Andrew's 818S - LYTW8

[Aero STI]

Yes. I kinda got a shrug and its hand shaped molds so there are slight variations.

Seems to be the common theme. That's unfortunate because the splitter isn't exactly something that can be massaged into place.

Op, did you contact ffr about the condition of your fenders upon their arrival? That's pretty poor.

Fireblade - more details? What about the splitter doesn't fit? Too wide?

No, I haven't contacted them yet. I wanted to see how things fit together and see if there are any other significant flaws that I missed. I highly doubt they'll do anything. 3 years of direct interaction and a few years before that lurking and monitoring their activity would suggest customer service is not their strong suit.

[Hindsight]

Darn, sorry to hear about the quality issue Andrew. But I am looking forward to seeing it all put together on your car.

[Aero STI]

I started sanding the seems on the new front fenders and also painted the headlight buckets with gloss black.





I took 07FIREBLADE's lead and ordered the Eagle Eye LEDs, except I went with their switchbacks so that I'll have white DRL and then have all four lights as amber for turn signals.

http://www.amazon.com/Everbright-8-P.../dp/B00X5NI9HU

All 8 LEDs tested as good so far. I'll give them a good test cycle before I seal up the headlights. That won't happen until FFR figures out the headlight lens issue.

[Aero STI]

In an effort to make the interior look even more like it came from a real car factory, I ordered up some BRZ door panels. They're the perfect height, basically the perfect length, but will need some pretty serious custom work to match the lower door radius. I'm up for the challenge.

[Aero STI]

One more video of the car's ability to create prodigious amounts of tire smoke

[AZPete]

I'm looking forward to see how make those door panels work because they look good so far. Can you explain what the headlight lens issue is?
(I had to open windows to get the smoke out of my office after watching your vid! )

[Scargo]

The video and the numbers are quite impressive. So much so that I had to back-up and read all your posts. You've done so many neat things to the car.
As I get it you are running E85 in a stock EJ255 out of 2006 WRX. What is your boost? I just can't imagine the engine holding together at the numbers you've mentioned, even at 430 WHP.

[Aero STI]

The video and the numbers are quite impressive. So much so that I had to back-up and read all your posts. You've done so many neat things to the car.
As I get it you are running E85 in a stock EJ255 out of 2006 WRX. What is your boost? I just can't imagine the engine holding together at the numbers you've mentioned, even at 430 WHP.

Glyn, the motor is stock. I'm running 27 PSI peak. I'm still working with Phatron on refining the tune. I believe we're around 60 revisions at this point. He's awesome.

I would expect to crack a ringland or bend a rod by now, but over 1000 miles at these power levels and holding strong.

I've been breaking and rebuilding Subarus since 2005 and I've had good luck pushing a handful of stock motors to pretty absurd power levels. I usually like to take a wait and see approach on these things.

[Scargo]

27! I've been a little over 26 (due to sticky wastegate). My mildly modded, stock bottom end motor with CP pistons, ran like a banshee. That was on 100 octane. It was dyno'ed to make 395 @ 24PSI. I got 70 hours out of that motor.
I understand E85 runs cooler, so less of a piston burning issue. I'm surprised that you can get away with 1000 cc injectors.
I like your attitude, though. Sort of throw-away motors.

Thanks for the tip about the mag cleaner/etch. Got me to thinking and looking at metal preps. I have some and often use them though I try to use my blasting cabinet as often as possible and then immediately go to solvents and a final acetone wipe before going to paint. I have spent a lot of time with parts just to make them friendly to handle; not for cosmetic purposes. The Subaru castings can be really nasty, with their casting spikes sticking up and sharp edges. I like the finish on my intake that I coarse blasted and clear-coated.

[Frank818]

Tnx for the LED tip!

[Aero STI]

I'm looking forward to see how make those door panels work because they look good so far. Can you explain what the headlight lens issue is?
(I had to open windows to get the smoke out of my office after watching your vid! )

Hey Pete, FFR is having issues with their supplier delivering the piece of acrylic that covers the headlight bucket. I'm not sure if it's simply a slow supply or quality problems. They sent my front end conversion, along with many others', without the lenses.

[Frank818]

Just bought your LED switchbacks, tnx again.

[Aero STI]

New wheels and tires... 225 front 265 rear

[Hindsight]

Awesome! I figured you'd be pulling the trigger on tires after that last video. Wheels look great. I bet the new setup has much better traction.

[Kurk818]

Loving the wheel/tire combo. Suites the car nicely.

[longislandwrx]

look at that scenery! car looks great

CDpXjbrh.jpg

[Frank818]

Great stuff! Do you have a pic of the rear tire how close to the fender lip it is? Does it stick out a little bit, inside, or flush with lip?

[Aero STI]

Thank you everyone for the compliments on the new wheel/tire combo. I love the "Pure Michigan" addition to the picture. The wheels are Enkei TY-5 in "Painted Black". 18x8 et45 front and 18x9.5 et45 rear. I went with Hankook RS-3 tires 225/40R18 and 265/35R18. They're so much better than the V12s. I actually have a brand new set of RE11s to put on the wheels that the V12s are currently on, but there are a couple more epic burnouts left in the V12s.

Frank, I've been running 1.5" rear spacers on each side. These were purchased to properly space some factory 17" WRX wheels (shown in other pictures of mine). The current wheels and tires stick out a little under an inch. I'm going down to 15mm spacers. I'll take a picture of the "flushness" once the new spacers are installed.

[longislandwrx]

I'll be running a 9.5 +40 in the rear but I am yet undecided on rear tire size. I'd love to run a 275/35R18... i'm looking forward to seeing your setup with no a smaller spacer.

[Aero STI]

I'll get better shots with my SLR when the new spacers are installed.

A few more parts that I will be installing soon. S2000 mirrors like 07FIREBLADE.

[Hindsight]

What color are you painting it? I'm still stuck. Leaning toward a non-metallic gloss grey, or a pearl orange. Probably do the grey.

[Aero STI]

What color are you painting it? I'm still stuck. Leaning toward a non-metallic gloss grey, or a pearl orange. Probably do the grey.

I really like the way the car looks with cyber gray metallic (like Lumpyguys'), especially because I have all of the carbon and black accents.

[Aero STI]

I was told to give the car a good thrashing and log it. The RS-3 tires are awesome. It's fun to have traction.

[ben1272]

wow....I think that was 60-120 in about 3 seconds

[ben1272]

I started sanding the seems on the new front fenders and also painted the headlight buckets with gloss black.





I took 07FIREBLADE's lead and ordered the Eagle Eye LEDs, except I went with their switchbacks so that I'll have white DRL and then have all four lights as amber for turn signals.

http://www.amazon.com/Everbright-8-P.../dp/B00X5NI9HU

All 8 LEDs tested as good so far. I'll give them a good test cycle before I seal up the headlights. That won't happen until FFR figures out the headlight lens issue.

Sorry, what is the headlight lens issue? I have some with my headlight kit, but I have not done anything with them yet. Is there something I should be looking for/aware of?

[Hindsight]

Wow, that's incredible. Makes me want to get a 7163!

[Aero STI]

Sorry, what is the headlight lens issue? I have some with my headlight kit, but I have not done anything with them yet. Is there something I should be looking for/aware of?

FFR is having trouble with the manufacturer of the headlight lenses. I still haven't received mine.

[Aero STI]

Wow, that's incredible. Makes me want to get a 7163!

It's a lot of fun. I still have a lot of headroom for more power if the boost was cranked up more, probably 50-75 more WHP.

[Aero STI]

I started making progress on the BRZ door panel fitment. I'm going to have the top edge of the door panel exposed so it forms a softer edge on the top of the door for someone's arm to rest on. I'll utilize as many factory fasteners as possible.

[Hindsight]

Wow that's really going to look awesome when all the trim and handles are in. Very ambitious!!

[Aero STI]

I have to admit, the driver's door is looking awesome. I'm going fill the top edge seem as part of the painting process. It can be pulled in tighter than what is seen in the pictures. However, doing that makes it harder to take off so I didn't go hole hog for the pics. The edge of the door that was cut to shape will also get a U shaped trim piece glassed and filled to mate with the door and the panel. The side of the dash needed some pretty good relief. I plan to make a fiberglass piece to cap the side of the dash. It took a huge amount of work taking it off and on probably 50 times, but the next door should go smoother.

[Hindsight]

WOW that looks incredible! Much, much more OEM looking.

[Frank818]

Impossible... you've made the impossible true. The truth really is out there, Mulder!
You gotta tell FFR about what you did, they will twitter and facebook your pix!

[mikeb75]

Really nice job on the door and your entire interior. Maybe the nicest looking on the forum.

[AZPete]

Great work on the door panel. What's your plan for the switches? Can you repurpose them for interior lights or something?

[Aero STI]

Thanks everyone for the compliments. It wasn't easy so far and there is still plenty left to do, but I think the interior is really coming together.

I'm going to be installing s2000 mirrors and plan to have them powered, so I'll use that switch. Maybe the others can be used for something. I don't have any ideas at the moment.

[07FIREBLADE]

You could just wire up the mirrors to the brz switch. That's what I'm using for my s2000 mirrors. Very bold move on the door panels. People need to keep in mind that this will not work very well with the coupe unfortunately

[Aero STI]

I plan to use the BRZ mirror switch. Glad to hear it's working for you.

I actually think that these door panels could be made to work with the coupe. You would use the factory seal on the door panel to butt up against the window.

[07FIREBLADE]

The problem I'm seeing is that it's not shallow enough to work with the window motor. What latch do you plan on using? The Wrx or the brz? I would love to have these work. But the way ffr designed the new door frames and the way the motor fits inside it doesn't seem feasible. I'm not knocking you at all. I love the look could you lay the drivers door panel in the passenger side and take a sharpie to see how much is trimmed. Also maybe a panel depth measurement. I have to go remeasure but the ffr new ones are half the depth as the original panels.

[Bob_n_Cincy]

The problem I'm seeing is that it's not shallow enough to work with the window motor. What latch do you plan on using? The Wrx or the brz? I would love to have these work. But the way ffr designed the new door frames and the way the motor fits inside it doesn't seem feasible. I'm not knocking you at all. I love the look could you lay the drivers door panel in the passenger side and take a sharpie to see how much is trimmed. Also maybe a panel depth measurement. I have to go remeasure but the ffr new ones are half the depth as the original panels.

Great Job Aero,
There was a guy at Grissom yesterday that saw my car and thought you might be there.

Fireblade,
A agree with you that this probably won't work with the coupe windows. But, for us 818S Roadster guys, this looks great. I talked to Tony at FFR. If I remember correctly he said 818s and 818c sales are 50/50.

Bob