Guess it's about time I get started with a real journal (not like this one: http://wrxatlanta.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22482). Gather 'round, children, and hear the story of my CGM WRX Wagon… I shouldn't have this car. I never wanted this car. I just wanted to get an Impreza Outback Sport with a 5-speed. Coming from an underpowered Civic and a rickety AND underpowered Integra, I figured the 175hp was enough. As you all know, that's just not true. Having no luck at all finding an OBS with a manual, and getting lots of pressure from all my coworkers, and even vendors, to "GET THE ONE WITH THE SCOOP, MICHAEL!" I went to look at a WRX in Tucker. The whole ride out there I was repeating, this is a bad idea, this is a bad idea… I had the same mantra when I was walking around the car and looking at those shiny red brakes, and even moreso when I actually drove the beast, but no matter how much I thought she would get me in trouble, I fell in love with her instantly. Now I imagine boost being a lot like crystal meth – one hit and all you want is more. (Hmm, crystal meth, crystal gray metallic WRX wagon… Coincidence?) Just a few days later, I was in the doghouse for buying a new car, but dammit, that car was mine. That was October of 2008, and I've only become happier and happier with the car as time goes on, even if frustration/bloody knuckles/aggrivation is what makes a Subaru a Subaru, love's in there somewhere, I'm sure. I started out simple with working on the wagon, first just learning how to change the oil and reading up as much as I could on anything and everything else. With some help from all of you, I've gotten more into wrenching, performing my 60k maintenance, and doing brake pads and lines. Now the only real reason I want to mod is so I have reason to spend more time working on the car. As difficult as it can be, it's just one other thing I love about my wagon. Current mod list is short: Cobb Stage 1 Whiteline Rear Strut Brace HPS Pads Stainless Brake Lines K&N Drop-in Filter Killer B Radiator Shroud Killer B Alternator Shroud (a little bling never hurt anyone) Ikea Mudflaps (to keep my Swedish meatballs clean) Current plans for the car are a bit more ambitious, but not crazy: 20mm Sedan Rear Sway (waiting to be put on) Kartboy Solid Endlinks all around (waiting to be put on) Sedan Control Arms (also waiting to be put on – stupid no garage, dirt driveway, and rainy weekends) STi Springs with Paranoid Fab Saggy Butt Spacers (again, waiting) In the future the front sway will be upgraded to a Whiteline 27-29mm, and the rear a 22mm. Wheels and headlights will be painted black once it gets warmer, and a matte black roof is in the works, too. I eventually hope to go stage 2, picking up an STi intercooler and VF39 as well (of course with an AP), but that's a ways off.
And on the seventh day, God (finally) said "let there be solid endlinks and a sedan rear sway bar." I've been waiting freakin' forever to put this junk on.
that's not a turbo, it's the a/c compressor Ball is building a rotated kit for it as we speak and Seagull is the only one who can tune it.
Sorry. Of course anyone that went to the Georgia Dome could see it on the "engine train". Well, amazing given the size, it's internal. The shit then flows down to the wastegate. Ahh, drumroll. :dirty: ROFLTRUE.
Dear Member Journal, I'm probably not working on the wagon this weekend. I'm as sad as you are. While I'm not updating you, please enjoy everyone else's comments. _ Michael
Oh jeez… We've got a lot of catching up to do. Since the last update I've painted the headlights, tore out the grille, wrapped the roof in flat black vinyl, failed to swap the front suspension to sedan track (see favorite mod), installed a wagon FSB, 04 STi springs, and today new (to me) wheels and tires (thanks BKiller). That's the short version. The long version of the upgrade story includes lots of help from El Presidente, lots of broken tools, lots of swearing, and lots of time. Ask about it at a meet and I'll be happy to share, but it's a bit much for here. Also, as soon as my IAPerformance spacers come in, it'll be a little louder inside, too, thanks to UpsideDownDesi and his speakers. Sorry for the crappy pics, but I think the gunmetal stockers look bitchin' on a silver wagon. One thing I do want to add, in regard to my Killer B alternator cover, is that Chris at Killer B is THE MAN. A bit of custom mounting hardware broke, and was replaced at no charge as soon as he could get it to me a while ago. More recently, the cover itself broke at one of the mounting points, but with an email to Chris, I had a brand new cover, totally free of charge, in my hands the very next day. You just can't get service like that nowadays.
You know, now that you bring it up -- Ball still has that breaker bar. He mentioned he'd have it replaced under Snap-On warranty for me. How did the cover break? Are you hanging onto it or something?
I really don't know how the cover broke, but Chris said they had some "manufacturing issues." It was at the driver's side where it connects, and the new one he sent definitely has a bigger tab there.
It does. I hope they can keep up with the new 6.5s. Looking at the magnets on the stock speakers vs the new Kenwoods is downright sad.
there seems to be some trash on the front windshield, might want to clean that up before posting the proper pictures of a very nice clean wagon.
I see what you did there… Seriously, though, this wagon's been clean maybe twice since I bought it. Kept up, yes, but clean? No.
K good, i was planning on using my stock ones too. From what i remember reading about them, the speakers have but in inline-corssovers so you should be good. LOL enjoy the new found sound.
Took the speedwagon over to Juston at Six Star and got a new clutch put in. Haven't had much time back in her yet, but she's never felt so smooth. The pedal had always been a bit stiff, and now it just glides. The best part: Juston fixed my rear defrost! Not sure how it happened, but one of the spades split on the connections on the glass. Anyway, works now. Up next, putting the IAPerformance spacers that just came in to work on the Kenwoods I got from UpsideDownDesi. Probably get into that this weekend.
He did some Dremel magic, jammed a wire in the coil, soldered it, attached a spade, and voila. He said it worked at the time, and would probably hold. I told him that even though he did it for free to try it out (or as a very welcome value-add), I'd be sure to come back and bitch if it broke again. I owed him that much after he made that crack on my pulley cover.
Just wanted you guys to see how sad the stock speakers really are. The new Kenwoods are going in today. (stock pictured left, Kenwoods on right)