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Member#: 306719
Join Date: Jan 2012
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: Troy ,Michigan
Vehicle:
2003 Sti Wagon
@jn_garage

Default

Subscribed , A more crazy version of what I am doing lol
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Old 08-19-2015, 08:55 PM   #5
Smurftastic
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Member#: 243697
Join Date: Apr 2010
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: Virginia
Vehicle:
2002 TOPSCOOB031
HighwaystarGarage

Default

I was not expecting this when I clicked on the thread... but definitely IN FOR MORE!!!!
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Old 08-19-2015, 09:23 PM   #6
Saabaru300
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Member#: 334105
Join Date: Oct 2012
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: South East Michigan
Vehicle:
2005 WRX Wagon
Ver8 EJ207, 6MT, Red

Default Interesting :P

I'm subscribed too. Gonna be real interesting. Another thing I'm real interested in is the 2015 STI Steering rack conversion.
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Old 08-19-2015, 09:32 PM   #7
Koomz
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Member#: 427231
Join Date: Aug 2015
Chapter/Region: VIC
Location: Abbotsford
Vehicle:
98 Subaru Forester
White

Default

props! jog don't run lol
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Old 08-19-2015, 09:41 PM   #8
Recoil
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Member#: 278895
Join Date: Apr 2011
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Olympia, WA
Vehicle:
2004 GG WRX
@s hitwgn (no spaces)

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gigs90 View Post
Subscribed , A more crazy version of what I am doing lol
Quote:
Originally Posted by Smurftastic View Post
I was not expecting this when I clicked on the thread... but definitely IN FOR MORE!!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Saabaru300 View Post
I'm subscribed too. Gonna be real interesting. Another thing I'm real interested in is the 2015 STI Steering rack conversion.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Koomz View Post
props! jog don't run lol
Thanks everyone for your interest. I predominately use these kind of build journals as a way to keep myself motivated to work on the car. Please feel free to ask any questions. I don't think anything I'm doing here is a secret besides the paint color .

I'll do my best to keep this updated as I go. The car is out of my possession right now for fabrication work, so once I get it back, you guys will get photos.
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Old 08-20-2015, 10:35 AM   #9
PD63
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Member#: 328326
Join Date: Aug 2012
Chapter/Region: Tri-State
Location: Putnam County, NY
Vehicle:
2018 WRX
Lapis Blue

Default

I've been following your build for awhile on Instagram. Can't wait to see the final product!
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Old 08-20-2015, 11:24 AM   #10
Abarrett
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Member#: 364238
Join Date: Aug 2013
Chapter/Region: NESIC
Location: Connecticut
Vehicle:
2003 WRX
MBP

Default

Looks great man. I'm really interested in the '15 STI steering rack conversion. Subbed
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Old 08-21-2015, 09:36 AM   #11
Recoil
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Member#: 278895
Join Date: Apr 2011
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Olympia, WA
Vehicle:
2004 GG WRX
@s hitwgn (no spaces)

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Abarrett View Post
Looks great man. I'm really interested in the '15 STI steering rack conversion. Subbed
I'll be sure to try and put togethera decent write up when the time comes around!
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Old 09-19-2015, 01:41 PM   #12
Recoil
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Olympia, WA
Vehicle:
2004 GG WRX
@s hitwgn (no spaces)

Default

Here are some updates on the exhaust








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Old 09-19-2015, 04:56 PM   #13
othon
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Member#: 18440
Join Date: May 2002
Chapter/Region: SCIC
Location: DFW
Vehicle:
2004 WRX Wagon
Always need moar grip!

Default

I APPROVE THIS BUILD!
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Old 09-19-2015, 06:41 PM   #14
brett192
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Member#: 274252
Join Date: Feb 2011
Chapter/Region: W. Canada
Location: Vancouver Island, BC
Vehicle:
2002 WRX Sedan PSM
EJ207 & 6 speed

Default

Danggg speedfactory is doing a nice job on those headers! Subscribed!
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Old 09-20-2015, 05:58 AM   #15
That One Guy
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Member#: 307270
Join Date: Jan 2012
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Tri-Cities, WA
Vehicle:
2002 WRX
WRB

Default

Sub'd for sure, nice to see someone else going their own direction instead of following fanboi trends. Sounds like this should be a very quality build.
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Old 09-20-2015, 08:09 AM   #16
REXXYY
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Member#: 265754
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Australia
Vehicle:
2003 STI
White

Default

Subscribed
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Old 09-20-2015, 07:55 PM   #17
chris stiles
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Member#: 205186
Join Date: Mar 2009
Chapter/Region: NESIC
Location: Lowell, MA
Vehicle:
2000 FR 2.5 RS COUPE
SRP/BLACK/GREY/DOOKIE

Default

I like where this is going, especially with the rear tubs, genius really, the way wagons are setup in the back vs sedans practically says why not do it?
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Old 09-21-2015, 01:43 AM   #18
Recoil
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Member#: 278895
Join Date: Apr 2011
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Olympia, WA
Vehicle:
2004 GG WRX
@s hitwgn (no spaces)

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by othon View Post
I APPROVE THIS BUILD!
Thanks!

Quote:
Originally Posted by brett192 View Post
Danggg speedfactory is doing a nice job on those headers! Subscribed!
Yeah, they really do fantastic work over there.

Quote:
Originally Posted by That One Guy View Post
Sub'd for sure, nice to see someone else going their own direction instead of following fanboi trends. Sounds like this should be a very quality build.
Good to see others out there don't think I'm totally crazy for this, although, I wonder sometimes myself..

Quote:
Originally Posted by REXXYY View Post
Subscribed
Thanks!

Quote:
Originally Posted by chris stiles View Post
I like where this is going, especially with the rear tubs, genius really, the way wagons are setup in the back vs sedans practically says why not do it?
I had never seen it done before, so I figured why the hell not?
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Old 09-21-2015, 01:54 AM   #19
my name is joe
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Chapter/Region: SCIC
Location: SQC-NY
Default

How are you getting the steering rack to fit? I keep reading that you have to trim the tie rod? or some other part? For a wagon its confusing but for the sedans its much easier
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Old 09-21-2015, 02:08 AM   #20
Recoil
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Member#: 278895
Join Date: Apr 2011
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Olympia, WA
Vehicle:
2004 GG WRX
@s hitwgn (no spaces)

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by my name is joe View Post
How are you getting the steering rack to fit? I keep reading that you have to trim the tie rod? or some other part? For a wagon its confusing but for the sedans its much easier
That's the general plan of attack. I'll make a final determination on how to go about it once I get the parts in front of me and start messing around with it.
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Old 09-21-2015, 10:08 AM   #21
lub
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Member#: 343218
Join Date: Jan 2013
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: Virginia
Vehicle:
2004 WRX wagon
Blue

Default

Such yes. Much wow. Please post more pictures.
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Old 09-21-2015, 12:03 PM   #22
Recoil
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Member#: 278895
Join Date: Apr 2011
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Olympia, WA
Vehicle:
2004 GG WRX
@s hitwgn (no spaces)

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by lub View Post
Such yes. Much wow. Please post more pictures.
Instagram is really the best place to see more photos. I'll do my best to keep this updated with them as I go along.
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Old 09-21-2015, 12:11 PM   #23
Rexcision
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Member#: 407050
Join Date: Nov 2014
Chapter/Region: South East
Location: Pinehurst, NC
Vehicle:
04 WRX
WRB

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Recoil View Post
Instagram is really the best place to see more photos. I'll do my best to keep this updated with them as I go along.
I'd love to follow you but I don't see your username anywhere?
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Old 09-21-2015, 12:15 PM   #24
Recoil
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Member#: 278895
Join Date: Apr 2011
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Olympia, WA
Vehicle:
2004 GG WRX
@s hitwgn (no spaces)

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rexcision View Post
I'd love to follow you but I don't see your username anywhere?
It's @s hitwgn without the space between the letters.
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Old 09-21-2015, 12:30 PM   #25
Gigs90
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Member#: 306719
Join Date: Jan 2012
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: Troy ,Michigan
Vehicle:
2003 Sti Wagon
@jn_garage

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Recoil View Post
It's @s hitwgn without the space between the letters.
I laughed at the "drifting is stupid" quote
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