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2004 - Impreza WRX STi WR1 - No.304 - Caveman

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2004 - Impreza WRX STi WR1 - No.304 - Caveman

Postby CAVEMAN » Thu May 21, 2009 3:23 pm

Well I have been on here a while now so thought I would formally re-introduce No304 to you all, but now in my hands.

Thanks to Olly TB for a smooth sale.

So after several days of traveling my all means of transport possible, excluding 1 eyed donkey. No 304 now is an ex-pat (although not officially exported yet) and lives up here in the lungs of the world, Finland.

A pic of it here in the standard condition I picked it up...courtesy of Ollie (beware REPOST)

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Now it was my turn to stamp my tastes on it.....the journey begins.
Last edited by CAVEMAN on Mon Jun 15, 2009 8:08 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Postby CAVEMAN » Thu May 21, 2009 3:30 pm

So now it was all my mine....time for a few select mods.

A brief history of my Impreza past prior to leaving the UK...Courtesy of Nigel Griffiths, Andy Burton and Andy Owens (Greenergy)

from this...

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and this...

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to this...our own homemade special

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on the Network Q
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showing off in the Millennium Stadium
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So innocent looking...

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Postby CAVEMAN » Thu May 21, 2009 3:39 pm

First up was the essential brake change...so a set of Performance Friction discs and pads up front, with some new AP 551 fluid for good measure. What a difference...can't imagine what the AP's are gonna be like!

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Then a new exhaust was added, Hayward and Scott inc De-Cat and heat wrap.

After that came the Simtek ECU, complete with AntiLag and Launch control. I also have the software and dongle to make life easier up here. I have 2 maps to select at initial engine start, and the ALS switch wired into the centre console next to the Diff switch.

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I also added the rear diff guard and had a complete 4 wheel alignment to API specs. Not sure what these are, but I'll trust David on that.

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Yes I know it needs a spruce up...later. :oops:

So there you have it so far....next up will be the seat re-trim and the flocked dash and new silver centre console, oh yeah and the de-tango look too.
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Postby robwils » Thu May 21, 2009 6:22 pm

Do you have the silver interior trim bit ??
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Postby bbigman2000 » Thu May 21, 2009 6:25 pm

Nice pics bud 8)
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Postby WR 1mposter » Thu May 21, 2009 9:21 pm

Looking good cavey :lol:

this beast look awesome 8)

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Postby CAVEMAN » Fri May 22, 2009 5:18 am

Yeah, I have bought the complete kit from the local stealer, and got it shipped out here. Just a simple swap over.

I will be putting the interior back together when I get everything back up here. Waiting for dash and the rear seat covers still.

I saw a lovely blue Sti N12 at API with half roll cage and flocked dash with Defi gauges on it. So I thought I would copy it...looks much better than the black on black standard colour scheme!

Andy's car is off the wall. Only part remaining from the original 306 is the front A pillars and bulkhead. A new engine is currently in development, and can't wait to here it in action...total blank sheet of paper design. All I have is a Solidworks CAD model...that guy is insane. Definately money no object kinda deal.
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Postby Ferret WR1 » Wed May 27, 2009 3:17 pm

Hope your still enjoying the 1 :wink:

I'm having performance friction fitted on mine very soon :P
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Postby The Swede » Wed May 27, 2009 3:30 pm

Nice one !

Do you get to drive any rallies in Finland still?
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Postby CAVEMAN » Thu May 28, 2009 8:22 am

Swede, unfortunately not no :cry:

As an ex-pat it is hard to find a team or a local guy that needs any help. Plus you know the people here...all the rally boys are mostly farmers turned NASA space engineers and disappear into their workshops in the middle of a forest somewhere.

I certainly can't fund anything to that level by myself. The old car was over 80k and that wasn't even a proper build. Could of easily been double that.

I go and bobblehat when I can, and now the summer is here the tracks are opening up again. Did you ever go to the Botnaring near Vaasa?

On the plus side - my seat covers are all done, and the silver trim and flocked dash are on the way over too!!! Time for another strip down to fit it all.
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Postby The Swede » Fri May 29, 2009 10:29 am

CAVEMAN wrote:Swede, unfortunately not no :cry:

As an ex-pat it is hard to find a team or a local guy that needs any help. Plus you know the people here...all the rally boys are mostly farmers turned NASA space engineers and disappear into their workshops in the middle of a forest somewhere.

I certainly can't fund anything to that level by myself. The old car was over 80k and that wasn't even a proper build. Could of easily been double that.

I go and bobblehat when I can, and now the summer is here the tracks are opening up again. Did you ever go to the Botnaring near Vaasa?

On the plus side - my seat covers are all done, and the silver trim and flocked dash are on the way over too!!! Time for another strip down to fit it all.


Understand your problem. I was lucky I got reasonably well connected with some of the locals.
Did you know that there is no tax on rallycars in Finland, btw? Which is why it's often cheaper for them to have an old banger and a rallycar to enjoy themselves than a fast road car...

You said 'needs help'. Were you helping a team in the past or actually driving ? Got me confused now.

Yes, been to the Botniaring a few times when in lived in Vaasa although it's just a track and that's not the point of a scoob. The key fun to have is to go to one of the many icetracks in winter or a forest track in summer. We have one near the house in Oulu and it's really good fun.
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Postby CAVEMAN » Fri May 29, 2009 12:56 pm

As a driver here I am pretty sure I wouldn't be that competitive, especially on the funds I have to work with...plus you need big balls for the really good stuff here...driven through Ouninpohja out of curiosity last summer and how the hell Petter and Marcos can average just under 130 kph through it is just plain ridiculous!!

so I guess helping is the best I could do...now that my helmet doesn't get used that often.I did drive a few times yeah, but mostly just spannered for the faster peddlers and the boys with deeper pockets than me.

Costs for keeping the last car in top nick were frightening...gearbox at over 15k a re-build...driveshafts at 1.5k a pop...plus racing fuel, tyres, hotels etc..

Best I can hope for is the winter snow and ice on the lakes, then a blast around the gravel roads close to home every now and again. Then I need better suspension, greater ride height and plenty of under body protection. My wheel scrapers are in the post so will have them next week, along with the wishbone protectors too.

turning into a semi GrpN at this rate... next up will be the thinner glass :roll:
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Postby The Swede » Fri May 29, 2009 1:08 pm

:thumb:

My idea of the ideal scoob or Evo for Finland was always less weight, higher ride, lots of suspension travel and smaller brakes so you can fit the 16" wheels with the real rallytyres with studs.

As on cost, if you find a bunch of enthusiasts there, you can maintain the car very cheaply. The only issue in Finland is getting the right parts at a reasonable price. I used to bring parts from the UK regularly for the Mitsubishi team in Oulu.

Ever considered getting a reasonably cheap rallycar just for fun?

I know what you mean with 'balls' :? They do get a lot of practice and as you will kow, there is a certain way of driving on gravel that makes it much less dangerous than it looks.
That being said... They're still completely crazy :cuckoo:
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Postby CAVEMAN » Sun Jun 14, 2009 12:49 pm

OK, next update for you lot. Seats back in and the dash n trim swap over.

First up was to put the new seat covers back on. I changed the crappy black stuff for a dark shade of Alcantara to match the front seats. No perforations in it though as this then need glueing to the seat foam like the fronts. I am happy with it as it is.

So, bare seat with all the metal retainingbars

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as there are 3 different lengths, be sure to line them all up first before sliding into the seat cover itself.

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then you need a set of these 'Hog Rings' and just squeeze them around the metal bars in both seat covers and foam. Easy really. Working from centre of seat outwards to get a smooth even stretch to the fabric.

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Finished article before fitting

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Postby CAVEMAN » Sun Jun 14, 2009 1:04 pm

Once the rear seats had been put back in...next up was to rip out the dashboard and put in the new flocked dash.

I had to get the main dash, the window trim, clock cover and new airbag all flocked prior to fitting. I still have all my old bits, so can convert back to standard spec should I ever need to.

So, armed with a lot of time and a sunny day it was perfect to get stripping. First up was to prise off the window trim. Be careful of the alarm sensor, then unclip it and remove. There is then 2 bolts that hold the top of the dash on. There is also 2 more bolts, 1 at each side after you have un cliped the cover under the steering wheel and taken out the glovebox.

To remove the centre console you have to remove everything..2 screws in console cubby hole, 1 screw under handbrake/diff bit and then 2 screws under the gear stick cover.

2 more bolts hold the centre console on at the bottom and a couple of screws at teh top. You have to remove fascia and stereo here too...then you can remove heater controls.

Cup holder and air vents undo with 2 screws and simply un clip. The clock bit prises off pretty easily too.

Dial surround and dials themselves are easy to remove and unplug.

There is plenty of other misc screws holding wires in place etcc that I have missed off here, but once you get down to this level it is easy to spot them. You do not have to be scared doing this, as everything unclips, un screws/bolts and all connectors are different so there is no chance of getting them mixed up on re-fitting.

So here we go...the pictures bit..

Dash ready to be fitted...

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Silver trim ready to be fitted...with side air vent surrounds too

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close up of the flocked effect..

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old dashboard out and stripped
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A nice new interior...all it needs now is the Kenwood double DIN unit to give a bit more contrast to all the silver stuff.

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The only downside to this, is that it is a bitch to keep clean. Any bit of lint or dust will show up on it straight away. But it does look far better than the shiny black plastic everywhere else IMO.
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Postby Gazza » Sun Jun 14, 2009 4:01 pm

hi can u please tell me where u got that diff guard from and how much??
like that dashboard took balls 2 strip that out!! :lol: :lol:
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Postby CAVEMAN » Sun Jun 14, 2009 4:06 pm

diffguard can be ordered from any local stealer, think it is 160 notes.

Fitting is dead easy and can be done at home with a set of axle stands.

I was thinking of drawing up my own based on the dimensions of the prodrive one, then you can add your own text on the rear lip. Haven't done it yet as the idea didn't get much interest but I thought a nice WR1OC logo anodized on would look great.

As anything with this car...take a few screws out and all kinds of stuff falls off!! You just have to keep going...I did have 3 screws left after putting it all back though!! :shock: I know where they go , just couldn't be arsed putting them back!
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Postby Gee Wr1 » Sun Jun 14, 2009 8:16 pm

CAVEMAN wrote:I was thinking of drawing up my own based on the dimensions of the prodrive one, then you can add your own text on the rear lip. Haven't done it yet as the idea didn't get much interest but I thought a nice WR1OC logo anodized on would look great.



Sounds like a good idea 8) Always fancied the prodrive one but couldn't be bothered forking out 160 for it.

Dash is looking very cool with the flock 8) Top job :thumb:
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Postby CAVEMAN » Tue Jun 16, 2009 2:09 pm

will try and take it off to measure it when I can be ar$ed again...too much spanner work recently.

then I will model it up and get a quote for bashing out some new ones.
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Postby John Mc » Tue Jun 16, 2009 2:22 pm

Have you got a matching smoking jacket when you are driving Andy?? :lol:
[Just incase this gets lost in translation, I am not slandering you, I know people can be sensitive to these harsh words.]
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Postby CAVEMAN » Tue Jun 16, 2009 2:34 pm

yep, and gloves...even my scruds are flocked too!

look like a Rod Stewart wanna be down there! :shock:
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Postby John Mc » Tue Jun 16, 2009 2:39 pm

Little bit too much info Andy!! :lol:

You don't hang about in stripping your car do you?? If that was me, it'd be stipped and I'd have to sell it because it never worked again... although I'd chuck in my specialist spade and hammer kit...
[Just incase this gets lost in translation, I am not slandering you, I know people can be sensitive to these harsh words.]
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Postby WR 1mposter » Tue Jun 16, 2009 10:02 pm

The rear seat look 8)

Dash looks like a whores draws after a dose of the clap imho, but each to there own.


But keep us informed of your personal mods you do have some cracking ideas :lol:
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Postby CAVEMAN » Fri Aug 21, 2009 9:07 am

Little bit more work carried out - but mainly in preparation for the first winter it will see up here.

After jacking the car up and removal of all 4 wheels - I took to the jet wash and gave the entire underbelly and inside wheel arches a good spraying. Perhaps a little too much as most of the sealant came off!!

Oh well...down to the shops to pick up a few bottles of undersealer and waxoyl. So now everything is all set for the winter and looking nice and protected again...

Before
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After
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The overspray was all wiped off with a spot of Vmax afterwards! Leaving nice n shiny red shocks all round.
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Postby CAVEMAN » Fri Aug 21, 2009 9:12 am

Also trying out some new graphics I picked up on my road trip home via the 'Ring'...

not 100% sure yet....probably come off soon

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and finally de-tango'd it too....bloody hard to see any light in the sun though...sure they will be dangerous except at night.

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Postby WR 1mposter » Fri Aug 21, 2009 6:32 pm

"ring" badges would look better above the side repeater :wink:
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Postby jimmy » Wed Aug 26, 2009 11:06 pm

that dash looks bloody stunning,your are one talented guy :thumb:
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Postby CAVEMAN » Thu Aug 27, 2009 8:00 am

not me mate...got it flocked in UK and posted up here.

the change over was a piece of pi$$...just took a wee while.
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Postby CAVEMAN » Tue May 25, 2010 10:53 am

so, onwards with the mods...so as finally the snow has melted away, it was finally time to slap these beauties on. Brand spanking new PFF7's with PZero Rosso boots on!!

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and now it was the turn of the dreaded rear shockers going pop.

Sounded like the rear diff was locking at random during initial moving off from standstill, and then again around left handers. So went for a complete swap out with the BC ER series. Yes I know Exe-TC would of been preferred, but for what I paid for the BR stuff I can't complain!! Plus they come with top mounts all round too.

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Setting up was the first thing, so measured standard ride height..355mm and 350mm as per other post.

Jacking car up and taking off all wheels and old struts was a bit of a mission, but not majorly difficult...just a few tight bolts and a bit of cleaning up to do.

Setting the new struts was a guessing game as you never know how much the spring will compress once they are on. I must of got lucky... Undo the bottom lockiing ring...and wind out the strut until you have 70mm from the inner body to the bottom of the mounting ears.

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You do not have to touch the spring platforms to adjust pre-load as this is already factory set...just the lower locking ring. Make sure you copper slip the thread to ensure you can still loosen things in the future. Ally and steel do not mix well!!

Here you can see old and new together - a small difference eh?
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and hey presto...installed and lubed up
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Just one thing to note on the rears with adjustable top mounts is that due to the shape of the strut tower, and to allow for adjustment, the lower fixing plate is undersized (so it can move left to right) and this causes a gap to occur. It is this gap that will transmit road noise and maybe water/debris into the car. The plan I have is as they are now adjusted, I will cut a hole in the top hats just the right size for the extenders and try to seal this off.

You can see the gap here....
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Extenders are 200mm ones, which fit pretty snug agaist the back seat rest.

So far everything is set to mid range on both compression and rebound as I bed everything in...but fine tuning will come later. Right now it feels too hard on rebound so will slacken this off by a few clicks.

The geometry was all redone along with corner weighting at the local rally preperation shop. Nice fellas, good english and top work.

Settings are:-

Toe = 0 all round (it also stayed at 0 during spring compression testing too)
Front Camber = -2 degs 15 secs
Rear Camber = -1 degs 30 secs

Feels superb to drive and so responsive on the steering input. A lot of the rally boys have toe out to get the rear out especially on gravel, but I stayed with the standard 0 all round.

Now time for the rear roll bar, and a complete refresh of the bushed and drop links to tighten it all up again, and make the best use out of this new set up.

more to follow shortly!!!
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Postby Cozzy 481 » Sun Nov 14, 2010 8:32 pm

Thanks for highlighting this thread to me mate. Its intresting to see the pics of them fitted.Think im gonna go with these.Did you seal the gap ok? Cozzy
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