SubOperator

Thanks to my boys who did most of the heavy lifting for the swap, taking care of removing the USDM front end parts and installing JDM hood, fenders and whole bumper related set of parts. I mostly dragged the project by procrastinating with the headlights and related wiring. Btw now I have full 05 USDM front end in RBP (color code 35J) for sale - hood, fenders, bumper, front crash bar, headlights, fog lights. Will put that up in FS section.

Yes. I knew he had something to do with the film industry but never looked him up. Amazing! I have to say he was always willing to go extra distance to help me out, several times he arranged some JDM parts to be shipped to me directly from Japan while he was there. InfosecDad is rocking the JDM HID headlights I bought from Arnold but never installed. Thank you for the link!

On my LGT project, finally the JDM front end swap is done. That included converting the headlights from RHD to LHD by swapping the JDM HID projectors to Bi-LED projectors made for LHD. Probably should do a write-up on that as well, was interesting project. Big thanks to Ralph @legacyoddNends http://www.instagram.com/legacy_oddsnends/ for the harnesses, they were a huge help, especially with making the headlight adjustment work. Installed new 08 STI engine undertray that fits JDM bumper perfectly. My old engine undertray was too beat anyway. Managed to fit all JDM SpecB bumper aero pieces to 05 USDM front fender liners - the fitment is not perfect but 90% good. Also took time to really go over all exposed body parts when I pulled down all 4 fender liners, side skirts and front bumper to take care of surface rust and spray some marine rust protection over that. And finally - installed the Cusco radiator guard I had bought from Arnold (the Arnold!) so many years ago. Bling! Happy with the car, made the final headlight adjustment last night and it is awesome. The 08 STI undertray part #: Car, still need to mount the front plate:

I thought I did a decent enough write up on 2DIN EDM panel install, using same EDM radio:

Wait, what? 7 pages to read but I am certainly interested!

While on electric front, I learned last night that Subaru in fact uses positive ground to control the headlights. Wish I checked that *prior* to soldering the wiring inside the first headlight. All corrected now but I lost a night. Duh.

Thanks for info. I am thinking about what my next vehicle will be, and something like Rivian SUV looks interesting enough. we like to travel so I am waiting for next breakthrough in battery technology. Looks like by then the charging infrastructure will also improve. Like the fact that Tesla's charging opened up to others and Tesla's connector will be used by others, Finally, unification to benefit all.

So how are EVs compared to other ICU vehicles you own(ed)? Real life experience, etc.

Resumed working on converting JDM HID headlights to EDM bi-LED headlights. Mounted driver side bi-led projector and closed the light only to find out that with bi-led projector the clearance between the lens and front garnish is too little for headlight adjustment to work in my judgement. The other unmodified light has about 3 mm clearance and bi-led has 1mm or so. Tomorrow will work on figuring that problem out.

Very nice looking car, GLWS!

Wish I knew that years ago when older son's 05 OB had one of the parking shoes stuck in the brake drum. Was (not) a lot of fun fixing that when the drum was refusing to come off. Words were said that can't be printed. Both the parking shoe holding pin and the slot on the plate where the pin goes were basically gone. Welcome to New England and all the salt.

This sounds interesting,will get in touch for sure.

At current age/mileage of our cars, might as well replace the dustshield plate that doubles as parking brake base. Not a very smart design decision from Subaru tbh. I had left side replaced some time ago, right one is rusted out bad but still holds the parking brake shoes in place. Have new part ready to go on when bearing is replaced.

The car was completed and I had photos/videos of it running with EJ20 running STi ECU. The price point is surely not low. Did you look at the auctions? Sometimes dealer trade-ins will show up there and could be exactly what you are looking for, including price point.

Well Arnold's white JDM conversion wagon was up for grabs some time ago. I believe the guy who bought it was in Maryland? He's on the forum. A little bit of money but was way less than Arnold spent on it (such is a life of car enthusiast).

Bump for remaining parts. Make me an offer!

I am not able to come, car still needs working headlights.

What about BoxerFest? Time to go down to PA again? https://www.boxerfest.com/tickets?sest=ebfam

Put the last coat of marine corrosion protection on all surfaces in the rear fenders. Removed the rust on the right side as it was falling off anyway. Patched the slight opening with a ghetto engineering patch to prevent water from getting in until I get something better there. Put the rear fender liners and rear wheels back on. Then went on trying to fit JDM undertray Spec-B bumper adapter pieces from to USDM fender liners. They do not align perfectly but close enough to seal the gaps. Got the JDM fender liner part ## from the remaining cutouts that came with the bumper. Found the JDM fender liners cheap on partsouq but shipping is a killer. I am not ready to pay $130 shipping for $30 part and they do not do combine shipping. So back to fitting what I have to USDM pre-face lift fender liners.

Btw the title of this thread does not fully apply to my car as it is 18 years old

I am not sure my car will make it to West Coast and back, but I sure will enjoy the pictures from the event!

Happy to see the progress and sure looks like you made a right decision not to force all of that be done last night before ECM.

Thought a few people may appreciate this. Caught this while on a city tour bus in Boston recently.

Fell for the "while I am there" trap once again (what's new, heh). With JDM front end swap boys dropped the side skirts and I then went and pulled the fender liners in the back to see what's there. First time since the car was built. To my own surprise, not too much rust there, especially for a car that spent 16 years in New England driving year round and parked outside most of the time. Cleaned, vacuumed and wiped everything with alcohol. Then sprayed with marine corrosion protection film. Debating what to do with the small corroded piece of the pass side fender. Took the rust off but now there is a small opening there. Worried that water will get inside and do more damage before I get to address the rust. Need to figure out solution soon as the car needs to be put together.

@m sprank You have way too much free time on your hands. Need to open a car shop or something.