bugeye front end on 04-05 sti?

240kat · 10-23-2005, 05:07 PM

i searched and couldnt find much. any cutting/trimming or anything like that needed? I assume fenders, headlights, hood, and front bumper. Do i need radiator support too?

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o2sys · 10-23-2005, 06:35 PM

this is been discussed a couple of times....the answer is yes, from 02-05 all front ends mostl likely even the new 06 are swappable (sp?) but is not just a simple bolt on and bolt off. Small things like new headlight brackets and removing and changing the fenders and maybe the bumper beem is required.

240kat · 10-23-2005, 09:27 PM

pics?

WickedRydaX · 10-23-2005, 09:37 PM

It can be done, think ESX did a 02 to 04, so if it works one way it would the other as well.
MCL

o2sys · 10-23-2005, 09:49 PM

chargespeed sells a kit by the way

FuelInjection09 · 10-24-2005, 03:03 AM

It's an easy swamp, just some drilling and minor spot welding... no big deal. I love the 02-03 with the dark JDM projector lights. Pure sex.

Spooln4 · 10-24-2005, 05:22 AM

just curious as to why you would want to do this...spend all that money on an STi (i know i have one) just to rip apart to try and make it look like an older model

but i mean whatever floats your boat

240kat · 10-24-2005, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spooln4

just curious as to why you would want to do this...spend all that money on an STi (i know i have one) just to rip apart to try and make it look like an older model

but i mean whatever floats your boat

i want STi everything (suspenion, torque, interior and so on) but i love my bugeye front end.

I could care less about the sleeper aspect.

Bugeye_STI · 11-21-2010, 01:42 AM

Sorry for the necro, but Im interested in this as well, and given that its been 5 years, I have to think someone has done this.

Ive searched both NASIOC and google till Im blue in the face and found next to nothing useful, anyone have any links to a journal or some such with good info on exactly what it takes to put a bugeye front end on an 04-07 sti?

mailnome · 11-21-2010, 09:46 AM

I did the opposite, 02-03 to 04-05. Did some light front end damage to mine and found a guy on Craigslist that was going to do his 02. He worked in parts and had collected most of the parts but had decided not to after he realized what the cost was going to be. Had to find a few small things to finish it out. http://opposedforces.com. This site helped me figure out what I needed. Beside the obvious body panels, I needed the core support with headlight buckets, bumper beam(bumper foam is almost identical, Sti has corners cut to clear the 04 fog light area), and possibly apron under headlights if you want your ac condenser to bolt in or the proper year ac condenser (mine is zip tied in now). The front mounting points for the fenders are off, so those will have to be modded/fabbed up. And your headlight harness will need to modified which wasn't to bad since all the wires are the same color. I ended up with a slight gap between the hood and grill, but it is not terrible. Probably wouldn't be noticeable on a darker car. Find somebody, preferably old school, who knows what they are doing and let them know beforehand that this is not a direct swap. So you don't get a quote and then the guy is like WTF, I didn't know I had to do all this extra isht.

Toadz · 11-25-2010, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mailnome

I did the opposite, 02-03 to 04-05. Did some light front end damage to mine and found a guy on Craigslist that was going to do his 02. He worked in parts and had collected most of the parts but had decided not to after he realized what the cost was going to be. Had to find a few small things to finish it out. http://opposedforces.com. This site helped me figure out what I needed. Beside the obvious body panels, I needed the core support with headlight buckets, bumper beam(bumper foam is almost identical, Sti has corners cut to clear the 04 fog light area), and possibly apron under headlights if you want your ac condenser to bolt in or the proper year ac condenser (mine is zip tied in now). The front mounting points for the fenders are off, so those will have to be modded/fabbed up. And your headlight harness will need to modified which wasn't to bad since all the wires are the same color. I ended up with a slight gap between the hood and grill, but it is not terrible. Probably wouldn't be noticeable on a darker car. Find somebody, preferably old school, who knows what they are doing and let them know beforehand that this is not a direct swap. So you don't get a quote and then the guy is like WTF, I didn't know I had to do all this extra isht.

Thanks for the info. Is there any way to clean up the gap you speak of? My sister's '03 WRX is an insurance find with heavy front end damage. Her bf bought '04-'05 front fenders and hood telling her that it's an easy bolt on job (he does body work, never worked on a Subaru before). Is it possible you could give me a complete list of items needed for the swap? Her car basically needs everything for a front end so she figured she'd do an '04 swap because she likes the looks better. If it's too much of a pain for an average backyard mechanic to tackle I can try selling the '04 parts and buying the correct year parts.

BeanerSubie · 11-25-2010, 06:09 PM

I'm starting the process of doing this too.. is there a real thread dedicated to this how to? if not i'll do one with mine. but i have searched.

mailnome · 11-26-2010, 09:33 AM

I think I can close the gap if I raise the bumper beam up some. I don't know if I can just loosen the bolts and push up on it, or if I need to widen the holes out first. As for a parts list, ahhhh, I used that oppossedforces web site to check part numbers for both years. It's kinda a pain in the arse. Had each pulled up in different tabs and a lot of flipping back and forth and writing. Anything with the same number, or alternate part number, will work between the years and the few things I mentioned above are similar enough to make work. If the BF has the skills, tools, and access to the book measurements, he shouldn't have to much trouble. I guess that all depends on how bad the damage is on your sister's car is too.

Toadz · 11-27-2010, 06:27 PM

The car is heavily damaged, not sure why he ever thought it'd be an easy project. It's definitely going to cost more than she was led to believe. Might have to do what you did and just make a list of part numbers and do the work myself. Never done body work before but if I do enough research I can figure anything out.

Ethan_Drift · 12-12-2010, 05:14 PM

Just my .02. The Chargespeed kit (atleast for the 04-05 to 06-07 is pretty much just the upper tie bar on the core support. Which you can buy from the dealership for $50 instead of $327.

Toadz · 12-13-2010, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ethan_Drift

Just my .02. The Chargespeed kit (atleast for the 04-05 to 06-07 is pretty much just the upper tie bar on the core support. Which you can buy from the dealership for $50 instead of $327.

Sorry but I'm a newb when it comes to body components/terminology but what is the upper tie bar on the core support? Are you saying you'd just need this tie bar and all the '04-'05 components to do the swap?

meccjoo · 12-13-2010, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spooln4

just curious as to why you would want to do this...spend all that money on an STi (i know i have one) just to rip apart to try and make it look like an older model

but i mean whatever floats your boat

who cares if it is an older model, hell the gc looks better than any newer impreza to date.

YupiDriveASubaru · 12-18-2010, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meccjoo

who cares if it is an older model, hell the gc looks better than any newer impreza to date.

It's totally just personal preference.. I've been driving my bug eye for a few years and i'm tired of looking at the same thing.. but i know people with newer models that love the bug eye look.. i'd def swap mine but sonic yellow is just a pain because no one wants to have to paint and swap all the parts.. :|

and i'm just realizing that i think i quoted the wrong post.. whatever.. lol

10-23-2005, 05:07 PM	#1
240kat Scooby Newbie Member#: 90366 Join Date: Jul 2005 Chapter/Region: MAIC Vehicle: 1997 Cherokee Red	bugeye front end on 04-05 sti? i searched and couldnt find much. any cutting/trimming or anything like that needed? I assume fenders, headlights, hood, and front bumper. Do i need radiator support too? * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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10-23-2005, 06:35 PM	#2
o2sys Scooby Guru Member#: 43842 Join Date: Sep 2003 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: NYC Vehicle: 200? WRX STI Aspen White	this is been discussed a couple of times....the answer is yes, from 02-05 all front ends mostl likely even the new 06 are swappable (sp?) but is not just a simple bolt on and bolt off. Small things like new headlight brackets and removing and changing the fenders and maybe the bumper beem is required.

10-23-2005, 09:27 PM	#3
240kat Scooby Newbie Member#: 90366 Join Date: Jul 2005 Chapter/Region: MAIC Vehicle: 1997 Cherokee Red	pics?

10-23-2005, 09:37 PM	#4
WickedRydaX Scooby Specialist Member#: 31900 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Fort Collins, Co	It can be done, think ESX did a 02 to 04, so if it works one way it would the other as well. MCL

10-23-2005, 09:49 PM	#5
o2sys Scooby Guru Member#: 43842 Join Date: Sep 2003 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: NYC Vehicle: 200? WRX STI Aspen White	chargespeed sells a kit by the way

10-24-2005, 03:03 AM	#6
FuelInjection09 Scooby Newbie Member#: 94826 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: California	It's an easy swamp, just some drilling and minor spot welding... no big deal. I love the 02-03 with the dark JDM projector lights. Pure sex.

10-24-2005, 05:22 AM	#7
Spooln4 Scooby Specialist Member#: 89561 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: ANCHOR-town... Vehicle: 04 STi Aspen White 05 Yamaha R1	just curious as to why you would want to do this...spend all that money on an STi (i know i have one) just to rip apart to try and make it look like an older model but i mean whatever floats your boat

11-21-2010, 01:42 AM	#9
Bugeye_STI Scooby Newbie Member#: 230032 Join Date: Nov 2009	Sorry for the necro, but Im interested in this as well, and given that its been 5 years, I have to think someone has done this. Ive searched both NASIOC and google till Im blue in the face and found next to nothing useful, anyone have any links to a journal or some such with good info on exactly what it takes to put a bugeye front end on an 04-07 sti?

11-21-2010, 09:46 AM	#10
mailnome Scooby Newbie Member#: 235305 Join Date: Jan 2010 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Hagerstown,md Vehicle: 2002 blob swap wrx was wrb	I did the opposite, 02-03 to 04-05. Did some light front end damage to mine and found a guy on Craigslist that was going to do his 02. He worked in parts and had collected most of the parts but had decided not to after he realized what the cost was going to be. Had to find a few small things to finish it out. http://opposedforces.com. This site helped me figure out what I needed. Beside the obvious body panels, I needed the core support with headlight buckets, bumper beam(bumper foam is almost identical, Sti has corners cut to clear the 04 fog light area), and possibly apron under headlights if you want your ac condenser to bolt in or the proper year ac condenser (mine is zip tied in now). The front mounting points for the fenders are off, so those will have to be modded/fabbed up. And your headlight harness will need to modified which wasn't to bad since all the wires are the same color. I ended up with a slight gap between the hood and grill, but it is not terrible. Probably wouldn't be noticeable on a darker car. Find somebody, preferably old school, who knows what they are doing and let them know beforehand that this is not a direct swap. So you don't get a quote and then the guy is like WTF, I didn't know I had to do all this extra isht.

11-25-2010, 06:09 PM	#12
BeanerSubie Scooby Newbie Member#: 264201 Join Date: Nov 2010 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Dillon, SC Vehicle: 04rs 89 LSx Stang	I'm starting the process of doing this too.. is there a real thread dedicated to this how to? if not i'll do one with mine. but i have searched.

11-26-2010, 09:33 AM	#13
mailnome Scooby Newbie Member#: 235305 Join Date: Jan 2010 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Hagerstown,md Vehicle: 2002 blob swap wrx was wrb	I think I can close the gap if I raise the bumper beam up some. I don't know if I can just loosen the bolts and push up on it, or if I need to widen the holes out first. As for a parts list, ahhhh, I used that oppossedforces web site to check part numbers for both years. It's kinda a pain in the arse. Had each pulled up in different tabs and a lot of flipping back and forth and writing. Anything with the same number, or alternate part number, will work between the years and the few things I mentioned above are similar enough to make work. If the BF has the skills, tools, and access to the book measurements, he shouldn't have to much trouble. I guess that all depends on how bad the damage is on your sister's car is too.

11-27-2010, 06:27 PM	#14
Toadz Scooby Newbie Member#: 262903 Join Date: Nov 2010 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Western WI Vehicle: 2003 WRX Silver	The car is heavily damaged, not sure why he ever thought it'd be an easy project. It's definitely going to cost more than she was led to believe. Might have to do what you did and just make a list of part numbers and do the work myself. Never done body work before but if I do enough research I can figure anything out.

12-12-2010, 05:14 PM	#15
Ethan_Drift Scooby Specialist Member#: 264930 Join Date: Nov 2010 Chapter/Region: AKIC Location: Elmendorf AFB, AK Vehicle: 2013 Durango RT Red	Just my .02. The Chargespeed kit (atleast for the 04-05 to 06-07 is pretty much just the upper tie bar on the core support. Which you can buy from the dealership for $50 instead of $327.