Project RS

[ScottyB]

just picked up the car tonight. i've dubbed it the Grey Goose

anyway, in much the same spirit as my A4 thread i'm not making this as much a "project" thread as much as tracking my modification path and noting observations. might be neat to check out and hopefully helpful to someone considering how many subies we have in the club.

current mods:

STi replica braces on the front/rear shock towers. as a macstrut car i'm sure they help but with such a soft suspension it probably isn't much. it's cool they're on there, maybe later down the line they will play a bigger part.

kartboy short shifter w/STi "piston" knob -- actually not much of a fan of this, although i'm not sure if it's because of the short shifter or crappy tranny fluid. very notchy at low speeds, almost impossible to get it into first while moving. the STi knob isn't very comfortable either, i prefer a round knob. it's also pretty low in the car, below my thigh actually. i have short arms, so the only way to reach 5th is to sit close to the wheel, but then my legs aren't positioned well. maybe look into a component that will raise the height of the knob?

some immediate observations:

most of you know how the stock potenza RE92 tires are the bane of impreza owners everywhere....well, yeah, they're terrible...at everything. that will be the first thing to go.

first time i downshifted from 3rd to 2nd spiritedly, it sounded like someone was throwing rocks at the bottom of the car. from researching it, it sounds like this is just the stock exhaust popping because the 2.5's run pretty rich from the factory. kinda cool, but it's more a jiffy-pop type of popping than the cool gurgling WRC kind of popping. we'll have to put an exhaust on there and make it sound right 8)

torquey bugger! really comes alive in the mid range. really responsive too, i'm over-revving it on downshifts all the time. all in all, very happy with the engine and power. probably won't touch much of it.

that's about it for now, i'm going to try to cord these RE92's as fast as possible and get some respectable rubber on there, and in the meantime look into some tranny fluid and maybe swapping some shifter/knob combos around.

[Nis01]

Congrats Scotty, glad you are liking the car. The piston shift knob is not very comfortable.. I have no idea why people like that thing. 1st is a difficult gear to grab over 5 mph because of the synchros but a good revmatch will allow it at speed but it still doesn't like it very much... rarely even do it during autox here. The bushings in the shifter may have been tightened down a bit much will make for gear grabbing very notchy but also tough to pull back out of... might want to give it a look and see if its torqued over 8 ft/lbs... or perhaps needs some nice grease. RE92s are horrible, glad to see thats first on the list to go. :lol: Good luck with the car, best of luck with the progression.

[Mike]

raise the shift knob? that'll lengthen throws... just trade shifters with someone rather than paying to attach a piece of aluminum (that could break) for the same result.

[ScottyB]

raise the shift knob? that'll lengthen throws... just trade shifters with someone rather than paying to attach a piece of aluminum (that could break) for the same result.

it came with the stock shifter thankfully. maybe stock shifter/karboy bushing combo?

[Chris]

cool Scotty nice car! I know Feersty would love some pics, but so would I when you have a second.

[Nis01]

it came with the stock shifter thankfully. maybe stock shifter/karboy bushing combo?

A lot of people run this and comment that its a great combination. I currently have stock shifter with some of the kartboy bushings but I am swapping for the short shifter kit in mine. Interesting to here that its uncomfortable for you but you will feel a difference with the stock one.. its considerably taller.

+ 1 on some RS pics.

[ScottyB]

pics a'comin! it's hothothot outside so i'll probably get some pics at the end of the day 8)

i'm going to keep working on my shifting technique and focus on getting some different tranny fluid in there first. if that helps the shift quality then i'll just stick with the karboy shifter and look into a taller knob that's comfortable for my hand. overall the shift and clutch action is VASTLY different than the audi...everything is very short travel and precise. the audi was precise, but there was just a big grey area to play with while this is pretty on/off.

needs some front pads too. the brake feel/modulation is great but the actual pad bite is pretty weak. i know the heat isn't helping either.


i guess i've already started to set some goals for what i want out of the car, since i know i'll have it for a long time. i'd like to see a slightly stiffer suspension, stiffer sway bars, another 20 horsepower, and a good wheel/tire combo. that's really it. it suits me really well as it is, and if i can compete to some extent in autocross then that's icing on the cake.

[Nis01]

i guess i've already started to set some goals for what i want out of the car, since i know i'll have it for a long time. i'd like to see a slightly stiffer suspension, stiffer sway bars, another 20 horsepower, and a good wheel/tire combo. that's really it. it suits me really well as it is, and if i can compete to some extent in autocross then that's icing on the cake.

Awesome decision Scotty. Those cars can be awesome on the autocross course in their class. There was just an article in GRM that took a WRX wagon and did these almost exact changes and tested them on the same autocross course and lost considerable time (of course they did strutbars instead of sways for some reason, worthless). Progress should be fun to watch.

Word of warning... the front sway bar is a craptastic install but well worth its weight in gold when you are done (Take off 8 parts to add 1 kind of thing). Have a good time with the car and for OEM parts check out SubaruGenuineParts.com. Great group with great prices, I have purchased numerous parts through them with great success. Also know a great vendor for some new front pads if you need 'em. If you have any questions that I may be able to answer, please feel free to ask. Good luck.

[WRXtranceformed]

Yeah I'm not much help on the shifter, because I really like the Kartboy. Definitely a good call on the tires, it will be like night and day. Keep your eyes open on NASIOC for used parts too... I bought most of the parts for my old WRX used from there and I saved a ton of money. Good luck! You've got some pretty seasoned Subaru guys here if you have any questions =)

[ScottyB]

You've got some pretty seasoned Subaru guys here if you have any questions =)

i know, it's awesome! i don't feel like i'm way out in no-man's land when i do stuff now.

Shea -- i don't think i'll do stock pads in the front again, what do you recommend? i was thinking carbotech bobcats.

i've been watching NASIOC classifieds like crazy...i hate you guys :lol:

[ScottyB]

pics as requested 8) more overplayed parking garage pictures just in case you weren't sick enough of them

trowin' them malformed M's...it's also pretty hard to drive this thing in flip flops!




+5 whp


artsy fartsy


"hi, i'm wheelgap! how's it going?"

[Nis01]

I've heard good things about the carbotechs and know they can be had for a decent price. I have no personal experience with them but I know Lee has run the Hawk HPS as a basic street pad, and I have run the Ferodo DS2500s as a street/autocross pad. I don't think any of them will be too much different than the others. I'd probably see what you can get at the best price between the Bobcats, DS2500s, and HPS/HP+s. I'll get some price quotes for you and you can compare them to what you can get.

^^ Love the pics. Wingless FTW. :lol:

[ScottyB]

thanks dawg! i love the DS2500's that were on the audi, but they were expensive for a high performance street pad. i'd gladly go back to HP+'s if it wasn't for the noise. but hey let me know what you find.

wingless wouldn't have been a dealbreaker for me but i sure do like it.

oh yeah....changed the oil today. after years of snaking around driveshafts, removing tanks/skidplates, burning forearms on stuff...subaru's are awesome.

[Beej]

Woo Crystal Grey Metallic! I used to hate it, but it's growing on me.

What do those things sound like with a can out the back? Do they sound the same as the boosted ones?

I'm sloppy as all get-out when I drive in flipflops, too.

[ScottyB]

Woo Crystal Grey Metallic! I used to hate it, but it's growing on me.

What do those things sound like with a can out the back? Do they sound the same as the boosted ones?

I'm sloppy as all get-out when I drive in flipflops, too.

i was really after a WRB or alpine white ( hock: for me, i never used to like white...*cough* Shea *cough*) but crystal grey was right up there. it's just no good having a dark color down here. CGM with dark wheels...giggity.

they sound deeper and more raspy than the turbos. i like the turbo sound better but any boxer sounds sexy as hell IMO.

i did a great job of looking like a tool at a stop light last night when i went to slow down, put the clutch in, and grabbed a bunch of brake and gas at at the same time with my clownshoes flip flops. sitting there at 4k rpm...durrrrr


i've already got a WC Lathe shift knob on order and pending sale on a 20mm RSB....yay self control :roll:

[Sijray21]

awesome ride man. i'm really glad you got an excellent car for fun, practicality, aftermarket, and reliability. i'm also looking forward to the mods and future of this car .

[Nis01]

i've already got a WC Lathe shift knob on order and pending sale on a 20mm RSB....yay self control :roll:

Thats awesome, I was going to recommend that one to you.. I just picked it up also. :lol:

Funny about the flipflops, those and clogs are the only thing I ever drive the car with unless real shoes are required. Flipflop heel-toe is always fun. :wink:

I need to look into the differences between my chassis and yours but I know mine loves a BIG front sway bar to reduce some understeer and a somewhat sturdy rear until you go high spring rates. These cars love some swaybars though, you will notice the difference as soon as you take a single turn. :wink: The rear sway bar has been the easiest install yet.

[WRXtranceformed]

Funny about the flipflops, those and clogs are the only thing I ever drive the car with unless real shoes are required. Flipflop heel-toe is always fun. :wink:

Dirty hippies!

Don't forget, 04/05 Subarus look awesome when you clear out the headlights. It's super easy and looks even better if you paint the housings black, or the same color as your car. If you're doing a lot of driving on the highway down there, you may want to consider a set of Hella Supertones... They're cheap as hell and loud as shit! And they look badass 8)

[ScottyB]

I need to look into the differences between my chassis and yours but I know mine loves a BIG front sway bar to reduce some understeer and a somewhat sturdy rear until you go high spring rates. These cars love some swaybars though, you will notice the difference as soon as you take a single turn. :wink: The rear sway bar has been the easiest install yet.

true true, everything i'm reading about these cars stresses the FRONT bar over the rear, or at least a combo. i've jumped on the rear bar first simply because a local guys was selling it for $25 bucks and i can't control myself at that price :lol: i'll be looking at some drop links front/rear and a fat front bar to compliment it, probably whiteline.

Don't forget, 04/05 Subarus look awesome when you clear out the headlights.

word! i'm looking into this too...thanks for posting a pic of your car Lee. i remember always thinking it looked badass...wait, BOTH of them! and as for Hellas, dude i'm going to find the closest thing i can to a train horn. i was cut off today and the stock horn was totally limp wristed. i want people to go into cardiac arrest and get the hell back in their lane!

awesome ride man. i'm really glad you got an excellent car for fun, practicality, aftermarket, and reliability. i'm also looking forward to the mods and future of this car .

thanks man! it was really the right choice. i'm all about horsepower but realistically this has a very good combo of everything i want/need. lets see how well i can hold myself back from modding fever...

[Dave]

i don't get everybody's flip flop comments, just take them off :-).

BTW, nice pick up Scotty and I love that you've had it less than a week and already buying it presents :p