updoot time again.
(The forum is killing the photo quality so I've linked the high-res versions of each photo underneath if anyone cares)
I've left this one so long I can't even really remember what the car's been through, I'll try do a quick recap from where i left off.
Not long after the cruise I managed to let the clutch go early when going into 4th and that was followed by some very nasty crunching and grinding noises. Now whenever the gearbox warms up I crunch going into fourth, it's fine when cold. I haven't had a huge look into these gearboxes or really know anything about them but I'd assume I damaged the synchro. Perhaps I can get some kinda thicker oil additive to help it since the problem goes away when the box is cold.
I've never been a huge fan of how my car has looked, always preferred the styling of my gen3. I always put it down to the wheels, at first I really like the cr keis but the fitment and offset just wasn't my style. Sooo I impulse bought Alan's set of tbsti Enkei's and I absolutely love them, with the spacers and pulled guards i couldn't be happier.
A week after buying these off Alan, Jake and I finally got around to swapping my CR Kei's for his RPF1's. I've always wanted a set of these too but now I'm in love with the tbsti wheels. It's a tough choice to make because I really should only have one set so I can move forward with more parts. Haven't had the set of the RPF1's on the car yet either because the way my guards are set up I'll probably need a 10-15mm spacer for them to have the same fitment as the tbsti.
https://i.imgur.com/H6NidUW.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/lDomiGk.jpgCredit to the wonderful Jake PT for these photos.
Also picked up a cusco rear sway-bar and some rear E-wing spats for cheapo from a mate. Yet to install the sway-bar but I like the look of the spats.
https://i.imgur.com/JbU0U7c.jpgGave it a service at 162,000km and found that the right-hand side head gasket was leaking. Engine still ran great and it was only a minor oil leak but I wanted to get it fixed while I had time off uni in June.
Water pump, timing chains, rear main, rocker covers, head gaskets, spark plugs, and a bunch of small seals etc are all being refreshed with genuine Subaru parts. I've also ordered a chromoly lightweight flywheel from Xtreme Clutch and Exedy heavy duty clutch. So far parts are totalling around $2200, which will (hopefully) get me another 100,000km.
Engine is currently sitting in a thousand pieces while I wait for some parts to arrive, hopefully it'll all be back together and running by mid-july. Then it's time to start saving my pennies again for the S/C kit.
https://i.imgur.com/OF9H22A.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/oKQze4I.jpgI'd also like to add that I got quoted $7-8k for the everything mentioned here to be replaced (labour + parts), minus the clutch and flywheel, by the local Subaru specialist mechanic, Trent Coughlin Motors. What a joke! I was always going to be doing it myself so that I could learn the process but seeing how much it costs to get one of these engines pulled apart I'm even more glad I've gone this route.
I'll leave this post with a few extra photos and I'll update once everything's back together and it either runs or dies
https://i.imgur.com/InIr0ob.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/riIZdtn.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/xCKvdF6.jpg