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

4 minute(s) of a 237 minute read

Wow I've missed some notifications :/

The Autometer (Cobalt series) wideband 02 is a new product, hasn't been out long. I did write to them to make sure it's compatible with my car, but I've no idea if it's compatible with RomRaider... My current gauges are boost / water temp / oil pressure. I'm thinking of ditching the water temp and replacing it with the 02 in my triple-pod, since there's a temp gauge built-in the dash... Not a fan of All The Gauges look...

UPDATE!! 

I purchased a used Borla Hush locally - from a guy who's buying an Invidia N1 because he wants ALL the loud lol. It's got a couple of dents in the underside but no leaks, installed it yesterday and it looks great and sounds just like a subie should: low RrrRrrRrrumble, not enough to attract cops but a low enough tone to set off my friend's car alarm. And to someone who doesn't know what they're looking for, it looks like the stock tips from far. I love it!!! This was one of the first things on my wish-list (first post) and I moved it to the Mod List today!  I'll post pics & vids asap!

Also had tests done, and for a 250k km block, the Shoop is ship shape! Some numbers:

Compression: cyl#2 152 psi; cyl#4 152; cyl#1 155; cyl#3 155

Leakdown (high pressure) : #4 8% ; #2 10% ; #3 10% ; #1 8%

Finally, my TurboSmart Dualport blow-off valve had a huge leak, both at the intercooler-flange and within the bov itself, between the blue knob that turns (to make it softer or harder) and the same flange. The piston in the bov also got stuck at least twice in the last year - it was stuck when I bought it (and the former owner clearly tried to unstick it because it had lots of hammer marks) and again after the winter because all sorts of crap must've gotten in it. So we installed the bypass valve I bought off Zax... last year lol 

I miss the "PSSH!"... I guess, much like a recovering addict misses drugs. You know it's not good for you, but you still want it. *sigh*

Next up, the (cheapo eBay) gaskets that came with my up-pipe last year are finito, but we didn't have time to do that yesterday. Small leak, not enough to affect boost, but you can hear a fine sssssss if you've got a trained ear (which I don't.) Long story short, they're made of paper-ish material and don't have a metal ring around the inside like the OEM gaskets, and the layers get split up by the heat. Yes, they work, but no they don't last long. 

In other news, my right-front brakes jammed yesterday on the highway, that was interesting. Steering wheel started to shake (is it in my mind or is it getting worse) and then it started to shake a lot. Luckily there was some slowed/stopped traffic because the cops stopped some motorcycles; it gave me a change to pump the brakes (see what happens..) and weave the steering back and forth a little (like when racers warm up the tires?). When we slowed down I could feel the Sshhk - sshhhk - sshhhk of the brake, and then at some point it stopped. So. 'Brakes' and Gaskets make their way to the pole position on the to-do list, and 'new bumper' drops to 2nd place.

ROB! Thanks for the offer! But I do need to get my own and like Matty suggested, once it's on it's staying on