wdb's journal - The Ultimate STi Accessory - Page 6

***520*** · 04-29-2007, 03:23 PM

Nice! that GC bottom looks great.

***Neanderthal Racing*** · 04-29-2007, 07:00 PM

very exciting, man! how much do you love those kartboys?

Greg · 05-10-2007, 08:08 PM

Ah nice! I like the GT approach. I'm doing the same. Regarding KBs, just great. I installed mine about a month ago. I wasn't sure where the washers should go and put mine under the bolt head and the nut. I look forward where you take the GT approach, so I know what's next on mod list

***wdb*** · 05-11-2007, 06:00 AM

Hi, thanks for noticing.

My next 'mod' is brakes. My original pads and front rotors were due for replacement so I decided to upgrade the system while I was at it. The work is almost finished; I'll post up when it's complete.

After that comes powah. Nothing crazy, because this is my only car and is daily driven hundreds of miles. I am doing a Cobb catted DP, mated to the stock exhaust for now (and probably until the stock exhausts dies). Also an AP for EM and a protune. Tuning goals are reliability, efficiency and driveability; my mental ideal picture is a wider, higher, but still pretty flat power band. I'm in the process of collecting parts for this little project.

Since the power will be upgraded I decided that more gauges should be on the mod list too. Hopefully they will be mounted in a custom dash pod of my own design; something lower and more subtle than the usual 3-humpers. This mod is further out on the timeline.

I'd love to put a rear diffuser on the car also. I've rationalized this expenditure three ways. First, I am wingless and would benefit from the reduction in rear lift a diffuser would give me. Second, I'm curious as to what effect a rear diffuser will have on fuel economy. Third, I think they look hot.

lokutus1 · 05-11-2007, 06:20 AM

i love the gc grill.

where did you get it? did it come black already or did you paint it?

***520*** · 05-11-2007, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wdb

Hi, thanks for noticing.

My next 'mod' is brakes. My original pads and front rotors were due for replacement so I decided to upgrade the system while I was at it. The work is almost finished; I'll post up when it's complete.

After that comes powah. Nothing crazy, because this is my only car and is daily driven hundreds of miles. I am doing a Cobb catted DP, mated to the stock exhaust for now (and probably until the stock exhausts dies). Also an AP for EM and a protune. Tuning goals are reliability, efficiency and driveability; my mental ideal picture is a wider, higher, but still pretty flat power band. I'm in the process of collecting parts for this little project.

Since the power will be upgraded I decided that more gauges should be on the mod list too. Hopefully they will be mounted in a custom dash pod of my own design; something lower and more subtle than the usual 3-humpers. This mod is further out on the timeline.

I'd love to put a rear diffuser on the car also. I've rationalized this expenditure three ways. First, I am wingless and would benefit from the reduction in rear lift a diffuser would give me. Second, I'm curious as to what effect a rear diffuser will have on fuel economy. Third, I think they look hot.

That sounds like a perfect plan. A diffuser would set it off nicely!

***wdb*** · 05-11-2007, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lokutus1

i love the gc grill.

where did you get it? did it come black already or did you paint it?

I ordered direct from Grillcraft. I didn't know at the time that subarugenuineparts.com carries Grillcraft products; if I had known I would have bought from them instead.

The grille is available in black or silver powdercoat finish.

***wdb*** · 05-12-2007, 03:02 AM

The brake job is done!

Ferodo DS2500 pads F/R
Technafit SS lines F/R
ATE Super Blue brake fluid
DBA 4000 front rotors
Rear rotors resurfaced

What a difference all of that makes! Especially compared to what came off; the original pads and rotors. The front pads were right at the edge of disaster as it turns out, with one of them having literally just a skin of pad material remaining. Compared to that, the new brakes are awesome. Firmer pedal, better initial bite. I haven't really beat on them yet and so a more thorough report will have to wait until I've lived with them for a few weeks. In particular I want to drive through rain, to see if my rationale for buying slotted rotors was valid.

EDIT 5/13: Oh yeah, I forgot to mention -- they squeal at low speeds under light pedal pressure. You know, parking lots, traffic lights, crosswalks; anyplace where there are at least a dozen or so sets of ears to immediately turn towards you.

I guess I'll have to learn to modulate the noise, maybe make bird sounds or something.

Obligatory parts shot:

Greg · 05-12-2007, 06:57 AM

Nice. How many miles did you have on the stock pads?

***wdb*** · 05-13-2007, 09:03 AM

I had about 55K miles on the stock pads and rotors. My original plan was to resurface front and rear rotors, but the fronts were too far gone. So I had a perfect excuse to upgrade!

***chaos311clarity*** · 05-23-2007, 05:56 AM

i just read thru this whole thing haha... AWESOME.

SinistreLefty · 09-27-2007, 08:04 PM

...I can't believe I read the whole thing. Car looks awesome though!

***wdb*** · 09-29-2007, 03:04 PM

I can't believe you read the whole thing either, especially when there are so many hotter cars on this forum! Be sure to read up on some others, there's a lot to learn in the member journals.

***wdb*** · 10-18-2007, 08:37 AM

I type this with mildly aching muscles in my neck, shoulders and hands, after having spent the better part of the day yesterday crawling around under my car yanking stuff off and putting stuff on.

The stuff:

Cobb catted DP and heat shield
TiC Bodacious Bushing Bundle

(I also flashed a Cobb Stage 2 base map, but that didn't make any muscles sore.)

All the parts are of fine quality. I'll go a step further with the Cobb downpipe; I have so much faith in the quality of the piece that I bought a used one without hesitation.

Instructions for both are plentiful enough that the install went fairly well. My biggest install issues had to do with the amount of decomposition the heat shield fasteners had suffered over 75K miles of use, and the fact that some of the steps are probably a whole lot easier with someone helping.

The result: well worth the temporary muscle aches and pains. I finished the work pretty late in the evening and have not had time to really get my head around the changes; I'll have more to say later after I live with them for a few days. On my short drive last night I wasn't sure which one to be happier about; the extra kick in the seat when I hit the gas, or the super crisp and accurate gear changes I get when reaching for the next kick!

***Majin*** · 10-18-2007, 08:41 AM

awesome - stage 2 is a fun place to be. stage 2+ was a terrific time in my car's life.

Cobb's DP is tops as far as i'm concerned.

04-29-2007, 03:23 PM	#76
*520* pwns n00bs Car: 03 EVO Fav Mod: stock :( Location: Michigan Posts: 12,270 Join Date: Oct 2005 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: wdb's journal - STi GT begins in earnest! Nice! that GC bottom looks great. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

04-29-2007, 07:00 PM	#77
*Neanderthal Racing* Support Our Sponsors Car: CUTN EDG project Fav Mod: $20. mudflaps from auto zone Location: my cave Posts: 5,709 Join Date: Dec 2003 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: wdb's journal - STi GT begins in earnest! very exciting, man! how much do you love those kartboys?

05-10-2007, 08:08 PM	#78
Greg Silver Member Car: 2006 - CGM Location: Western Washington Posts: 829 Join Date: Nov 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: wdb's journal - STi GT begins in earnest! Ah nice! I like the GT approach. I'm doing the same. Regarding KBs, just great. I installed mine about a month ago. I wasn't sure where the washers should go and put mine under the bolt head and the nut. I look forward where you take the GT approach, so I know what's next on mod list

05-11-2007, 06:00 AM	#79
*wdb* dances with roads Posts: 4,850 Join Date: Apr 2005 Trader Rating: (8)	Re: wdb's journal - STi GT begins in earnest! Hi, thanks for noticing. My next 'mod' is brakes. My original pads and front rotors were due for replacement so I decided to upgrade the system while I was at it. The work is almost finished; I'll post up when it's complete. After that comes powah. Nothing crazy, because this is my only car and is daily driven hundreds of miles. I am doing a Cobb catted DP, mated to the stock exhaust for now (and probably until the stock exhausts dies). Also an AP for EM and a protune. Tuning goals are reliability, efficiency and driveability; my mental ideal picture is a wider, higher, but still pretty flat power band. I'm in the process of collecting parts for this little project. Since the power will be upgraded I decided that more gauges should be on the mod list too. Hopefully they will be mounted in a custom dash pod of my own design; something lower and more subtle than the usual 3-humpers. This mod is further out on the timeline. I'd love to put a rear diffuser on the car also. I've rationalized this expenditure three ways. First, I am wingless and would benefit from the reduction in rear lift a diffuser would give me. Second, I'm curious as to what effect a rear diffuser will have on fuel economy. Third, I think they look hot.

05-11-2007, 06:20 AM	#80
lokutus1 Silver Member Car: 05 WRB WRX STi Fav Mod: FYI, I'm a dude Location: Burlington, MA Posts: 2,326 Join Date: Mar 2005 Trader Rating: (10)	Re: wdb's journal - STi GT begins in earnest! i love the gc grill. where did you get it? did it come black already or did you paint it?

05-12-2007, 03:02 AM	#83
*wdb* dances with roads Posts: 4,850 Join Date: Apr 2005 Trader Rating: (8)	Chapter 13: Time to stop The brake job is done! Ferodo DS2500 pads F/R Technafit SS lines F/R ATE Super Blue brake fluid DBA 4000 front rotors Rear rotors resurfaced What a difference all of that makes! Especially compared to what came off; the original pads and rotors. The front pads were right at the edge of disaster as it turns out, with one of them having literally just a skin of pad material remaining. Compared to that, the new brakes are awesome. Firmer pedal, better initial bite. I haven't really beat on them yet and so a more thorough report will have to wait until I've lived with them for a few weeks. In particular I want to drive through rain, to see if my rationale for buying slotted rotors was valid. EDIT 5/13: Oh yeah, I forgot to mention -- they squeal at low speeds under light pedal pressure. You know, parking lots, traffic lights, crosswalks; anyplace where there are at least a dozen or so sets of ears to immediately turn towards you. I guess I'll have to learn to modulate the noise, maybe make bird sounds or something. Obligatory parts shot: Last edited by wdb : 05-13-2007 at 09:53 AM.

05-12-2007, 06:57 AM	#84
Greg Silver Member Car: 2006 - CGM Location: Western Washington Posts: 829 Join Date: Nov 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: wdb's journal - STi GT: It turns, it stops... Nice. How many miles did you have on the stock pads?

05-13-2007, 09:03 AM	#85
*wdb* dances with roads Posts: 4,850 Join Date: Apr 2005 Trader Rating: (8)	Re: wdb's journal - STi GT: It turns, it stops... I had about 55K miles on the stock pads and rotors. My original plan was to resurface front and rear rotors, but the fronts were too far gone. So I had a perfect excuse to upgrade!

05-23-2007, 05:56 AM	#86
*chaos311clarity* oMgWTFpewpew Car: 05 CGM STi Fav Mod: grip. Location: Southeastern PA Posts: 5,203 Join Date: Aug 2006 Trader Rating: (7)	Re: wdb's journal - STi GT: It turns, it stops... i just read thru this whole thing haha... AWESOME.

09-27-2007, 08:04 PM	#87
SinistreLefty Amateur STI Driver Car: The one in my head, Fav Mod: N/A Location: Sumter, SC Posts: 20 Join Date: Mar 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: wdb's journal - STi GT: It turns, it stops... ...I can't believe I read the whole thing. Car looks awesome though!

09-29-2007, 03:04 PM	#88
*wdb* dances with roads Posts: 4,850 Join Date: Apr 2005 Trader Rating: (8)	Re: wdb's journal - STi GT: It turns, it stops... I can't believe you read the whole thing either, especially when there are so many hotter cars on this forum! Be sure to read up on some others, there's a lot to learn in the member journals.

10-18-2007, 08:37 AM	#89
*wdb* dances with roads Posts: 4,850 Join Date: Apr 2005 Trader Rating: (8)	Chapter 14: Time to go! I type this with mildly aching muscles in my neck, shoulders and hands, after having spent the better part of the day yesterday crawling around under my car yanking stuff off and putting stuff on. The stuff: Cobb catted DP and heat shield TiC Bodacious Bushing Bundle (I also flashed a Cobb Stage 2 base map, but that didn't make any muscles sore.) All the parts are of fine quality. I'll go a step further with the Cobb downpipe; I have so much faith in the quality of the piece that I bought a used one without hesitation. Instructions for both are plentiful enough that the install went fairly well. My biggest install issues had to do with the amount of decomposition the heat shield fasteners had suffered over 75K miles of use, and the fact that some of the steps are probably a whole lot easier with someone helping. The result: well worth the temporary muscle aches and pains. I finished the work pretty late in the evening and have not had time to really get my head around the changes; I'll have more to say later after I live with them for a few days. On my short drive last night I wasn't sure which one to be happier about; the extra kick in the seat when I hit the gas, or the super crisp and accurate gear changes I get when reaching for the next kick! Last edited by wdb : 10-18-2007 at 09:25 AM.

10-18-2007, 08:41 AM	#90
*Majin* high and mighty Car: 2004 STi Location: The Superiority Complex Posts: 12,427 Join Date: Apr 2004 Trader Rating: (2)	Re: wdb's journal - STi GT: It turns, it stops... awesome - stage 2 is a fun place to be. stage 2+ was a terrific time in my car's life. Cobb's DP is tops as far as i'm concerned. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.