It all started about two months ago. I traded my Toyota Tundra in for my wife's 4-Runner. We needed a family car. I got slapped with her '02 Honda Accord 2-Door. Automatic. Slow. Boring. I couldn't take it. So I started looking around to see what I could find. And find I did.
2004 Forester XT with 120,000 on the clock. That was in early August 2013.
What you see below happened after the mod-bug bit me and infected me to the core.
Mod list: See below.
Future plans? Stop spending money on this beast and act like an adult. :wink:
----------------------
Mod list:
Motor
-Cobb AP Ver3
-VF39 Turbo
-Process West TMIC
-Process West TMIC Splitter
-Perrin dual catted downpipe
-Milltek catback exaust
-Grimmspeed catless up-pipe
-Process West CAI
-Synapse Synchronic BPV
-Koyo Radiator w/ Koyo cap
-Samco Radiator hoses
-Fumoto Valve
-Custom Tune from Mike @ GST Motorsports in Hayward, CA to 257whp and 259 ft lbs.
-Subtle Solutions Radiator Shroud
-Subtle Solutions Alternator Cover
Transmission
-Kartboy Short Shifter
-Kartboy Shifter bushings
-Kartboy Pitch Stop
Brakes
-2004 STi Brembo brake calipers
-KNS 4k rotors
-Stoptech Street Performance pads
-Goodridge braided brake lines
-StopTech fluid
-Godspeed (UK) rear adapter brackets with oversized e-brake shoes
-Grimmspeed master cylinder brace
Suspension
-DGR Coilovers w/ pillow ball mounts and track springs (10k/12k)
-Cobb front Sway bar
-Cobb rear Sway bar
-Kartboy front end links
-Kartboy rear end links
-STi rear lateral links
-Kartboy rear subframe locking bolts
-eBay front strut brace
-Whiteline rear strut brace
-eBay lower H-brace (not currently installed)
-Whiteline front steering rack bushings
-GT-Spec umbrella tray brace
Exterior
-JDM Forester STi front bumper
-JDM Forester STi foglight covers
-JDM Forester CrossSports Grill
-Forester SG9 Side skirts
-JDM V7 Hood scoop
-JDM Forester spats
-Ebay V7 style front lip
-Plasti-dipped rear lower bumper
-Plastidipped rear bumper step
Wheels/tires
-Rays Gram Light 57DR's - 18x9.5 / 38et
-Yokohama s.Drive 235/40-18
I.C.E.
-JDM Honda Civic Type R Recaro SRD's
-Recaro Sliders
-Planted Tech brackets
-Driver's side Schroth Quick-Fit Harness
-Defi Genome gauges
-Innovate MLX Wideband
-BNA Solutions gauge pod
-Innovate MLX Wideband
-Cobb Delrin shift knob
-Diode Dynamics LED interior lights
-Stock stereo (because I don't care)
-Factory subwoofer
----------------------
September 18, 2012 - STi Axle Back installation
September 24, 2012 - DGR Coilovers arrive (w/ pillow ball mounts and track springs)
September 25, 2012 - DGR Coilovers installation
October 4, 2012 - Professional Alignment set to factory specs.
October 13, 2012 - Lamin-X Yellow fog light covers
November 12, 2012 - ESM-002R GM's in 18x9.5 with Yokohama 235/40R18's installed. They're wide. And good.
Sometime in November - K&N Panel filter
December 17, 2012 - Cobb Accessport installed.
December 19, 2012 - Picked up Cobb Swaybars, Cobb Mounts, and STi Later links.
December 20, 2012 - Ordered Kartboy shifter bushing kit, subframe bolts, and front/rear end links.
December 21, 2012 - Installed Cargo cover. Bought the car without one. Found one used for $95. Feelsgoodman.jpg.
December 26, 2012 - Installed Cobb rear swaybar, mounting brackets, and Kartboy end links and shifter bushings.
December 29, 2012 - Installed Cobb front swaybar, Kartboy end links (w/ washers), and passenger side Whiteline steering rack bushing.
January 11, 2013 - Factory Subaru oil filter and 5qt's of Amsoil 5w30 with 3020 miles since the last change.
January 17, 2013 - Adjusted front suspension to lower setting to remove wheel gap.
January 19, 2012 - Installed passenger side STi lateral links. Installed driver's side rear lateral link. Front bolt was giving me a hassle, so I'm going to wait on that one.
January 25, 2013 - Installed GrimmSpeed master cylinder brace. Fits great. Pedal feel is also much improved.
January 27, 2013 - Installed Milltek 3" Catback exhaust. Sounds amazing. Lower RPM power feels much stronger.
February 15, 2013 - Received Godspeed Brembo Adapater kit and e-brake shoes from Ian at Godspeed. +1 to that guy!
February 16, 2013 - Finally got around to toothpasting/defogging my headlights. While it doesn't look new, it looks a whole lot better.
February 20, 2013 - Installed Thule adapters, mounts, square rails, and fairing. Also built one of my two Thule Sidearm trays.
February 28, 2013 - Changed oil with AmsOil 5w30 at 129,304 miles (3k interval change). New Subaru filter and crush washer.
March 4, 2013 - Begin Brembo installation. Finish fronts.
March 7, 2013 - Finish rear Brembo installation with Godspeed adapters, Goodridge lines, Stoptech Fluid. Still need to bleed the system.
March 9, 2013 - Wife and son helped me finish bleeding my brakes. Brakes feel super solid now. Very nice.
March 10, 2013 - Picked up a used STi TMIC off a fellow member here w/ the STi BPV. Still need elbow, scoop, and splitter. Probably a few months down the road.
March 12, 2013 - Touched up the paint on the Brembo calipers. Previous owners were clearly clumsy and careless when installing wheels in the past.
March 16, 2013 - Snagged a Perrin two-piece dual-catted downpipe (used) and it's in perfect condition. Stage 2 - coming soon.
March 20, 2013 - Picked up my Enkei RPF-1 wheels (18x8 45et) and had my 235/40-18 Yokohama s.Drives mounted to them at Sleek Motoring in Mountain View, CA.
March 21, 2013 - Received hoodstruts. Installed in 10 minutes. Only $75!
March 29, 2013 - Car got hit by a deer while driving. Deer jumped right into the front passenger side door. Looks like it's off to the body shop on Monday.
April 5, 2013 - Picked the car up from the body shop. Had a full detail done. Car literally looks newer and better than when I bought it back in August.
April 15, 2013 - Installed my Perrin downpipe last night. Still need bolts and a reflash to Stage 2. Modified heatshield with a Dremel.
April 16, 2013 - Remapped to Cobb OTS Stage 2 91 octane map. Have small exhaust leak. Need new gasket. Went for a drive. Feels AMAZING.
May 2, 2013 - Installed Planted Tech. bracket, Recaro slider, and Recaro SRD driver's seat.
May 4, 2013 - Pulled DP, TMIC, and panels to prepare for VF39 install. Downloaded VF39/STi TMIC OTS map.
May 5, 2013 - Installed VF39, new washers, modified lines, STi TMIC, and Cobb OTS Map.
May 25, 2013 - Installed Samco radiator hoses and new coolant.
May 29, 2013 - Installed Synapse Synchronic BPV and Walbro 255 Fuel Pump.
June 2, 2013 - Installed Cobb SF intake. Need to fab up a bracket for it, as the bracket I got with it does not fit my SG5.
June 5, 2013 - Custom tune from GST Motorsports in Hayward, CA.
June 6, 2013 - Installed Subtle Solutions splitter.
July 13, 2013 - Replaced cracked vacuum hose with new OEM hose.
July24, 2013 - Replaced another cracked vacuum hose with new OEM hose.
July 30, 2013 - Drove to Customs to pick up some "stuff".
August 1, 2013 - Installed Kartboy Shiftknob
August 7, 2013 - Installation of Cross sports grill, headlight surrounds, STi front bumper, fog light covers, side skirts and spats (thanks to Yuki at JapanParts, user: Apoopoo, and Brad at Subtle Solutions!)
August 27, 2013 - Installation of Koyo Radiator, Koyo radiator cap, t-fitting, new hose, and new thermostat with full coolant flush.
August 27, 2013 - Drain transmission fluid. Refill with new Grimmspeed 5 spd. transmission fluid cocktail. 4th gear grind is now gone.
September 28, 2013 - Rays 57DR's in 18x9.5 38et are on. RPF-1's are for sale.
October 9, 2013 - Installed resisters in the airbag connector to remove the airbag dummy light.
October 19, 2013 - Started spitting oil.
October 21, 2013 - Call from mechanic. Busted oil filter. New Subaru filter/AmsOil 5w30. Replace valve cover gaskets and passenger side front axle.
October 22, 2013 - Full underside steam clean.
November 8, 2013 - Kartboy Short Shifter installed.
November 11, 2013 - Kartboy Pitch Stop installed.
November 13, 2013 - eBay "V7/S204" style front winged lip installed.
November 23, 2013 - Installed Whiteline quick-release rear strut brace.
November 27, 2013 - Disconnected hill assist cable. Tightened e-brake lever. Fixed pinched windshield washer hose.
December 4, 2013 - Installed rear GT-Spec umbrella tray lower brace.
December 28, 2013 - Installed Defi Genome gauges with oil temp/pressure in galley ports. Just need my BNA pod and I'm good to go.
January 8, 2014 - Installed new window gussets (OEM from Subaru). No more crazy whistling wind noise. FINALLY.
January 17, 2014 - Oil/filter change at Fumoto valve.
February 2, 2014 - Mount short belts for Schroth Quick-Fit Harnesses (driver's side only)
February 27, 2014 - Installed dome, map and license plate lights Diode Dynamics LEDs
March 4, 2014 - Uninstall Cobb AP V2. Load map and install Cobb AP V3.
March 23, 2014 - Install Process West CAI, TMIC and Splitter.
March 28, 2014 - Pull TMIC and adjust splitter for fitment. Bend and wrap A/C lines to pad them from rubbing issue with TMIC.
April 10, 2014 - Install Subtle Solutions Radiator Shroud after modifying to clear Koyo Radiator and Koyo cap.
April 17, 2014 - Install Subtle Solutions alternator cover.
April 18, 2014 - Found busted u-joint in my drive shaft. Pending repair.
April 24, 2014 - Found a used OEM drive shaft. Installed and I'm back up and running.
April 28, 2014 - Picked up my built block. JE FSR 99.5mm Pistons, Manley H-beam rods, ACL bearings, matching BB/BB block halves with an STi crank.
May 4, 2014 - Installed Diode Dynamics trunk LED light. Super nice and perfect fit. Will be doing my rear back-up lights when I have some time.
May 5, 2014 - Installed Diode Dynamics back-up LED lights. Twice as bright, and the color is far more updated. Very nice.
May 23, 2014 - Pulled calipers and stripped for paint.
May 24, 2014 - Stripped again, sanded, and prepared, primered, painted and clear coated with VHT high-heat paint. Re-installed everything.
May 26, 2014 - Bled brakes. Working perfect. Looks amazing.
June 2, 2014 - Received report back from Blackstone Labs (see post by clicking here). Oil readings look healthy and solid.
June 8, 2014 - Polished headlights and sealed with Opti-coat. They look almost brand new.
Current version on November 18, 2013:
![]()
![]()
![]()
Caught in the wild:
![]()
Stock - the day after I bought her:
![]()
After the coilover installation:
![]()
Same location. As of 1.23.2013:
![]()
And other random shots:
After Lamin-X fog-light covers:
![]()
When I had BBS RS Reps:
![]()
When I borrewed my buddy's STi BBS's:
![]()
2004 Forester XT with 120,000 on the clock. That was in early August 2013.
What you see below happened after the mod-bug bit me and infected me to the core.
Mod list: See below.
Future plans? Stop spending money on this beast and act like an adult. :wink:
----------------------
Mod list:
Motor
-Cobb AP Ver3
-VF39 Turbo
-Process West TMIC
-Process West TMIC Splitter
-Perrin dual catted downpipe
-Milltek catback exaust
-Grimmspeed catless up-pipe
-Process West CAI
-Synapse Synchronic BPV
-Koyo Radiator w/ Koyo cap
-Samco Radiator hoses
-Fumoto Valve
-Custom Tune from Mike @ GST Motorsports in Hayward, CA to 257whp and 259 ft lbs.
-Subtle Solutions Radiator Shroud
-Subtle Solutions Alternator Cover
Transmission
-Kartboy Short Shifter
-Kartboy Shifter bushings
-Kartboy Pitch Stop
Brakes
-2004 STi Brembo brake calipers
-KNS 4k rotors
-Stoptech Street Performance pads
-Goodridge braided brake lines
-StopTech fluid
-Godspeed (UK) rear adapter brackets with oversized e-brake shoes
-Grimmspeed master cylinder brace
Suspension
-DGR Coilovers w/ pillow ball mounts and track springs (10k/12k)
-Cobb front Sway bar
-Cobb rear Sway bar
-Kartboy front end links
-Kartboy rear end links
-STi rear lateral links
-Kartboy rear subframe locking bolts
-eBay front strut brace
-Whiteline rear strut brace
-eBay lower H-brace (not currently installed)
-Whiteline front steering rack bushings
-GT-Spec umbrella tray brace
Exterior
-JDM Forester STi front bumper
-JDM Forester STi foglight covers
-JDM Forester CrossSports Grill
-Forester SG9 Side skirts
-JDM V7 Hood scoop
-JDM Forester spats
-Ebay V7 style front lip
-Plasti-dipped rear lower bumper
-Plastidipped rear bumper step
Wheels/tires
-Rays Gram Light 57DR's - 18x9.5 / 38et
-Yokohama s.Drive 235/40-18
I.C.E.
-JDM Honda Civic Type R Recaro SRD's
-Recaro Sliders
-Planted Tech brackets
-Driver's side Schroth Quick-Fit Harness
-Defi Genome gauges
-Innovate MLX Wideband
-BNA Solutions gauge pod
-Innovate MLX Wideband
-Cobb Delrin shift knob
-Diode Dynamics LED interior lights
-Stock stereo (because I don't care)
-Factory subwoofer
----------------------
September 18, 2012 - STi Axle Back installation
September 24, 2012 - DGR Coilovers arrive (w/ pillow ball mounts and track springs)
September 25, 2012 - DGR Coilovers installation
October 4, 2012 - Professional Alignment set to factory specs.
October 13, 2012 - Lamin-X Yellow fog light covers
November 12, 2012 - ESM-002R GM's in 18x9.5 with Yokohama 235/40R18's installed. They're wide. And good.
Sometime in November - K&N Panel filter
December 17, 2012 - Cobb Accessport installed.
December 19, 2012 - Picked up Cobb Swaybars, Cobb Mounts, and STi Later links.
December 20, 2012 - Ordered Kartboy shifter bushing kit, subframe bolts, and front/rear end links.
December 21, 2012 - Installed Cargo cover. Bought the car without one. Found one used for $95. Feelsgoodman.jpg.
December 26, 2012 - Installed Cobb rear swaybar, mounting brackets, and Kartboy end links and shifter bushings.
December 29, 2012 - Installed Cobb front swaybar, Kartboy end links (w/ washers), and passenger side Whiteline steering rack bushing.
January 11, 2013 - Factory Subaru oil filter and 5qt's of Amsoil 5w30 with 3020 miles since the last change.
January 17, 2013 - Adjusted front suspension to lower setting to remove wheel gap.
January 19, 2012 - Installed passenger side STi lateral links. Installed driver's side rear lateral link. Front bolt was giving me a hassle, so I'm going to wait on that one.
January 25, 2013 - Installed GrimmSpeed master cylinder brace. Fits great. Pedal feel is also much improved.
January 27, 2013 - Installed Milltek 3" Catback exhaust. Sounds amazing. Lower RPM power feels much stronger.
February 15, 2013 - Received Godspeed Brembo Adapater kit and e-brake shoes from Ian at Godspeed. +1 to that guy!
February 16, 2013 - Finally got around to toothpasting/defogging my headlights. While it doesn't look new, it looks a whole lot better.
February 20, 2013 - Installed Thule adapters, mounts, square rails, and fairing. Also built one of my two Thule Sidearm trays.
February 28, 2013 - Changed oil with AmsOil 5w30 at 129,304 miles (3k interval change). New Subaru filter and crush washer.
March 4, 2013 - Begin Brembo installation. Finish fronts.
March 7, 2013 - Finish rear Brembo installation with Godspeed adapters, Goodridge lines, Stoptech Fluid. Still need to bleed the system.
March 9, 2013 - Wife and son helped me finish bleeding my brakes. Brakes feel super solid now. Very nice.
March 10, 2013 - Picked up a used STi TMIC off a fellow member here w/ the STi BPV. Still need elbow, scoop, and splitter. Probably a few months down the road.
March 12, 2013 - Touched up the paint on the Brembo calipers. Previous owners were clearly clumsy and careless when installing wheels in the past.
March 16, 2013 - Snagged a Perrin two-piece dual-catted downpipe (used) and it's in perfect condition. Stage 2 - coming soon.
March 20, 2013 - Picked up my Enkei RPF-1 wheels (18x8 45et) and had my 235/40-18 Yokohama s.Drives mounted to them at Sleek Motoring in Mountain View, CA.
March 21, 2013 - Received hoodstruts. Installed in 10 minutes. Only $75!
March 29, 2013 - Car got hit by a deer while driving. Deer jumped right into the front passenger side door. Looks like it's off to the body shop on Monday.
April 5, 2013 - Picked the car up from the body shop. Had a full detail done. Car literally looks newer and better than when I bought it back in August.
April 15, 2013 - Installed my Perrin downpipe last night. Still need bolts and a reflash to Stage 2. Modified heatshield with a Dremel.
April 16, 2013 - Remapped to Cobb OTS Stage 2 91 octane map. Have small exhaust leak. Need new gasket. Went for a drive. Feels AMAZING.
May 2, 2013 - Installed Planted Tech. bracket, Recaro slider, and Recaro SRD driver's seat.
May 4, 2013 - Pulled DP, TMIC, and panels to prepare for VF39 install. Downloaded VF39/STi TMIC OTS map.
May 5, 2013 - Installed VF39, new washers, modified lines, STi TMIC, and Cobb OTS Map.
May 25, 2013 - Installed Samco radiator hoses and new coolant.
May 29, 2013 - Installed Synapse Synchronic BPV and Walbro 255 Fuel Pump.
June 2, 2013 - Installed Cobb SF intake. Need to fab up a bracket for it, as the bracket I got with it does not fit my SG5.
June 5, 2013 - Custom tune from GST Motorsports in Hayward, CA.
June 6, 2013 - Installed Subtle Solutions splitter.
July 13, 2013 - Replaced cracked vacuum hose with new OEM hose.
July24, 2013 - Replaced another cracked vacuum hose with new OEM hose.
July 30, 2013 - Drove to Customs to pick up some "stuff".
August 1, 2013 - Installed Kartboy Shiftknob
August 7, 2013 - Installation of Cross sports grill, headlight surrounds, STi front bumper, fog light covers, side skirts and spats (thanks to Yuki at JapanParts, user: Apoopoo, and Brad at Subtle Solutions!)
August 27, 2013 - Installation of Koyo Radiator, Koyo radiator cap, t-fitting, new hose, and new thermostat with full coolant flush.
August 27, 2013 - Drain transmission fluid. Refill with new Grimmspeed 5 spd. transmission fluid cocktail. 4th gear grind is now gone.
September 28, 2013 - Rays 57DR's in 18x9.5 38et are on. RPF-1's are for sale.
October 9, 2013 - Installed resisters in the airbag connector to remove the airbag dummy light.
October 19, 2013 - Started spitting oil.
October 21, 2013 - Call from mechanic. Busted oil filter. New Subaru filter/AmsOil 5w30. Replace valve cover gaskets and passenger side front axle.
October 22, 2013 - Full underside steam clean.
November 8, 2013 - Kartboy Short Shifter installed.
November 11, 2013 - Kartboy Pitch Stop installed.
November 13, 2013 - eBay "V7/S204" style front winged lip installed.
November 23, 2013 - Installed Whiteline quick-release rear strut brace.
November 27, 2013 - Disconnected hill assist cable. Tightened e-brake lever. Fixed pinched windshield washer hose.
December 4, 2013 - Installed rear GT-Spec umbrella tray lower brace.
December 28, 2013 - Installed Defi Genome gauges with oil temp/pressure in galley ports. Just need my BNA pod and I'm good to go.
January 8, 2014 - Installed new window gussets (OEM from Subaru). No more crazy whistling wind noise. FINALLY.
January 17, 2014 - Oil/filter change at Fumoto valve.
February 2, 2014 - Mount short belts for Schroth Quick-Fit Harnesses (driver's side only)
February 27, 2014 - Installed dome, map and license plate lights Diode Dynamics LEDs
March 4, 2014 - Uninstall Cobb AP V2. Load map and install Cobb AP V3.
March 23, 2014 - Install Process West CAI, TMIC and Splitter.
March 28, 2014 - Pull TMIC and adjust splitter for fitment. Bend and wrap A/C lines to pad them from rubbing issue with TMIC.
April 10, 2014 - Install Subtle Solutions Radiator Shroud after modifying to clear Koyo Radiator and Koyo cap.
April 17, 2014 - Install Subtle Solutions alternator cover.
April 18, 2014 - Found busted u-joint in my drive shaft. Pending repair.
April 24, 2014 - Found a used OEM drive shaft. Installed and I'm back up and running.
April 28, 2014 - Picked up my built block. JE FSR 99.5mm Pistons, Manley H-beam rods, ACL bearings, matching BB/BB block halves with an STi crank.
May 4, 2014 - Installed Diode Dynamics trunk LED light. Super nice and perfect fit. Will be doing my rear back-up lights when I have some time.
May 5, 2014 - Installed Diode Dynamics back-up LED lights. Twice as bright, and the color is far more updated. Very nice.
May 23, 2014 - Pulled calipers and stripped for paint.
May 24, 2014 - Stripped again, sanded, and prepared, primered, painted and clear coated with VHT high-heat paint. Re-installed everything.
May 26, 2014 - Bled brakes. Working perfect. Looks amazing.
June 2, 2014 - Received report back from Blackstone Labs (see post by clicking here). Oil readings look healthy and solid.
June 8, 2014 - Polished headlights and sealed with Opti-coat. They look almost brand new.
Current version on November 18, 2013:
Caught in the wild:
Stock - the day after I bought her:
After the coilover installation:
Same location. As of 1.23.2013:
And other random shots:
After Lamin-X fog-light covers:
When I had BBS RS Reps:
When I borrewed my buddy's STi BBS's:
