Project "Poverty Spec" 1993 Impreza FWD Autocross XS class/Track Day budget build! - Page 12

Kostamojen · 05-31-2023, 04:37 PM

Moar pics. Lighting wasn't perfect, but it also shows how subtle the catback is.

* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

500_19B · 06-01-2023, 03:50 PM

You are right, the subtle appearance of the catback is great. Super good deal on it too!

That shade of yellow is really rich. Reminds me of Porsche Speed Yellow. The dark "bronze" wheels work very well with it too.

19std · 06-01-2023, 04:31 PM

Yeah sick car man.

T-Steve · 06-01-2023, 09:36 PM

That's a fantastic car!

I really like the stance, the color, everything. Cheers

kaos200 · 06-03-2023, 12:23 PM

Looking good! And +1 on that exhaust, they sound great.

Gixhost · 06-05-2023, 01:58 PM

Looks stellar!

Kostamojen · 06-09-2023, 06:59 PM

Thanks guys!

Decided to pick up some junkyard facelift front door cards to better fit with the WRX dash. Had to modify the handle to fit the pre-facelift crank window and due to the condition, decided to reupholster the materials as well.

Turned out OK, spend a grand total of about $50 including materials

Now my interior is such a mish mash of various years/models its hilarious...

(The before pic)

D-Rodman · 06-10-2023, 02:50 AM

Cool!

Sent from my iPhone using NASIOC

Kostamojen · 07-01-2023, 02:18 PM

After redoing the front door panels, I decided to mess around with the center console and glove box/under dash bits...

I didn't like how the all-black dash looked with the half-gray door panels, so I got a glove box and driver side under dash piece from 02-04 Outback Sports/TS wagons. Turns out there are THREE different colors of gray dashes for 02-07 cars while browsing the junkyards, but these matched the door cards well.

I then decided to pick up the full center dash conversion for going to an 05-07 center console. These Legacy seats fit the wider GD center console, so I could pull it off now instead of keeping the cut-up pre-facelift GC center console I was running... I also upgraded to FIVE Cupholders!

Ran ZERO cupholders for awhile, so its pretty funny. Theoretically, I could run SEVEN cupholders if I found an armrest from an 07-08 Forester

Oh and yes, the 03-08 Forester has some compatible center console bits with the 05-07 GD Impreza. So I fiddled a little bit with different colors there, wound up with a half gray/half black center console that matched the rest of the car better.

I also customized the Accessport connection with the new center console, using an Aux input piece from a Forester cut up a little so I could run the wire through and hide it super easy if needed. Turned out pretty cool!

Up next, I'm going to start removing everything I put in including the dash so I can start installing A/C, a new carpet, and put some sound deadening/insulation back in...

Kostamojen · 07-09-2023, 02:48 PM

Alright, I've been struggling with this Hessitation/Flashing CEL issue for over a year now...

Its very easy to reproduce now. While on the freeway cruising at like 65mph in 5th gear, going 100% throttle reproduces it. Car starts to hesitate/stumble and today I got the flashing CEL for the FIRST TIME since the track day last year. Here is what the data log recorded:

I highlighted the points where the RPMS drop instead of increase, and you can see across the board the car isn't knocking or doing much of anything crazy. I have no clue whats going on

Here is a quick summary of everything...

Symptoms:

Hesitation/stumble on hard acceleration, mostly in 4th or 5th gear on freeway.
Flashing CEL high rpms, high gear during acceleration.
P0000 CEL showed up last year during track day and disappeared.
NO CODES in system with flashing CEL.
NO KNOCKING recorded on Accessport.
NO smoke coming from exhaust.
Idle is also slightly high.

Attempts to fix:

Replaced Spark Plugs (IK22 gapped to .26)
Replaced Front O2 sensor (no change)
Replaced Crank pulley with Fluiddampr (no change)
Cleaned ALL grounds (no change)
Added additional ground wires (no change)
Pulled Fuel Pump and inspected (no issue found)
Ran fuel injector cleaner (no change)
Tried fuel octane booster (no change, several tanks of fuel ago)
All vacuum hoses inspected and reinforced with zip ties or clamps (no change)

Already new parts during engine rebuild:

MAF was replaced with new DENSO unit
Cam and crank sensors are new
ALL vacuum hoses and turbo inlet are new
Fuel Filter replaced
New AEM Intake air filter
Knock sensor is new
Shortblock is new, Heads were rebuilt

Parts that are old (from 220k mile donor car):

Coil Packs are old
BPV is original to car
Fuel Pressure regulator is original
STI Injectors are from a car with ~60k miles
VF48 has about ~60k miles on it
Downpipe is from donor car

Potential items to replace next:

Replace coils (OEM or NGK?)
Replace Fuel Pressure Regulator
Replace BPV with new unit or another
Replace MAF sensor AGAIN
Replace fuel filter AGAIN
Maybe remove/replace turbo inlet?
I don't know what else...

I used the "02 WRX CEL" guides posted here and elsewhere to check off everything it possibly could be. The only real things on that list I have left are the Coils, FPR, and rear O2 sensor. Every other possibility isn't on the list, unless its something I'm not aware of.

So right now, I'm trying to decide exactly what to buy next to fix it. And since I'm on such a tight budget, and I'm getting into the expensive stuff, I can really just afford to fix one thing a month at a time. So I'm looking for advice...

NutBucket · 07-10-2023, 12:29 AM

So stupid question. I didn't have it quite so bad on my GD but I discovered a vacuum leak from the injector seals. It prevented me from hitting target boost.

Have you tried an actual pressure test of the intake track to look for leaks? Though, yours might be bad enough that a smoke test will show it.

Kostamojen · 07-10-2023, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NutBucket

So stupid question. I didn't have it quite so bad on my GD but I discovered a vacuum leak from the injector seals. It prevented me from hitting target boost.

Have you tried an actual pressure test of the intake track to look for leaks? Though, yours might be bad enough that a smoke test will show it.

I am hitting target boost levels. The injector seals are new and don't have any leaks fuel wise, but I did have an issue when installing the STI injectors.

I haven't pressure tested or smoke tested anything yet, would probably need to take it to a shop for that I presume. Thats my last resort if I can't find the issue.

NutBucket · 07-10-2023, 12:56 AM

Pressure tester you can build with some simple parts from the home center. You just have to plug certain ports and such. I'm pretty sure I found all the info here.

tomacGTi · 07-10-2023, 05:58 AM

I would say coils.

Especially when they age, they will be fine at idle and low load but higher loads they simply won't have the energy that they used to.

You can get NGK coils on rock auto for about $65 a piece.

-Randy

tomacGTi · 07-10-2023, 05:58 AM

I would say coils.

Especially when they age, they will be fine at idle and low load but higher loads they simply won't have the energy that they used to.

You can get NGK coils on rock auto for about $65 a piece.

-Randy

Kostamojen · 07-10-2023, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomacGTi

I would say coils.

Especially when they age, they will be fine at idle and low load but higher loads they simply won't have the energy that they used to.

You can get NGK coils on rock auto for about $65 a piece.

-Randy

Right now my plan is to buy those exact ones from Rockauto this week. Everyone seems to be suggesting something different, but the only repeating reply has been Coils. I might get a spare MAF sensor too just in case.

Kostamojen · 07-10-2023, 07:53 PM

After tax and shipping, $300 for the coils

Hope it works...

Kostamojen · 07-15-2023, 01:34 PM

I've been eyeballing alternative 15" wheels with a better offset ever since I went with the 15x8 +20 Rota Grids. The +20 Offset has caused issues with rear rubbing since day one, and I'm always concerned about the extra stress on the wheel bearings and just how far the wheels sticked out...

Coming up to replacing two of my flat spotted 245/40r15 tires, which I LOVE this size tire so I want to keep that going, so I finally decided to take a chance on a new wheel.

I've been eyeballing these 15x8 +40 Rota Slipstreams for like a year or so, but now they were showing as "last set" and I was concerned they would be discontinued. Had NO CLUE if they would clear the 4 pots either so I took a chance...

Yes they do clear!!! Plenty of room actually. Its been killing me for like a year or more whether these would fit and I'm so happy they do

The only other 15" wheels in a 8" or wider size I've seen in 5x100 are some old discontinued Volks Patrick Olson had for sale 10 years ago, or custom ordering a set of Work Meisters for like $4,000... These were literally the only option.

I'll be ordering a pair of 245/40r15 Falken RT660s in a couple weeks and fitting these up. Not sure if I'll sell the Grids or keep them as backups to put a **** set of narrow all seasons for daily use later...

DrTrae · 07-17-2023, 04:01 PM

Oh man those are gonna look amazing!

Kostamojen · 07-17-2023, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomacGTi

You can get NGK coils on rock auto for about $65 a piece.

-Randy

Well that didn't work, I'm pissed

1 of the coils is made in Japan, the other three are made in China... Ugg

Going to have to return the 3 and figure out how to get the correct ones.

tomacGTi · 07-17-2023, 07:58 PM

PM D-Rodman on here.

He has 4 OEM nearly new black coils for sale.

-Randy

Kostamojen · 07-18-2023, 06:23 PM

So there is NO WAY to request Rockauto send 3 of the Made in Japan models, so I flat out returned all 4.

Went to the dealer and ordered them, only had 2 in stock. Sure enough they are the same FK0333 part number as that ONE NGK I had that was made in Japan, but after calculating shpping its only $30 total more for me to buy them from my dealer.

Kostamojen · 07-27-2023, 04:19 PM

Got the two new 245/40r15 RT660s mounted and the new +40 wheels on the car...

I have TOO much fender flare now

Have a suspension rub somewhere during full lock, going to inspect it tomorrow morning.

Kevd · 07-28-2023, 11:11 AM

What a ride! Love seeing where it started and where it's at now. Nice work!

Kostamojen · 07-28-2023, 04:22 PM

Good news! The OEM coil packs I put in eliminated my acceleration issue finally. And the new tires do ride soooo much better than the flat spotted pair of BFGs I was still running...

Bad news was I had grinding on full lock, turned out the new offset wheels combined with the roll center kit and still-steel control arms contacted the wheel. Ground them down a little and it seems to have solved the issue.

07-27-2023, 04:19 PM	#298
Kostamojen Scooby Guru Member#: 2272 Join Date: Sep 2000 Chapter/Region: BAIC Location: Fire Caves Vehicle: 2019 Macan 4cyl 1993 Impreza FWD WRX swap	Got the two new 245/40r15 RT660s mounted and the new +40 wheels on the car... I have TOO much fender flare now Have a suspension rub somewhere during full lock, going to inspect it tomorrow morning. Last edited by Kostamojen; 07-27-2023 at 04:26 PM.

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05-31-2023, 04:37 PM	#276
Kostamojen Scooby Guru Member#: 2272 Join Date: Sep 2000 Chapter/Region: BAIC Location: Fire Caves Vehicle: 2019 Macan 4cyl 1993 Impreza FWD WRX swap	Moar pics. Lighting wasn't perfect, but it also shows how subtle the catback is. * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

06-01-2023, 03:50 PM	#277
500_19B Scooby Newbie Member#: 524021 Join Date: Apr 2021 Chapter/Region: E. Canada Location: Toronto, Canada Vehicle: 2021 STI 2002 WRX, 2023 Crosstrek	You are right, the subtle appearance of the catback is great. Super good deal on it too! That shade of yellow is really rich. Reminds me of Porsche Speed Yellow. The dark "bronze" wheels work very well with it too.

06-01-2023, 04:31 PM	#278
19std Scooby Specialist Member#: 510366 Join Date: Jan 2020	Yeah sick car man.

06-01-2023, 09:36 PM	#279
T-Steve Scooby Newbie Member#: 209796 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Oregon Vehicle: 2012 Forester, BRZ	That's a fantastic car! I really like the stance, the color, everything. Cheers

06-03-2023, 12:23 PM	#280
kaos200 Scooby Guru Member#: 2692 Join Date: Oct 2000 Chapter/Region: TXIC Location: SoCal & TX	Looking good! And +1 on that exhaust, they sound great.

06-05-2023, 01:58 PM	#281
Gixhost Scooby Specialist Member#: 180111 Join Date: May 2008 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Lost in the DMV Vehicle: * 2004.114.3 STi Aspen White	Looks stellar!

06-09-2023, 06:59 PM	#282
Kostamojen Scooby Guru Member#: 2272 Join Date: Sep 2000 Chapter/Region: BAIC Location: Fire Caves Vehicle: 2019 Macan 4cyl 1993 Impreza FWD WRX swap	Thanks guys! Decided to pick up some junkyard facelift front door cards to better fit with the WRX dash. Had to modify the handle to fit the pre-facelift crank window and due to the condition, decided to reupholster the materials as well. Turned out OK, spend a grand total of about $50 including materials Now my interior is such a mish mash of various years/models its hilarious... (The before pic)

06-10-2023, 02:50 AM	#283
D-Rodman Scooby Specialist Member#: 110078 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Long Island N.Y. Vehicle: 02 Bugeye JDM STi OBP BLACK	Cool! Sent from my iPhone using NASIOC

07-01-2023, 02:18 PM	#284
Kostamojen Scooby Guru Member#: 2272 Join Date: Sep 2000 Chapter/Region: BAIC Location: Fire Caves Vehicle: 2019 Macan 4cyl 1993 Impreza FWD WRX swap	After redoing the front door panels, I decided to mess around with the center console and glove box/under dash bits... I didn't like how the all-black dash looked with the half-gray door panels, so I got a glove box and driver side under dash piece from 02-04 Outback Sports/TS wagons. Turns out there are THREE different colors of gray dashes for 02-07 cars while browsing the junkyards, but these matched the door cards well. I then decided to pick up the full center dash conversion for going to an 05-07 center console. These Legacy seats fit the wider GD center console, so I could pull it off now instead of keeping the cut-up pre-facelift GC center console I was running... I also upgraded to FIVE Cupholders! Ran ZERO cupholders for awhile, so its pretty funny. Theoretically, I could run SEVEN cupholders if I found an armrest from an 07-08 Forester Oh and yes, the 03-08 Forester has some compatible center console bits with the 05-07 GD Impreza. So I fiddled a little bit with different colors there, wound up with a half gray/half black center console that matched the rest of the car better. I also customized the Accessport connection with the new center console, using an Aux input piece from a Forester cut up a little so I could run the wire through and hide it super easy if needed. Turned out pretty cool! Up next, I'm going to start removing everything I put in including the dash so I can start installing A/C, a new carpet, and put some sound deadening/insulation back in...

07-09-2023, 02:48 PM	#285
Kostamojen Scooby Guru Member#: 2272 Join Date: Sep 2000 Chapter/Region: BAIC Location: Fire Caves Vehicle: 2019 Macan 4cyl 1993 Impreza FWD WRX swap	Alright, I've been struggling with this Hessitation/Flashing CEL issue for over a year now... Its very easy to reproduce now. While on the freeway cruising at like 65mph in 5th gear, going 100% throttle reproduces it. Car starts to hesitate/stumble and today I got the flashing CEL for the FIRST TIME since the track day last year. Here is what the data log recorded: I highlighted the points where the RPMS drop instead of increase, and you can see across the board the car isn't knocking or doing much of anything crazy. I have no clue whats going on Here is a quick summary of everything... Symptoms: Hesitation/stumble on hard acceleration, mostly in 4th or 5th gear on freeway. Flashing CEL high rpms, high gear during acceleration. P0000 CEL showed up last year during track day and disappeared. NO CODES in system with flashing CEL. NO KNOCKING recorded on Accessport. NO smoke coming from exhaust. Idle is also slightly high. Attempts to fix: Replaced Spark Plugs (IK22 gapped to .26) Replaced Front O2 sensor (no change) Replaced Crank pulley with Fluiddampr (no change) Cleaned ALL grounds (no change) Added additional ground wires (no change) Pulled Fuel Pump and inspected (no issue found) Ran fuel injector cleaner (no change) Tried fuel octane booster (no change, several tanks of fuel ago) All vacuum hoses inspected and reinforced with zip ties or clamps (no change) Already new parts during engine rebuild: MAF was replaced with new DENSO unit Cam and crank sensors are new ALL vacuum hoses and turbo inlet are new Fuel Filter replaced New AEM Intake air filter Knock sensor is new Shortblock is new, Heads were rebuilt Parts that are old (from 220k mile donor car): Coil Packs are old BPV is original to car Fuel Pressure regulator is original STI Injectors are from a car with ~60k miles VF48 has about ~60k miles on it Downpipe is from donor car Potential items to replace next: Replace coils (OEM or NGK?) Replace Fuel Pressure Regulator Replace BPV with new unit or another Replace MAF sensor AGAIN Replace fuel filter AGAIN Maybe remove/replace turbo inlet? I don't know what else... I used the "02 WRX CEL" guides posted here and elsewhere to check off everything it possibly could be. The only real things on that list I have left are the Coils, FPR, and rear O2 sensor. Every other possibility isn't on the list, unless its something I'm not aware of. So right now, I'm trying to decide exactly what to buy next to fix it. And since I'm on such a tight budget, and I'm getting into the expensive stuff, I can really just afford to fix one thing a month at a time. So I'm looking for advice...

07-10-2023, 12:29 AM	#286
NutBucket Scooby Specialist Member#: 90804 Join Date: Jul 2005 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: SFV Vehicle: 2021 Ascent 2012 Accord	So stupid question. I didn't have it quite so bad on my GD but I discovered a vacuum leak from the injector seals. It prevented me from hitting target boost. Have you tried an actual pressure test of the intake track to look for leaks? Though, yours might be bad enough that a smoke test will show it.

07-10-2023, 12:56 AM	#288
NutBucket Scooby Specialist Member#: 90804 Join Date: Jul 2005 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: SFV Vehicle: 2021 Ascent 2012 Accord	Pressure tester you can build with some simple parts from the home center. You just have to plug certain ports and such. I'm pretty sure I found all the info here.

07-10-2023, 05:58 AM	#289
tomacGTi Scooby Newbie Member#: 297396 Join Date: Oct 2011	I would say coils. Especially when they age, they will be fine at idle and low load but higher loads they simply won't have the energy that they used to. You can get NGK coils on rock auto for about $65 a piece. -Randy

07-10-2023, 05:58 AM	#290
tomacGTi Scooby Newbie Member#: 297396 Join Date: Oct 2011	I would say coils. Especially when they age, they will be fine at idle and low load but higher loads they simply won't have the energy that they used to. You can get NGK coils on rock auto for about $65 a piece. -Randy

07-10-2023, 07:53 PM	#292
Kostamojen Scooby Guru Member#: 2272 Join Date: Sep 2000 Chapter/Region: BAIC Location: Fire Caves Vehicle: 2019 Macan 4cyl 1993 Impreza FWD WRX swap	After tax and shipping, $300 for the coils Hope it works...

07-15-2023, 01:34 PM	#293
Kostamojen Scooby Guru Member#: 2272 Join Date: Sep 2000 Chapter/Region: BAIC Location: Fire Caves Vehicle: 2019 Macan 4cyl 1993 Impreza FWD WRX swap	I've been eyeballing alternative 15" wheels with a better offset ever since I went with the 15x8 +20 Rota Grids. The +20 Offset has caused issues with rear rubbing since day one, and I'm always concerned about the extra stress on the wheel bearings and just how far the wheels sticked out... Coming up to replacing two of my flat spotted 245/40r15 tires, which I LOVE this size tire so I want to keep that going, so I finally decided to take a chance on a new wheel. I've been eyeballing these 15x8 +40 Rota Slipstreams for like a year or so, but now they were showing as "last set" and I was concerned they would be discontinued. Had NO CLUE if they would clear the 4 pots either so I took a chance... Yes they do clear!!! Plenty of room actually. Its been killing me for like a year or more whether these would fit and I'm so happy they do The only other 15" wheels in a 8" or wider size I've seen in 5x100 are some old discontinued Volks Patrick Olson had for sale 10 years ago, or custom ordering a set of Work Meisters for like $4,000... These were literally the only option. I'll be ordering a pair of 245/40r15 Falken RT660s in a couple weeks and fitting these up. Not sure if I'll sell the Grids or keep them as backups to put a **** set of narrow all seasons for daily use later...

07-17-2023, 04:01 PM	#294
DrTrae Scooby Newbie Member#: 454659 Join Date: Sep 2016 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Loves Park, IL Vehicle: 2004 WRX Wagon Java Black Pearl	Oh man those are gonna look amazing!

07-17-2023, 07:58 PM	#296
tomacGTi Scooby Newbie Member#: 297396 Join Date: Oct 2011	PM D-Rodman on here. He has 4 OEM nearly new black coils for sale. -Randy

07-18-2023, 06:23 PM	#297
Kostamojen Scooby Guru Member#: 2272 Join Date: Sep 2000 Chapter/Region: BAIC Location: Fire Caves Vehicle: 2019 Macan 4cyl 1993 Impreza FWD WRX swap	So there is NO WAY to request Rockauto send 3 of the Made in Japan models, so I flat out returned all 4. Went to the dealer and ordered them, only had 2 in stock. Sure enough they are the same FK0333 part number as that ONE NGK I had that was made in Japan, but after calculating shpping its only $30 total more for me to buy them from my dealer.

07-28-2023, 11:11 AM	#299
Kevd Scooby Newbie Member#: 535020 Join Date: Jul 2023	What a ride! Love seeing where it started and where it's at now. Nice work!

07-28-2023, 04:22 PM	#300
Kostamojen Scooby Guru Member#: 2272 Join Date: Sep 2000 Chapter/Region: BAIC Location: Fire Caves Vehicle: 2019 Macan 4cyl 1993 Impreza FWD WRX swap	Good news! The OEM coil packs I put in eliminated my acceleration issue finally. And the new tires do ride soooo much better than the flat spotted pair of BFGs I was still running... Bad news was I had grinding on full lock, turned out the new offset wheels combined with the roll center kit and still-steel control arms contacted the wheel. Ground them down a little and it seems to have solved the issue.