04 wrx - 1st mod!

[tiersius]

Greetings! Just wanted to pop in and say hay! I picked up an 04 wrx about a month and a half ago (totally new to Subies) and been havin a blast. Just installed an AP v2 and have a few gauges to install next! Basically just wanted to pass along a BIG thank you to everyone here - been doing a ton of reading on this site in hopes of sidestepping some newbie mistakes. This is a great forum with a ridiculous amount of info that anyone new to Subies would be retarded not to take the time to read! IMHO. Anyway, Thanks!

[zax]

welcome!

[EJ257]

Welcome to the site

If it's not already done, be sure to get rid of the uppipe cat.

What gauges did you get?

[tiersius]

Hey Guys,

Have a Perrin Uppipe sitting in the garage - I'm not only new to Subie's, but new to modding in general - so I'm doing mucho reading/printing/rereading before starting anything!

As for the gauges - I have a boost and EGT so far - thinking of a steering column mount. (Omori, by the way) Always open to suggestions for others! Thanks

[zax]

Hey Guys,

Have a Perrin Uppipe sitting in the garage - I'm not only new to Subie's, but new to modding in general - so I'm doing mucho reading/printing/rereading before starting anything!

Given the circumstance, I would suggest contracting a mechanic (or a mechanically inclined friend) to perform the UP install. You could do the work yourself, just be prepared to have your car up on blocks for a while if anything goes awry (something will).

[Sasquatch]

Welcome to the Club!

The up pipe install can be a bear. The suggestion above it a great idea.

[josnroh]

Welcome,and good luck with your wagon.

[KnightFury]

Welcom! Good to hear, boost guage is def a must, mine came stock w/o but too care of that quick, my bro got me the a pillar guage pod w/ 3 set up w/ oil temp boost and a/f ,(mind you need a wideband o2 sens to read a/f correctly) but i love the spot they are in, another good spopt is where the clock is there are a couple places ya can go for thoes, http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ATM-20018 , summit is usually quite cheap and always back ya up! , i had a buddy that pu his on steering colum and found that it got in they way alot, maybe just how he had it set but w/ the tilt steering and view of other guages he ended up gettin the a pillar as well, its right in sight and not to goddy like thoes 5" tach's that most hondas get but its always a personal preferance of what looks best to you

[tiersius]

Thanks guys!

While I'm definately new to modding - I do have some wrench time, just on much bigger toys! My old man was a farmer at heart (though not by trade) so there were many winters playing with old machinery. If you need to transform a 1967 JD Combine into an operational field sprayer (why? - don't ask) or rebuild a carb on an internation 1086 - I'm your guy. However, I never got into messin' with cars much for some reason? Probably just didn't want the down time, I guess.

Anywho - while not completely foriegn to me - I'm still hesitant to tear into the car for the first time. But again, I have to say, the fantastic posts and tutorials on this site have me itchin' to try. Have a few buddies to help out too!

[Sasquatch]

Anywho - while not completely foriegn to me - I'm still hesitant to tear into the car for the first time. But again, I have to say, the fantastic posts and tutorials on this site have me itchin' to try. Have a few buddies to help out too!

You will surely want help with the up pipe. It is a must do mod.

[SKI.WRX]

I recently gutted my up-pipe which is more or less the same process as installing an aftermarket one. I did it by my self for the most part and just had my dad hold the UP studs in the turbo and thread the nuts on so I could get everything else lined up. Also, buy some extra bolts and nuts just in case. I had to cut one of mine and get the hardware after the fact which made it a huge pain.

[tiersius]

Unfortunately it's a bit difficult to find much for "qualified" help out here in the sticks - but I think I found some help!

On a side note - and probably cause for a different thread - the car's coming up on 100,000 miles - are there any of the maintinence issues that would make sense to takle at the same time?

[tiersius]

Welcom! Good to hear, boost guage is def a must, mine came stock w/o but too care of that quick, my bro got me the a pillar guage pod w/ 3 set up w/ oil temp boost and a/f ,(mind you need a wideband o2 sens to read a/f correctly) but i love the spot they are in, another good spopt is where the clock is there are a couple places ya can go for thoes, http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ATM-20018 , summit is usually quite cheap and always back ya up! , i had a buddy that pu his on steering colum and found that it got in they way alot, maybe just how he had it set but w/ the tilt steering and view of other guages he ended up gettin the a pillar as well, its right in sight and not to goddy like thoes 5" tach's that most hondas get but its always a personal preferance of what looks best to you

Good point about the tilt steering, hadn't heard/read that before. I do like the clock location as a second choice - just never liked the pillar - don't know why!? Thanks

[EJ257]

On a side note - and probably cause for a different thread - the car's coming up on 100,000 miles - are there any of the maintinence issues that would make sense to takle at the same time?

Do you have a service history of the car?

https://www.subaru.com/my-subaru/mai...edule2004.html

That's a link to the maintenance schedule for your car. If you don't have a history, look at the 105K interval and replace all fluids.

[tiersius]

EJ257 - Thanks for the link.

Unfortunately no - I don't have any sort of detail maininance records for the car. Pretty tough to tell. Is there anything in particular to be looking out for - or is it best just to get started/keep going with the regular schedule.

ps - I was off a bit - the car had about 85,000 when I bought it - has about 89,xxx now.