[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
• Final Chapter: The end of the line

__________________________________________________



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]

wdb's journal chapter 2

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]

wdb's journal chapter 2.5

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

 

[wdb]

wdb's journal chapter 3

[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]

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]

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

It's worth a try.

 

[wdb]

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):lol: good luck with the car bro

 

[wdb]

wdb's journal chapter 4

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!

 

[rasetsu]

The back looks way too naked, IMO. The front of your car is very busy (stock scoop, fog lights, lip) and there's nothing on the back to balance in out. Maybe at least put back the WRX emblem to balance the trunk key hole and a Mine's spoiler. The trunk key hole stands out too much now.

Oh, and thanks for hooking me up with the busted V-Limited lip. It's actually even more busted now, but cpturbo gave me an excellent deal and it looks great installed. I'm probably going to bust it up myself anyways.

 

[joe diego]

I like it. Similar to mine. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/iluvmywife/volks.jpg

 

[Nachos Libres]

Car looks fine, I like the clean backend, though I wouldn't do it to my car. If I were to come up behind you I would probably think you had a pretty slow car. I did shave all the emblems when I had my SVT Contour and the only way to know it was a Ford was because of the Ford emblem on the back, and then there were no other Ford or Contour emblems anywhere else. Though I think I will keep my car stock because I want all the "ricers" to know I have the real thing, and not just another "AutoZoned" Impreza.

 

[MYSTiFYME]

Awesome car! Just checking out your post encouraged me to sign up and get to know this place.

 

[AndrewSS]

very nice, gotta love the v-limited lip!

 

[xjerseyzfinestx]

I like it. Similar to mine. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/iluvmywife/volks.jpg

did you jus clear the headlights or those custom like painted black inside ? i have a 2005 aspen white and if i got rid of all the amber parts will it come out like that?

 

[762x51]

Very good looking car....nice and clean. The USDM fogs and lip look great together. I personally would have kept the STi wing, but to each his own.

Where did you get the V-Limited lip from?

 

[forgedSTi]

nice work, wdb!

Only thing you need to do now is get a rear bumper kit to balance out the back. Also, put the STi badge back on the trunk, it looks too plain without it, imo.

 

[wdb]

Where did you get the V-Limited lip from?

Mine was a private deal, but there are vendors who support this website and can get them for you. Myles at Racecomp springs to mind but I know there are others.

 

[wdb]

nice work, wdb!

Thanks! I haven't really done much in the way of performance mods yet because I want to maintain the factory warranty. But the itch is getting stronger and stronger.

Only thing you need to do now is get a rear bumper kit to balance out the back. Also, put the STi badge back on the trunk, it looks too plain without it, imo.

Funny you should mention those two things. I agree with you, pretty much. I'm almost certainly going to put an STi badge back on and I've been hemming and hawing about the rear lip pieces. I'm not really crazy about them but I see where people are coming from when they say they lend some balance to the wingless look.

I also recently got a Mines replica CF spoiler which I had on the car briefly (one day, no driving). I think I'm going to attach it more permanently and live with it for a while. Also I got my Mastro floormats and AS dead pedal today. Whoopee more toys! Next up on the "drain wdb's bank account" list is rally-style mudflaps and winter wheels/tires. That is, unless I find an unbelievable bargain on JDM fogs...