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Rob's 1995 Impreza WRX STI Type RA



RMDavis

ClioSport Club Member
All sound good then Rob. Glad there's no hidden nasties!

Take some more pics [emoji14]

Cheers Dan!

I will try, but I'm bloody awful...

As things currently stand, both the cylinder heads are now all bolted up with the new RCM studs, and gaskets. I finished refitting the camshafts/carriers etc yesterday evening along with the rocker covers and new gaskets.

Work is just so busy at the moment the Impreza is having to take a back seat unfortunately, and I'm still waiting on the clubman/baffled sump.

Patience is a virtue and all that... :wink:
 

RMDavis

ClioSport Club Member
Fixed! [emoji28]

6706eb48ae42a23fc6870cba8da2c23c.jpg


For real this time!

It's been a bloody nightmare, but it's been worth it just to hear that flat four again!

I'll write up a detailed update tomorrow if I have time...

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JON FOZ

ClioSport Club Member
  EVO 6
Came across the For Sale thread on SN last night.
Didn't realise it was your car at first as it had the 52 plate on it.

Glad to hear it's all fixed and ready for a blast

Jon
 

RMDavis

ClioSport Club Member
Came across the For Sale thread on SN last night.
Didn't realise it was your car at first as it had the 52 plate on it.

Glad to hear it's all fixed and ready for a blast

Jon
I didn't realise it was for sale on SN. I came across the ad on the Type RA forum.

It used to be on a 52 plate, but the previous owner wanted a more age correct reg. He went to the effort of getting a letter of conformity from Subaru confirming it's build date, to allow a M reg!
that IC is intimidating as f**k.
Haha thanks mate! It has grown on me, as already mentioned it looks bloody purposeful and has been cut well. Not hacked up with a hand saw!

An OE bumper is on the cards though...


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RMDavis

ClioSport Club Member
It's been what feels like a lifetime, but in reality only about a month, the Impreza is back on the road!

The baffled sump from AS Performance took a while to arrive which delayed things, as they take a brand new sump and modify it to suit. Once arrived we were able to fit the other ancillaries!

Getting the engine back into the bay, and bolted up to the gearbox wasn't too hard, just required an extra pair of hands to guide the engine into place. The only real problem we came up against was bleeding the coolant system! These engine's are notoriously hard to bleed due to their design, but add in 22 year old rubber hoses that have mostly been disturbed or removed/re-fitted I'm sure you can understand! 😂

In hindsight I wish I'd just bit the bullet and bought a set of Samco hoses but I managed to source some genuine replacements after all. On top of the hoses the radiator also needed replacement as it had a very annoying pin hole leak. I luckily managed to get a Nissens radiator from a local supplier. After that It's been pretty much plain sailing!

It's been fantastic being able to drive the car again, the grin factor is right up there, and truly feels like your driving something special/unique. It's probably placebo, but the engine feels even better than before!

Whilst I was awaiting for parts to arrive I replaced some non essentials including: clear side repeaters, clear front indicators, genuine rubber gear gaiter, genuine gear gaiter surround RCM gear knob, and mini mud flaps as recommended, and fitted to Scott's aka @Phase1sr awesome bug eye!

When I was fitting the mudflaps I found a rather nice discovery. The previous owner never mentioned anything about the suspension, and I presumed it was standard bar some coil springs and the front/rear whiteline ARB kit however I noticed that the shock absorbers are painted grey albeit with some surface corrosion they have metallic stickers on the dampers that read 'STI Prodrive' and underneath 'Bilstein' with Eibach springs. From what I've gathered these were an optional extra on the later versions 'WR Upgrade' and found on both the 22B and P1 Widely regarded as the best OE suspension setup! :smile:

I've also bought a 'stick on' front registration plate and plan to fit that on the bonnet in an attempt to clean up the front end, as I really hate the positioning of the current plate.

Regarding the head gasket replacement here was the final parts list...

* RCM High Performance 11mm Cylinder Head Stud Kit
* RCM EJ20 Multi Layer High Performance Head Gaskets
* Cylinder Head Skim/Testing Valve Lapping etc
* AS Performance Baffled/Clubman Sump
* ICP Aircon Delete Kit
* All Necessary Gaskets/Seals - (there's a few)
* Thermal Inlet Manifold Gasket
* Genuine Oil Pump
* Genuine Thermostat
* Genuine Water Pump
* Genuine Timing Belt Kit
* Genuine Oil Filter
* Genuine Fuel Filter
* NGK Spark Plugs
* 5 Litre's Of Millers Oils Competition 10W50 Fully Synthetic
* STI 'Group N' Engine Mounts
* STI Radiator Cap
* Nissens Radiator
* Genuine Radiator Hoses

Once given a bloody good clean, and we get some half decent weather I'm going to take some decent photos/videos but for the moment I just want to enjoy the old girl, and get some miles under my belt!

If all is well I plan to attempt another booking with Duncan at Race Dynamix to have that mapping session I was due to attend in January!
 

Mr R.

ClioSport Club Member
  A special one.
Bloody made up for you mate, we really need to pray for the dry roads and sunshine now. [emoji2]
 

RMDavis

ClioSport Club Member
Epic, so glad to see it back in the road. Nice work Rob. Time to get out and enjoy the damn car

Thanks Rich, it's been a bumpy start to ownership!

Hopefully onwards and upwards from now on!

Bloody made up for you mate, we really need to pray for the dry roads and sunshine now. [emoji2]

Cheers Scott! :smile:

I'm still looking forward to our meet! You definitely going to CSF17?
 

Mr R.

ClioSport Club Member
  A special one.
Thanks Rich, it's been a bumpy start to ownership!

Hopefully onwards and upwards from now on!



Cheers Scott! [emoji2]

I'm still looking forward to our meet! You definitely going to CSF17?
I'll go if your going mate, travel up together in a convoy? [emoji41]
I don't fancy driving all that way on my own. [emoji20]

Hopefully we will meet before hand bud.
 

RMDavis

ClioSport Club Member
I'll go if your going mate, travel up together in a convoy? [emoji41]
I don't fancy driving all that way on my own. [emoji20]

Hopefully we will meet before hand bud.

If there's track time still available by the end of the month, I'll be going for sure mate!

Your more than welcome to join our little convoy (Me, @KrisRS182, and @loggyboy ) have driven up together the last two years. We travel up on the Friday, and stay both nights though! You a camping fan!? 😂
 

Mr R.

ClioSport Club Member
  A special one.
If there's track time still available by the end of the month, I'll be going for sure mate!

Your more than welcome to join our little convoy (Me, @KrisRS182, and @loggyboy ) have driven up together the last two years. We travel up on the Friday, and stay both nights though! You a camping fan!? 😂
Yes mate, I've done a bit of camping with chap's on CS. [emoji41]

Cool, I'll be up for it then mate.
Last year the the word 'together' might be exaggerating = we started together, then it all went pear shape.
If @Phase1sr is Essex I suspect our routes would cross at the M1 northampton.
Mine likes to do 65mph, any faster and it's revving it's nuts off.
Short ratio gearbox and no stereo isn't a great recipe for motorway driving. [emoji45]

Yes bud I'm in Essex, about 15 minutes away from lakeside/M25.
 

RMDavis

ClioSport Club Member
The results are in!

IMAG0720.jpg


Better than its last session on the rollers (312) but it drives so much better! The way the boost comes in is fantastic! Duncan has also tweaked the anti-lag which is hilarious oh and if I get bored of that he's also added launch control... More importantly however is that the engine is strong, and I can just get on and enjoy the car, and get a track day booked.

Unfortunately I couldn't get many photos/vidoes because they closed the booth door, but here's the all important money shot!

d87a4f16cfa418a517d33a5d8ce7c974.jpg


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massiveCoRbyn

ClioSport Club Member
  Several
Bet that goes well in what is a pretty light car by modern standard, especially with that gearing.

Just needs the bumper sorting and it's spot on!
 

Mr R.

ClioSport Club Member
  A special one.
Mate, proper made up for you after all of the hassle you've been through.

I bet it's fcuking epic on the road?
 

RMDavis

ClioSport Club Member
Nice result. What is the torque figure?
Stupidly I completely forgot to ask... I've messaged him to let me know what it was. If I recall the previous owner mentioned the torque figure was similar to the bhp. I'll find out though! [emoji5]
Bet that goes well in what is a pretty light car by modern standard, especially with that gearing.

Just needs the bumper sorting and it's spot on!
Cheers bud, it's a lot of fun!

The bumper is on the to do list, I have a 'saved search' on eBay... [emoji6]
Great news. Smooth graph too.
Be sure to get some anti lag/launch control videos up etc to celebrate.
I'm waiting for some decent weather on a Sunday, and I'm going to head out for a blast with the GoPro!
Nice work Rob! Conservative rollers, too
Thanks mate, I'm really pleased!
Nothing until 4500RPM, must be like having a big Clio! :up:

Lovely smooth graph too.
It does a have a very old skool turbo lag feel to it! [emoji23]
Mate, proper made up for you after all of the hassle you've been through.

I bet it's fcuking epic on the road?
Thank you Scott [emoji1]

The drive home was much fun! I'm just so pleased that the engine is now good and from what I'm told strong and healthy.

Now I'm going to throw the entire powerflex range at the suspension, and improve what I can! [emoji23]
I'm going to guess 1.2bar.

Great to see it back up and running.
Yeah about that bud. Pretty sure he said 1.3 bar

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