Topic: 2004 STI mild build Thread (Read 1888 times)

spoolordie · « **Reply #25 on:** December 21, 2011, 01:03:57 PM »

Quote from: SideshowBob on December 21, 2011, 12:52:02 PM

I towed with the 5spd for years. Knowing how to drive helps.

They actually make good tow cars, excellent power and brakes, not too short of a wheelbase, etc.

SideshowBob · « **Reply #26 on:** December 21, 2011, 01:09:15 PM »

What I am saying is often times, morons break the 5spd then blame it on the design etc., but somehow there are tons of people driving around on high miles 5spd's with no issues.

I blame 90% of the failures on user error. Obviously once you cross the ~250whp barrier all bets are off.

spoolordie · « **Reply #27 on:** December 21, 2011, 01:14:17 PM »

287WHP 264WTQ lol im on borrowed time, nah your right though, drive alittle nicer gets you much longer life

klarowe · « **Reply #28 on:** December 21, 2011, 01:17:34 PM »

I don't plan on towing anything excessive. Basically just a single sled or my motorcycle. SHouldn't ever exceed 1000lbs or so. I must say though, when I towed that larger dual snowmobile trailer from the backyard to the front with both sleds on it, it seemed to tow pretty well.. lol. I'll know for sure how it is Friday when I have to go pick up my brother's sled from Messena (up past Potsdam).

SideshowBob · « **Reply #29 on:** December 21, 2011, 01:21:30 PM »

The issue I ran into was feeling like I was gonna run outta brakes, that was not with Brembo's though, you can probably do two sleds no problem.

At one point I had the wagon LOADED with riding gear and food/beer, plus two bikes on a steel trailer along with some gas cans etc. Definitely pushing the limits of the factory WRX brakes then, but I could get up hills etc with no issue.

hookedontronics · « **Reply #30 on:** December 21, 2011, 01:23:13 PM »

just saw you driving down central at lunch time

klarowe · « **Reply #31 on:** December 21, 2011, 01:40:05 PM »

Yea, I've got the week off so I've been trying to get some running around and other shit done.... I hate traffic this week. lmao

hydrochloric · « **Reply #32 on:** December 22, 2011, 12:33:08 AM »

Quote from: SideshowBob on December 21, 2011, 01:09:15 PM

What I am saying is often times, morons break the 5spd then blame it on the design etc., but somehow there are tons of people driving around on high miles 5spd's with no issues.

I blame 90% of the failures on user error. Obviously once you cross the ~250whp barrier all bets are off.

Agreed. It also helps that she doesn't have to handle more than 150HP these days, though (for me, anyway).

Personally however, I'd vote for a Buick Roadmaster with the tow package as the best tow car evah. Chevy LT1, Airbags in the back, solid axle, posi LSD, higher ratio (or whichever for more torque, I always forget which way it goes). Good for 5,000lbs factory rating. People have towed >8k with them, though, no problem.

skyphix · « **Reply #33 on:** December 22, 2011, 07:37:23 AM »

Quote from: hydrochloric on December 22, 2011, 12:33:08 AM

higher ratio (or whichever for more torque, I always forget which way it goes).

Lower Gear, or the higher number (so, I think, you're right, here), is what is generally referred to as a "towing" gear. So 3.00:1 would be a highway gear, where 4.11:1 would be a drag raci... I mean towing gear.

hydrochloric · « **Reply #34 on:** December 22, 2011, 10:06:19 AM »

Very nice.

klarowe · « **Reply #35 on:** January 14, 2012, 04:46:59 PM »

Did an audio system overhaul today with thanks for JSEnclosures for an awesome box. Had to modify it slightly for the sub (gave him an older model for fitment purposes and apparently the newer model was slightly different). Made the amp-rack myself which doubles as a storage compartment "wall" to help keep my extra meth and washer fluid from bouncing around the trunk. The cap is an old one I had laying around... mostly being used as a distribution block b/c the 1/0 awg wire wouldn't quite reach to the amp... but having the cap won't hurt either. Definitely came out better than I expected and I'm very happy with it!!! Thanks again for the great box!
Now for the pics:
Cap and ground distribution block. On the side of the box behind the "wall" so its 100% out of sight.

Amp Rack:

Box:

Extra shot:

Without changing any of the settings this box is at least twice as loud and much better sound quality than the generic tiny box I had in there before.

hydrochloric · « **Reply #36 on:** January 14, 2012, 05:01:42 PM »

Quote from: klarowe on January 14, 2012, 04:46:59 PM

...compartment "wall" to help keep my extra meth and washer fluid from bouncing around...

I wouldn't post that on a public forum!

Trev · « **Reply #37 on:** January 15, 2012, 06:35:03 PM »

Quote from: hydrochloric on January 14, 2012, 05:01:42 PM

I wouldn't post that on a public forum!

Meth injection

hydrochloric · « **Reply #38 on:** January 15, 2012, 09:26:09 PM »

Quote from: Trev on January 15, 2012, 06:35:03 PM

Meth injection

Yah, I knew. Hence the "

".

hookedontronics · « **Reply #39 on:** January 16, 2012, 07:20:33 AM »

Enclosure looks good in there

klarowe · « **Reply #40 on:** January 16, 2012, 10:20:35 AM »

Yea, it came out great thanks to a certain someone... lol. I was originally hoping to put the amp on it but like you though it was too short by about 1". But it worked out pretty nice the way I have it because I was going to have to do something anyways to keep the bottles from bouncing / rolling around the trunk and spilling all over. So this is a perfect solution and I really don't lose much of my trunk space at all....which is a big plus since this is my d.d.

klarowe · « **Reply #41 on:** April 19, 2012, 04:49:52 PM »

Quick Little mod yesterday. I had to bake and pull my headlights apart to reseal them so I decided that while I had them apart, I might as well black out the bezel... so I did. Nothing much, but it cleans it up a bit.

spoolordie · « **Reply #42 on:** April 20, 2012, 01:13:16 PM »

How'd that work for you?

klarowe · « **Reply #43 on:** April 20, 2012, 02:04:41 PM »

Went quite well actually. I had them in the oven at 200* for about 12 minutes and they pulled right apart. Cleaned them out, dried them out, painted the bezel, then used RTV silicone to reseal them (in addition to the remaining OEM sealant). So hopeful they should not leak anymore. And on another positive note, I was once again able to repair my HID ballast which should save me a few bucks. Not sure how long it will last this time though... hopefully longer now that I have the headlights sealed well (or so I hope)... lol

klarowe · « **Reply #44 on:** April 24, 2012, 10:46:18 PM »

Decided to add a 2nd radiator today... lol. It was just a fit up / core mount to see if the piping kit that had been modified to fit a rotated turbo could be "unmodified" to fit up again... but thats not going to happen... lol. So now I just have to wait for the piping kit to come in and a BOV. Going to go with the HKS SQV so that I have the option of going atmosphere or recirculating.
Pics:

Bumpers....who needs them:

Good-bye old, slightly rusty, heavy as hell bumper support:

Hello new aluminum bumper support with attached radiator...:

Bumper fitting. Had to trim a bit here and there, but overall it fit pretty well:

Instead of ditching the JDM fogs, I decided to do whatever I could to keep them. So far so good (don't have any piping for the pass. side yet so not sure what will be required there). I had to do a bit of trimming and notching to keep pressure off the bumper but still allow the fog light brackets and bezels to still fit tightly:

Front end back together:

Once the piping gets here I need to mount that up, change some vacuum lines, and relocate the coolant overflow tank. I already have a pretty good idea of where to put it, but I'll update when I actually get to that point.

acwrx · « **Reply #45 on:** April 24, 2012, 11:17:28 PM »

Looks good with the fogs! Any thoughts on painting your..... "radiator" black? I loved the clean cut look, and to me i think it kind of loses that with the bright colored fmic. Just my two cents, you can tell me to shut up if you want.

Kavik · « **Reply #46 on:** April 24, 2012, 11:21:18 PM »

Lookin' good

that originally was on a wagon with JDM fogs, I loved that about this intercooler, that it can fit those with a little trimming

I agree, painted black would look great, but then there's the debate about if it actually makes a difference to heat transfer

klarowe · « **Reply #47 on:** April 24, 2012, 11:21:47 PM »

I have thought about it... not quite sure what I want to do yet. I'd love to hide it by painting it, but you hear all the crap about a loss of efficiency by painting.... so I'm not quite sure just yet.

acwrx · « **Reply #48 on:** April 24, 2012, 11:27:46 PM »

I dont know a whole lot about it, but how many radiators are painted, and how many intercoolers do you see that come painted? I dont think it would hurt that much. You are running stock location, so i don't know how detrimental it would really be to your setup.

klarowe · « **Reply #49 on:** April 24, 2012, 11:31:19 PM »

I ordered some Eastwood Radiator paint.. supposedly its not supposed to coat as thick so it shouldn't hurt enough to really cause any issues.

Author Topic: 2004 STI mild build Thread (Read 1888 times)