2004 WRX - Shoopster's build (or rather, repair) thread by Shoopster

By diyauto
( 1 )

7 minute(s) of a 119 minute read

5-26-2013

#6 on the To-do list: Used wastegate actuator (and turbo) acquired locally! Thanks for the advice Mikie13!




For those wondering, a new wastegate actuator costs about $135 +tx + shipping. 

Used turbo cost less and now I have a spare just in case; it's in good shape, very little play.

And mine is missing the little C-clip too (I just learned) so now I have that too.


5-29-2013


Hoping to get this done this weekend.

- Ordered Subaru WRB touch-up pen and all bumper clips to replace the tie-wraps holding up my front bumper.

- will replace the oil pressure switch, mine has a leak.

- will install the LF inner fender, and 

- we're also tackling the timing belt job, water pump and everything that goes with.


Also hoping a friend of mine will (find the time to) show me how to sandblast my windshield-wiper arms and my horns

- picked up some satin-black spray paint for the the wipers, and 

- gold for the (stock) horns but I'm still undecided as to that. I think it would be subtle behind the grill. Thing is, there's no other gold anywhere (yet. Maybe my future winters wheels, we'll see.)

- I don't know if I should paint the grill black too, or leave it bare metal as it is. I think black would look better over the gold horns and overall. 

Opinions welcome. There's a decent pic of the grill and horns (presently faded, peeling metallic red) above, in my headlights-cleaning post.


While I'm waiting, I Plasti-dipped the license delete last night so that it doesn't get permanently messed up with chips and bug squish like my bumper. 


Here's a few pix of the process:


Box-top for a work surface. On the back of the delete, I used a couple of rubber stoppers (formerly from my step-ladder's feet) with some tape to both raise the surface of the delete, so it doesn't stick to the box, and to pick it up if needed without messing up the edges or finish.



Supports are placed strategically so that they don't interfere with the Plasti-dip that may leak/wrap/dry around the delete's edges. No point in dipping the back of it though.



About half an hour between each coat, sprayed it once from each direction to make sure I got all the nooks a crannies, and then a 5th coat for OCD's sake.



The finished product



The screws that go with it are also painted black, but I'm not going to Dip those, because the screwdriver will wreck it anyway, it'd be impossible to preserve. The delete's finish is thus more matte than the screws (but who cares, at least they won't be silver). There's a pre-Dip pic of the delete in post #2 above.


proceeding on schedule...

More goodies!


All teh bumper clips! For my tie-wrap-toting friends, FYI that's

8x CLIP BMPR, 4x CLIP 10x15, and 2x scrivet



And that itty bitty little thing? that's the WRB touch up pen. 

They either underestimate the need, or over-estimate their paint's performance.


And that other little purple thing next to it, is a milk-bag clip, just for size reference.

Oh but milk doesn't come in bags in the US, does it? Well, that should mess with you a little, then.


So, I'd like to update on the floormat situation and report on a very decent customer follow-up experience.


As some of you may recall, in chapter 3 of our story, our heroine expressed some dissatisfaction with the coverage, or lack thereof, provided by the passenger-side OEM rubber floormat.


Long story short, RallySportDirect contacted me and double-checked that I'd received the right ones, and checked the measurements with Subaru as well. To make up for it, RSD offered me a credit worth half the retail price - which I did not expect and much appreciated - and asked me to post my review on their product with a picture, because it was indeed accurate.


(I really didn't mean to make a big deal out of it - I didn't even consider returning them - but there wasn't a single negative review on the product, nothing whatsoever about the major difference in size. How could I be the only one. That irritated me more than the discrepancy itself.) 


IN OTHER good news, following a crushing majority vote of two (including yours truly), the grill is painted black. Easy peasy 





Screws! That's it?? I was ready to put tape everywhere.












Good thing that didn't turn into a big production like some people 

We also removed the horns, didn't need to remove the bumper for that. 


Peely and mucky and gross. It would probably be easier to get new ones. But ain't it always.





Cleaned up with brake & parts cleaner, but the paint's gotta go. That'll be next.




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