Signatus's RS - Wiring, wiring... and more wiring.

[Signatus230]

I bought the car in February, for 4000. It turns out that piston rings are shot(my oil mileage is 250 miles per liter), and I developed a knock.

Mod list is in my sig, I am too lazy to type it all out right now.

Here are some pictures:




Alright, my current plans for this beasty would most likely be swapping it. Whether I go JDM, or USDM will be determined soon, but so far I am leaning towards JDM. Particularly V3. I am not really looking to make a huge amount of power, it will be such an upgrade over what I have already that I will probably just spend a year getting used to how a turbo car runs, accelerates, etc. After the engine, most likely will save up for a new tranny (DCCD anyone?) and will hopefully have that by next summer.

So basically for plans:
- Subaru 4 pots front, 2 pots rear (Gotta get this, with power comes great stopping power)]
- Get body damage fixed (its not serious, just annoying. More dents then scrapes and crap)
- Repainted (havent decided whether to go with same color, or an Evo Grey, either way I deem it a good investment, since short of a accident, I am never getting rid of this car >.>)
- Coilovers (Looking into HKS's, Cusco's and some others)
- Sway bars (as in everything, endlinks, the bar, etc)



Do I have plans on competing with it? Yes, I do. I intend to jsut get used to the car, determine its "limits" safetly after the swap, and go from there.

May 30, 2007: Well, I drove up to Connecticut this past weekend and bought a V3 WRX motor, came with ECU, turbo, IC, piping, harness, and he even replaced the valve covers. All for $1200 too.



Alright, when this is all said and done, I will most likely post all the pictures of the breakdown, tear out, re-build, and put back together photos in one large, instructional post.

So far, what I have needed for the swap is:

- Engine (Full engine, alternator, all plugs on the engine, exhaust manifold, intake manifold, turbo, up-pipe, etc)
- Wire harness (All plugs intact, all wires relatively clean)
- ECU (duh?)
- GC8 Crossmember with an WRX GC8 front sway bar
- Fuel pump
- Fuel pump controller
- Throttle cable
- Full turboback exhaust
- Clutch, pressure plate (I am keeping the old tranny for now)
- Oil Pressure, Boost, Air to Fuel ratio gauge (not neccesary, but I am doing this swap with the intention of upgrading from the stock motor)

- Most of all - time, patience, and awesome people such as Suparu, Renegade_, Scuba Steve, Area1320 and some other peeps not on here for good advice and hardcore physical labor.

[Renegade_]

A nice video of it shooting blue smoke and the knock will be up in a minute, youtube is taking its time...

*edit*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-G6_4wzAETM

Yeah, it's sideways, just tilt your head, I wasn't aware the camera would do that.

[Jordanz3]

Nice looking rs

[Signatus230]

Thanks, it needs some work, and I am thinking about getting it repainted after I swap it to Evo grey, or maybe I'll just keep it black. Not sure.

[Renegade_]

It break yet?

[Signatus230]

Nay, it wont for a while I'm guessing... since I barely drive it.

[ScubaSteve]

Let me know when your ready to start wrenching on the new motor. I'd be glad to help out.

[Albertrt-4]

nice meeting you tonight man, the knock sounds AWESOME!! wish i had some knock hahaha. I love that car though cant wait to see what you do with it

[jspek]

sounded like my car before it broke...good luck with it.

[ozthunder]

Nice meeting you, and dude, as the man with the SRT4 says, I strive for the knocking sound

[Signatus230]

Haha, I love the knock, makes me feel like I have some V8 under the hood...

Yea, I'm looking at a couple of different engine setups atm, so we shall see what goes down first!

[ozthunder]

Are you comin out tonight signatus?

[Supraru]

Sweet "I" badge by the way....I wonder where you got it. Once you get your set up let me know too, I'll be a swapping fool by then. I just gotta wait for parts that were forgotten when they shipped it then I can finish it up.

[Signatus230]

Lol, ouch. What parts were you missing!? Other then wiring diagrams, and the lot. I think the major thing I will need is to find a place, or borrow someones engine hoist... Tools are fine, amount of people should be fine. Well I have to get the engine first.

[UnderPoweredRS]

If you go USDM you'll have an easy time modding it after it's done. You'll also have an easy time finding parts. (when you can't find something the dealer will have it) You can also make good power and pass inspection on a USDM wrx motor. USDM wrx motors are easy a cheap to find. Plus I have the USDM diagrams on CD and I can give you a copy.

Either get the GC* front cross member or one from an older turbo legacy. If you use a USDM wrx cross member you'll need to shim the control arms... and thats well.. thats ghetto

[Supraru]

Originally Posted by Signatus230

Lol, ouch. What parts were you missing!? Other then wiring diagrams, and the lot. I think the major thing I will need is to find a place, or borrow someones engine hoist... Tools are fine, amount of people should be fine. Well I have to get the engine first.

I was missing my maf sensor, he said he thought he sent it but he didn't so I'm waiting for him to send me a new one. Also I need two pressure sensors for the gas tank before I can throw up the gas tank and subframe. I also decided to go with the wrx radiator and just run one fan because I opted not to run a/c. Just waiting on them to get here so I can finish my car. I just want it done.

I'd let you borrow the one I'm using but it's not mine unfortunately. I'm sure someone has one you can borrow.

[Supraru]

Originally Posted by UnderPoweredRS

If you go USDM you'll have an easy time modding it after it's done. You'll also have an easy time finding parts. (when you can't find something the dealer will have it) You can also make good power and pass inspection on a USDM wrx motor. USDM wrx motors are easy a cheap to find. Plus I have the USDM diagrams on CD and I can give you a copy.

Either get the GC* front cross member or one from an older turbo legacy. If you use a USDM wrx cross member you'll need to shim the control arms... and thats well.. thats ghetto

It's not ghetto to shim the usdm crossmember. All you need are 3mm washers on each side one each crossmember. Just make sure you use stainless. A lot of cars use shims to set their alignment, you're basically doing the same thing.

[Signatus230]

Well, so far the plan next weekend is I am going to pick up a V3 WRX engine, full harness, ecu, Turbo, TMIC, all the stuff needed to run. I know I will need to either shim the N/A X-member, or just get a GC8 turbo one from a vender on RS25.

[UnderPoweredRS]

92 turbo legacy start looking in junk yards it's the same cross member as the GC8 except it's dirt cheap

[Signatus230]

Originally Posted by UnderPoweredRS

92 turbo legacy start looking in junk yards it's the same cross member as the GC8 except it's dirt cheap

Ah sweet, thanks for the tip.

Edit: I'm not 100% sure, but is it true that you need to upgrade the front sway bar when you put a turbo motor in our cars?