Re: Member Profile - LorrenK 08GTB 6sp aka "The Scub"

[LorrenK]

Hello!

No grand undertakings as yet, but I plan to gradually tweak and build upon a lovely car.
As bought, it's a mechanically stock GT BSpec 6sp wagon, with a light MRT tune by the original owner (I'm the second)

The story so far...
1. Parrot MKi9200 integration with the Mac system. (installed myself : )
http://forum.liberty.asn.au/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=15424&p=268353#p264280

2. Subwoofer and amp.
-Memphis MR12S4 12" slimline sub in custom box in the boot. I chose this particular sub because of its slimline design, high performance, low enclosure volume requirement and its quality construction. It was also a really good price as this brand isn't imported in any numbers anymore and people are looking to try and promote them +/- shift the stock.
-Soundstream L1.600D monoblock amp under the driver's seat. Also has a remote sub level controller sneakily mounted inside the fuse cover. (see below)

Now you see it...

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Now you don't : )

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Amp

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You can see how slim the enclosure is with the slimline Memphis sub.

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Voila. A really good-quality sound from a relatively small enclosure. It doesn't take up much space at all which is what I was after.

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The story to come...
I'm not looking for big numbers or a track weapon. It's my daily driver (my ONLY drive!) and as such I want it to be as drivable as possible, while maximising what I have. My philosophy for modifications are making the best use of what I have. The point where I have to start making compromises in one area for gains in another area is a mod to far for me.

Things I'm planning...
Exhaust - TBE, nothing too loud or droney. A nice gruff sound, yes. The fart down a drainpipe noise, hell no!
Suspension - Swaybars, linkages and braces. I'd like to make it handle as well as it can but still be easy to drive long distances. No harder, no lower than the BSpec it is but getting as much feel and response from it as I can.
Engine - Turbo... possibly. Again, if I can get more bottom, mid AND top end, I'll have it : ) Nothing too big then. TMIC/FMIC, definitely yes at some stage, possibly at the same time as any turbo swaps.
Brakes - Yes, at some stage. At the very least I need to work the stock breaks into firmer shape.
Cosmetics - Subtle and restrained. Front lip and some STi or STi-type wheels, probly in bronze. Ultrex RS in bronze are the kind of design I'm after, if not the RS themselves. Inside I'd like to add some red STi-ish stitching on the stock seats, or by some happy chance I source some actual tbSTi seats, wheel, boot and knob. The interior I have is very black on black... Nice but needs that little highlight to make it just right. ^_^

[Jack_Keaka]

Nice Lorren! do all those things and you'll have a nice sleeper that has both comfort and some sporty punch. perfect combo for a daily! post up some pics of the outside too!

[Corsair]

Clean work and nice plans. Like Jack, I look forward to seeing a pic of the whole car too.

[bigBADbenny]

+1

[alessandro132]

Sub is nice, but now you can't fold down those seats

Will be following this build with much interest

[bosc0]

Is that a Cusco gear boot wrap?

[LorrenK]

The sub isn't attached to the seat, and the other seat folds down no problem.
The sub is attached to a clip that holds it in place and is quickly undone. There is enough slack to slide the box to the side if I really need to fold both seats down (it's nice and slim too) and if needed the speaker cables are easily unscrewed and the box take out

All over it

Sub is nice, but now you can't fold down those seats

Will be following this build with much interest

[alessandro132]

Practical and performance mods...love it!

[LorrenK]

Is that a Cusco gear boot wrap?

haha no, that's just the regular boot with a purple ribbon tied around it

[LorrenK]

OK, a couple of "before" shots, for the archives...
Those numberplates are gone now, replaced by my gold on black personalised ones

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Fancy shmancy glint-o-sunset effect :)

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[LorrenK]

Pre-chrissie weekend jobs:

1 - Ultrex front lip spoiler (second hand from forum member, http://forum.liberty.asn.au/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=19677 )

Note top self: these are perhaps a 2-person job. wrestling and taping the thing in place was fun as the lip is quite flimsy and floppy when not mounted to the car..

Fortuitously, the car it came off was the dark graphite grey and the owner had it colour-coded to match. Originally I was just going to touch it up and painted it a matt black, however when we held it up to my car it was more than dark enough, so didn't even need painting; just a clean up and clip/screwing it on. Job done : )

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2 - KiDo Racing tower brace

I was looking forward to this one. These had arrived while I was overseas and were waiting for me when I got back. I thought this was going to be the easy job, but it was anything but...
After unwrapping it and placing it on top of the towers, there was no way it was going to fit.

Exhibit A

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Exhibit B

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The whole weren't even close to lining up (Exhibit A) and it wouldn't even sit on the towers because it was hitting the firewall (Exhibit B). That had me scratching my head for a while, but worked out that whoever had put the brace together had put the plates on the wrong sides of the bar. Now it looked like it was going to fit and I didn't have to fire off that perplexed PM I had already half written to KiDo.

The first plate went on easy, but the second (left), boy did it put up a fight... I was hitting and swearing and wiggling and elbow-dropping it trying to get it over the bolts. One of my bolts seems to be angled away ever so slightly, and that made the distance from the bolt hole to the opposite edge of the circular plate half a mill not big enough. I had to resort to a block of wood and a hammer, which I reeeaaally didn't want to do, but I managed to coax it into place without mangling the bolt thread. Or worse, I had mental images of snapping the bold clean off if I tried to tap it inwards with the block and hammer... the weekend before xmas... that would have been a disaster!

But on it went and after that the bar bolted into place easily and it all fits and looks the horn.

Brace

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I must admit, tho, I'm not 100% happy. From the promo photos I was expecting to have SUBARU embossed across the centre of it, which it doesn't have.

It's also not quiiiiite square, which sets off my OCD side a bit

OCD aahhhh!

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The other side sits fine, I'm not sure why. It's not like I actually bent anything when I was banging it into place. Anyway, little things...

It also rattles ever so slightly at startup, so I might try and find some rubber washer/grommets for where the bar attaches to the base plates.

Other than that, loving it )

[LorrenK]

I also bought the rear tower brace. I treated myself... I haven't has a go at putting this one on yet and may just get someone else to do it. I'm sure it's just as easy to bolt on, but it involves pulling up boot trim and cutting the rug (lol)

Not to mention it goes across right where my sub box is so that will need to be thought about and either moved or the box altered. I did know this when I bought both braces, but it cost no more to ship together than just buying the one, and hey, I'm cheap : )

[bigBADbenny]

I had to put my FSB on both sides at the same time, dropping it on the bolts in parallel, to get it on at all!
Looking forward to your write up on the Rear SB as I'm planning that one too.

[alessandro132]

Lip looks schmicko now you just need an STi badge for it

[cruisn]

Strut brace needs black mounts.....