Making 02 wrx into STI

[JL787]

So I just bought my first wrx it’s a 2002 stock with 170K miles and was wondering what do I need to convert it into an STI, Thanks.

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[dangerousatom]

Find a 04 STi donor and swap it all over . . . Plug and play

[Unabomber]

Originally Posted by JL787

So I just bought my first wrx it’s a 2002 stock with 170K miles and was wondering what do I need to convert it into an STI, Thanks.

You literally cannot. That's not a thing. We did not have the STI here until 04 AKA its a different body style. Now if you were to JDM convert to STI, that's a different story. That conversion will start with ~$10k. https://jspecauto.com/en/subaru/ is where to source it all.

[Sour_K]

Originally Posted by Unabomber

You literally cannot. That's not a thing. We did not have the STI here until 04 AKA its a different body style. Now if you were to JDM convert to STI, that's a different story. That conversion will start with ~$10k. https://jspecauto.com/en/subaru/ is where to source it all.

Edit: I just realized what you were saying. You can't make a bugeye an STI because we didn't have them here. It would just be an STI swap. My bad.

[oichan]

It would be too fake if you did it. I remember back when I owned my 2002 WRX I bought new, I wanted the STI but it was a completely watered down machine with dad suspension and tires. I think they were even RE92's which were notorious for being garbage for you younglings who weren't born yet.

[supermarkus]

As somebody who spent thousands in STi parts trying; don't bother putting lipstick on a pig. Unless you're absolutely in love with the bug eye and don't mind creating something that will never offer return on investment. It would be a fun passion project, that's about it.

[samb]

Lipstick on a pig? That's a bit harsh, the WRX is a great car

[Ernest]

Just build your 02 if you love it. Plenty of WRXs with more power than STI. If you really must, buy an STI badge and put it on the car. Most other parts are available used everywhere, like interior. Easy enough to get a big wing if you want it.

Just remember you are investing in a car that is not worth much being 18 yrs old. For some that matters. I still invest in my 04 WRX and will for the foreseeable future.

[Jack]

"invest"

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Jack

"invest"

Yeah a poor word, but if you think about it, I have not had a payment for my WRX in 12 years. She runs great and costs little. So I can take money that would have gone to a new car payment and invest in the market or save. So maybe “invest” is not as bad as one would think.

[firebane]

Originally Posted by Ernest

Just build your 02 if you love it. Plenty of WRXs with more power than STI. If you really must, buy an STI badge and put it on the car. Most other parts are available used everywhere, like interior. Easy enough to get a big wing if you want it.

Just remember you are investing in a car that is not worth much being 18 yrs old. For some that matters. I still invest in my 04 WRX and will for the foreseeable future.

Someone STI badged my WRX... Felt like the poor thing was bastardized.

[atm0706]

Doing this right now actually on my bugeye wagon.

Started with a complete 04 STi, yes I bought a running STi and stripped it clean. It was cheap, salvage title, and not pretty so don't feel bad.

If you want an STi, sell the bugeye and just buy one. It's way cheaper in the end, even if you do your own labor. The only reason I am doing this is because the bugeye was my very first car, I've owned it for 10 years, and it is sentimental to me. I learned all I know about cars with the bugeye and I'm never selling it. When done it will be pretty insane. The ultimate subaru in my mind. IAG Stage 2 block, EFR 6758, 6 speed, Ohlins, Q-Rack 11.5:1, Recaro SR-3, some tss fab parts, some Oswald parts, etc.

[trueno92]

1. get $10,000
2. go to instagram.com
3. search wrx/sti
4. make it really low so roll center is below road
5. make the camber really bad "search cambergang"


or you can take $10,000 and buy a clean 04 sti

swap rad support, fenders, hood, front bumpers and lights from your bugeye on to it.

PROFIT!

[trueno92]

Originally Posted by atm0706

Doing this right now actually on my bugeye wagon.

Started with a complete 04 STi, yes I bought a running STi and stripped it clean. It was cheap, salvage title, and not pretty so don't feel bad.

If you want an STi, sell the bugeye and just buy one. It's way cheaper in the end, even if you do your own labor. The only reason I am doing this is because the bugeye was my very first car, I've owned it for 10 years, and it is sentimental to me. I learned all I know about cars with the bugeye and I'm never selling it. When done it will be pretty insane. The ultimate subaru in my mind. IAG Stage 2 block, EFR 6758, 6 speed, Ohlins, Q-Rack 11.5:1, Recaro SR-3, some tss fab parts, some Oswald parts, etc.

tbh im almost doing the same thing..

ive had my bugeye since 2005.. its gone thru many looks and styles and forum posts here when nasioc was active..

its gone thru 3 diff front calipers, 3 engines, 2 turbos, 2 steering racks, 3 different suspension setups, 4 different sets of front seats, 2 interior swaps and 5 different sets of wheels, 4 front lips, 3 different front bumpers, 2 trunks.....2 different sets of headlights... 2 children!

oh and 80+ different ecu tunes and i learned how to do it myself.
now its running an fmic and speed density.. which i think is really the holy grail of the turbo subaru world as a learning platform.

i think i got to the end....... is it an STI yet? hmm

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_L3l9RH..._web_copy_link

[atm0706]

Originally Posted by trueno92

tbh im almost doing the same thing..

ive had my bugeye since 2005.. its gone thru many looks and styles and forum posts here when nasioc was active..

its gone thru 3 diff front calipers, 3 engines, 2 turbos, 2 steering racks, 3 different suspension setups, 4 different sets of front seats, 2 interior swaps and 5 different sets of wheels, 4 front lips, 3 different front bumpers, 2 trunks.....2 different sets of headlights... 2 children!

oh and 80+ different ecu tunes and i learned how to do it myself.
now its running an fmic and speed density.. which i think is really the holy grail of the turbo subaru world as a learning platform.

i think i got to the end....... is it an STI yet? hmm

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_L3l9RH..._web_copy_link

sick looking bugeye!

I'm going for a similar rally appearance, with 17x8 enkei RC-T4's. My car was always pretty basic, mostly stock engine with cobb stage 2 mods y0. Also did a quite a few suspension mods. I would really like a prodrive style bumper, but it's hard to find for wagons unfortunately, and I don't want to swap to a sedan front without doing rears which is $$$. Maybe after I (if i ever) finish the car.

[trueno92]

Originally Posted by atm0706

sick looking bugeye!

I'm going for a similar rally appearance, with 17x8 enkei RC-T4's. My car was always pretty basic, mostly stock engine with cobb stage 2 mods y0. Also did a quite a few suspension mods. I would really like a prodrive style bumper, but it's hard to find for wagons unfortunately, and I don't want to swap to a sedan front without doing rears which is $$$. Maybe after I (if i ever) finish the car.

RC-T4 in gold 17" is really my favourite tarmac wheel for the GD chassis. I think it could have been more popular if the whole scene didn't decide to go <+30 offset, concave and stretched tires - in that order.... and now flare everything...

thanks for the positive comments!! my car has never been done.. but just earlier this week i got to the stage where i can drive it more and enjoy it.. and wrench less....

[atm0706]

Yeah I would have to agree, they are my favorite as well. Mine are probably going to be painted gun metal, they are currently white and I font like it. But they are hard to find, and I had to get them through an importer.

Sadly my car has been on jack stands in the garage for 2 years I will hopefully have it mostly together by the end of the summer though.