This is my second STI.
My first STI was an Aspen White 05 it had the short throw shifter and a boost gauge, but didnt come with floor matts.
I daily drove the 05 and did a couple of auto crosses. The only modifications I did was aftermarket floor matts, teflon coated rims (wish I had them back), and an OEM arm rest extension.
In 06 I traded her off for a 06 Chevy Malibu. My youngest was taking drivers ED and I/he needed something he could learn how to drive with.
After junior got his licence we looked for a cheap small car for him. Timing was bad as there was no small cheap cars to be had as gas had jumped to $4.00 a gallon. My wife and I decided to give the Malibu to the boy and she found a STI at the dealer we could go look at.
The day I brought her home. Options were fog lights and Home Link Mirror
That first year I bought another set of rims and a set of Dunlop snow tires. It is amazing how well an STI handles snow with a set of snow tires. The 05 had all seasons and they just do not compare. It didnt see much snow as I had a pickup to drive and I hated to see salt on it.
The expressway by us was some how perfectly designed for the STI bobble head. I would be bouncing down the road and look over to other cars next to me and they were not bouncing at all. I decided to try a set of springs, and went with RCE Blacks. In all honesty I dont think they did a thing, at least for bobble head, but they did shine on the track later.
I bought an Acess Port and flashed stage 1. And then shortly stage 2. I went with the Maddad catted down pipe and intermediate pipe that tapers to 2.5 " and used the stock axle back.
My goal has always been to modify the car reliably, and unnoticeably. Track worthy and quick, but something you could stand to drive to another state.
Started tracking the car a little and it did fairly well. But of course it needed more........Power.
Drove to Detroit and got a protune from Speed Industry. Mustang Dyno : 271WHP 290 FT. LBS torque. Dunlop Z1 Star Specs replaced the Stock RE70 Bridgestones.
White line Comp C front strut mounts, upgraded XP-10 Carbotech brake pads, and nitto 01 tires were added the next year. I tried these out at Mid Ohio and they worked well, but the car understeered bad, so I bought a Cusco 22mm rear swaybar. That did the trick. http://www.iwsti.com/forums/gd-susp...388-front-tire-wear-add-larger-rear-sway.html
Not long after going stage 2 My son who had an 07 STI and I went to the drag strip for fun. Both of us noticed that after a pass, and we shut them down, when we started the cars they would spew white smoke bad for a few seconds. This would happen after a track session also. I finally did a compression check and #2-#4 were down 7PSI from #1-#3. The only other issue I was having was during a track day I would go through 2 quarts of oil. http://www.iwsti.com/forums/2-5-liter-litre-factory-motor/208699-07-sti-2-4-ringlands-broke.html
This last winter I decided I wanted more power as I was lossing cars on the straights at the track, but would catch them in the corners. This was mostly a problem with Mustangs, and would keep them from pointing me by until I rode up ther butts through the corners.
The last time the car was on the dyno the tuner had turned up the boost, but gained no hp and 5 ftlbs of torque. This told me that the exhaust was holding things up.
To keep with my goals (reliable, unnoticeable,fast,and drivable) I decided to keep the top mounted intercooler, intake, and headers, but change the turbo. After much debate and research I went with the Blouch 20G-XT. To keep it reliable I knew I had to change the pistons and Clutch.
I rebuilt the engine with forged 4032 Mahle pistons installed DW850cc Injectors, an ACT clutch, an oil pick-up, and had it tuned with an e-tune from IA performance. All was going as planned until..... http://www.iwsti.com/forums/built-m...ring-something-important-you-should-know.html I also decided to step up to Carbotech XP-12 brake pads and Centric premium rotors
In the panick to get her up and running for a trip to NY and a track day at Watkins Glen I bought a shortblock from Vigilant Motorsports. Tore it down replaced the short block and started the break in.
She ran great at Watkins Glen. The XP-12 did a great job, but wore very quickly, and the rotors didnt look real good either. This last trackday at Grattan the car understeered real bad and tore the Nitto 01s to shreds.
I have decided that I have gone to far over the line towards a track car and went a little stray of my goals. So after this last trackday of the year (Gingerman) I will be going back to Carbotech XP-10s, DBA rotors, and real street rubber.
Here are few track Videos. A small group of us have been trying to hit a big track by us at least once a year. VanishingPoint on Vimeo
Modifications/Parts
Turbo: Blouch 20GXT 8cm Coated Turbine
Cobb bypass Valve
Injectors: Deatch Werks 850cc Top Feed.
Clutch: ACTSB4-HDSS
Timing belt: Gates Racing
Vigilant Motorsports Shortblock
AEM CAI
Omni 3 Bar MAP sensor
STI group N Engine and Trans Mounts
Oil pickup: Covert
Whiteline Comp C Strut Mounts
Cusco 22 mm Rear Swaybar
Whiteline Endlinks
Invidia Turbo back exhaust
RCE Blacks (springs)
TiC Subaru Rear Diff Mount Bushings - Comfort
AEM Water Injection System (water only)
Tuned by Stephen Clark at IA Performance
http://www.iwsti.com/forums/review-sti-tuners/217132-ia-performance-100-e-tune.html
Access Port/Tuner Race
KNS/DBA Rotors
Carbotech XP-10 Pads
245-40-17 Dunlop Z1 Star Specs
TIC Holy Shift Kit
My first STI was an Aspen White 05 it had the short throw shifter and a boost gauge, but didnt come with floor matts.
I daily drove the 05 and did a couple of auto crosses. The only modifications I did was aftermarket floor matts, teflon coated rims (wish I had them back), and an OEM arm rest extension.
In 06 I traded her off for a 06 Chevy Malibu. My youngest was taking drivers ED and I/he needed something he could learn how to drive with.
After junior got his licence we looked for a cheap small car for him. Timing was bad as there was no small cheap cars to be had as gas had jumped to $4.00 a gallon. My wife and I decided to give the Malibu to the boy and she found a STI at the dealer we could go look at.
The day I brought her home. Options were fog lights and Home Link Mirror
That first year I bought another set of rims and a set of Dunlop snow tires. It is amazing how well an STI handles snow with a set of snow tires. The 05 had all seasons and they just do not compare. It didnt see much snow as I had a pickup to drive and I hated to see salt on it.
The expressway by us was some how perfectly designed for the STI bobble head. I would be bouncing down the road and look over to other cars next to me and they were not bouncing at all. I decided to try a set of springs, and went with RCE Blacks. In all honesty I dont think they did a thing, at least for bobble head, but they did shine on the track later.
I bought an Acess Port and flashed stage 1. And then shortly stage 2. I went with the Maddad catted down pipe and intermediate pipe that tapers to 2.5 " and used the stock axle back.
My goal has always been to modify the car reliably, and unnoticeably. Track worthy and quick, but something you could stand to drive to another state.
Started tracking the car a little and it did fairly well. But of course it needed more........Power.
Drove to Detroit and got a protune from Speed Industry. Mustang Dyno : 271WHP 290 FT. LBS torque. Dunlop Z1 Star Specs replaced the Stock RE70 Bridgestones.
White line Comp C front strut mounts, upgraded XP-10 Carbotech brake pads, and nitto 01 tires were added the next year. I tried these out at Mid Ohio and they worked well, but the car understeered bad, so I bought a Cusco 22mm rear swaybar. That did the trick. http://www.iwsti.com/forums/gd-susp...388-front-tire-wear-add-larger-rear-sway.html
Not long after going stage 2 My son who had an 07 STI and I went to the drag strip for fun. Both of us noticed that after a pass, and we shut them down, when we started the cars they would spew white smoke bad for a few seconds. This would happen after a track session also. I finally did a compression check and #2-#4 were down 7PSI from #1-#3. The only other issue I was having was during a track day I would go through 2 quarts of oil. http://www.iwsti.com/forums/2-5-liter-litre-factory-motor/208699-07-sti-2-4-ringlands-broke.html
This last winter I decided I wanted more power as I was lossing cars on the straights at the track, but would catch them in the corners. This was mostly a problem with Mustangs, and would keep them from pointing me by until I rode up ther butts through the corners.
The last time the car was on the dyno the tuner had turned up the boost, but gained no hp and 5 ftlbs of torque. This told me that the exhaust was holding things up.
To keep with my goals (reliable, unnoticeable,fast,and drivable) I decided to keep the top mounted intercooler, intake, and headers, but change the turbo. After much debate and research I went with the Blouch 20G-XT. To keep it reliable I knew I had to change the pistons and Clutch.
I rebuilt the engine with forged 4032 Mahle pistons installed DW850cc Injectors, an ACT clutch, an oil pick-up, and had it tuned with an e-tune from IA performance. All was going as planned until..... http://www.iwsti.com/forums/built-m...ring-something-important-you-should-know.html I also decided to step up to Carbotech XP-12 brake pads and Centric premium rotors
In the panick to get her up and running for a trip to NY and a track day at Watkins Glen I bought a shortblock from Vigilant Motorsports. Tore it down replaced the short block and started the break in.
She ran great at Watkins Glen. The XP-12 did a great job, but wore very quickly, and the rotors didnt look real good either. This last trackday at Grattan the car understeered real bad and tore the Nitto 01s to shreds.
I have decided that I have gone to far over the line towards a track car and went a little stray of my goals. So after this last trackday of the year (Gingerman) I will be going back to Carbotech XP-10s, DBA rotors, and real street rubber.
Here are few track Videos. A small group of us have been trying to hit a big track by us at least once a year. VanishingPoint on Vimeo
Modifications/Parts
Turbo: Blouch 20GXT 8cm Coated Turbine
Cobb bypass Valve
Injectors: Deatch Werks 850cc Top Feed.
Clutch: ACTSB4-HDSS
Timing belt: Gates Racing
Vigilant Motorsports Shortblock
AEM CAI
Omni 3 Bar MAP sensor
STI group N Engine and Trans Mounts
Oil pickup: Covert
Whiteline Comp C Strut Mounts
Cusco 22 mm Rear Swaybar
Whiteline Endlinks
Invidia Turbo back exhaust
RCE Blacks (springs)
TiC Subaru Rear Diff Mount Bushings - Comfort
AEM Water Injection System (water only)
Tuned by Stephen Clark at IA Performance
http://www.iwsti.com/forums/review-sti-tuners/217132-ia-performance-100-e-tune.html
Access Port/Tuner Race
KNS/DBA Rotors
Carbotech XP-10 Pads
245-40-17 Dunlop Z1 Star Specs
TIC Holy Shift Kit