- 4,115
- United States
Looking good so far.
*SOLD* My 2004 Blue "Premium" WRX. *SOLD*
- Thread starter CAMAROBOY69
- 196 comments
- 22,503 views
CAMAROBOY69
Premium
- 18,567
- Michigan
- CAMAROBOY69
I had a lot to do this weekend so didn't get a chance to check out the #1 plug issue. Got a lot of other stuff done.
TY.
Whew another busy weekend with lots of progress.
-The black wheels came with snow tires so those were all swapped this weekend with the regular tires. A lot more work than you would realize.
-Transmission / transfer case fluid was drained and replaced with 75/90 Mobile 1 synthetic fluid. They both take 75/90 gear lube. The fluid I drained out was very black and had some metal flake in it. So I am glad I checked this asap.
-Went to paint the calipers and found out my front calipers were bad. Each side has 2 pistons and the driver side had 1 caliper piston that was locked up. So I bought and installed 2 brand new front calipers and brake pads.
-Painted the front calipers and rotors black. (Still need to paint the blue "WRX" later onto the front calipers).
-Painted the rear calipers and rotors black.
-Completed the oil change with Mobile 1 synthetic oil and a new Ultra Fram filter.
-Checked the rear diff fluid and it was perfectly fine. Surprisingly in excellent condition.
-Cleaned and undercoated the car. Only took 2 cans.
-Bought a coil pack just in case I need to use it. But I didnt have a chance to work on the #1 misfire this weekend. If I dont use the coil pack, I can return it for a full refund.
-Also got a great deal on a 500watt mono channel Alpine amp at ABC Warehouse over the weekend. It was the display model and I got it for $140.00. Now I just need to build my speaker box for my aluminum Polk Momo sub and get everything hooked up.
Bad news is that I hurt my back again doing all of this work. As some might know I slipped a disk in my back a few years ago and have to be careful. So Sunday took it easy. Otherwise I would have had the blue WRX painted on the caliper too.
I had the sunroof open for a couple hours and a bird pooped in the driver seat. So I had to clean it with upholstery cleaner. I was already planning to clean all the seats and carpet. However this just motivated me to do it a little quicker than I expected.
Goodies for the weekend.
Before
Before
After without WRX lettering
After without WRX lettering
New dual piston calipers
Undercoated
Amp
Gift from bird
- 1,971
- Seattle, WA
Hope your back feels better, give it lots of rest.
The car is looking great!
Even the birds gave it a blessing
The car is looking great!
Even the birds gave it a blessing
CAMAROBOY69
Premium
- 18,567
- Michigan
- CAMAROBOY69
Thanks bro. I took it easy Sunday and didn't do ANYTHING outside. Just sat inside and played games. So today my back is already feeling quite well.Hope your back feels better, give it lots of rest.
The car is looking great!
Even the birds gave it a blessing
I have been playing it safe and only opening the sunroof a little bit if I am not around the car. There are 2 settings. 1 is all the way open slid into the roof. 2 is just the back part lifted about an inch. I keep it on 2 if I am not around the car. haha
TY. Yes this is an excellent learning experience for me especially since I have never owned a turbo. So far each weekend I have made major progress. Such a beautiful car too. So I have been going out of my way to make it extra nice. Its easily one of the nicest cars I have ever owned.
Last night I touched up the wheels a little bit where they got scuffed during the tire swap last weekend. Along with new wheel weights when the wheels were balanced. Only took a few minutes to touch up. I also fixed a little fold in one of the window tints. I used rubber trim adhesive and it was an easy fix.
Next weekend I will be at my neighbors shop again to hopefully fix the final existing problems.
1. #1 cylinder miss (might be coil pack, might be fuel injector, not sure)
2. Paint the blue "WRX" onto the front calipers
3. Hook up purge solenoid (still not really sure what this does)
4. Investigate the gas filler tube to see if that's why the car runs rough when the gas tank is 100% full.
5. Check the charcoal canister by the gas tank. (this might also be why the car runs rough when its filled 100%)
6. Build my speaker box for my Polk Momo sub. Hook up new Alpine amp.
#1 is my top priority next weekend. This small list is the major stuff I must complete on the WRX.
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- 14,410
- Wellington
Make sure you check the spark plugs too.
Sorry to hear about your back, hope you have a speedy recovery. Car is coming along great. 👍
CAMAROBOY69
Premium
- 18,567
- Michigan
- CAMAROBOY69
I already replaced the #1 spark plug about a week ago so its not that. However I do plan on replacing all the spark plugs anyway since we will be inspecting EVERY coil pack and every fuel injector. Our other concern is that it might not actually be the #1 cylinder. Sometimes cars throw a code for a cylinder, and its not actually that cylinder. So this weekend our number one objective is to figure out which cylinder is actually missing.Make sure you check the spark plugs too.
Sorry to hear about your back, hope you have a speedy recovery. Car is coming along great. 👍
Thanks about my back. Its been bad for about 3 years. I have just pushed it a little too hard the last few weeks since I purchased this car. Need to take it a little easier. The great news is I have very little left to do on my WRX then I can finally rest and enjoy it.
- 14,410
- Wellington
CAMAROBOY69
Premium
- 18,567
- Michigan
- CAMAROBOY69
I have EXCELLENT news. We fixed the #1 cylinder miss problem. It was so easy it was ridiculous. We started unplugging each coil pack and each fuel injector to find the miss. Found out the #1 cylinder fuel injector was not plugged in all the way!! The car runs incredible!! I agree with the seller that this thing is somewhere around 280-290hp. VERY fast! Sooo happy!
So after that I decided to start working on the blue WRX lettering on the caliper. Created a template in Autocad that I printed out on address labels. Then cut out with a razor blade. Just a nice subtle detail. I love how it turned out. Only took about 30 minutes to do the passenger site. I still need to do the driver site caliper.
So after that I decided to start working on the blue WRX lettering on the caliper. Created a template in Autocad that I printed out on address labels. Then cut out with a razor blade. Just a nice subtle detail. I love how it turned out. Only took about 30 minutes to do the passenger site. I still need to do the driver site caliper.
- 1,971
- Seattle, WA
Wow that blue lettering turned out really, really good, that was a very good call.
CAMAROBOY69
Premium
- 18,567
- Michigan
- CAMAROBOY69
Ty for the replies about the WRX lettering on the calipers. Very happy with how well it turned out. I am also just so happy we finally found the #1 cylinder miss problem. Car runs incredible now.
CAMAROBOY69
Premium
- 18,567
- Michigan
- CAMAROBOY69
CAMAROBOY69
Premium
- 18,567
- Michigan
- CAMAROBOY69
Yes easy is always nice.
For many years I have had (2) 12" aluminum Momo Polk subs in a big sealed box that just pounded way to hard. Plus they took up all my trunk space since the box was massive. So this is going to sound strange but I decided to DOWNGRADE my subs. Yes you heard that right.
So I calculated the necessary cubic feet for 1 sub in a box that is thin and wide to allow more trunk space. THEN I built (2) boxes. One box for my Subaru WRX Impreza and 1 box for Heathers RS Impreza.
Here is my box. Heathers speaker box and amp setup is almost identical.
Box cut, glued, screwed, and caulked together.
Rear acces port for the positive and negative sub wires. Perfectly placed between the seats for easy access since Subarus don't have a fold down seat. Only a center section that folds down.
Covered in carpet.
Speaker carpet was only about $17.00 and is enough for both boxes. Very easy to glue onto the box. Only took a few minutes.
Fully installed. The blue RCA cables match the color of my car paint perfectly. (still need to cover the wires on the left side and tuck them away a little nicer)
For many years I have had (2) 12" aluminum Momo Polk subs in a big sealed box that just pounded way to hard. Plus they took up all my trunk space since the box was massive. So this is going to sound strange but I decided to DOWNGRADE my subs. Yes you heard that right.
So I calculated the necessary cubic feet for 1 sub in a box that is thin and wide to allow more trunk space. THEN I built (2) boxes. One box for my Subaru WRX Impreza and 1 box for Heathers RS Impreza.
Here is my box. Heathers speaker box and amp setup is almost identical.
Box cut, glued, screwed, and caulked together.
Rear acces port for the positive and negative sub wires. Perfectly placed between the seats for easy access since Subarus don't have a fold down seat. Only a center section that folds down.
Covered in carpet.
Speaker carpet was only about $17.00 and is enough for both boxes. Very easy to glue onto the box. Only took a few minutes.
Fully installed. The blue RCA cables match the color of my car paint perfectly. (still need to cover the wires on the left side and tuck them away a little nicer)
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CAMAROBOY69
Premium
- 18,567
- Michigan
- CAMAROBOY69
Thank you. (1) 12" sealed sub is really just about perfect for me. If its too loud or not loud enough I just adjust the sub volume on the deck whenever necessary. Its kinda neat having the exact same custom box I bult in both of our Subarus.Looks boss 👍, I too was thinking about going down to one, since I think the single one in Flamve's 'Vette sounds just fine, that and I would like some extra space too...
This is where I purchased my carpet for the speaker box. $12.99 + $5.00 shipping. Excellent deal and great product. http://www.ebay.com/itm/270747620930?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
CAMAROBOY69
Premium
- 18,567
- Michigan
- CAMAROBOY69
I guess this can be posted here too. Now that the 67 Fastback Mustang is gone, the WRX can sit safely in the garage every night. Winter is on its way so it will be a really nice luxury to have this inside to avoid as much snow and ice as possible. Less snow and ice to wipe off in the mornings too. Plus the heated seats will be a huge treat this winter.
CAMAROBOY69
Premium
- 18,567
- Michigan
- CAMAROBOY69
Been a rough couple days. Had some diff fluid leaking from the transmission / transfer case. Took it into the shop. They dropped the tranny / trans case. Found out the front of the transmission case blew out by the input shaft. The clutch got fried from the diff fluid. Pilot bearing is gone. Going to be VERY expensive for this repair. 
Trying to decide if I want a new or used trans. They are having a very hard time finding a used trans for it.
Any clutch suggestions on a clutch while all of this is out? I want something pretty heavy duty. Stage 2? Stage 3?
Trying to decide if I want a new or used trans. They are having a very hard time finding a used trans for it.
Any clutch suggestions on a clutch while all of this is out? I want something pretty heavy duty. Stage 2? Stage 3?
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- 4,213
- Puerto Rico
- motortrend
Big unexpected repairs really suck, especially when it's already at a shop and you can't take your time. Hope you get it fixed soon!
CAMAROBOY69
Premium
- 18,567
- Michigan
- CAMAROBOY69
Update. They found a used transmission with about 80,000 miles.
I am still trying to figure out a really good clutch for this car? 2 stage? 3 stage? What different options to I have for this? What do you recommend? I want a strong clutch that can last a few years for sure.
I am still trying to figure out a really good clutch for this car? 2 stage? 3 stage? What different options to I have for this? What do you recommend? I want a strong clutch that can last a few years for sure.
- 4,213
- Puerto Rico
- motortrend
I really have no knowledge about subarus nor aftermarket clutches as I have not purchased one but like Cano said make sure it's street friendly and not too heavy, consider mods you might do in the future and the price difference compared to what a future owner might prefer if you decide to sell the car. I'd say look on the suby forums for reviews on the clutches and read the descriptions on the site.
CAMAROBOY69
Premium
- 18,567
- Michigan
- CAMAROBOY69
I agree. Luckily I had money saved from when I sold the Mustang. My 69 Camaro has a dual friction Centerforce clutch that runs off hydrolic fluid and that's the hardest clutch I have ever pushed in. Even harder than most semi trucks I have driven. So I am sure any aftermarket clutch for the WRX will be a breeze compared to that one.
Currently the WRX has an ACT stage 2 Clutch. Which IMO is way too weak for this car. So I am leaning toward some sort of stage 3. Just not sure which name brand. But you do make a good point about the comfort for future drivers since I know for sure I will eventually sell this car but that's not going to be for a while.
Cano
Premium
- 20,758
- Cephiro
Haha, cool. Well, at least you know how it is to live with a hard-ass clutch, so you'll also know what to look for and won't be let down later on.
Pako
Staff Emeritus
- 16,449
- NW Montana
- GTP-Pako
- GTP Pako
Man, not sure on the WRX, but on the Legacy Stg2 clutch was good just over 300whp. Once you get up around that 350+ range, Stg3 was recommended. Granted the WRX will be a little lighter but would imagine the same would apply. ACT clutches also seem like a popular choice among the Legacy community as well.
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