Hey all..
I've been lurking 'round sf.org for a while now, posting here and there and thought I should finally post up a bit of a history of my beloved girl's progress.
Being in Oz, I do spend most of my time on OzFoz.com and have my full build journal up there (Sean's MY11 S-Edition).
My wife had bought a 2007 FXT in late-2006 which I got when we split up earlier this year (she took a BMW, so was about even, though i prefer Fozs). Not long after we split though, I had a bit of a mishap in and attempt to avoid a cow; I destroyed the suspension at 3 corners (possibly all, but can't exactly remember), the front bumper needed replacing, the whole left side (my passenger) needed respraying and I needed a new roof (I had to get out of the car through the sun roof as where I ended up, I couldn't open either door).
This is what the FXT looked like before being retired:
![Image]()
Only mods were the resonectomy and some aftermarket wheels.
Anyways, the write off of the SG and the insurance payout allowed me to start on my own car, a 2011 dark grey metallic S-Edition:
![Image]()
Stock features over "regular" FXT that matter:
- VF52
- 5EAT with flappy paddles
- 259 hp / 255 lb/ft (up from XT's 226 hp / 236 lb/ft)
- "STi-tuned" suspension (stiffer springs, non-self-levelling rear struts)
- STi 12-spoke 17" rims (really, really should have come with the 18" rims, but I'll get to that)
- Bright blue Alcantara seats for ultra-coolness
![Image]()
The car didn't stay stock very long...
Very first mod was just a new filter; a Cosworth panel filter. Soon after that an Invidia Q300 (single tipped mufflers) cat-back and a 19 mm Perrin RSB with Perrin end links (I like Perrin gear, and this will become pretty obvious...) were installed
![Image]()
About this time, I'd also ordered the following:
- Perrin TMIC;
- Perrin silicone turbo inlet
- TurboSmart Kompact BoV;
- Invidia catted CP (I needed to get the one to suit the LGT Auto; the 5EAT is freakin' huge compared to the rest of the transmissions Subie puts out);
- DW65C fuel pump; and,
- GrimmSpeed 3 port EBCS
- Perrin PSRS (Positive Steering Response System; new bushes in the front LCAs that add ~6* castor)
I installed the DP, TMIC and BoV myself and had a shop install the rest except the GS EBCS; turns out my tuner prefers the stock ones on non-massive turbo Subies (he says the later model stock units are better with stock ECUs on Subies for turbos smaller than TD05-20G).
Tuning was done by a place called PiTS on the Gold Coast, QLD Aus. Results are as per the graph:
![Image]()
(green curve is the stock tune with the performance mods installed, so computer had 'learned' a little...as you can see, though, serious 'turbo lag'; power delivery is sooooo much smoother now!)
I was really happy with the results:
- low boost (15.5 psi peak is pretty low for the VF52; factory tune is ~14 psi)
- solid mid-range (what I wanted)
- fairly beefy torque
- more than stock (stock is ~182 hp)
It feels slower than than the 231 hp it's producing at the wheels, and I think that's because of the the delivery; very linear, no real sharp increase in power anywhere in the rev-range.
First attempt at the quarter-mile, I netted a best of 13.63 @ 99.00 with a 2.100 s 60'. I was stoked with this result, but as you can see, the stock suspension allowed just a little bit of front end lift on take off
![Image]()
The height of my girl has been sorted courtesy of some help from Tein by way of the Street Advance coil overs (SH specific, so I'm not too low, but suitably lower than stock). At the same time as installing the coil overs, I upgraded the front stoppers to a set of Gen IV (05-08) LGTs (2 pots with 316 x 30 mm vented rotors). They're much bigger than the Foz fronts, and even with just OEM rotors and pads, provided quite a decent increase in stopping power. And at a very reasonable price.
Here are the LGT front brakes:
![Image]()
First pic of the new ride height (surprisingly, all that dirt didn't weigh the girl down too much):
![Image]()
Just a little cleaner:
![Image]()
After a few beers one Friday night, I dove on some 08+ STi brembos that I found for sale on eBay. I'd been saving for a set of Stoptechs or something else slightly different, but when a full set of STi brembo calipers is just $1,500 delivered from Miami, FL, it's hard to justify the ~$3,000 for just a front set of Stoptechs...especially when they're about the same performance
The calipers I picked up were in pretty great condition, but one of the "STi" logos on the front caliper had started to wear a little, so I got the fronts rebuilt, sand-blasted and resprayed in glass black VHT caliper paint. New decals applied it's a done deal:
![Image]()
Even though I was completely content with the way my car was handling on the stock FSB and 19 mm Perrin RSB, I upgraded both anyway when I got a great deal on a Perrin 25 mm adj. FSB and a 22 mm RSB; Perrin, of course. So these, along with Perrin front end links (anyone seeing that Perrin-fettish evolving???), were installed; the FSB is set to soft setting (24 mm equivalent) and RSB is on hardest (22 mm). Because of a 45/55 F/R torque split, I didn't need the RSB to be stiffer like the 4EAT-equipped SH FXTs usually do to really make cornering neutral; with some potential for oversteer on occasion
I also picked up a pair of Invidia Ti twin tip mufflers to replace the Invidia single tip mufflers:
![Image]()
Because the stock 17 x 7" STi rims don't fit over brembos without spacers, I just "had" to get some new rims... I absolutely love the look of the 12-spoke STi rims (have done since the first "Tuned by STi" Legacy was released in Aus in about 2005), so I stuck with the same design, but in 18 x 8" from Japan Parts. They look fantastic! So much better than 17" rims:
17s:
![Image]()
18s:
![Image]()
Much better :biggrin:
To go with the brembo calipers, I got some dba 5000 series (2-piece) T3 slotted rotors for the front, dba 4000 series T3 slotted rotors for the rear and Project-Mu B-Spec pads. (I also have HEL braided lines, but they didn't come until after the calipers/rotors/pads were changed and I haven't gotten around to changing lines over yet). Stopping power is incredible! Just completely insane... I can't believe the difference the brembo/dba/P-Mu set up has made).
![Image]()
Somewhere in among all this, I've also installed a pulley shroud, yup, a Perrin one
![Image]()
Shortly after the brembo addition, I picked up a Cusco brake master cylinder brace/stopper:
![Image]()
(yes, that is a Perrin brake fluid reservoir cosy; apparently when you buy 5 products, you get one free or something :lol: )
Oh, I've also installed and Apple Airport Express using this install video:
.
And that's about it... for now... I have some big plans to come by way of a 'built' motor and much bigger turbo, but that's a 2-3 year plan...
Mods List (as of Nov 4th, 2013):
- Perrin 19mm adj. RSB (set at stiffest) with (replaced) Perrin spherical end links (25/05/13)
- Cosworth panel air filter (25/05/13)
- STi 1.3bar radiator cap (31/05/13)
- Cosworth 1.1 bar coolant overflow tank cap (31/05/13)
- GrimmSpeed Oiler filler cap (31/05/13) (in Perrin red :lol: )
- Perrin shorty aerial (31/05/13)
- Invidia 3" SS CBE with single tip mufflers (01/06/13) (Replaced)
- Invidia 3" LGT Auto Down-pipe (16/06/13)
- Perrin TMIC (16/06/13)
- TurboSmart Kompact Bov (16/06/13)
- DW 65C Fuel Pump (19/06/13)
- Perrin Silicone Turbo inlet (19/06/13)
- AVO throttle-body silicone inlet pipe (19/06/13) (in Perrin red :lol: )
- Perrin Positive Steering Response System (19/06/13)
- Liberty 3.0R Front Brakes (316x30mm 2 pots) (16/07/13) (replaced)
- Tein Street Advance coil overs (16/07/13)
- Nav lockout bypass (24/08/13)
- Airport hack for in-car Airplay audio streaming (01/09/13)
- Silver front indicator bulbs (01/09/13)
- Perrin red Pulley/belt guard (06/09/13)
- Perrin 22 mm RSB, on stiffest setting (07/09/13)
- Perrin 25 mm FSB, on softest setting (07/09/13)
- Perrin HD FSB end links (07/09/13)
- Invidia Q300 SS twin/quad Ti tip mufflers (15/09/13)
- STi 12 spoke 18 x 8 rims (Same as stock S-Edition rims but 18s) (19/09/13)
- Falken Zeix ZX912 245/45/18 Rubber (19/09/13)
- 2008 STi brembos (02/10/13)
- Project-Mu B-Spec pads (02/10/13)
- dba T3 5000 2pc front rotors (02/10/13)
- dba T3 4000 rear rotors (02/10/13)
- STi wheel lug nuts in black (03/10/13)
- Cusco BMCS (04/10/13)
I've been lurking 'round sf.org for a while now, posting here and there and thought I should finally post up a bit of a history of my beloved girl's progress.
Being in Oz, I do spend most of my time on OzFoz.com and have my full build journal up there (Sean's MY11 S-Edition).
My wife had bought a 2007 FXT in late-2006 which I got when we split up earlier this year (she took a BMW, so was about even, though i prefer Fozs). Not long after we split though, I had a bit of a mishap in and attempt to avoid a cow; I destroyed the suspension at 3 corners (possibly all, but can't exactly remember), the front bumper needed replacing, the whole left side (my passenger) needed respraying and I needed a new roof (I had to get out of the car through the sun roof as where I ended up, I couldn't open either door).
This is what the FXT looked like before being retired:
Only mods were the resonectomy and some aftermarket wheels.
Anyways, the write off of the SG and the insurance payout allowed me to start on my own car, a 2011 dark grey metallic S-Edition:
Stock features over "regular" FXT that matter:
- VF52
- 5EAT with flappy paddles
- 259 hp / 255 lb/ft (up from XT's 226 hp / 236 lb/ft)
- "STi-tuned" suspension (stiffer springs, non-self-levelling rear struts)
- STi 12-spoke 17" rims (really, really should have come with the 18" rims, but I'll get to that)
- Bright blue Alcantara seats for ultra-coolness
The car didn't stay stock very long...
Very first mod was just a new filter; a Cosworth panel filter. Soon after that an Invidia Q300 (single tipped mufflers) cat-back and a 19 mm Perrin RSB with Perrin end links (I like Perrin gear, and this will become pretty obvious...) were installed
About this time, I'd also ordered the following:
- Perrin TMIC;
- Perrin silicone turbo inlet
- TurboSmart Kompact BoV;
- Invidia catted CP (I needed to get the one to suit the LGT Auto; the 5EAT is freakin' huge compared to the rest of the transmissions Subie puts out);
- DW65C fuel pump; and,
- GrimmSpeed 3 port EBCS
- Perrin PSRS (Positive Steering Response System; new bushes in the front LCAs that add ~6* castor)
I installed the DP, TMIC and BoV myself and had a shop install the rest except the GS EBCS; turns out my tuner prefers the stock ones on non-massive turbo Subies (he says the later model stock units are better with stock ECUs on Subies for turbos smaller than TD05-20G).
Tuning was done by a place called PiTS on the Gold Coast, QLD Aus. Results are as per the graph:
(green curve is the stock tune with the performance mods installed, so computer had 'learned' a little...as you can see, though, serious 'turbo lag'; power delivery is sooooo much smoother now!)
I was really happy with the results:
- low boost (15.5 psi peak is pretty low for the VF52; factory tune is ~14 psi)
- solid mid-range (what I wanted)
- fairly beefy torque
- more than stock (stock is ~182 hp)
It feels slower than than the 231 hp it's producing at the wheels, and I think that's because of the the delivery; very linear, no real sharp increase in power anywhere in the rev-range.
First attempt at the quarter-mile, I netted a best of 13.63 @ 99.00 with a 2.100 s 60'. I was stoked with this result, but as you can see, the stock suspension allowed just a little bit of front end lift on take off
The height of my girl has been sorted courtesy of some help from Tein by way of the Street Advance coil overs (SH specific, so I'm not too low, but suitably lower than stock). At the same time as installing the coil overs, I upgraded the front stoppers to a set of Gen IV (05-08) LGTs (2 pots with 316 x 30 mm vented rotors). They're much bigger than the Foz fronts, and even with just OEM rotors and pads, provided quite a decent increase in stopping power. And at a very reasonable price.
Here are the LGT front brakes:
First pic of the new ride height (surprisingly, all that dirt didn't weigh the girl down too much):
Just a little cleaner:
After a few beers one Friday night, I dove on some 08+ STi brembos that I found for sale on eBay. I'd been saving for a set of Stoptechs or something else slightly different, but when a full set of STi brembo calipers is just $1,500 delivered from Miami, FL, it's hard to justify the ~$3,000 for just a front set of Stoptechs...especially when they're about the same performance
The calipers I picked up were in pretty great condition, but one of the "STi" logos on the front caliper had started to wear a little, so I got the fronts rebuilt, sand-blasted and resprayed in glass black VHT caliper paint. New decals applied it's a done deal:
Even though I was completely content with the way my car was handling on the stock FSB and 19 mm Perrin RSB, I upgraded both anyway when I got a great deal on a Perrin 25 mm adj. FSB and a 22 mm RSB; Perrin, of course. So these, along with Perrin front end links (anyone seeing that Perrin-fettish evolving???), were installed; the FSB is set to soft setting (24 mm equivalent) and RSB is on hardest (22 mm). Because of a 45/55 F/R torque split, I didn't need the RSB to be stiffer like the 4EAT-equipped SH FXTs usually do to really make cornering neutral; with some potential for oversteer on occasion
I also picked up a pair of Invidia Ti twin tip mufflers to replace the Invidia single tip mufflers:
Because the stock 17 x 7" STi rims don't fit over brembos without spacers, I just "had" to get some new rims... I absolutely love the look of the 12-spoke STi rims (have done since the first "Tuned by STi" Legacy was released in Aus in about 2005), so I stuck with the same design, but in 18 x 8" from Japan Parts. They look fantastic! So much better than 17" rims:
17s:
18s:
Much better :biggrin:
To go with the brembo calipers, I got some dba 5000 series (2-piece) T3 slotted rotors for the front, dba 4000 series T3 slotted rotors for the rear and Project-Mu B-Spec pads. (I also have HEL braided lines, but they didn't come until after the calipers/rotors/pads were changed and I haven't gotten around to changing lines over yet). Stopping power is incredible! Just completely insane... I can't believe the difference the brembo/dba/P-Mu set up has made).
Somewhere in among all this, I've also installed a pulley shroud, yup, a Perrin one
Shortly after the brembo addition, I picked up a Cusco brake master cylinder brace/stopper:
(yes, that is a Perrin brake fluid reservoir cosy; apparently when you buy 5 products, you get one free or something :lol: )
Oh, I've also installed and Apple Airport Express using this install video:
And that's about it... for now... I have some big plans to come by way of a 'built' motor and much bigger turbo, but that's a 2-3 year plan...
Mods List (as of Nov 4th, 2013):
- Perrin 19mm adj. RSB (set at stiffest) with (replaced) Perrin spherical end links (25/05/13)
- Cosworth panel air filter (25/05/13)
- STi 1.3bar radiator cap (31/05/13)
- Cosworth 1.1 bar coolant overflow tank cap (31/05/13)
- GrimmSpeed Oiler filler cap (31/05/13) (in Perrin red :lol: )
- Perrin shorty aerial (31/05/13)
- Invidia 3" SS CBE with single tip mufflers (01/06/13) (Replaced)
- Invidia 3" LGT Auto Down-pipe (16/06/13)
- Perrin TMIC (16/06/13)
- TurboSmart Kompact Bov (16/06/13)
- DW 65C Fuel Pump (19/06/13)
- Perrin Silicone Turbo inlet (19/06/13)
- AVO throttle-body silicone inlet pipe (19/06/13) (in Perrin red :lol: )
- Perrin Positive Steering Response System (19/06/13)
- Liberty 3.0R Front Brakes (316x30mm 2 pots) (16/07/13) (replaced)
- Tein Street Advance coil overs (16/07/13)
- Nav lockout bypass (24/08/13)
- Airport hack for in-car Airplay audio streaming (01/09/13)
- Silver front indicator bulbs (01/09/13)
- Perrin red Pulley/belt guard (06/09/13)
- Perrin 22 mm RSB, on stiffest setting (07/09/13)
- Perrin 25 mm FSB, on softest setting (07/09/13)
- Perrin HD FSB end links (07/09/13)
- Invidia Q300 SS twin/quad Ti tip mufflers (15/09/13)
- STi 12 spoke 18 x 8 rims (Same as stock S-Edition rims but 18s) (19/09/13)
- Falken Zeix ZX912 245/45/18 Rubber (19/09/13)
- 2008 STi brembos (02/10/13)
- Project-Mu B-Spec pads (02/10/13)
- dba T3 5000 2pc front rotors (02/10/13)
- dba T3 4000 rear rotors (02/10/13)
- STi wheel lug nuts in black (03/10/13)
- Cusco BMCS (04/10/13)
