[wdb]

Table of Contents

• Chapter 1: Initial post + bumper hole plugs (this post)
• Chapter 2: Defi boost gauge
• Chapter 3: V-Limited front lip
• Chapter 4: 'cleared' trunklid
• Chapter 4.2: Mastro floormats + Autospeed deadpedal
• Chapter 5: Mines replica rear spoiler
• Chapter 6: Winterized - Rallyarmor mudflaps + winter rims/tires
• Chapter 7: Prodrive springs
• Chapter 7.2: Lighting - 9011 HIR1 bulbs, wow!
• Chapter 8: Rear foglight
• Chapter 8.1: Rebadged - STi rear badge is back (finally!)
• Chapter 9: Cobb short shifter
• Chapter 10: Cusco Type OS front/rear strut tower braces
• Chapter 10.5: Upgraded strut tower braces
• Chapter 11: Hotchkis Street sway bars
• Chapter 11.5: a few doodads
• Chapter 12: STi GT begins in earnest
• Chapter 13: Time to stop
• Chapter 14: Time to go!
• Chapter 15: The ultimate accessory

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Chapter 1 - Initial post + bumper hole plugs

I have a 2005 STi in Crystal Gray Metallic w/ silver wheels. Factory/dealer options:

• fog lamps
• 'short throw' shifter
• auto-dimming mirror
• security system upgrade
• wheel locks
• blue floor mats

I'm going to assume that you've seen enough pictures of people's brand new unmodified cars and just jump right to the mods.

First "mod" was to plug those ugly holes in the front bumper. I considered the brushed aluminum plates that Autospeed sells but decided that simple = better and went with a couple of 3/8" hole plugs, painted to match. I'm very pleased. This is a simple, cheap fix that really cleans up the look of the front end.

Next up: Defi boost gauge.

Cheers!

[wdb]

After driving the car for about a month I realized that a boost gauge was going to be either essential, fun to watch, or both. A fair bit of research led me do decide to go with the Defi BF line. They look and act like the factory gauge cluster, plus they are well thought of and appear to be of high quality. At the present time I just went with one gauge, although I must admit to being tempted to go with the centrally mounted cluster and may do so in the future. I bought the following:

• Defi BF boost gauge
• Defi Control Unit II
• Defi Visor (single gauge)
• Defi Mounting Kit

I put it in yesterday. It took me the better part of 7 hours, including one trip to the local hardware emporium. The bulk of the time was taken up with figuring out where to put stuff and running the necessary wires to those places.

I'm impressed with its looks, the way it blends with the other gauges, and its extremely quick response. I'm less impressed with the illumination, which is certainly sufficient but uneven across the face of the gauge; for this kind of money I expected better. Also I came to realize that a lot of the extra cost is for stuff I'm likely to use very little such as record/playback. (That's also why the Control Unit went in the glovebox.) Still I'm pleased with the finished product and happy I went with the 'factory' look.

[EDIT] I initially had an issue with hum in the radio when tuned to very weak FM stations. Noise was definitely coming from the Defi install. Removed all connections to the radio wiring harness and hooked them up elsewhere, and the problem is greatly reduced.

Here is a link to the thread I started discussing the install:

Defi BF boost gauge install

Pictures show where I put the underhood bits, the Control Unit, and the gauge itself, both from the driver's viewpoint and from the side.

[wdb]

The V-Limited lip was supposed to go this week too, unfortunately it got damaged in shipment. Ah well, another day.

[wdb]

[June 11 EDIT: add images, delete first paragraph about why I didn't have any.]

Second V-Limited lip arrived intact, hooray! First impressions:

• sheesh, the install is ever-so easy - I figured it out without translating the instructions
• wow, does the finished install look 'factory' good
• boy, is that thing llloooowwwww
• whee, was it fun to finally pull the blue protective cover off the STi logo

[rasetsu]

Do you still have the damaged lip? I'd be willing to take it off your hands for you.

[STi_John]

Originally Posted by rasetsu

Do you still have the damaged lip? I'd be willing to take it off your hands for you.

I'm sure he had to send it back to get a new one....

[rasetsu]

Originally Posted by STi_John

I'm sure he had to send it back to get a new one....

It's worth a try.

[wdb]

Originally Posted by rasetsu

Do you still have the damaged lip? I'd be willing to take it off your hands for you.

Heh. I tried to keep it, because the location of the damage was such that it probably would not show after the part was installed. But it was a private sale and the only way the either the seller or I were going to get any satisfaction from the shipper was if the seller filed the claim. So I had to send it back. I think the way it will work is that the seller will get their insured value and the shipper will end up owning the part.

[brettbt]

wow, i want your lip (the V-Limited one) good luck with the car bro

[wdb]

I finally finished 'clearing' the trunklid. No wing, no badges, no nuttin'. So far the look is striking me about the same way the wing did: there are things I really like about it, and things I like not so much.

Likes: clear view out the rear window, super-clean back end look, featherweight feeling of trunk when opening/closing, being asked "what kind of car is that?" at the grocery store.

Not-so-much likes: the back end may be too clean, particularly when compared to the front end.

What I did:

• purchased used trunklid and had it painted to match
• purchased used 3rd brakelight and rear shelf
• purchased new trunk lid torsion springs
• self-installed all of the above

How much it cost:

• $220 trunklid
• $275 paint job
• $45 brakelight + rear deck
• $55 trunk lid springs
• $595 total

Next up: a Mastro floor mat/dead pedal package deal is already in the mail. It's Not so much a 'mod' as an enhancement to the interior look and function, but to be honest I'm really looking forward to getting them!