The story starts here...
Was looking for a new-to-me car. wanted a cheap all wheel drive car for safety handling and an insurance break. Had whittled it down to Either an Impreza or an Audi Quattro. In doing research I stumbled onto the Legacy Central Websight where I discovered the legacys had the same drive train as the Imprezas and where considerably cheaper, both to buy and in insurance. Shortly after I bought my introduction to the Legacy world..... The Lemming.
After about a year The Lemming blew a headgasket and I was... living on the generosity of others while clearing up debt. so I sold it. bought a cheap Saturn and started looking for one of those SS Turbos I'd read about on Legacy Central. What I realy wanted was a 90-91 5 speed in good shape. Six months later I found an add for a 93 auto with 166k in good condition with maintenance receipts.
I went to look at her. The seller, of course, had just washed her, so as I trundled around the corner at like 15 mph looking for the street address she was sitting there. Glistening in the sun against a magestic Mountain Backdrop. At that point she had a new owner. I just had to go conduct the formalities with the seller.
The seller was a very nice man. and they, indeed, had receipts for everything, Including installation of a NEW engine and transmition four years prior. I would have given the man asking price, but I was brought up to never give away money I didnt have to so after a stunningly fast negotiation session I talked him down $500 and drove home in this.
First job. Repaint the rock chipped grill and clearcoat the headlights and added lisence plate frames to add that finished look.
Shortly after I switched into the 98 GT rims I had kept from The Lemming and soon after purchased a color correct Junkyard N/A hood to which I Fastened a 02 WRX hoodscoop.
Followed by a hand build "coffee cup mod" with the staring role played by a piece of Exhaust pipe.
And an STI cat-back Exhaust.
soon added was a set of RS turbo badges
Having decided my course. I installed an Autometer Vacume/Boost gauge in a 2" Gauge "pod" on the steering Column.
and a Hallman Manuel Boost Controller.
Over the next 9 months I began collecting parts for the intercooler swap. Which I decided to delay until I upgraded to the turbo I wanted. So I did Suspension and breaks instead. In went a set of Whiteline Control spring on KYB AGX adjsutable struts. In hindsight the struts where kind of anemic for the springs. or rather the springs where more aggressive than I expected so I have to run the Adjustments all the way up to prevent "bounce" at freeway speeds.
While looking for a set of STI/RS 2.5 6 spoke rims I fell into a set of JDM STI seats (of questionable authentisity) Which I am still trying to figure out how to get installed.
The New Turbo (TD05h 16G) is installed. the 07 Intercooler is in place... just barely. I am tooling up to refit it with an appropriate (read 2002-2005) Y pipe and aluminum pipe. Will post updated underhood and current body pics after the Intercooler is reinstalled as im not proud of the current install.
While waiting for parts for the intercooler install I decided to try my hand with Fiberglass and did a custom job on her grill.
Got all the new parts finally. 2002-2005 Y-pipe from Samcosport. Aluminum Pipe from Vibrant (shipping from Canada suck) 2" Coupler from Turboxs.com and a 90 degree 2" bend. Nothing Fit the way it should. everything had to be fit. measured, tore appart, trimmed. refit. eventually I got it all together and in place.
New turbo kicks like a mule at 10psi. shes running Very very strong. Picks of the install to come.
As Promised. add one td05h 16g and one 07 intercooler.
on the downside I removed the hoodscoop to trim the hood opening so it would be more inline with the requirements of the intercooler. Ended up stripping one of the little fasteners on the bottom of the hoodscoop. anyone know a parts number of the top of their head?
