Bianca ('06 STi), A New Start

[gregroot198521]

So, let's see; about time for an update. Removed my carpet and most of the relatively easily pulled foam mat, as well as the plastic venting for the rear foot-wells. Sold the carpet and the floor-mats to my buddy here who has an '04 with ugly carpet and floor-mats.

Installed some Aluminum diamond-plate floormats (with the dead pedal also) to provide some grip, bought them off an eBay shop. They would fit better if I had the regular flooring still, but it's alright, I have them bolted in to the floors, and am awaiting my riv-nut tool to do the install properly.

Installed some Carbon Fiber Sokie Tech (believe that's the companies name) hood dampers off of some eBay seller (Alvoturk9000 or something close). Great purchase, and glad I bought them.

Ordered a bunch of different riv-nuts, thread matched screws and some 6" wide HDPE strips from McMaster-Carr. Riv-nuts and screws are for multiple uses, the HDPE strips will be used to cover and protect the fuel lines and wire-looms that run along the inside of the door frame to the back. These will be riveted to the kick-plates (or whatever those trim pieces are called that sit in the door frame) and then mounted underneath the lines/wiring with the riv-nuts and the screws.

I'll try to remember add some pics in here after I've done this part, though I do need some pics just because.

[michaelwfox]

I was gonna give you the ole TTIUWOP line lol

[96accord]

Subscribed.

I saw you post in the '11+ Thread on Nasioc when you had your '11 WRX.

Nice to see you switched to the Hawkeye

[gregroot198521]

Lol, Michael, this will make you happy then.

96Accord (I want to say I remember your name being Jeff, as I remember you from the 2011+ thread over there too), thanks much, definitely happy with the switch.

Alright, some pics, long overdue.
First up we have the diamond plate floor mats, the lack of carpet and mat, the cigarette plug splitter/extension and the billet aluminum glove box handle:



Next we have my carbon fiber grill (needs some fitment adjustment n the side pieces), hood dampers, and the place I hide part stickers:



And last for this update are the carbon fiber fuel door cover and all the vinyl that doesn't hide when dirty:

[96accord]

Yes its Jeff.

Yah! Pictures!!

[gregroot198521]

Yes its Jeff.

Yah! Pictures!!

Cool, my memory isn't fried completely!

Lol, figured the pics would make people happy.

[michaelwfox]

Very nice! I like the "theme" you have going. Its like a daily driven rally car.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

[gregroot198521]

Very nice! I like the "theme" you have going. Its like a daily driven rally car.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

Thanks, nowhere near where she needs to be though. I'll probably just start with the spring lift one of these days, plus I need to make my old skid plate fit, then it'll be a good start.

[gregroot198521]

Did some work last night. Installed some of the 6" HDPE strip inside of the driver side door to cover the fuel/brake lines and the wire harness there. Doesn't look pretty currently, but I just started learning this riv-nut tool and the limitations of it and the riv-nuts, so the next attempt will be cleaner. Will be easier with the seats out to get the rest of the strips in, plus I have a thicker strip coming in to protect the front halves better (.040" thick to go over the .020" thick strips), back halves will have the thinner sheets, since I'm not planning on having people back there anyways.

Also remounted the driver side floor mat with the riv-nuts and screws, feels a lot better mounted than before, and looks a bit cleaner. Also removed more of the foam mat that was up in the footwell behind the pedals. Next up is the other side's floor mat and foam mat, then the back half's line/wire protection.

[gregroot198521]

Alright, update for today:
Installed some more HDPE strip covering the fuel/brake lines & wiring along the door frames. Got the passenger side finished until the thicker material comes, then I'll make it a little bit of a prettier job. I'll add a pic in of this later.

Installed a Blox Racing vortex generator, fitment wasn't the flattest, but it's not going anywhere thanks to 8-10 beefy rivets, some 3M foam tape and some E-3000 (or whatever it's called, some sort of silicone/glue, it works great). Hopefully it doesn't leak at all, but if it does, I'll fix that.

Also finished the hard-install of the passenger side floor mat. Took a few tries for some of the riv-nuts to actually stick, but it's stuck, and not going anywhere. Took the chance of having the mat out though, to get rid of more if the foam mat **** that was behind the box (ECU?, though not sure why it'd be so hidden) over there. Few pounds shredded over all, but not the main reason, just easier to clean without all the crap.

Last, but not least, installed a set of Whiteline rear subframe lockdown bolts. Took her for a spin, think I could feel the difference, or I could be suffering from that imagined feeling issue lots of people have after installs.

Tomorrow, I'll probably do the oil change and finally install my skid plate, since it had the holes for GD bottoms as well as the holes for the GH/GR/GV bodies. If I do the oil change, I'll finally install my Fumoto valve, since it's been waiting, though I should probably find it first.

[michaelwfox]

How is the sound in the car without all the deadening? I'd imagine its pretty loud lol

[gregroot198521]

How is the sound in the car without all the deadening? I'd imagine its pretty loud lol

Actually doesn't seem much louder than with it in. Then again, there really didn't seem to be much in the first place: just this weird foam padding over the tunnel/tranny area and in the fronts of the driver and passenger footwells. That's it, just a couple plastic vent things that fed to under the front seats (air for the back seat if assume) and carpet. Contemplating pulling my roof liner but I think that would increase the noise level a little more than I'd like. We shall see though.

[gregroot198521]

More of a through the weekend thing, but I finished installing the thicker HDPE I bought under the front doors. Pretty sturdy, and I now have less worries about damage to the lines there.

While I had the driver side seat flopped over on the passenger side seat, I remounted the factory underseat sub using that metal "tape" that is used for pipe strapping usually. Basically metal ribbon with a bunch of holes on the center line. Stuff works great for many other uses too, just use your imagination. Also wrapped most of each ribbon in painters tape to hold down foam strips. Figure less metal-plastic contact the better. Probably take them off later and rewrap, then paint them.

Lastly, I finally started installing my Defi Advance BF gauges. Bought a set from a local friend here (boost, EGT, and fuel pressure) a long while back. Got the boost and EGT mounted in an ATI steering column cluster, seems that I don't have another jumper for the fuel pressure though. May hold off on the fuel pressure for a while anyways, assume that's more of a gauge for a racer. Anyways, didn't get the sensors ran yet, and still have to decide where I want to install the control box. First, need hardware for the boost sensor, and a place to insert the EGT sensor.

Pics will come soon, like I always say.