The Money Pit

The Basics

It started long ago as a 2002 Subaru WRX. As you’ll uncover below, the rear seat, headliner, dash, and cylinder heads are just about all that remain stock.

Modifications

Power-related

  • Version 8 STI (EJ207) shortblock
  • Mitsubishi TD05H-16G turbo (ceramic coated and blanketed)
  • TiAL 38mm external wastegate
  • STI 550cc injectors and Walbro 255l/h fuel pump
  • Element Tuning EMS (Hydra Nemesis)
  • Element Tuning Hydramist (water + methanol injection)
  • TurboXS DTEC electronic boost controller
  • AVO front-mount intercooler
  • Version 8 STI Spec-C intake manifold (JDM, omits restrictive TGVs)
  • Gasket-matched, Jet-Hot 2000 coated, and wrapped exhaust manifold
  • TurboXS downpipe, cat, midpipe exhaust
  • Prodrive WRS axle-back
  • P&L Motorsports cat-less “EWG” up-pipe
  • Ported and polished throttle body
  • Perrin turbo inlet hose
  • Ron Davis aluminum radiator, Crucial Coolsafe thermostat, Zero Sports 1.3bar radiator cap

Intentional Weight Removal

  • Seibon carbon fiber trunk lid
  • AMS 15lb battery
  • APR carbon fiber mirrors

Drivetrain

  • Exedy 15802 organic clutch kit
  • STI short-shift kit
  • Version 6 STI RA close-ratio gearset
  • STI Group-N transmission mount
  • STI Group-N pitch-stop
  • STI Group-N engine mounts

Braking

  • Stoptech front 328mm big brake kit
  • Goodridge stainless braided brake lines rear (fronts are Stoptech lines)
  • Carbotech H6-size rear slotted rotors
  • Carbotech Panther+ front brake pads
  • Carbotech Bobcat rear brake pads
  • Falken RT-615 235/40/18 tires

Suspension / Handling

  • Megan Racing coilovers
  • Hotchkis 25.4mm hollow front and rear sway bars
  • Hotchkis heavy duty rear sway bar mounts
  • Rota Sub-Zero 18×7.5 +48 rims
  • Falken RT-615 235/40/18 tires
  • Kartboy solid rear droplinks
  • STI aluminum control arms (front)
  • STI Group-N lateral and trailing link bushings (rear)
  • Whiteline Anti-Lift (Castor) Kit
  • Whiteline Extended Ball Joint Kit
  • Poltec spherical-joint front end links

Purely Cosmetic

  • Seibon carbon fiber hood (actually same weight as stock aluminum hood)
  • Subaru “Newport Blue Pearl” paint
  • Prodrive UK300 front lip
  • WRC titanium shift knob
  • Aluminum OEM-look dead pedal
  • STI clear side markers
  • STI mesh foglight covers

Audio

  • Kenwood MP3-CD player
  • Alpine SPS-170A front and SPS-130A rear door speakers

Other

  • European market STI projector headlamps with HID conversion
  • Recaro SRD front seats.
  • APS recirculating bypass valve
  • Samco radiator hoses
  • Omori EGT, oil temp, and boost gauges in Subaru OEM gauge housing
  • Escort Passport 8500 radar detector + hardwire cable
  • SPT intake