|
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
03-04-2009, 11:54 AM | #1 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 161015
Join Date: Oct 2007
|
My Sweet Transvestite RWD GC8
First and foremost I need to extend my thanks to those that made my car a priority in their lives, and helped me complete all that has been done thus far.
Dan from Smart Service Subaru Erik and Doug @ Up Garage Ray @ Garage Autohero Dave @ 360 Auto body Brian Josh Of course***8230; The patience of my wonderful girlfriend Alrighty, now onto the car***8230; As I am sure I have mentioned before on here, I have been drifting for four years now, and I started with the car everyone does, a Nissan 240sx. After some time I began to tire with the scene, and that everyone was buying 240s with SR20's in them. There was little originality, and even after dropping 25k on my Nissan, it just was "another 240sx." After seeing Team Oranges GC for the first time, I got a wild hair, and told one of the shops that sponsored me that I was selling my car and building a Subaru. I told only a few people what my plans were, and kept the rest to myself (that only lasted so long***8230;Roland! ) ***8230;. In October of 2007 I bought a 95 Impreza L coupe, and in December my friend Dan and I started to tear into it. Dan Happily getting started on the long journey! Me getting excited about 20min worth of work***8230; The engine came out easily enough, but we were doing the swap on the side of dans house***8230; yes those are river rock covering the ground***8230; we went from this***8230;. To this***8230;.(check out Dan's face, I think I was the only one pulling) The fun part began when I got to clean this engine bay, and sand it all down to get ready for paint. This was four solid evenings of work, in the dark, frozen awesomeness which is Washington in the winter. I got it back from the painter and the engine bay had a nice coat of BMW Steel Grey Metalic p.code: #400 for those who want to know. Doing anything in the conditions we were working in sucked***8230; jack stands weren't stable on this surface so being under the car was just uncomfortable***8230;. To give an idea of what the whole set-up was, this was our shop for the winter***8230;. BAH! If anyone can point out what's missing here, you get ten points! It's amazing how much of a difference these bushings made***8230;
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.
|
03-04-2009, 11:58 AM | #2 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 161015
Join Date: Oct 2007
|
While down there I installed the Kakimoto Racing exhaust (dp -back, no cat for this system, but it will come later)
No other car that shares the same body has as many things on it that do not transfer as this car***8230; Example: I thought an RS dash swap would be nice and easy. I was wrong, you need the beam, the dash, all of the brackets, all new plugs as they changed in the later model dashes, heater core, and the holes in the top of the firewall aren't all there***8230;. the L steering column doesn't bolt to the RS beam, and from that issue stems the problem of the RS firewall having a larger hole for the steering column and the corresponding bushing. A dremel was utilized to fix this, but even so, I only dremeled enough to knock the solid piece into place. Lastly, all of the tree wiring on the steering column is completely different from these years, and had a different set of plugs and wire colors. This was a fun thing to find out, but I just kept buying till I got everything. I think in the end it was worth it. Here is an RS dash on an L beam, BOOO! (I will post the completed dash a little later in the post) The engine I had bought was blown with the intention of rebuilding it, but here is what fell out of the block when taking it apart***8230; (engine is a Ej20k out of a V4 Sti type-R While we waited for one of the heads to have new valves installed my Watanabe Factory drift center diff came from www.rhdjapan.com and it was time to do the deed! We removed the naughty bits that make a Subaru so snow worthy (STI DCCD), and implanted the bits that would make it drift worthy. I know im probably going to get some **** for removing a perfectly good DCCD, but if anyone wants to buy them, I have the DCCD and the corresponding STI mechanical rear diff. DCCD found a new friend***8230; Here is one solid center diff***8230; I don't think I would want another piece in here, the quality is just too good. Install, including cleaning all of the gasket off and re-applying new gasket, was 15min. Obviously that was with the transmission out of the car, but still, that's pretty good. Get that tranny put together, and make that bitch unable to recognize herself! After getting the heads back and another block from Up Garage, Dan began assembling the engine***8230; Me helping the process***8230;or at least providing much of the comedic relief JDM front sub with aluminum arms and stub-shafts installed***8230; CHeeeeeeCK |
03-04-2009, 11:59 AM | #3 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 161015
Join Date: Oct 2007
|
Engine installed***8230;. Chaaaaaack
Super Bad-ASS Cusco downpipe***8230;. There it is! Almost fully assembled***8230; First fitment of the bumper headlights and the like***8230; |
03-04-2009, 12:00 PM | #4 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 161015
Join Date: Oct 2007
|
Alright, now this is where **** began to hit the fan. After all of the wiring was done, fluids added, all vacuum lines checked, and all the belts were tight***8230; The engine doesn't start. There is no reason for it after all we had done to make sure we would only need to do this once. So we decide to compression test it. I forget what the exact numbers were, but the driver's side cylinders were at about 25% of what they should be, and the passenger's side was about at about 80%.... It turns out that the engine that was sold to Up Garage had fried piston rings and had scoring on the cylinder wall. I don't blame them, as I should have checked before going to all of the work to get this thing together. Doug (the owner of Up Garage) and Erik (Mechanic at UP Garage) took it upon themselves to make sure that he ordered the parts needed to make the engine run, and that the machine work would get done as needed.
The car headed down to Erik's house, where he could work on it more freely (he regretted this by the end of it I am sure ;-) ). Engine was torn out, and sent to the machinist for a 2 overbore, and Weisco Pistons were ordered for the engine while we waited. Once the pistons got here, they were sent to the machinist to check clearances, etc. and shortly after were left to take this floor full of parts and make a rumbly STI engine out of it. Girlfriend decided that I needed to look like I was actually doing something on this car. Once assembled it was just a matter of re-installing it for the second time***8230; All in all it has been about 10 months of working on this on a very irregular basis at this point and I was getting antsy. Erik had to deal with frequent phone calls about when I could make the 1-1/2 hour drive to his house to work on the car, and when I did get down there, we would be working on the car in the cold garage until 1am or so. While waiting for everything over the months, I acquired a plethora of parts such as my coilovers, brake pads, Rotora rotors, Prodrive P1 front lip and fog lights, AFC-neo, Greddy Guages, etc***8230; Here are the 2-pot brakes off of a JDM Forester, with Rotora rotors, and my GP-Sports Coilovers (same ones on Gallery's D1 Street Legal GD. Tiny Brakes hiding behind Enkei NT03-M's 17x7.5 +35 (thank you Enkei for having ****ty sizes in 5x100 bolt pattern. |
03-04-2009, 12:01 PM | #5 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 161015
Join Date: Oct 2007
|
Engine gets installed, and now its time to go after any wiring gremlins we may have throughout the system. Go go gadget Erik! I am horrible with wiring, and Erik is a god in the Nissan scene, so I thought I would let him give this a try***8230; Once again he hated getting drawn into this, hahaha.
Ahhhh, looking much better***8230; The car began to be put back together and ready to head home where it would be sent off to paint shortly. And then it was time to tear it apart and send it off to the body shop. So I ended up driving it down to the shop with no doors, windshield or any other body panels that could be removed! Good fun, Thank you Ray for the suggestion. Once at the shop I figured I would take one last round of before shots. |
03-04-2009, 12:02 PM | #6 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 161015
Join Date: Oct 2007
|
While on the lift at the body shop..
Itty bitty Subaru R160, soon to be R200 Life at the body shop***8230; My roof was all sorts of wavy due to the previous owner's ski-rack, and this is how it is fixed. It is a bit messy, but the headliner is going back in, and this was the most structurally sound way to keep it straight. First round of sanding and bondo where needed. Goodbye moldings! After all of the bodywork was done, the BMW paint was applied, and following that, the roof was painted flat black. I thought this would add a little somethin-somethin extra, Plus there will be continuity from the carbon hood, and the carbon center of my 22b replica spoiler. |
03-04-2009, 12:04 PM | #7 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 161015
Join Date: Oct 2007
|
My friend Brian came and installed the new windshield and other window moldings that required some skill to attach them.
And now we are at today***8230; The Impreza is at my friend and fabricator, Ray's Shop, Garage Autohero for the R200 differential w/ Kaaz solid 2-way install, which is going to be a lot of work to either, modify and strengthen the stock rear subframe, or just make a whole new tubular unit. In the end I will leave it up to him, as I trust in his work exceptionally. Not to mention the new drive shaft, and rear axles that will have to be made in order to make the R200 to the Subaru hub and transmission. I will post up more pictures as things come together, as well as describe everything that is going on. I hate doing these write ups because I don't even keep up with my own. Hence why I posted a little over a years work all at once***8230; Thanks for reading, Stephen |
03-04-2009, 12:54 PM | #8 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 43128
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: SLC
Vehicle:92 RWD, 96 FWD 05 AWD |
Awesome!
|
03-04-2009, 01:05 PM | #9 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 166324
Join Date: Dec 2007
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: BLOD in BLOD out
|
looks great. nice color too
|
03-04-2009, 03:14 PM | #10 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 171948
Join Date: Feb 2008
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: new york
Vehicle:19 Sti Crystal white |
looks good man. alot of time and money spent. good luck with it.
|
03-04-2009, 03:24 PM | #11 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 86741
Join Date: May 2005
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Chicago
Vehicle:05 STi.. Built twinscroll35r Love/Hate |
very nice color looks hot
|
03-04-2009, 03:26 PM | #12 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 112612
Join Date: Apr 2006
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Appleton,Wisconsin
Vehicle:2010 Legacy 2.5 CBS 2002 Impreza WRX WRB |
All I have to say is "WOW"!!!!!!
|
03-04-2009, 03:26 PM | #13 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 106125
Join Date: Jan 2006
Chapter/Region:
VIC
Location: vancouver, bc
Vehicle:06 GG AW |
i sense and detect enormous qualities of win in this thread, great build man! cant wait to see the finished product
|
03-04-2009, 03:45 PM | #14 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 203835
Join Date: Feb 2009
Chapter/Region:
BAIC
Location: California
Vehicle:1998 2.5RS 207 Black |
why not just get an open differential and send most of the power to the rear wheels?
|
03-04-2009, 04:19 PM | #15 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 161015
Join Date: Oct 2007
|
^as this car is a drift specific build, "most" of the power to the rear is not sufficient... not to mention the stock parts just wont handle the abuse of 300 whp being drifted upon for very long. I am already suspicious of the tranny gears as it is, and might have them cry-treated for extra strength.
I will also answer the question of, "why i didnt weld my center diff and save money?" right now as well... because i dont trust it, and because this is the same center diff that Team Orange has on thier cars. So if its good enough for them, its good enough for me. Dont fight me on it, because my opinion will not change. (not trying to sound like an ass, i just have been getting this question more often that i would ever like to answer it) Thanks for all of the replies to the thread, I'm glad you guys/girls like it! even though it is a bit sacrilegious. -Stephen |
03-04-2009, 05:30 PM | #16 |
Former Vendor
Member#: 93646
Join Date: Aug 2005
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Vehicle:Many Track Records Let us help you go fast! |
Very nice!
BTW, you're missing the big ol' washer that goes on the outboard side of the front shifter stay bushing. |
03-04-2009, 05:31 PM | #17 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 161015
Join Date: Oct 2007
|
^and the return spring! Sucked to drive around without
good eye |
03-04-2009, 09:29 PM | #18 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 123362
Join Date: Aug 2006
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Dorothy's House
Vehicle:'97 E36 M3 351W FTW |
I really like the color. Good luck with the rest of the project.
|
03-04-2009, 09:31 PM | #19 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 161038
Join Date: Oct 2007
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Milwaukee
Vehicle:2014 FiST |
I'm not a fan of drifting or converting a perfectly capable awd subaru to rwd, but this is a really clean build. Good job!
|
03-04-2009, 10:05 PM | #20 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 161015
Join Date: Oct 2007
|
^been waiting for that one
oh the troubles of being different. But i understand the view as well. Hence why i bought another GC as my daily driver!!!! -Stephen |
03-05-2009, 01:58 AM | #21 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 182337
Join Date: Jun 2008
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: UTah
Vehicle:1997 Impreza Outback Sport -- White |
bad ass I love the paint job-- how much did the body shop and paint run you if I can ask?
|
03-05-2009, 09:10 AM | #22 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 22698
Join Date: Aug 2002
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: brigadoon vermont
Vehicle:08 Legwrxob covered w/ snow |
great job!
a lot of work that looks like it will pay off nicely!i can't believe that bennington college sticker on the rear window...oh the irony you should leave that on there just for teh reactions of those in the know. cant wait to see the finished ride. good luck!
|
03-06-2009, 03:52 AM | #23 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 161015
Join Date: Oct 2007
|
it came on the car, and i will be removing it as soon as i can!
i looked up the school after buying the car, just out of curiosity, and it solidified why i would be removing it from the back window! -Stephen |
03-06-2009, 03:57 AM | #24 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 161015
Join Date: Oct 2007
|
So i have some sickness where i cannot turn down a good deal...
Instead of spending money on sway bars like i should be, im spending money on awesome... BBS LM's 5x100 18x8 +35 with JDM red center caps they are off my friends Audi, and he decided to get new wheels, so he made me an offer i couldnt refuse... here is what they look like on his car. as paint is already done, i will be cutting the inside of the fender lip instead of rolling it further than it is, and risking the possibility of cracking the paint. With that, and stretching 215/40s over these, it will officially fall under the super flush/tucked drift category. -Stephen |
03-06-2009, 04:14 AM | #25 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 185112
Join Date: Jul 2008
Chapter/Region:
NWIC
Location: Lynnwood, WA
Vehicle:2002 Impreza WRX PSM 17x9 +17 |
I almost wish that I had not seen this thread...
me and my buddy, who is pretty serious about drifting and being original (he does the drift comps at Evergreen, etc., in his E36 BMW), have been throwing around the idea of converting my wrx to rwd to drift in the summer. i'm opposed to making a perfectly good awd car rwd, but if I could do it easily I would do it in a heartbeat haha so just keep our crazy idea going...where did you find that front output shaft delete sleeve for the center diff? i've tried to contact RocketRally about it, but no response. what problems other than the rear diff would I face? this whim would get real expensive if i needed to swap in an R180 or R200.. your car makes it seem to plausible to do this conversion...considering you're also in the western washington area and those shops are capable of doing this... other than that, badass car man. props on braving the flammage to get that subie sidewayz haha |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Converting my GC to RWD | Imprezzive Driver | Tri-State Area Forum | 12 | 04-06-2007 06:19 PM |
How to turn my 6mt to RWD/FWD?? | Cavadini | Transmission (AT/MT) & Driveline | 18 | 07-26-2006 10:20 AM |
*Arizona* *rwd* *gc8* | JessesTalon | Private Vehicle 'For Sale' Classifieds | 81 | 02-14-2006 07:38 PM |
My Sweet Sweet Baby! | DoomEquation | Southern California Impreza Club Forum -- SCIC | 45 | 01-17-2002 07:16 PM |
My sweet baby | Heather | Member's Car Gallery | 3 | 10-29-2001 09:14 AM |