(Redone February 2016)
Hey guys! My names michael and this is my STI swapped 2001 Forester STI. The car was purchased in fall of 2010 as a completely stock blue-ridge pearl 2001 Forester L.
In its first year of ownership, i did the basics. Suspension work, intake, catback and some cosmetic upgrades.
I had some really big plans in the works. There were a number of users from here that had done full WRX-STI swaps on the SF5 chassis before.... Rob S, Angry Toaster.... and a few more. After doing allot of research and thinking, i decided i wanted to pursue this same path back in 2011. A shop in Northern NJ offered to do the swap (Later found to have done the project wrong, having to do the swap all over again) but the task would be difficult . This didnt scare me and i was determined to make this work. While i gathered the necessary parts, i also sourced some nice JDM parts such as a hood and grill.
The project was on the ground running by january 2012. It was a basic setup that made around 350hp at the wheels.
Due to how many shortcuts were taken the first time around, the engine suffered a complete seizure (No oil flow). Professional root cause failure analysis pinpointed a clogged oil pickup due to excessive use of liquid gasket when the oil pan was installed. This was devestating to say the least. By January 2013, things were bleak for the FSTI project and i was one signature away from selling the car off to someone else who would make right with it. My now wife, (GF at time) convinced me to keep the car and, like a phoenix from the ashes, make it whole again. Next came a New motor, new wiring harness, proper 6-spd swap components and a bigger turbo.
Everything from this point on only got better for my passion and the car. The car had its bugs here and there as we found little issues along the way, but nothing ever major. Fast forward to late 2014 and i had the motor torn down for some even more goodies. A fully bottom end, built up heads and a bigger Blouch turbo.
Come 2015, and the focus on the car was a track oriented suspension approach. With huge help from user MotorBykeMike, i turned it into a track going wagon.
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So, in 2016 the car is still as fun as it ever was in years past. It changed so immensely and has been a large part of my life ever since.
Modification List:
Engine:
-New 2005 WRX STI EJ257 longblock and manifold.
-Manley Pistons
-Manley rods
-ACL bearings
-Brian crower Springs and valves (heads)
-Perrin big Top Mount Intercooler
-Custom Cold-air intake
-Perrin Equal Length Headers
-Perrin turbo Inlet / Mishimoto couplers / Y-pipe
-Blouch Dominator 1.5XT-R turbo with 10cm Hotside
-AlkyControl methanol injection kit with 20GPH nozzle at 80/20 dilution.
-Crucial Racing divorced downpipe
-Grimmspeed Tial 38mm EWG setup package (1 Bar spring)
-ID1000 injectors with IAG rails and Reverse feed orientation / Walbro fuel pump
-Koyo 36mm (2 times stock width) aluminum radiator
-Grimmspeed AOS with custom hybrid catch can system
-Invidia Q300 catback exhaust
-Cobb v3 Accessport
Transmission:
-2005 WRX STI 6-speed gearbox with 2005 STI R180 rear diff (custom fit companion flange).
-Auto forester driveshaft
-2005 WRX STI wheel hubs
-2005 WRX STI Brembo brakes
-Powerslot rotors, stop-tech pads all around
-Technica stainless steel brake lines
-Grimmspeed master cylinder brace
-Exedy HD racing clutch
-MAPdccd center differential controller
Suspension:
-Ground control 05-07 STI custom housings with 450lb springs and Koni inserts
-RCE front top hats.
-2004 WRX wagon rear housings with KONI inserts and ground control 400lb springs
-Cusco front / whiteline rear Strut tower bars
-kartboy rear subframe lockdown kit
-Beatrush rear subframe brace
-Beatrush rear differential stationary brace
-Kartboy rear trailing arm lockdown bushings
-Kartboy front trans crossmember bushings
-2005 WRX sti front control arms
-2005 WRX STI rear lateral links
-Whiteline bump steer kit
-2004 WRX STI steering rack with Whitelne bushings
-2005 WRX STI front sway bar
-Perrin 22mm rear adjustable sway bar with mounting brackets
-Whiteline front and rear sway endlink kit
-Front subframe H-brace
-Group N engine mounts
-Group N Trans mount
-Group N pitch stop mount
-Group N strut top hats
-B-pillar bolt-in harness bar
-Custom rear strut pillar cable tensioners / bracing
Exterior:
-2005 STI bbs rims, gold and silver (summer /winter rims)
-JDM SF5 hood, grill, rear wing, front lip and 04-05 STI hood scoop
-Knockoff rear under-diffuser
-replacement headlights with Morimoto HID's.
-Rally armor mudflaps. (Well, duh!)
Interior:
-SuperBrightLEDs.com red cluster and interior dash LED bulbs
-Corbeau TRS seats with sparco 4-point belts
-2002 WRX new interior carpet
-2004 WRX STI black floormats
-JVC headunit, upgraded speakers and OEM underseat subwoofer
-AEM uego widebands and AUtometer EGT on the A-pillar
-JDM SF5 MOMO steering wheel
-torque solutions short shifter kit
Hey guys! My names michael and this is my STI swapped 2001 Forester STI. The car was purchased in fall of 2010 as a completely stock blue-ridge pearl 2001 Forester L.
In its first year of ownership, i did the basics. Suspension work, intake, catback and some cosmetic upgrades.
I had some really big plans in the works. There were a number of users from here that had done full WRX-STI swaps on the SF5 chassis before.... Rob S, Angry Toaster.... and a few more. After doing allot of research and thinking, i decided i wanted to pursue this same path back in 2011. A shop in Northern NJ offered to do the swap (Later found to have done the project wrong, having to do the swap all over again) but the task would be difficult . This didnt scare me and i was determined to make this work. While i gathered the necessary parts, i also sourced some nice JDM parts such as a hood and grill.
The project was on the ground running by january 2012. It was a basic setup that made around 350hp at the wheels.
Due to how many shortcuts were taken the first time around, the engine suffered a complete seizure (No oil flow). Professional root cause failure analysis pinpointed a clogged oil pickup due to excessive use of liquid gasket when the oil pan was installed. This was devestating to say the least. By January 2013, things were bleak for the FSTI project and i was one signature away from selling the car off to someone else who would make right with it. My now wife, (GF at time) convinced me to keep the car and, like a phoenix from the ashes, make it whole again. Next came a New motor, new wiring harness, proper 6-spd swap components and a bigger turbo.
Everything from this point on only got better for my passion and the car. The car had its bugs here and there as we found little issues along the way, but nothing ever major. Fast forward to late 2014 and i had the motor torn down for some even more goodies. A fully bottom end, built up heads and a bigger Blouch turbo.
Come 2015, and the focus on the car was a track oriented suspension approach. With huge help from user MotorBykeMike, i turned it into a track going wagon.
So, in 2016 the car is still as fun as it ever was in years past. It changed so immensely and has been a large part of my life ever since.
Modification List:
Engine:
-New 2005 WRX STI EJ257 longblock and manifold.
-Manley Pistons
-Manley rods
-ACL bearings
-Brian crower Springs and valves (heads)
-Perrin big Top Mount Intercooler
-Custom Cold-air intake
-Perrin Equal Length Headers
-Perrin turbo Inlet / Mishimoto couplers / Y-pipe
-Blouch Dominator 1.5XT-R turbo with 10cm Hotside
-AlkyControl methanol injection kit with 20GPH nozzle at 80/20 dilution.
-Crucial Racing divorced downpipe
-Grimmspeed Tial 38mm EWG setup package (1 Bar spring)
-ID1000 injectors with IAG rails and Reverse feed orientation / Walbro fuel pump
-Koyo 36mm (2 times stock width) aluminum radiator
-Grimmspeed AOS with custom hybrid catch can system
-Invidia Q300 catback exhaust
-Cobb v3 Accessport
Transmission:
-2005 WRX STI 6-speed gearbox with 2005 STI R180 rear diff (custom fit companion flange).
-Auto forester driveshaft
-2005 WRX STI wheel hubs
-2005 WRX STI Brembo brakes
-Powerslot rotors, stop-tech pads all around
-Technica stainless steel brake lines
-Grimmspeed master cylinder brace
-Exedy HD racing clutch
-MAPdccd center differential controller
Suspension:
-Ground control 05-07 STI custom housings with 450lb springs and Koni inserts
-RCE front top hats.
-2004 WRX wagon rear housings with KONI inserts and ground control 400lb springs
-Cusco front / whiteline rear Strut tower bars
-kartboy rear subframe lockdown kit
-Beatrush rear subframe brace
-Beatrush rear differential stationary brace
-Kartboy rear trailing arm lockdown bushings
-Kartboy front trans crossmember bushings
-2005 WRX sti front control arms
-2005 WRX STI rear lateral links
-Whiteline bump steer kit
-2004 WRX STI steering rack with Whitelne bushings
-2005 WRX STI front sway bar
-Perrin 22mm rear adjustable sway bar with mounting brackets
-Whiteline front and rear sway endlink kit
-Front subframe H-brace
-Group N engine mounts
-Group N Trans mount
-Group N pitch stop mount
-Group N strut top hats
-B-pillar bolt-in harness bar
-Custom rear strut pillar cable tensioners / bracing
Exterior:
-2005 STI bbs rims, gold and silver (summer /winter rims)
-JDM SF5 hood, grill, rear wing, front lip and 04-05 STI hood scoop
-Knockoff rear under-diffuser
-replacement headlights with Morimoto HID's.
-Rally armor mudflaps. (Well, duh!)
Interior:
-SuperBrightLEDs.com red cluster and interior dash LED bulbs
-Corbeau TRS seats with sparco 4-point belts
-2002 WRX new interior carpet
-2004 WRX STI black floormats
-JVC headunit, upgraded speakers and OEM underseat subwoofer
-AEM uego widebands and AUtometer EGT on the A-pillar
-JDM SF5 MOMO steering wheel
-torque solutions short shifter kit