1995 Impreza (Gravel Express)

[FowlerE30]

Quick Update: THE BAD
Every single nut and bolt on this thing fights me and continuous strings of small bullshit pieces that are needed slow this build down...

THE GOOD
Mounted the tires on the new wheels, here's a snap of the first one I did, was extremely nervous as ive never mounted tires before. Piece of cake...almost.
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They will all be refinished in truck bed liner with gold metallic faces.
New Axles arrived and put in
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heres a new 2015 wrx bumper Considering taking a lower valance cut i have from the old one and splicing it into the charger, then cutting out a center hole for exhaust...
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AND NOW...I finally show you the front bumper

Everyone runs the STI, or WRX or 2.5rs front bumpers...no one will have this
I intend to run a homemade push bar, with large fogs and two lights mounted on the push bar. The stock bumper had potential, but it needed to be opened up more, and the fog light holes had to be refigured.
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I began by cutting the center section of the bumper, and removing the grille fins ( this is why the lower bar on the reinforcement had to be removed). Pulled a newer outback bumper from the scrap pile and cut off the foglight sections.
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Now this took a lot of time to really figure out how these pieces would fit together, because they did NOT just line up pretty and nice. But eventually i got them to work and be mostly squared. Then used newer legacy center lip and sides to blend out. and scrap pieces to close up the center,.
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Quickly set on the car just to look at it (Nothing is lined up right now and not everything is there just wanted to get a quick shot)
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The above image shows it too look real bulky, more like a frigging forester/ SUV than a sporty coupe, but once the side markers/ wider fenders and wheels, and final fitment is done, it should sit nice on the car. its 95% complete..I may be using a 2015 WRX Euro grill for mesh backing...these grilles will actually fit in the slot, heres one for reference size!
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Also, the front end is almost complete: new axles, Bearings. dust shields, brake hoses, sand blasted front knuckles and hubs, ball joints, control arms with aftermarket bushings. Ultimo coils in.
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Currently trying to order seats front and rear, and some things to finish up the rear end... the body panels will be arriving THIS FRIDAY! if it wasnt for all the set backs i would safely be able to make the WBM show..however i fear its not going to happen... but im going to keep working ike it anyway. Till next sunday, Im out.
HOPE EVERYONE HAD A GOOD MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND!

[FowlerE30]

I owe weeks worth of updates..and so.. I WILL DELIVER!
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I apologize for the lack of updates, life has been crazy busy. Last week i flew cross country to Los Angeles to visit venice beach and Santa Monica! But aside from that short vacation, I've spent many a late night/early morning on this car. SO, lets back track to.. three weeks ago I believe.

One Week before WBM The fabeled body Panels arrive. These panels are ROUGH, like...need heavy sanding, some trimming and maybe even filler in areas.
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I workout and alternative to dropping $$$$$ Into seats that I dont really need. Thanks Autozone.
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I began reassembly on the interior and bringing parts to the shop for color change. This week before the meet i was up til 1 in the morning, then 2, then 4. Pushing to try to get more and more done.
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I will upload pictures of the interior when its completed...headliner is blue, the rest is blacked out.
I did not finish in time, but i enjoyed this amazing event non the less!

WBM:

Parking Lot
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Cars on Loan from Subaru of North America: JDM 2016 Subaru STI, 2017 BRZ, Colin Mcraes (555 World Rally Car, and a true RSTI!
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I have plenty more pics/ vids I will put a short montage together of.

Quick cuts on the quarters of car, fenders and hood thrown on....
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Then it was off to Cali.
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Anyone knows a shop near L.A. looking to hire please let me know!

Returning home, I drag the car to the shop and begin work on the quarters and rockers. My goal is simply to remove the large rust patches, and close up any holes. These patches arent pretty, they arent factory quality repairs. If i wanted to restore this car, it would be totally stripped and sanblasted and enitre panels would be re-installed. This is a forewarning to anyone that wants to comment on less than quality bodywork.

Quarter where previous INCORRECT repair was done. hole sealed with patch, filler stripped away.
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Cutting away the rockers.
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I ve lost some pictures of work wich is unfortunate, i feel like i have more to share but for now Both quarters and rockers are now welded up, etch primed, seam sealed and undercoated to hold off the rust from returning. Tomorrow ill begin trimming the wide body panels for the rear and hopefully getting them riveted on and prepped for paint... more soon guys!

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[Funk]

Holy crap how do these cars get so rusted? I drive a 22 yo Volvo as a daily and they use a shitload of salt here every winter but I've hardly seen cars rusty like that.
Somehow your project makes me think of MF Doom, I really dig the way you're customizing all the body parts.

[jalenda9]

Mf doom? Haha I love him..cars coming along great. I've always wanted a older impreza

[FowlerE30]

Thanks guys, the northeast is brutal man. Seems like every GC model Subaru has quarter panel rust. I've found a few seams that seemed to have been designed to trap dirt and water.

Last night, finished sealing up the quarters, threw a little filler on the rockers to blend out the patches and primed the bare metal. Aligned the fiberglass panels and drilled and riveted. I could have gotten them aligned even nicer but it was getting late. The edges will be sealed with heavy duty seam sealer. Both panels need to be sanded, small fills, and primed... but its starting too look like a car!
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I have wheel spacers for front and rear, the rear is actually off from being flush by 2 1/4 inches! I knew i would not get these wheels flush they're only 8inches wide, but once the spacers are on, and i get them squared up (stupid negative camber right now) the gap should close down to about 3/4 of an inch wich i can live with!
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[FowlerE30]

Lack of pictures... but worked on areas around the car Lessening dents.lol wish I had more time to get this car right, but from the start it was never a car that would be cleanin enough to eat off of.
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Working out this idea of and over-sized gurney flap...going to try a few more designs.
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Fit the fenders (This kit fit like GARBAGE) and was very rough. the panel gaps will never be right and i certainly dont have the time to make them. but i am getting them close as I can. Hoping to get more of the interior together this weekend, and hopefully work on other things so that i can turn the key Monday and drive it in to the shop to do final sanding and prep for PAINT!
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[FowlerE30]

To do List: *front seats in
*Ride height adjustment
*Wheel sapcers
*Rear camber adjustment
*Rough alignment
*Power steering leak
*Battery
*Wrap up last of wiring
*Boost gauge
*GET IT RUNNING
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[Coprone]

Still pretty mad one ��

[TWM Performance]

I love the look of the custom front bumper. Is that lower part from an Outback?

- Renato

[FowlerE30]

Yes sir! Pieces on the front our from a 2011 outback I believe? Broken covers laying in the shops bumper pile. I have good updates for you guys but Im not ready to share yet! Ill give you a picture of the color spray-out I did last Friday.

Decided on;
SOLID BLUE
BBS GOLD METALLIC
DEEP BLACK with Gold Metallic
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I need to darken the blue, in the shade its perfect but in the sun its close the Subaru's Hyper blue...and Im not a fan of that color at all.

[TheBig_Wood69]

I spy my face

[FowlerE30]

I guess its about time for an....UPDATE:

Rewind about 3 Weeks. The car is brought home and wires are finished up. Intake and other pieces attached. IT FIRES UP! Unfortunately after running it a few times..I see an oil leak. Its coming from...behind the fucking clutch. I Was so distraught the transmission would have to be removed for a THIRD TIME that i began the process and before finishing dropped my tools and did not touch the car for the next two weeks...
Then this past week, a girl turning me down after an amazing date inspired me to get my ass BACK TO WORK.

Nuts and bolts removed
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Tranny out
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Leak at the Oil air chamber plate. New part is Aluminum
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Everything back together, not a drop of oil. and my enthusiasm is back as i tackle project after project on this shitbox.

Molding holes welded closed
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Ordered a A pillar gauge cluster as I cant bring myself to rip out the dash again to cut it up and install the center dash cluster...although it would be beautiful. Now, i was sent THE WRONG gauge pod. Bastards. I trimmed this one up anyway and fit it best I could as I never heard back about it. Wired up the gauges and fitted the Apexi boost gauge in. Oil temp and water temp. You can see in the picture the gap at the end and the major overhang into the door rubber.
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TWO days after I install those, a package comes with the correct pod...no response to my email however or notice that it was coming. I dont think they want the cut one back and im not sending it.

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Also got rid of the rats nest wiring for the radio, along with the piece of shit stuck on demo radio itself , removed the artillery shell shifter and put a more comfortable one, goodbye accordion shift boot.
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Hidden antenna in passenger side pillar. You may have noticed above thtat i got rid of tht horrid a pillar antenna on the drivers side!
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Replacing the rear parcel shelft fabric...
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I was convinced to rock the PINK Hella Horns
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Fender markers in finally
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Got rid of about 2 and a half feet of wire length that was rolled up in the engine bay!
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Interior is about 90% buttoned up not much left there. Pedal covers coming soon and i have to pick up floor mats...

Upcoming prjects:
*Either picking up cheap sidekirts or making my own!
*install gauge sensors
*Aluminum sheet on its way for a nice skid plate
*fender liners
*Foglights and Aux lights

Foglights and Aux lights sourced from my E30. Cutting the original bracket up and welding tabs up to the reinforcement. This will give me a soild holder for the lights, and allow me to aim them correctly!
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Till next time!

[FowlerE30]

Test light showed the wires were not hot for the fog light but I soldered up the connector anyway and it shined right up! WOOT WOOT!
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[whacka]

keep it going man great job gives me something to read while I'm out in the middle east !

[Greasy63]

I love it, I really do. Good facking job