Subaru Impreza STI 330s

[subie_andy33]

id that feeling previously with my old hawk sti where it was always there in the back of my mind that even though it was on 80k mile or so that one day it would still do a piston.

for me it worked out that the car hadn't really cost me that much in the time id had it, it was all upgrades & preventative maintenance up until that point and the car was probably still worth what i paid for it so it seemed a no brainer plus most importantly, i really like it.

Buying a new car would just start the process all over again. New engine means i now exactly where i am with every part on the car! Even getting it back people where saying will you sell it now, but the first drive after 20mths i was like nope its staying

I definitely have the same situation then. I feel pretty confident my car is actually worth a good bit more than I paid for it as I got it pretty cheap. So that's makes it easier to justify spending money on the motor, especially when I love driving it

You're sorta convincing me to part with a lot of money here! Will have to speak to a few specialists and see what my options are. Will take a look back through your thread and see what all you got done yourself

 

[Gambit]

Small update....after seeing condition of old air filter I picked up a k&n hydrophobic sock for the new filter hopefully keep it in a bit better shape

Old

New

Apart from that only other thing done was get the strutbrace end plates powdercoated as original paint had started to flake and looked a bit tatty

That's just over 2000 miles on it now since rebuild and all hunky dory....just need to get it back to OMA now for oil flush plus it's getting brake refresh all round....just awaiting the call to say my slot is now!

Once that is complete i can get the new wheels on then final map tweak done inc new larger 3" intake pipe that will replace the last tatty bit of pipework under the bonnet. Still loving the no scoop bonnet

 

[CharlySkunkWeed]

Small update....after seeing condition of old air filter I picked up a k&n hydrophobic sock for the new filter hopefully keep it in a bit better shape

Old
View attachment 369197

New
View attachment 369198

Apart from that only other thing done was get the strutbrace end plates powdercoated as original paint had started to flake and looked a bit tatty


View attachment 369199
That's just over 2000 miles on it now since rebuild and all hunky dory....just need to get it back to OMA now for oil flush plus it's getting brake refresh all round....just awaiting the call to say my slot is now!

Once that is complete i can get the new wheels on then final map tweak done inc new larger 3" intake pipe that will replace the last tatty bit of pipework under the bonnet. Still loving the no scoop bonnet

Did your headlights fade again or is that just dust/dirt ?

 

[Gambit]

Did your headlights fade again or is that just dust/dirt ?

Just a layer of dust on them

 

[Gambit]

Been after a genuine STI brace for yonks but they very rarely come up...so when an upper and lower bar came along I couldn't resist.

The upper bar is a 'flexible' strut brace...sounds a bit counter intuitive but subaru figured for road cars if they stuck a pillow joint mid way it would still increase lateral stiffness without compromising comfort when on shíte roads....like in NI. More info if you want the subaru thoughts behind it all Feature：Performance Flex Tower Bar｜STI it's quite amusing the keek they talk in it


Anyhow it looks worse fitted than my old brace i think and I cant tell a hairs difference in daily driving but it's a very rare part so there

Lower brace apparently works really well but haven't got it fitted yet


Old fitted

Compared

New fitted

 

[CharlySkunkWeed]

Been after a genuine STI brace for yonks but they very rarely come up...so when an upper and lower bar came along I couldn't resist.

View attachment 372084

View attachment 372082
View attachment 372083
The upper bar is a 'flexible' strut brace...sounds a bit counter intuitive but subaru figured for road cars if they stuck a pillow joint mid way it would still increase lateral stiffness without compromising comfort when on shíte roads....like in NI. More info if you want the subaru thoughts behind it all Feature：Performance Flex Tower Bar｜STI it's quite amusing the keek they talk in it


Anyhow it looks worse fitted than my old brace i think and I cant tell a hairs difference in daily driving but it's a very rare part so there

Lower brace apparently works really well but haven't got it fitted yet


Old fitted
View attachment 372086

Compared
View attachment 372085

New fitted
View attachment 372081
View attachment 372080
View attachment 372087

Mines hanging in the garage
Think it needs fixed as it didn't sit right.
Are you supposed to use the joint to tighten or loosen the bar, or is it more to adjust it to suit your setup initially and then never move ?

 

[Gambit]

Mines hanging in the garage
Think it needs fixed as it didn't sit right.
Are you supposed to use the joint to tighten or loosen the bar, or is it more to adjust it to suit your setup initially and then never move ?

Think it should be wound all the way in, wouldn't have fitted if extended any. Mine fitted that way, I just left the bar ends a bit loose to get it settled then nipped it all in.

 

[ace275]

Pretty sure I seen this on the M2 this morning. Rear lights are an excellent improvement over the factory ones.

 

[Gambit]

Pretty sure I seen this on the M2 this morning. Rear lights are an excellent improvement over the factory ones.

Yeah back in the office now a couple of days a week so at least it gets a bit more use again

 

[ace275]

Yeah back in the office now a couple of days a week so at least it gets a bit more use again

Was sure I recognized it, then linked the 330s badge and the reg and all. The hatch has aged really well. It was me on the motorbike taking the same exit.

 

[Gambit]

Was sure I recognized it, then linked the 330s badge and the reg and all. The hatch has aged really well. It was me on the motorbike taking the same exit.

motorbike retro/cruiser style had an orange tank on it? sounded well passing me on Dargan when i turned off into the office if that was you

 

[ace275]

motorbike retro/cruiser style had an orange tank on it? sounded well passing me on Dargan when i turned off into the office if that was you

That's the one. Just trying to make up for not using it enough this year before the colder weather returns

 

[Gambit]

Still not missing my bonnet scoop....but did miss my slot to get new discs/pads all round in OMA but Michael forgot to tell me

 

[subie_andy33]

Still not missing my bonnet scoop....but did miss my slot to get new discs/pads all round in OMA but Michael forgot to tell me

View attachment 374684

What discs/pads you going for out of interest?

 

[Gambit]

What discs/pads you going for out of interest?

just went with the Brembo HC discs and then genuine subaru pads all round - the pads i'm told (Michael @ OMA) are a specific Brembo compound which probably explains the eyewatering cost of them from Subaru dealer - though i picked them up on ebay for fraction of the price

 

[subie_andy33]

just went with the Brembo HC discs and then genuine subaru pads all round - the pads i'm told (Michael @ OMA) are a specific Brembo compound which probably explains the eyewatering cost of them from Subaru dealer - though i picked them up on ebay for fraction of the price

Ah, fair enough. I have a friend with another hatch who swears by brembo discs/genuine pads. Thinking Ill try something different soon myself. Have Godspeed discs and PFZ pads, interested to try different pads next time round, might go genuine like yourself.

 

[Gambit]

Ah, fair enough. I have a friend with another hatch who swears by brembo discs/genuine pads. Thinking Ill try something different soon myself. Have Godspeed discs and PFZ pads, interested to try different pads next time round, might go genuine like yourself.

Yeah i'm not exactly hard on brakes either so thought id just go with all OE and see how it feels. pretty sure its just running a set of generic brembo pads in it at the mo, and the discs are those that was on it when i bought it back in 2015 - so all new all round is going to feel better no matter what

 

[Gambit]

All back again from OMA with new front & rear pads/discs/handbrake shoes and backing plates...back end give a bit of grief, bleed nipple stripped in one of calipers so it had to go across water to get repaired, that and few seized bolts but all tickety boo again

15mm spacers removed so wheels look a bit lost in arches again though should get new wheels on soon just waiting on tyres becoming available

Sti lower brace to match the upper also fitted

Then final part is new larger intake and map tweaks by @bludgod

 

[CharlySkunkWeed]

They my spacers?

 

[Gambit]

They my spacers?

They are indeed as promised about a year ago lol

 

[subie_andy33]

Safer asking you here - Who did your caliper refresh? Was thinking of godspeed myself but maybe someone local is decent at it.

Have you said anywhere here what wheels you are going for?

 

[Gambit]

Safer asking you here - Who did your caliper refresh? Was thinking of godspeed myself but maybe someone local is decent at it.

Have you said anywhere here what wheels you are going for?

Mine was only a bleed nipple repair on 1 rear caliper. It went to biggred.co.uk. who had it repaired and back within a few days.

Wheel choice is these...slightly nicer offset than standard wheels....and more importantly easier to clean lol

 

[ace275]

Mine was only a bleed nipple repair on 1 rear caliper. It went to biggred.co.uk. who had it repaired and back within a few days.

Wheel choice is these...slightly nicer offset than standard wheels....and more importantly easier to clean lol

View attachment 379284

Fan of these, AFAIK they're quite light too?

 

[subie_andy33]

Mine was only a bleed nipple repair on 1 rear caliper. It went to biggred.co.uk. who had it repaired and back within a few days.

Wheel choice is these...slightly nicer offset than standard wheels....and more importantly easier to clean lol

View attachment 379284

Ah big red yeah, they know their stuff.

Lovely choice of wheels. They will certainly look the part. Plus haven't seen them on a hatch before!

 

[Gambit]

Fan of these, AFAIK they're quite light too?

Think they are listed as 10.3kg which is light enough but turns out is heavier than the current wheel which is only 9kg, theyre the BBS Forged STI wheels on it.