Lights Up The Wazoo

Alright, since the bars are going up, I decided that I am going to mount a few sets of fog lights to the roof of my car.

Since I am going to school for Automotive Technology, I decided to make myself a wiring diagram for the lights.

Its not quite done yet, it has some cleaning up to be done, but it's a start for 5 minutes of doodling.

Bill Caswell Update

A little late but still a good closer to the story.

I posted about Bill's plans for Baja success spring-boarding off his rally conquering performance last year.
Well he made the start which is a lot considering all the adversity's he put before himself before the start, with the strict-as-usual low budget, built not bought attitude, and an even stricter timetable.

After making the start and several check points he was eventually plagued by mechanical failure that unfortunately cost him the race. Some thing I hardly think he will find much of set back, I am sure we will see him lining up again for next years start with another $500 craigslist BMW.

Much more here, and here.

Keep up the good work, and of course Built not Bought!

The Impreza TS-x

Here is a random collection of pictures for Yint's TS-x Impreza.

Non-Domestic Racing

I picked up some kick-ass vinyls from the discount store. They absolutely complete the ride. Here is a sunset photo shoot for you. Kind of silly, it was really cold but I had fun and I didn't care how the pictures came out. It is sort of my way of deconstructing the process. I am shooting for shooting's sake, being out in the fresh air, enjoying the light as it bounces off our filthy rides. Some times I am pointing the camera in the right dirrection, most of the time I am just shooting at the sun. Its a fun mash up so enjoy it.

 more pictures of light after the break

Jojo's Update: 11/27/10

Okay, so here's the deal:

1. My alloys are all sanded down and prepped for paint. I'm not sure exactly what color they are going to see in the hopefully near future... At first, I was thinking black, but then I decided not to. So most likely, they are going to get a flat black to the back of the rim, and a nice Gold to the front of the rim.
2. Interior is done, dash board is in, along with the glove box, carpet, and front seats.
3. Trunk and spoiler are wet-sanded and ready for a second coat of paint. After that it is straight to the clear coat and some more wet-sanding.
4. I'm not going to do the rear disc conversion any time soon, along with the rear sway bar. They are probably going to wait until next spring, seeing as how I won't be driving fast.
5. Roof rack will hopefully be going on sometime in the next 2 weeks... But I'm not sure yet. It depends on when it gets here.

Will have some pics tomorrow, it's too dark out now to take them.

Subaru Head Gasket Failure

I was researching a couple engine for some power builds and I came across a very, very interesting article written by a shop on the culprits of Subaru head gasket failure, and even prevention. Also it shows why the head gasket usually only goes out one time.

The best part is how your battery may be causing the problems. Read up here for exciting info on this damaging yet preventable problem. You will be surprised at how much this will even effect vehicles outside of the classic rotten batch.

MoarLow Is an Addiction

 

Yint won't go Moar until we do something about his exhaust.

 

NEED MOARLOW CAPTAIN... I can still see a gap :-P

I could have done a better shot but I did a single shot exposure because I sure was feeling lazy... Turned out not to bad over all.

 

Maybe he just needs some inspiration.

 

Roof Is Next?

So here's the deal:

I'm done with the interior, carpet is in, dash is in, glove box and seats are in. Next on the list was going to be the roof rack. I had one from of a '95 Legacy LS wagon. Come to find out that its WAY too long for the roof of my car. So Squarebush and I are talking about getting a Thule rack. We're going with the:

Direct Mount TK Base for Sheet Metal Roof
430 Tracker II Foot Pack
50 Load Bar Pair

We Are Staying!

We decided that wordpress wasn't right for us so we are staying right here. We would rather work in the garage then up to our neck in code, thanks for bearing with us... Now back to the regular scheduled programing.

Another Testament to Chassis Bracing

Do it, do it now!

Basically adding a rear chassis brace to the older Subaru's gives you a hint of that elusive oversteer you have always wanted. Then again I have mine combined with my uprated rear sway bar which I am sure helps.

Not so clean install, we'll probobly get on that at some point...

However speaking of clean... We installed my amp and speakers. Once we had all the wire laid out we knew we couldn't run to the originally planned location for the amp, so with a little quick thinking this is what I came up with.

That's Kind of Like a Fix, Right?

I had backed into my brother's Camry mirror, and the right half of the glass fell out.  Nothing super glue and JB Weld won't fix.

Tools!

Okay, so as my team members in YNS production know, I have placed a HUGE order with the Snap-On tool company.

The order is worth upwards of $10,000.00 in actual value of Snap-On tools. As my team members know, I am currently enrolled at Nashua Community College (NCC) in the program of Automotive Technology. I had a huge list of shit that I needed to buy for this program.

I don't have pics of any of the tools yet, seeing as how I haven't received anything yet. but once I do, I will get them up here.
 
List of Tools:

Broken Axle?!

So as our readers would know, I was in a crash about a week ago. Two days after that crash, I was in my brother's car (my old Neon) heading out to pick up some new control arms for my car, and the axle snapped. It happened as I was approaching a major intersection, I pulled up to the stop sign and waited for a clearing in the rush hour traffic, and as soon as I got a gap, I gave the car a small amount of gas, and slowly started to let the clutch out. As soon as the clutch made contact, I got one tiny morsel or power to my wheels and then there was a nice snap. I luckily had enough momentum to cost to the other side of the road, and also luckily, the oncoming traffic was nice enough not to hit me as my car was suddenly stuck slowly coasting across the intersection with no ability to put any more power to the wheels.

As you can see, the axle was rusted almost entirely through. The rubber harmonic dampener dodge put on the axle was apparently holding water against the axle, accelerating the decomposition of the steel in that location.

After calling all my favorite junk yards and realizing that no one had a used axle locally, I looked on Advanced Auto's web site, and found that they had the axle new for $70. I trip to the nearest Advanced that had one in stock and less than an hour of work later, the car was good as new.

Getting low

Yint joined the lowered club yesterday, November 16th, 2010. He was inducted in by none other then me, Squarebush who joined the club the end of last month. Its now all about cornering, scraping, and of course morelow. 

Yint's bumper tilts up a bit in a rally inspired positive ground clearance way, please expect a fix for this "problem" among other creative finishing touches. Right now both cars are sitting in a higher more compliant stance... Something you shouldn't expect to last long. Low is an addiction.

Click to the break for more pictures from last night

Chassis Rigidity is God

Tired of a soft, uncommunicative, and unresponsive rear end, I finally caved and bought the rear strut brace I wanted for my '98 Legacy wagon.  I could have gone with a sedan brace from eBay intended for the rear of a second generation Impreza since the bolt pattern is the same and the price is right, but opted for the pricier Whiteline unit for its rigid bracket design and quick-release option (also intended for the Impreza since it was easier to find cheaper than the Legacy version; can't imagine what's different).

Clean install, took about an hour.

I had forgotten the reduction and body roll and improvement in steering precision I felt when I installed my front strut brace a while ago.  The difference the rear brace made was astonishing--to think chassis flex alone was causing all my problems blew my mind.  The rear no longer lurches to the outside of the corner slowly telling me nothing about traction; I now have an idea where the rear wheels are to a few inches, rather than guessing in terms of feet.  For must-have mods, Chassis Rigidity is God.

Discrete, and all my junk still fits.

What Friends Are For

(11:17:15 AM) Nii: Still thinking of locking down the subframe, but I'm thinking of doing it right.
(11:17:23 AM) Squarebush: good
(11:17:54 AM) Nii: oh, did Yint torque those bushings on ramps here?
(11:18:32 AM) Squarebush: um... no.
(11:18:51 AM) Squarebush: they may have torqued them on the ground...?
(11:19:04 AM) Nii: so all you did here is drink my alcohol?
(11:19:12 AM) Squarebush: yes
(11:19:16 AM) Squarebush: exactly.

Teaser

Totally just going to put one here to leave you all guessing.

Today

Tons of excitement today. I raised my car a tad for snow and extra complince. Driving on the bump stops starts to hurt your back.

Here are some kick ass heavy night air pictures.

 Check out more pictures after the break

Caswell at SEMA

I noticed that none of my trusty blogs caught any of the Bill Caswell saga. Anyway, I wish I had been there to witness the glory that is ultra cheap motor sport, and super rushed construction.

More on the build and some kick ass fabrication pictures found here.

I am dying to see how this all turns out. From a build stand point I think he has done something truly amazing, but knowing Caswell he is totally gonna finish this epic race. A race he started the super hard way.

Broken and Shit

Yint won't get around to posting this up so, I will!

Bit dented up here...

Large bend here...

This is a very, very bent control arm.

So that was the problem, and of course, this is the solution...

Additions

This week I stared putting money into beefing up sound in my car.

I have two major (for me) components on the way. This will be my first adventure is performance sound. I am already addicted to buying one more part--thinking, "Hey is there room for one more speaker?"

I've created a monster now, I am totally hooked on all this after-market car junk. It used to be just about making a tad more power or grip, now it is a bit of dress up, a little bit of flash. I like it so far but I think I am going to be broke really really fast.

Anyway, Polk PA 330 2channel Amp

Polk db series 6.5" component system

Now I am up to my neck is wires trying to figure out how I am going to do this all. All in all it is going to be fun, hopefully rewarding, and I'll take a bunch of pictures.

Coming Soon:

We are getting a new domain and host.
Look for us soon @ www.serioussubaru.com, a division of YNS Production.

Also roof rack got some new paint... New door cards to replace worn arm rests. Added some Subaru wood trim. I'm also researching some new sound for my wagon... Some one please either convince me I need a sub or talk me out of it. I am totally on the fence right now. I don't want to lose wagon functionality buuuut subs do sound fantastic.

Later, yous guys.

Ideas Flowing

So I know that no one here knows my car yet, but you all will soon. I drive a '97 Impreza RSL, which is a '97 Impreza L with a Phase II 2.5L Impreza engine in it. It has a Forester "anti-lift kit" and a Whiteline 19mm front sway bar. And a few other small things. Its not done yet, and I have some ideas kicking it around to get it "done" for now.

 

Follow the break for more!

Parts Are on the Way

Yint messed up his car, he'll post pictures, I promise.

Anyway, we need some serious equipment. Control arms first, coming our way.

Second up, we got ourselves some BC racing coilovers in the mail. Oh yes this is a pretty serious job.

Keep your eyes peeled... we got some cool stuff coming.

Cars I Want Part.1

I was at lunch today and spotted an early eighties Supra Mark 2 in black, very clean.



I was reading up on the wiki article... I found some interesting items you wouldn't normally catch.

"The Celica Supra's 4-wheel independent suspension was specially tuned and designed by Lotus and featured variable assisted power rack-and-pinion steering and MacPherson struts up front. As for the rear, it had semi-trailing arm suspension with coil springs and a stabilizer bar. Braking on the Celica Supra was handled by 4-wheel disc brakes."

Lotus suspension? In a rear wheel drive Japanese powerhouse? I am totally in love. Now where do you find the ones without rust?

Cool Stuff from Today.

Started some accent work. Can't wait to get my hands on a matching steering wheel... You know, the WRX Momo unit.




So I went to the store for this...




And like a total sucker ended up with this...




Oh yeah, Craftsman 302 piece set. Box fell off a pallet so I got 25% off!

I guess I should do some wrenching to make back some money. Let me know if you got some jobs you want done!