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818 Divorce or Separation
I am coming out of a temporary "Separation" from my 818S project which started in late 2014. I don't think I am alone in experiencing what I call "Build Challenges." Some result in giving up on the Project and selling it = Divorce! Some result in taking some time away to sort out how to get thing back on track = Separation!" It might seem odd to thank a Community Forum for "Build Therapy" but I am. The electrical and engine management system really was a learning curve for me. Never did fuel injection before and never did total engine management. So, I turned to working on the body and waiting to sort out all of the engine stuff by watching what others were doing, that worked, in order to pass registration State by State. [I]moved from SC to NC during that time and found NC to be far more demanding than SC. Also had to raise the car an inch.
Thanks to Wayne and some others, I renew my energy for the project and hope to be on the road in Apr.
Here are some pictures of my "Separation Work!" Thanks to everyone who is far more dedicated to sharing and posting than I have been.
1. The enlarged and reoriented side vent, with Monza Cap and side jack port
2. The front engine cover recessed hold downs
3. The new hood with GT 40 vents and inverted wiper panel
4. The front bumper vents with day lights, driving lights and air intakes
Thanks again to the Forum Gang! BC
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Glad you two are working things out. We'd hate to have to choose sides.....
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Originally Posted by
Straversi
Glad you two are working things out. We'd hate to have to choose sides.....
The only sides were me and the 818...and the 818 refused to "Talk!" Just smiled back at me.
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Welcome back. For me not putting a target completion time on my 818 project worked for me. I tried to spend 8 hours a week on my build (some weeks more some no work at all) On any of my projects sometimes I just have to walk away for a while to regroup.
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Moonlight Performance
Front bumper vents look really cool - would love to see a larger picture of the front of the car that shows both vents. Bet it looks really nice!
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YES, I too have separation anxiety. We have winter home
In Venice, FL which is nice but I miss
working on my 818 coupe. Went back to Mich and my shop
early last year when car arrived from
FFR and plan to do again this year.
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Senior Member
Welcome back from the almost-dead! There are a lot of challenges when building. You killed them all.
I'm very interested in knowing more about your DRL and driving lights!
Frank
818 chassis #181 powered by a '93 VW VR6 Turbo GT3582R
Go-karted Aug 5, 2016 - Then May 19+21, 2017
Tracked May 27/July 26, 2017
Build time before being driveable on Sep 27, 2019: over 6000h
Build Completed Winter 2021
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Senior Member
...so that what is happening to me.... I have been away from the build for some time now after going pretty hard on dieting the harness. Over the holidays I had fleeting moments of "what have I gotten myself into" when I would go into the garage for something. I didn't put a target completion date on mine and I struggle to answer the very popular question of "when do you think you will be done?" BUT! The weather will be changing soon, the days are getting longer and I just ordered a part from McMaster so we are on the mend - I even have a target first start date of 1 April.
Good to see that you are back - your pics show some really nice progress!
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Senior Member
In 4 years I’ve gone 6 months without working on my 818 3 different times. For me, putting in a couple of hours here and there is hard as it almost doesn’t seem worth the time because it’s not enough to accomplish anything significant. I need at least a potential full day to work in it.
Adam _____ Instagram @PopesProjects____
YouTube Channel
818 SRX - #91
Arrived 01/02/2014
First Start 10/31/2016
First Drive 05/22/2017
Registered 10/25/2019 BRAP818
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Originally Posted by
Hindsight
Front bumper vents look really cool - would love to see a larger picture of the front of the car that shows both vents. Bet it looks really nice!
Here are pictures of the Front End w/new light package, Hood and Custom Splitter w/center intake. I thought the wiper / hood solution was not great. I turned the FFR fiberglass wiper kit piece upside down and used it as a mold to make make it fit over the wiper arms and add rigidity to the hood along with the GT 40 intake. The Tow Ring attaches to a reinforced front bumper structure running back to the main Chassis under the bottom of the radiator. The original FFR front structure is not strong enough to accommodate any towing...ANY!
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Senior Member
I agree, your work is amazing. I would love to see more pictures and the story of your build. I think the community would be very happy to see that.
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Senior Member
You certainly do beautiful work! In spite of the separation, please post more pics including how your tow ring is mounted.
818S/C : Chassis #25 with 06 WRX 2.5 turbo, ABS, cruise, PS, A/C, Apple CarPlay, rear camera, power windows & locks, leather & other complexities. Sold 10/19 with 5,800 miles.
Mk3 Roadster #6228 4.6L, T45, IRS, PS, PB, ABS, Cruise, Koni's, 17" Halibrands, red w/ silver - 9K miles then sold @ Barrett-Jackson Jan 2011 (got back cash spent).
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Administrator
You guys should see his work in person, it's amazing!
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fasterer and furiouser
That's an inspiring tale! My car has been in storage for a year since we sold our house and the priority has been to get moved into our new one...
things like this make me excited to pull it out and get back at it.
thanks for sharing.
A well stocked beverage fridge is the key to any successful project.
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Originally Posted by
AZPete
You certainly do beautiful work! In spite of the separation, please post more pics including how your tow ring is mounted.
Here are the structural pictures for the Front End. The entire front superstructure was replaced this 1.5' thick wall square tubing with hood front mounting braces and fender supports to limit vibrations, and to avoid having to mount a glass panel to another glass panel with nothing behind it. It also provided support along the front and the rear of the splitter. The splitter without structural support basically just hangs on to the lower front bumper valance. Really flops around down there. Perhaps this has been taken care of with the new body style...Don't know. Also raised the front fender to provide more clearance..I was going to rub with any compression to the front.
The Braces run back to the main chassis and are covered on the bottom by the Splitter and an AL panel. It is designed to pull forward not for lifting or jacking the front end. I installed side jack ports on both sides in order to lift the entire side at one point. You can see it below the side vents.
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Moonlight Performance
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PLATNUM Supporting Member
Very nice work! Glad you are staying the course. Sometimes a little separation is a good thing, LOL.
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Hang in there; if it were easy everyone would do it.
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Senior Member
I can relate to this thread and your thoughts on walking away from it for awhile. I have done it for chunks of time throughout my build. Selling our house in the coming months has really put a freeze on project car time over winter. I feel like I'm so close to ready to register, yet so far away because of the limited time I have to work on it. Thinking I'll sock away a couple days worth of PTO for the first nice spring weather and reward myself for the work I've done on the house.
Loving the tweaks you've made to the front end. Really looks much more factory and less kit car.
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I like that front end as well. Looks much more modern.
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So awesome it took me about 10 seconds to realize the fenders weren't on.
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Senior Member
Thanks for showing your work in progress. Please reconcile with your 818 because we need to see more of your beautiful work.
Last edited by AZPete; 01-29-2018 at 10:27 PM.
Reason: typo
818S/C : Chassis #25 with 06 WRX 2.5 turbo, ABS, cruise, PS, A/C, Apple CarPlay, rear camera, power windows & locks, leather & other complexities. Sold 10/19 with 5,800 miles.
Mk3 Roadster #6228 4.6L, T45, IRS, PS, PB, ABS, Cruise, Koni's, 17" Halibrands, red w/ silver - 9K miles then sold @ Barrett-Jackson Jan 2011 (got back cash spent).
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Senior Member
You are not alone in the start/stop nature of these projects. My work has gotten in the way many times and sometime I look back and see I've done nothing for a while, while other times I have made nice progress. It has taken a lot longer than I expected, and while I'm happy to have a running car that is almost registered, I haven't really started on body work or interior and I'm kind of dreading those projects as I'm worried about getting to the quality I want. I'm Happy to encourage you to keep going as the work you have done is incredible and like others I would love to see more what you have shown here looks amazing.
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We are back "Dating" a little! I did find a really good local Subaru specialist Turbo Time in Apex, NC. for engine Therapy. New Block from Top Speed in GA. will have a new harness with a Cobb Access port and be OBD II compliant. 450 HP ready at 22 psi. I am running a G18 @ 13 psi for 300 on the last dyno run. So will break it in for a while before adding more pressure.
Here are some added structural preparation pictures, The double hoop bolt in bar with secondary taller bolt in bar, A six speed lock out arrangement Wayne helped design, the rear "Bump Out" so the tail shaft of the 6 speed fits in, and some pictures of the stock dash install, which makes it much less Kit Car appearing.
Thanks for the encouraging words....things appear promising!
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Senior Member
Wow! I admire your creative solutions to adapt both FFR and donor components to fit your vision.
818S/C : Chassis #25 with 06 WRX 2.5 turbo, ABS, cruise, PS, A/C, Apple CarPlay, rear camera, power windows & locks, leather & other complexities. Sold 10/19 with 5,800 miles.
Mk3 Roadster #6228 4.6L, T45, IRS, PS, PB, ABS, Cruise, Koni's, 17" Halibrands, red w/ silver - 9K miles then sold @ Barrett-Jackson Jan 2011 (got back cash spent).
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Senior Member
Amazing work! Starting with old Camry lights not really designed to look sporty you will completely change its look all around! Impressive job!
Frank
818 chassis #181 powered by a '93 VW VR6 Turbo GT3582R
Go-karted Aug 5, 2016 - Then May 19+21, 2017
Tracked May 27/July 26, 2017
Build time before being driveable on Sep 27, 2019: over 6000h
Build Completed Winter 2021
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Your work is truly an inspiration.
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I hope to be coming off my separation soon. Too many other things calling for my attention. Should be done wiring up a garage heater and then I'll be more inclined to get the other projects done.
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I love all your custom touches. Fabulous work. Please keep posting your progress.
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Senior Member
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Administrator
Holy Cow that front end is gorgeous!
You are definitely taking it to another level.
Can't wait to see your continued progress.
FFR 5369 Pin Drive, IRS, Trigos, Torsen, Wilwoods, FMS BOSS 302 "B" cam , Mass-flo. CA SB100 (SPCN) Registered
Delivered 4/23/06. "Finished" 4/2012 (still not done!)
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Bob, my hunch is they would just say "Nice Job!"
Making progress after having to R&R my engine harness and "Reignite" our relationship.
She will look very different after this recent "Face Lifting!"
Gaining on it and hope to have it back together and through NC inspection by June.
Hope you are well, BC
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Another date to Turbo Time in Apex NC.
I had originally installed an AIM MXS and want to keep it when I changed to the new Subaru ECU. The folks at AIM have been amazing while we both learned about the 'K-Line interface and the Cobb Access port. Also learned that even if the Subaru ECU says it will provide a Fuel Signal to the AIM it will not, no matter how you tinker with the in tank sensor. Installed an Iron Canyon Sender with a custom sensor ...I have a Boyd tank. Basically the early Subaru ECUs have really slow processors and the AIM prefers higher speeds.
Regarding the questions that have surfaced about Stand Alone ECUs and COBB AP etc. , IMO for a mostly street car the COBB AP is the the way to go. There are experience tuners everywhere and a Pro Tune is not a complex thing. Also if you ever want to sell, you have OBDII that is valuable for many State registrations. You also do not have to try and explain to a buyer how all of the wiring works..anyway, just my take.
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Post Thanks / Like - 0 Thanks, 1 Likes
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Need more pictures of that front end. You been holding out on us?
Thanks for the info on the AIM dash. I'll probably go that route when I get there.
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Let me know if I can help with the AIM..I did learn a lot and have a number of custom sensor maps built for IAT, Fuel, Oil Pressure and Oil Temp.
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Please make some more of those front bumpers for sale! Also like the double roll bar humps. It was the first thing I did when I got my frame home from factory five
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After some added "Separation Time" to Epoxy - Coat the garage floor = really good product = and run 50 amp service for the compressor and welder I am trying to move to "Geterdone" mode.
1. Made it through NC Specialty Vehicle process after an initial rejection because they used the VIN from the Donor Subaru and claimed I stole it! Right! Got the Plate and Registration after 4 months of back and forth with documents.
2. Had to make a very large "Indent" into the door panels to accept the wider OEM dash
3. Needed to close the gap at the Body / Striker Bar and then finish it off with DIY Carpet Webbing..pretty nice product for finishing edges without sewing. Also Hood alignment with wipers so they do not hit the body.
4. Next up = Seats In, Complete the Dash, and Class II Trailer Hitch for Pop Up trailer / Track Day equipment installed, and then maybe some "Identity" Stickers..or should I leave it naked and alone in Black / Red/ White? This decision could generate another Separation Issue if I do not get it right!
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