[LeiboWRX]

Here is my journal. I will not delete the older pictures as I change the mod list below, so to see the most current pics, go to the most recent posts.

Power/drivetrain
Cobb crank pulley
Helix catted DP coated by SwainTech
Cobb SS turbo heatshield
Custom turbo wrap
Maddad Whisper catback
Walbro 255lph fuel pump
Braille battery
APS 65mm CAI
Accessport and Jorge protune
Kartboy short shift lever
TIC shift linkage bushings
Kartboy front and rear shift stay bushings
TIC 6MT pivot bushings (not installed yet)
ACPT carbon fiber driveshaft

Handling/braking
Cobb front and rear sway bars
Cobb rear endlinks
KW Variant 3 coilovers with RCE springs (7in 500/400 f/r rates)
RCE front camber plates
RCE rear pillowball mounts
Whiteline ALK
JIC front strut tower bar
Carlabs rear X-brace
TIC fender braces
Cobb SS brake lines
Girodisc two piece front rotors
DBA slotted rear rotors
Pagid blue pads (track)
Axxis Ultimate pads (street)
Cusco master cylinder brace How-to link
Motul RBF600 or ATE super blue fluid (whichever is cheaper when changing)
Removed front dust shields
11.5:1 ratio Q-rack steering rack with solid mounts
Enkei RP-F1 17x8 wheels
Bridgestone RE01R tires 245/40/17

Interior
Clarion MAX675VD with iPod interface
Clarion NAX970 HD navigation
Kenwood KSC SW1 sub
Alpine Type R front and rear speakers
Autospeed dead pedal
Subaru STi logo floor mats
Kartboy shift knob (personalized)
Autometer Nexus gauges in WRXTra pod
Schroth quick fit harness
Andrew SS camera mount

Exterior
Mostly debadged
Esemes pillar-less grill
Cleared headlights
Window tint
Syms full CF center replica wing

My first mod was to trade in my 2002 WRX for a 2004 STi.

I was on two waiting lists at different dealers for months to get the STi in late 2003, this is what it looked like in stock glory at the inaugural track day:



As you know, the 04s had no stereo and I needed something so I started with this:





And since it was soon to snow in MN, I added this for winter use:

[LeiboWRX]

Then came the first round of performance mods (and window tint) most of which you can see in this box. I was so excited with this delivery:


H&R springs (mistake #1)
Cobb front and rear sway bars
Hotchkis endlinks (mistake #2)
Whiteline steering rack bushings (must have for 2004 owners)
Cobb SS brake lines
Motul RBF600 brake fluid
JIC front strut tower bar
TB racing STi replica rear strut tower bar

I researched as much as I could and took the advice of many people, however, I should have known better than to go with springs that were not being widely used by members here. The only mods I have regretted to date were the endlinks the H&R springs. The springs lower the car too much, and I think the suspension does not function well.





The Hotchkis endlinks gave me nothing but aggravation. I change the settings on the rear bar frequently and the design of the endlinks caused problems. The ends eventually rounded off and the hex wrench would not hold the bolt while turning the nut, pictures coming...

Wanted gauges prior to changing anything with the engine. Nearly everyone goes with the Defi gauges, but I wanted something smaller that still matched well and looked OEM. I wound up getting the Autometer Nexus gauges in a WRXtra modified OEM pod.




I needed more support for HPDE so I did a lot of research and wound up getting the Schroth quick fit harness, which I love.

[LeiboWRX]

I was one of the first to install an Ese-pillar-less grill and debadged:

ese-grill (pillar-less) installed



Cleared my headlights:





Then Cobb pulley, silencer delete, and accessport for typical stage I.

I got the TIC super shifter kit, which has to be the single best mod so far.

I was happy with the power, but as more has to be better, so I got a Helix catted downpipe, sent it to SwainTech for coating, mated it to a Maddad Whisper cat back exhaust, added a Walbro 255lph fuel pump, and loaded Cobb's stage II map.

Sound here: Want to hear Helix & MadDad?








Eventually I resorted to a hack saw to get the rear endlinks off which I replaced with the ones that were on the front and put the stock endlinks back in front. The Hotchkis endlinks in the rear wound up in the same state as the previous pair, and again I had to hack them off and replaced them with Cobb endlinks.



Got a good deal on a Braille battery, added an APS 65mm CAI, and got protuned by Jorge.







Local 92 octane:



100 octane:



Now about to fix the spring mistake with KW variant 3 coilovers, RCE front camber plates, and rear group N tops:



After that, I am considering going on a further weight loss program. I will weigh the coilovers versus stock struts/springs. Thinking about getting lighter wheels and tires and lighter rotors. I have found that with each new track outing, I abuse my brakes more and more as I get incrementally better. I will probably eventually be able to justify the RCE Kool Brake kit.

I want to replace my HU with the Kenwood DDX7017. I might get the replica or original Symms wing upper half. Next summer will probably swap for a new TMIC, new turbo, alky/meth/water injection, and new protune.

I am open to suggestions, comments, or criticism.

[mikeyg]

Nice setup man. The pillarless grill, cleared headlights, and debadged, with JBP looks so nice and clean. That's the exact setup I have. SO what kinda turbo setup are you looking at? Nothing too big I assume for what you seem to be into.

[Darkiller]

nice looks great .. Nice journal .. Mabey post up some videos of u at the track

also keep up the good work

[nice-rice]

Looks good man, great setup so far.

[ASPEN06]

Nice, I love the cleared H/L. sometimes i wish i would have gotten an 05 ... oh well..

[LeiboWRX]

Thanks for the comments. I just realized there are still a few details I left out. I will scan the dyno plots and post them and some additional stuff soon. I will give a full review of the KW coilovers after I get them on, put some miles on them, and get a new alignment.

Regarding plans for a turbo, I am still researching. Any recommendations for moderate power with great throttle response/minimal lag?

The track video I have is pretty bad. I will try to get some new video next time out. I am thinking about getting a suction cup camera mount as I have no plans for a cage/harness bar.

[91TB78]

Where are you planning on getting corner balanced (if at all)? I just ordered the V3s last week, and since we're locals I'd love to hear you inputs once you have them on for awhile.

[LeiboWRX]

Originally Posted by 91TB78

Where are you planning on getting corner balanced (if at all)? I just ordered the V3s last week, and since we're locals I'd love to hear you inputs once you have them on for awhile.

I am driving up your way to have Matt help me install them on June 25th. I will drive around for a few weeks with best guess alignment and then get aligned and corner balanced. That should give me some time to figure out ride height too.

Shoot me a PM and we can perhaps compare setup notes to shorten the learning curve for both of us.

[sebtarta]

Wow this is some car here.

I understand about the endlinks, I had to install a set and I could not believe they had allen bolts. Also they came loose every time you tried to set the length of the endlink, Hotchkis Endlink


What happend with the springs that you did not like? Was it that the rear dropped to much? How did they feel?

Anyways, hope you keep working with the car.

[LeiboWRX]

Originally Posted by sebtarta

Wow this is some car here.

I understand about the endlinks, I had to install a set and I could not believe they had allen bolts. Also they came loose every time you tried to set the length of the endlink, Hotchkis Endlink


What happend with the springs that you did not like? Was it that the rear dropped to much? How did they feel?

Anyways, hope you keep working with the car.

I will put the stock springs back on the stock struts and keep them around for when I need to send the coilovers for rebuilds. I will sell the H&R springs, but I will sell only to someone who understands my concerns and really wants them. I don't want anyone upset, I know there are people out there that want the lowered look and are not tracking the car, these are perfect for that. They would be even better with the RCE camber plates which would lower the front even more. In terms of feel for daily driving they are way better than stock. I had some issues with bouncing when my snow tires were on and I left the rear bar in the middle setting that was cured by adjusting tire pressures and the rear bar to the softest setting. I had no rubbing, and most people really liked the look. They are progressive springs which are nice for daily driving including spirited driving. For tracks with lots of linked turns, the progressive springs seemed to make transitions a little unpredictable for me and offered too little travel (e.g. MAM):



I will post some pictures of the enlinks when I get home, I am out of town now. I don't understand that little bit of engineering, the stockers are the same way. I suppose if you simply install and forget, then no problem. But for those of us that change settings frequently, they are just silly and a PITA.

Thanks for the encouragement, never fear, the work will continue and I will post updates...

[91TB78]

Originally Posted by LeiboWRX

I am driving up your way to have Matt help me install them on June 25th. I will drive around for a few weeks with best guess alignment and then get aligned and corner balanced. That should give me some time to figure out ride height too.

Shoot me a PM and we can perhaps compare setup notes to shorten the learning curve for both of us.

Absolutely. I'm hoping to have mine in and installed before the 24/25 weekend since I have a test and tune on the 24th and the event on the 25th.

Either way, I feel I'll get a ton of learning from the 24th as far as settings.

[LeiboWRX]

Cleaned the car up today:





Here is a picture of the ramps that I built for working under the car. This allows me to quickly change the settings on the rear sway bar or whatever else I want to do.

[MorePSiTehBett4]

nice car and numbers..