Bestest from the Westest.. GC Swapped What Now !?! Top Scoob 011 (Round Two Open !!)

[2.5RSMatt]

I purchased this car, completely stock, in November of 2002 with 30,000 miles on the clock from a member here on NASIOC. I had been searching for a car for a couple months after my previous car literally fell apart and I was having trouble finding a car that was fun, under $15K, and not a killer insurance wise. After a few months of driving the car stock, I decided to start buying suspension parts which encouraged my urge to enter a few auto-x events followed by a rally-x and a few track days. Modifications to the car came natural from then on as if they were just a part of my usual budget. The car was always an absolute blast to drive except for one issue; it lacked power. The 2.5L N/A motor is peppy and fun but ask anyone who owns an RS and has a thirst for speed and they will tell you that the thirst is not quenched.

After I moved down to San Diego from Sacramento for University, I began saving money for a future heart transplant for my Impreza. In November of 2006 my motor blew a HG and the water pump, at which point I was happily "forced" to swap the motor. I initially planned to put in a 2006 2.5L WRX motor but at the last minute a 2004 2.5L STi motor with 15,000 miles clocked became available and so I jumped on it. Garage Tuning provided the expertise to swap the motor and did so in just a few weeks. Many thanks to both Keener's electrical work and Scrappy's mechanical work. After I got the car back I couldn't believe how hard it pulled!

Modifying the car has come to a slow down as of late both because I am finishing my last year in college and the future parts list consists of some rather expensive items. Although I have never been a huge fan of the color Sedona Red Pearl, I have tried to keep the car as subtle as possible, much like the Sti Ver III Type-R, while still trying to separate it from the rest of the crowd.

Over the course of ownership, I have met tons of great people who are Subaru enthusiasts. One of the first people I met was Steve (Kostamojen) who happened to live down the street from me. Steve helped me greatly with installing parts and even took a stock crank pulley to the head for me when we were installing a lighter weight one. One of the things that keeps me so attached to the car is the community we're all part of.





















-Matt. L

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[Splinter]

My baby is pretty much constantly under the knife. I'll list the current wave of mods, even though I'm in the process of installing them :P

Engine
EJ22T Bottom end, Wiseco Pistons
EJ25D Heads running V4 STI valvetrain + cams
PnP EJ20G Intake Manifold
Ceramic coated stock exhaust manifold
Ultimate Racing Uppipe with Tial 44mm EWG
Forced Performance TD06H-20G
eBay FMIC, painted black
Custom 3" turbo back
Power Enterprises 800cc injectors
Coolingmist Stage 2 meth injection
Autronic SM4 standalone ECM

Drivetrain
Exedy Stage 5/6 twin plate clutch
V4 STI Type RA 5MT w/ Neetronics controller
06/07 4pot swap
Baer rotors
Hawk pads
OZ Superleggeras wrapped in Falken Azenis

Suspension
V4 STI springs/struts
Perrin 25mm RSB + 22mm FSB, upgraded mounts + endlinks
Aluminum control arms
Undertower H-Brace
Whiteline ALK

Exterior
99+ Bumper with FF1000 driving lights
P1 Lip (Urethane)
Authenic V6 wing (not installed yet, V5 replica still on)

Interior
V7 STI front & rear seats
Custom doorcards
V7 STI momo steering wheel
STI stainless steel door trim
STI blue carpet (not installed)
V4 Instrument cluster with 280km/h + 10K gauges

I'm probably forgetting a bunch of stuff.









Very old dyno graph:


Throwing up some action shots, just to show its not some garage queen!





I bought this car swapped, supposedly read to go just needed a tune from a dude for $15,000 about a year ago. I got it tuned, and began driving it every day. I installed a Neetronics DCCD controller, since he hadn't installed one yet, and the first time I turned it on, the car tried to rip itself off the road. After an extremely heated phonecall to the original owner, turns out 'Full V4 drivetrain' didn't include the rear diff. 4.44 front diff doesn't play well with a 4.11 rear... I believe it was Garage Tuning that managed to grab me an r160 4.44 post haste and get the car running right. About 4 weeks later I shot a rod through the top of the block. There is no way it was the tune, the big end of the rod broke. You don't that sort of failure from a tune, it was poor build quality. I put together a new motor with some parts I had laying around, took it back to the dyno, came back a little disappointed. I lost 30whp, but I gained 40wtq, and the car was a lot more fun to drive. Pulling the old motor, I found lots of fun surprises: Cam bolts installed with red loc-tite, silicon sealant on the cams themselves, missing chassis wiring and plenty of other horrors. Since then I've replaced every single part he installed on the car, I would have been better off buying a stock car and doing the swap myself! Let this be a lesson to the rest of you to never buy someone else's abandoned project.
Flash forward to the summer, I hit up the local drag strip, and after a few decent runs, ahead of all the other imports and most of the street-legal domestics, my 3rd event I smashed my way into pro-class, running 5.8 @ 79mph on a 384' drag strip. Good times indeed. WCSS10 I took 2nd place, behind SubieGal, her rear-wiper won the judges hearts and their votes. Since then, I've dumped a bunch more cash into the car. I do all my own work, which saves money but eats up a lot of time. If it wasn't for a reliable DD stock 2.5RS and an SVX, I'd be bussing it! The car was originally destined to be a fun DD while I worked on my project car - a 92 Legacy Turbo, but as time moved on and the problems in the Impreza stacked up, I decided to merge the projects. The high-end parts that were originally for the Legacy went on to the Impreza, including a TD06H-20G turbo. This was apparently too much for the Link ECU and worn stock ignition system, as anything above wastegate boost caused unpleasant misfires. Once again, a disappointing trip to the dyno, a mere 215whp @ 12psi boost. With the installation of my new Autronic SM4 standalone and a coil-on-plug swap, I'm hoping to finally hit the power numbers this car deserves. Before the end of the Winter, I should have a custom 22B-lookalike steel widebody completed, as well as a USDM 6MT swap. Come spring I'll be heading back to the drag strip, intent on running low 11s on street tires, and representing the Subaru community which is all but lacking at our local autocross meets.

Its a difficult journey, from a car so badly put together that it could barely keep itself on the road to something any Subaru owner could be proud of, but I'm determined to make it!

[Keenah]

Most people probably know my story. Here's the abbreviated verison. Bought an 04 RS that turned in to Teh Fake STi. Sold it to buy this.


1 year later finally turned it into this after being screwed by a motor supplier...



Another year later after another debacle with paint...













Engine/Drivetrain
2006 EDM STi Engine bought with 2km on it
2006 EDM STi Drive Train 5x114.3 bought with 2km on it
APS 3.5in Turboback Exhaust
Injen RD Intake
APS adjustable BOV
Koyo Aluminum Radiator
JDM Coolant Reservoir
Relocated Fusebox
Apexi Grounding Kit
Garage Tuning Tune


Suspension/Brakes
Brembo Brakes
Brembo Rotors
Endless SS Lines
Endless Pads
Cusco Strut Tower Bars F/R and Vbrace
Cusco Swaybars F/R
Zeal Function Coilovers
STi Steering Rack
STi Control Arms
STi DCCD with pitch/roll sensors


Interior
STi Steering Wheel
STi Guage Cluster (KPH)
Defi Boost Gauge/Controller
Alpine head unit and upgraded speakers
JDM V7 Front Seats
JDM V3 Tiger Stripe Rear Seats
Black Carpet
STi Floor Mats
Suede Door Cards
Suede Headliner
STi Aluminum Door Sills
Greedy Turbo Timer
Prodrive Shift Knob
JDM Red Hazard Button


Exterior
JDM STi Sports Front Bumper
JDM Aero Guards
JDM Rear Spats
JDM V6 Trunk/Wing
JDM V6 Rear Bumper
JDM V6 Aluminum Hood/22B Vents
JDM V6 Doors w/out molding
Removed Antenna and smoothed
JDM Glass/Rear Wiper
JDM Power Folding Mirrors
MRT Hood Scoop
JDM Flat Fuel Door
JDM Tails
Clear Corners

Wheels
Prodrive GC-06 17x8 5x114.3 +46
Prodrive Locking Valve Stem Caps

[Brydon]

Car:
1993 Impreza L FWD
I bought this car completely stock and I have done all the work on it. Short of some of the machine shop stuff I have done every weld, every motor build, every turn of the wrench has been me. After 50,000 miles of abuse and daily driven for 3 years, I finally had a failure and have been rebuilding the car to start driving it again. Everything in the list is currently purchased I'm just waiting on time to finish everything. The pictures are just before it broke and the last picture is the new shortblock I built. Cheers, Brydon

Short Block:
EJ257 New Bare Block Honed to 100mm
Wiseco 100mm Pistons/Rings/Ceramic coating/Oil coating
Manley rods
ACL Race bearings
ARP Head Bolts
STI head gaskets
2008 OEM 11mm oilpump
Increase pressure of oil just slightly
STI oilpan/pickup tube
External Oil cooler with filter relocation

Heads:
04 WRX Castings
Supertech dual valve springs
Supertech Titanium Retainers
DPR STGIII 272in/272ex cams
Supertech intake/exhaust Valves
Porting and Polishing by me
05 RS intake manifold With the EGR ground off and welded closed
Ported intake manifold matched to heads

Fueling:
Walbro 255lph pump That feeds 2 gallon swirl pot
-8an fuel line from intank to swirl pot
-10an fuel line from swirl pot to Aeromotive A1000
-8an fuel line from A1000 to engine bay
-8an fuel line from engine bay to Swirl pot
Loads of -an fittings
Aeromotive Fuel Rails
Aeromotive A1000 FPR
RC1200cc injector
AEM Injector driver for Low Impedance injectors

Turbo/IC setup:
Twin-Scroll Manifold custom made and ceramic coated
New Custom Up pipe and 4" downpipe
gt4088r with .95ex by precision/ also have a .85ex garrett
Twin Tial 44mm wastegates
4" Genaric IC core
Modified endtanks
2.5" hot side pipes all mandrel and custom made
2.5-3.0" cold side pipes custom made to shortest and straightest lengths
HKS BOV (Modified to not sound like crap )

TRANSMISSION:
AWD conversion
05 6-speed swap
05+ hub upgrade
Exedy Triple Plate clutch for 950ft.lbs
05' STI R180 and stock LSD
STI short throw shifter
Redline tranny fluid

ELECTRONICS:
AEM EMS
5bar Map sensor from AEM
PLX wideband hooked to AEM EMS
Blitz EBC
Battery Relocated to Truck/In box
Emergency shut off for Battery

SUSPENSION:
HSD Coilovers (46mm inverted)
4 sets of spring rates (7k,8k,9k,10k)
Cusco strut brace front\rear
Cusco sway bars front\rear
Cusco V brace for trunk
Whiteline lateral links
IPD Swaybars
Whiteline rack bushings
05+ STI front subframe with stock aluminum A-arms

BRAKES:
STI front/Rear brakes
Braided lines
Project mu front\rear pads
STI master cylinder\proportioning valve
ABS delete (Working on STI 4 Channel ABS)

WHEELS:
Rays Gram Lights 57f 17x8.5 with +34mm offset
Yokahama Advan Slicks
Probably some real tires also (Undesided)

INTERIOR:
Havent started or decided on seats or cage yet.
Version 5 door cards
04' WRX dash

EXTERIOR:
01 RS front lights/corners
V5 grill
97-01 L hood
Custom hood locks with keys
RS side skirts.
RS front bumper
Fog covers
Fender flares custom made out of metal (Currently working on)
Shaved moldings/trunk lock
Repaint everything Angean Blue (Hopefully soon!)

[kingsubi]

555 BRP ver.2



My coupe was bought second hand at the ripe age of only 1 years old in 2001. Progressing from a non-turbo 91 legacy, I knew the world of Subaru heritage already and this new car was its coveted symbol.

It remained unmodified for about 6 months of its life until I began toying with TSD rallies and rally-x events. Soon my storage areas were full of extra sets of wheels and suspension. As my only car, the fear was that I would make a wrong turn and not be able to get to school or work come Monday. Well that became a reality one snowy day.

Although I was lined up to swap my engine only with a 02 engine/vf34/pinks and ECUtek (in 2003), the wintery mistake ended up toasting some of my suspension as well. Through Planet Motorsport, I was able to a source a 555 version 2 sti front clip with complete rear end. This seemed like the better choice as it was already in the country and I knew I could be back on the road quickly - oh, and with a bit more power!

The new drivetrain and engine was an amazing difference. It inspired me to enter more track days, TSDs and rallycross events! Since the swap I have blown the turbo (replacing it with a large 16G) and cooked two shortblocks (now with a ver8 sti block). Since moving to Las Vegas it has become 'ol faithful getting me to work and back in addition to entering it in shows and going on group drives, but I have built a track replacement so that I do not make the same wintery mistake again: RSLRA

Chronological Photos:




















Mod List

Exterior:
Sti JDM Ver 4 bumper and OEM lip
Sti JDM clear corners
Sti JDM clear side markers
Sti JDM rear tails
Sti JDM ver2 hood
Osram Silverstars
Sti carbon fiber rear badge
18% tint metallic blue
Hella 500 driving lights - in fog location
ver2 rear spats

Interior:
Sti JDM Ver 2 1996 champions Front and rear seats
Sti JDM Ver 7 MOMO steering wheel
Subaru MOMO Shift knob
STi JDM Ver 4 cluster (MPH conversion)
STI JDM hazard button - yes there is a GC one too!
EDM rear fog light button + rear fog light mod
Sti JDM IC spray
Subaru OEM gauge pod with oil temp/boost/volt
Subaru Compass/temp/pressure kit in pod
JDM folding power mirrors with switch
usdm keylight surround
usdm wrx floormats
2 door STi stainless door sills
Alpine cd/mp3, Infinity speakers/sub

Suspension:
Bilstein WR suspension with Grp N top hats
Whiteline 22-26mm rear swaybar with heavy mounts
Whiteline 24mm front swaybar
Sti JDM carbon Front strut tower bar
Whiteline rear strut bar
Sti JDM aluminium control arms with STI endlinks
Sti JDM rear subframe bushings kit
Grp N engine mounts
Cusco tranny mount
Rev-Lab Aluminium rear diff guard
MSC 3/16" aluminum front skid plate

Brakes:
Sti JDM grey 4/2 pots with Endless pads
Sti JDM SS lines

Engine:
Sti JDM version 2 555 edition EJ20G (ver8 2.0 shortblock) & matching 4.11 5 spd/drivetrain
Apexi high pressure radiator cap 1.3 bar
ARC topmount intercooler
Greddy EVO 2 catback
Bosal divorced downpipe
TD-05H super 16g ported and polished
Super duper no-name ultra JDM grounding kit

Wheels:
Speedline 16 x 7
Hankook RS-2 225s

[DiscoWagon]

Self built cars should only be considered.

[kos]

kingsubi ftw.

[dubya05]

all these cars are great, but can I get a write in for John2.5RS?????

[Mad Ra88it]

Originally Posted by DiscoWagon

Self built cars should only be considered.

why?

I feel that if you don't have the tools to build an awesome car, why not enlist some of the best shops in the business to build the awesome car Subaru never made?

[InSTIigate]

my favorite hands down Kingsubi and the Rsrla is awesome!

[aesthetect]

i dont even know where to start on this one

drift king: looks good but you would be doing better to post some more pictures or a few words..

[kos]

+eleventybillion on adding john

[Ferg]

Sorry but once the voting begins we can't allow any more entries.

No worries though as there are apparently enough incredible swapped GCs out there that we'll be having them back several more times.

[John2.5RS]

Uber Ghey!

I've been waiting for this damn thread for ever!



Good luck to those who entered!

[xsubisanx]

Matt2.5RS's is way too clean and simple, well done!!

[oldhat]

It's gotta be the swapped, built 2.0L Unicorn with rocking the gay pride decal from the Yay Area. Nothing more gangster than that. Hella original.

Mad Ra88it FTW.

[mynxi]

*Drool* Those are the sexiest! Someday, hopefully, my GC will get a swap....

[JDiMpreza]

I'm so sad I couldn't get some pix of my car snapped in time for this...

[herewego311]

Thank you soooo much for all of your support...this is gonna be one tough competition..best of luck to everyone entered!

[Badazzcr]

edit..

[MixeD_MenacE]

Wow, this competition is crazy!

Big thanks to all the voters out there.

[dmross]

Lots of awesome swaps here!!! Man, what a tough choice, so many flavors! Brydon gets my vote. That car is raw as hell and straight to the point. I like it.

On the other end, herewego311, absolutely beautiful car. I really like vinceGC8 too, BRP ftw!

[herewego311]

Originally Posted by dmross

On the other end, herewego311, absolutely beautiful car. !

Thank you so much, I really appreciate that. Especially coming from someone who has built a beautiful car yourself. I love that CF Intercooler piping!! Never seen that!! Love it! and best of luck to you on the 10 sec pass, with your setup, you can do it with a new clutch for sure!

[Splinter]

mixed_menace is catching up on me!

I need to get the car back together this weekend and get some new shots of the improvements

[F EVOZ]

Brydon got my vote....that is what you call a bad ass subaru


I really love that 2.5BAR badge lol