Ninfourteener's Progress Thread + Pics

[ninefourteener]

Thanks all...

Well.. I'm far from an expert... this is my first WRX... and everything I've done, was for the first time.... so it's a constant learning process.

I'm going to take pics.... but it looks like someone has already done a good turbo swap instructional post. In fact, I'm going to use this as a guide on Saturday.

http://www.scoobymods.com/forums/sho...ght=turbo+swap

Granted... this guy has a FMIC, but the turbo removal and install should be the same.

[ninefourteener]

Ok.... it's done..... and before I go in depth... there's just a couple words that need to be said..

HOLY FRIGGIN MOTHER OF GOD.

This car..... is so friggin fast..... I can't even put it into words.

You floor it.... BOOM... 18 lbs of boost....... you go from 20 to 90 mph is literally only a couple seconds. No exaggeration... it is that fast.

Before I start... I have to give credit to the 3 guys that helped...... they were here from 12:30, till after 8pm at night..... I could not have done it without them

JT (jtodaro), from stlsubaru.com
James (Impreza_GC8) from stlsubaru.com
Greg (local buddy.. no computer)

None of us have ever done a turbo swap before... all we had were some directions we found online.... and motivation. Thanks guys.

So... we started with these directions I found on Scoobymods...

http://www.scoobymods.com/forums/sho...ght=turbo+swap

for the most part, they were pretty good... although there were a couple things not mentioned that should have been:

1) The vacuum hoses... needed to be longer for the VF39.. had to take a trip to the parts store for that.
2) The FACTORY restrictor pill on the VF39 is the correct size. The only time you need to drill your WRX restrictor pill is is you're forced to reuse it.
3) The COLD side of the turbo is actually much wider on a VF39... yet the HOT side is actually skinnier.... strange.
4) The heat shield that fit the TD04?? Does NOT fit the VF39.... I spent the better part of 2 hours cutting the crap out of my COBB heat shield... I think James has some good shots of it.
5) The oil drain line is MORE of a pain in the ass than you think..... much more.

We actually had the whole thing installed..... cranked it over (with the fuel control unhooked of course)..... and it started POURING oil out the bottom. Why? Because you actually cannot see the line as it connects to the oil drain line when you install the new turbo.... at all. We "thought" it was good to go..... nope.

So.. luckily we were able to loosen the uppipe, loosen one side of the intercooler, drop the downpipe, and unhook the oil feed line.... and literally "manhandle" the line to where it was supposed to be. Once again... couldn't have done it without these guys.

Took it out for the first test drive...... Car runs like a screaming bloody raped ape on methamphetamines..... just INSANE fast (much faster than a stock STI)... but the first stop.... smoke starts billowing out of the hood.

Uh oh.

Well.. we either "forgot" to hook up one of the coolant lines that run across the front of the intercooler.... or it blew off from all the pressure. Either way... coolant poured all over the turbo and made a stinky, smoky mess.

We got back home, and for piece of mind, we added some hose clamps (not installed on the car when it was stock).... and James and I took it out for another drive.

Everything..... without exception... is absolutely perfect.

I cannot possibly express the sense of accomplishment I feel today. Mu knuckles are sore as hell, my back is killing me... but it was well worth it.

My camera only managed to get one picture.,... so I'll leave you with that. Me, with JT, holding both turbos after the TD04 came out. Hopefully James will be quick to post all the ones he took later..... or I'll just post them when he sends them to me.

Thanks everyone... again.

[Blup]

wow man congrats. Go get your car dynod so we can drool at some pretty lines. Glad everything went so semi-smoothly! lol.

I'm quite jealous btw! lol. You got one of the sexiest WRXs i know of.

[ninefourteener]

Ok... I got those pics of the install from James...

The scene outside my house....





The DECONSTRUCTION PHASE





Modifying the hell out of the bobb heat shield



Test fitting the PITA heat shield



Custom goodness!!! (I shaved it a little more to get the rough edges off)

[twoturbos]

NICE!!!

Any pics of the 914? When I go out to my brother-in laws parent's house I drive by a 914-6 rotting away in a field. The owner is a farmer and won't sell it or do anything with it. Such a shame.

[ninefourteener]

You know I sold the Porsche a little over a month ago..... here's the thread:

The Porsche is SOLD.... new wheels/tires bought

914s are cool.....not terribly expensive... and extremely distinctive and different... but they are maintenance nightmares.

And..... they are horribly notorious for rust.

The hard part about finding a 914 isn't that they're rare (although they are)... it's that 90% of them have severe frame damage from rust, or they were crushed over 10 years ago because owners figured they weren't worth fixing.

Poor little bastard child of Porsche and VW.

Great little fun cars... just didn't fit in the mix anymore...

[SubieStylez]

nice work, its coming together little by little

[ninefourteener]

Thanks!!!

Well..... ONLY because there is a car show coming up... I took the advice of the forum, and I skipped the I/C sprayer.... for now.

The 07 STI limited lip is on the way

I'll post once that arrives.

Otherwise.... I've got a couple things I still need to do. Well, things that are on my "plan anyway:

1) Finally get my Fuel pressure gauge to fill the last hole in my a pillar pod ($180)

2) An intercooler sprayer system ($100)

3) COBB swaybars ($375)

4) Endlinks ($200)

5) Replace my "rice" muffler with a more "stealth" muffler... keeping the pipes though (maybe $150)

6) Pro-tune (thats scheduled on May 19th)

After that... I have no idea...... I might actually just have to stop--LOL

I hate to say it.... but my car might actually be "Done".

Of course..... I'm always open to suggestions--LOL

[Mikie13]

Very Impressive dude!

[WhiTe_07_WRx]

Car came together nicely man!!

[mustangtx63]

Very niiiiiice!

Take it easy on the tranny....

[SubieStylez]

nice the STi limited lip is hottt

[ninefourteener]

Very niiiiiice!

Take it easy on the tranny....

Oh yea... I definately will...... I have been for quite some time.

I can count the amount of times I've dropped the clutch on one hand

Actually, I'm a pretty moderate driver.... I just like knowing the power is there. Generally, I just save it for occasional usage.... which is generally when I'm already rolling.

[SubieStylez]

I can count the amount of times I've dropped the clutch on one hand

Actually, I'm a pretty moderate driver.... I just like knowing the power is there. Generally, I just save it for occasional usage.... which is generally when I'm already rolling.

Me too, my tranny only has about 5-8 launches on it since I bought it and I only really open the throttle rarely or when I have too (i.e. if im getting onto a highway).

[ERIKBROCKHOFF]

danm your car is **** for sure man, I thought I was looking at an sti for the longest but turns out its a rex thats hard