PHATsuby's Crazy New Project: Part II

[STIdarkside]

Were you able to take it out for a spin over the weekend?

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[STIdarkside]

Bump... Any pics of it on the ground? Dying to see it completed and in driving form.

[PHATsuby]

Originally Posted by STIdarkside

Bump... Any pics of it on the ground? Dying to see it completed and in driving form.

Haha, Shane I think you need to chill out a little. I know you want to see how my car looks so you can decide on suspension but I think it's pretty obvious that if my car had some update on it or was driving I would for sure have posted it. The forums would be the first to know outside of myself haha.

I am going down today to work on the car so we'll see what I can get done. If I miraculously get to drive it or put it on the ground this weekend I will definitely be taking photos/video and putting it up. Trust me, no one wants the car done more than I do.

Ben

[PHATsuby]

Just to be clear I do appreciate the enthusiasm and excitement for my project, I just didn't get a chance to go down last weekend and I will always update this when I have new news/pics.

Ben

[STIdarkside]

Thanks Ben. No worries, just excited about this since not very many people mod 3rd Gen legacies to the extent you are. Look forward to your updates...

Good luck this weekend!

[PHATsuby]

I can't figure out what is up with the gauge cluster lighting. The 2004 cluster does the same thing, I even got out the baja cluster i had taken apart and plugged it in and it does the same thing as well.

Does anyone know if the integrated body unit on the legacy controls the gauge cluster lights/dimmer? I'm at a loss here. I've tried a 2003 legacy cluster, a 2004 cluster(since they apparently didn't have an illumination control module) and I believe a 2003 baja cluster and all have the same issue so clearly hte problem is elsewhere.

any thoughts or ideas would be very helpful. I'll post a video tomorrow of what is happening.

Ben

[PHATsuby]

Video of problem.

STi Swap :: M4H00925.mp4 video by whitemagicbmc - Photobucket

STi Swap :: M4H00925.mp4 video by whitemagicbmc - Photobucket

Ben

[fibuz]

I think I'd check/swap out the stalk and wiring in the steering column. It almost feels like something disconnected there or isn't grounded properly. I can't remember if it goes from the stalk to the cluster, or someplace else, but it seems like you've got something funny goin on there.

[ten80]

Did the newer Baja/leg clusters require you to modify the existing dash harness? I did an 03 WRX (MT) swap in my 01 LGT LTD (AT) a while ago and had no cluster issues. I did not have to modify the dash harness or dimming controls at all.

Edit: bad ground mentioned by Fibuz sounds like a probable cause.

[PHATsuby]

Originally Posted by fibuz

I think I'd check/swap out the stalk and wiring in the steering column. It almost feels like something disconnected there or isn't grounded properly. I can't remember if it goes from the stalk to the cluster, or someplace else, but it seems like you've got something funny goin on there.

Thanks fibuz, I have actually tried a different stalk from an 02 outback as well that worked with my original cluster just fine but I agree something seems funny.

Originally Posted by ten80

Did the newer Baja/leg clusters require you to modify the existing dash harness? I did an 03 WRX (MT) swap in my 01 LGT LTD (AT) a while ago and had no cluster issues. I did not have to modify the dash harness or dimming controls at all.

Edit: bad ground mentioned by Fibuz sounds like a probable cause.

I agree it may be a bad ground I'll have to look and see if I am missing a ground somewhere. My dash harness is actually a Baja harness as well, so it's a baja bulkhead/front and dash harness, 01 legacy rear harness. STi stalk(but like I mentioned also tried the legacy stalk with same result).

The thing that sucks is now I have to wait to check the ground when I'm down there again.

If it isn't a ground I'm thinking maybe the integrated control unit is an issue? I'm still not sure if that now controls illumination and if it does maybe it's damaged?

thanks for the input and ideas!

Ben

[Va_lgt]

wow this thing is a hell of a build, good luck with it

[STIdarkside]

Any luck troubleshooting your issue. A lot of good ideas posted, but it sounded like you tried them already. Best of luck

[PHATsuby]

Figured I would update everyone. The project is not dead, nor am I but I partially feel dead and that is the reason for no updates as of late.

That last weekend I was down, my Girlfriend of 4.5 years whom I head planned to marry, went out to an originally planned happy hour on that friday, decided to stay out drinking all night and ended up cheating on me with some random guy she met at the bar through a co-worker that night. I found this out a week after the fact.

So this has been a very hard time for me. Without going into a long story, I obviously never expected this from her as she had been cheated on before and always said she would never do that but I guess as they say, never say never. There is lack of closure since I don't know the full story of what happened either because she is lying or was truly blacked out as she claimed and that is making it much more difficult to accept and process and move on.

As you may imagine, motivation to do much of anything has been difficult which is highly annoying as it has affected every aspect of life from CFA studying, to work and to the car project.

I can guarantee that I will still finish this and plan to, however now with the set back to my CFA studying basically losing a month of time makes that even more of a priority because if nothing else I'd like to pass to spite her hahah(not really but sort of). If I get to the point where I feel like I can take a break for the weekend I will head down to do work.

Sadly I now have a WAPCE story of my own that I never expected(her behavior since has added to the lack of closure as well since she seems to be carrying on like she is fine with no apparent responsibility or remorse).

I'll be back in full force at some point but this is going to take a while and CFA has to be priority right now.

Sorry for the vent, figured I may as well let people know the real situation for lack of updates, don't worry I'll get back to car material asap.

Ben

[atasnailspace]

Thats tough love, but you are the apple of our eye. These days will pass and you will be back on top. In the meantime, go get some strange!!

[fibuz]

More reason to spend time with your true love, dawg!

[PHATsuby]

No real news to update but I am alive, I haven't been down to work on the car since. The only time I will likely get is over Mother's day weekend. Once my test is over the first week of June I'll definitely be making this a priority.

I'd like to figure something out during this next time I'm down but we'll see how much time I actually get to do anything.

Ben

[Cervantes]

Been waiting on updates!

[PHATsuby]

Sorry guys, the only update is to say there are no updates. The only news to report is that my car is still there and has not disappeared. I only drove down for the day and literally just went to the garage to look at it for 2 mins lol.

2 more weeks and then I can put my time into that. I'd like to target having it done by the 4th of July so I can drive it up to northern MN for a trip but I have been off on my targets by a large margin to say the least so who knows.

I saw some of the Rev D lights on a Baja and it makes me regret selling the set I had haha. I may need to get another set but at this point I just want to get it driving first then I'll see if there is enough summer left to justify wheels.

Ben

[PHATsuby]

Small update. There was a used Grimmspeed catless downpipe for sale on the local forum so I picked it up for $100. Now I'm ready for stage 2! This will make it even harder to stay stock/stage 1 for a while during the summer. My plan is to dyno the car once I'm done at stock, stage 1 and stage 2 power levels.

t-minus two weeks to the test. Then I'll be free for a few months at least.

Ben

[ThatVAGuy]

Truly amazing project man. I'm envious of your skill and patience. I'm sorry about the girl, honestly I had to look up WAPCE, hope that has resolved some.

[rougeben83]

Keep it up Ben!

[tehhali]

Wow. This project is so epic. I have always wanted to do a swap and now I'm afraid to. I get frustrated just doing a tranny swap.

[PHATsuby]

Thanks guys, it's still tough on the relationship front but that is life sometimes, it will take me a long time to get over it but I am trying to keep it in perspective. Could have been much worse and I still have my health and my family and friends. Found out a friend from back in college got killed on his motorcycle a couple weeks ago, which sucks and it makes me glad I at least still have the basic ability to have these experiences we call life no matter how tough it may seem at times.

And on a more positive note...just for the sake of putting up some photos since I haven't in a while lol.

The used downpipe:




the seller mentioned it is somewhat close to the A/C drain hose so I am hoping it is not an issue on my car but I'm sure it will be since that is how my projects go.

Man stage 2 will be sick, although at this point stage 0 will be epic after driving a 1993 toyota pickup

Ben

[gardy0521]

Good luck bro

[fibuz]

ziptie that hose outta the way, sheeiiiit.