rdhayward Posted January 20, 2018 Share Posted January 20, 2018 It's been a slow transformation to emulate the JDM Touring Wagon from a car that began life as a USDM "L" Wagon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdhayward Posted January 21, 2018 Author Share Posted January 21, 2018 ENGINE is from a '03 USDM WRX, rebuilt by FW Motorsports in Rocklin, CA. The build includes forged pistons, Borla header and GrimmSpeed up-pipe (both Jet-Hot coated), FluiDampr harmonic balancer, ported & polished intake manifold (powder-coated blue), and VF34 turbo. The under-hood assembly consisted of USDM BP/BL Legacy engine crossmember, Baja Turbo intake, TMIC, and exhaust components, and other things like power steering and coolant lines, Group N engine mounts, 565cc injectors, Baja Turbo fuel pump. The JDM muffler is identical to USDM muffler except it exits straight back rather than downward. All went together very well. Had to do some cutting in the passenger-side front inner fender well for the intake resonator assembly. Also, learned the hard way that a Baja Turbo engine crossmember raised the engine such that the hood would not close, but the later model Legacy crossmember worked fine. iWire merge harness, and customer support beyond the pale. The '03 USDM WRX ecu is mated to a Cobb AP running a OTB tune. Really happy to note that my car has working cruise control using a WRX module. TRANSMISSION is 6-speed from a salvaged S401 (TY856WB3CB w/SureTrac front diff), was rebuilt with Rallispec 2-6 gears, STi clutch, Fidanza flywheel, mated perfectly with a prop-shaft from 5EAT (auto), R160 VLSD 3.90 rear diff. BRAKES are FHI 4-/2-pots, KNS adapters for rear, STi stainless brake lines. SUSPENSION consists of JDM Bilsteins w/STi "Pink" coil springs, front aluminum control arms (powder-coated flat black), Spec B aluminum rear trailing arms and upper arms, STi rear "pillow ball" lateral links, Cusco front/rear sway bars, Cusco lower brace, STi front strut brace. Rallitek front skid plate; Subaru rear diff skid plate. WHEELS are JDM 17" wheels, have tried a couple of different tire sizes and now have a very accurate speedometer with 225/50/17 tires. EXTERIOR, well, I JDM'ed this car the F out: JDM front bumper with fogs, JDM headlamps, HID with leveling motors JDM grill and emblem JDM aluminum hood (with USDM Baja Turbo splitter) JDM power folding mirrors, (swapped onto USDM bases) JDM rain visors JDM side skirts & spats JDM slim roof rails JDM roof spoiler JDM rear bumper JDM rear bumper stainless steel scuff plate with luminescent emblem JDM tail lamps JDM badges (GT, Bilstein, Subaru) INTERIOR conversion consists of black leather seats, leather-lined door panels with puddle lamps, JDM stainless steel scaff plates, USDM woodgrain door and dash components, JDM Momo Woodgrain steering wheel. I've just started driving the car recently after four years. We're still working out some bugs such as the airbag and ABS warning lights being on. But it's a fantastic car to drive, and I'm officially almost over being thoroughly pissed off that Subaru didn't build this car for us a long time ago - lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homegrwn97 Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 Nice work! looks beautiful Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacobpockros Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 Looks great. Was the brace that’s bolted onto your front lower control arms a direct fitment? I was thinking about getting a silver one off eBay that matches the color of my whiteline sway bars, but I’m not sure if it clears the NA exhaust with uel’s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdhayward Posted January 24, 2018 Author Share Posted January 24, 2018 Jacob, yes, it's a Cusco brace, easy bolt-on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdhayward Posted January 24, 2018 Author Share Posted January 24, 2018 The car as I bought it in October 2011. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mdrsk Posted January 28, 2018 Share Posted January 28, 2018 Excellent. I have been wanting to do this to my 2001 Legacy GT sedan for ages. So far it has been sitting for almost a year immobile since tranny went. Very motivating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RustyRuu Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 what year sti do the pillow ball lateral links come from? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nateb720 Posted February 20, 2018 Share Posted February 20, 2018 That side profile... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subi3snacks Posted May 6, 2018 Share Posted May 6, 2018 Amazing work man. So jealous cause I've been wanting mine like yours for awhile now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdhayward Posted May 10, 2018 Author Share Posted May 10, 2018 Thanks. There was a lot of trial & error, could do it again much more cost- & time-effectively. The esoteric JDM electronic swaps complicated things. The JDM cosmetic parts aren't an ideal fit -- lots of subtle differences in JDM & USDM bodies -- but a dark color hides flaws like the mismatched rear bumper to the fender contours, spats not tight to the rockers... The mechanical stuff, however, has gone pretty well. The Borla header cracked, replaced it with a used GrimmSpeed P&P'ed OEM manifold set on NASIOC; and I sourced a new STi catless up-pipe cheap on eBay. Love driving it. My girlfriend has a green '01 GT wagon. I'm thinking it's fine cosmetically. Has a Fidanza flywheel, Bilstein's and Whiteline sways, just needs more motor. Will be a much simpler swap now that I know the recipe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KH3 Posted July 17, 2018 Share Posted July 17, 2018 How hard was it to find the JDM wing? I have a 00 BH and that wing seems to be exactly what its roof line needs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RumbleRumble Posted July 17, 2018 Share Posted July 17, 2018 I wish my car wasn't rusting out. I'll settle for a JDM one when they are available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lukasm62 Posted July 23, 2018 Share Posted July 23, 2018 This wagon looks great. Was there a noticeable difference with the cusco brace? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdhayward Posted March 20, 2019 Author Share Posted March 20, 2019 No, but at worst it’s additional underbody protection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.