SixStarCars' 818S Build Thread

[Quiny]

Did your car show the rear to be narrower than the front? We're using all WRX sedan arms and there was almost an inch difference. I can fix that but I'm curious if others experienced the same.

I had the same question, I'm using sedan LCAs and wagon rear laterals so I think I will probably have more than an inch difference. I assume wheel spacers will be the answer. Please let us know how it works out.

[RM1SepEx]

wheel offset makes a big diff too. I thought wagons were only 10 MM different, that is only about 3/8 inch

[SixStar]

Got the 10mm spacers on. Links and arms soon, then back to the alignment rack. I'll post results.

Also installed the COBB SF intake and ran it on the dyno again, AFRs are spot on for a stock tune. A word of caution, check the part number on your fuel pump before installation. Someone had put another Subaru pump in the donor car and it was NOT a turbo pump. Glad it was a simple fix.

[Frank818]

Someone who didn't know at all what he/she was doing...

[SixStar]

Someone who didn't know at all what he/she was doing...

Yep. I deal with a lot of previous Civic owners that find themselves in a WRX and make life very very hard for themselves. My favorite has to me a 2010 STI that came in "tuned" with an SAFC

Off topic again. Just a word of caution, double check your donors!

[SixStar]

Spent most of the past two days reworking the wiring harness. It's a lot of time, like an insane amount of time, to do this right and it's nasty sticky dirty work. It's nice to be finalizing a few things though in preparation for fitting the body and finishing the car. Lots to do still but every little bit crossed off the white board is nice.

Rear O2 sensor is installed, still need to paint the bracket
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Hard to tell but this area is DONE, little bracket for the COBB SF air intake, front O2 bracket, everything secured
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Last time all this will be easy to get to so I'm triple checking everything before piling wiring in there and sealing it off from the rest of the cabin
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The three "main" harnesses after stripping all the extra crap off and tucking up some wires that won't ever be needed
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Nice little pile of fail left over. Was able to get some great length out of the drivers side engine harness which will make install much cleaner
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This is our prototype harness, every single plug and connector has been painstakingly labeled for the 818. Green tape means it's not used, yellow means it is, red means it can go away for good (SRS, rear doors, trunk latch, etc.
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Took some liberties with the main engine bay fuse block mounting, I didn't like the idea of riveting a panel over it and hoping for the best, it's now "easily" accessible from the engine bay
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Simple bracket for the COBB that doubles as a mount for the BCS. Shameless sticker placement
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Harness #1, main fuse block and wiring for front lights, fans, horn, markers, drivers side engine wiring. It'll be much nicer doing these in stages and getting everything tucked and secure rather than a big floppy rats nest
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[SixStar]

Been a delay in the build lately. With Solo Nationals at the end of the month I've been bust prepping some Subarus for ASP, ESP, STU and SM.

The good news is the harness will be buttoned up tomorrow and panels should start going on this week and next!

[SixStar]

Spent the last two days wrapping up the interior panels. Everything went as expected. Can't find a great solution to the ebrake handle boot, the 02-05 brake handle doesn't have the ridge that the 06-07 has so it'll need a custom boot at some point, just doesn't fit right. But the wiring is all done, dash mounted, seats and belts mounted, console, shifter, boot, etc. Spent the better part of a day removing the problematic sedan belts and switching them to some wagon belts I sourced, they work MUCH better. There will have to be some modifications to the tin in the back of the car but I'm sure that won't be any harder than anything else has been.

Runs and drives like it did before, fun, terrifying, exciting. Installing the new 6 piece rear suspension links next week then back to the alignment rack. Hopefully with the links and 10mm spacers we can match the track width front and rear and stabilize the handling a bit better. Ordered a new windscreen, that shows on the 15th, installed on the 16th. Once that's in I can finish the dash, it'll need attached in the front some how, I'm hoping a day in the sun settles it and makes it less wavy. In between this, our 818R for SEMA and some customer cars I should be able to start getting panels bolted on soon. Not looking forward to the doors.....

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[SixStar]

Installed the 6 piece arm kit today. You do have to do a little fab to get these on but the adjustability will be great. Note that they actually reduce tire clearance on the trailing arm so spacers are a must. There's about a 1/4" with stock wheels and tires and 10mm spacers.

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[Boog]

I've been hearing the rear referred to as a 5-link setup. Is the 6th piece the shock?

[SixStar]

I've been hearing the rear referred to as a 5-link setup. Is the 6th piece the shock?

I think you might be confusing two different things. This is just an aftermarket kit that replaces factory parts, specifically the two trailing arms, and four lateral links to make them adjustable. It's an inexpensive eBay kit that works very well.

[Boog]

Ah, that makes more sense.

[SixStar]

Found some time last night to align the 818S. With the new arms we were able to nail the specifications that we wanted. 1.5 degrees of camber front and rear, with 2.6~ caster, very little toe in front with just a little in the rear to keep it stable.

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[wleehendrick]

Looking good! BTW, do you ride the little pink bike to the shop?

[SixStar]

Always!

[Frank818]

About the exhaust configuration, is that the one we call "stock FFR" location and installation? Or you did something different than what FFR recommends/does?

[SixStar]

About the exhaust configuration, is that the one we call "stock FFR" location and installation? Or you did something different than what FFR recommends/does?

FFR parts. So it goes turbo to pie wedge thing, to stock #2 downpipe cat to stubby outlet. I'm not sure how I'm going to line up the hole in the bumper but I'll figure that out when the time comes.

[Frank818]

Ok cool, I'll save your pic on my machine and use it as a reference. I asked cuz FFR is building a trunk that will work with stock exhaust location, so I try not to interfere (I am not following the manual), whether I decide to choose their trunk in the future.