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View Full Version : Introducing the money pit....

MoN
02-18-2010, 09:05 PM
I figured its about time I make a journal of Ed’s and I STi story….
The story of our money pit……

April 2009 – Purchased STi real cheap from private seller.
- Only mods were: K&N Short Ram Intake, Magnaflow custom axelback exaust and a no-name downpipe.
- Seller explained to us that he had purchased it w/ a cracked ringland and he had taken it apart rebuilt it and continued driving it for a few weeks until the same issue arose.

We towed it straight to F&S Auto on Rt 146 in MA . Theo took the motor apart for inspection and said ringlands were fine but the valves would not seat properly and the cam journals were scarred meaning issues to come in the near future. Due to monetary issues at that time we decided to leave it as is and continued driving on a regular basis.

Here it is stock:
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii213/domigringa/subie3.jpg


June 2009 – Turbo went to sh*t…..STi began blowing black smoke out of the exaust.
- Time for the engine swap…
- Forge UNOS One-Ball Manual Boost Control Universal
- Ebay Front Mount Intercooler
- Wiseco Forged Pistons
- Eagle Forged Rods
- Brian Crower 272 Cams
- Brian Crower Valve Springs/Retainers
- APS 3" Hard Inlet
- Cosworth Air Pump Delete Plate Set
- Subaru OEM '09 Oil Pump
- Subaru OEM '07 STi Cylinder Heads
- ARP Head Studs
- ACL Race Series Main & Rod Bearings
- Forge Blow off Valve
- Invidia Catless uppipe
- Agency Power Catless Downpipe
- Competition Clutch STi Stage 4
- Magnaflow Muffler
- Perrin Blow-thru Pipe
- Walbro 255 Fuel Pump
- FP FP Green Turbo
- Deatschwerks 850cc Injectors
- Custom Tune
- Threw in some BC Racing BR type coilovers
- Whiteline Front Swaybar link

- CF Hood & Trunk
Completed swap/mods July 2009

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii213/domigringa/2009-08-11191245.jpg
Here's my hubby workin hard:
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii213/domigringa/2009-08-11191224.jpg
His buddy Manny showing off the FP Green Turbo:
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii213/domigringa/2009-08-25152626.jpg

Heres the final product:
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii213/domigringa/Picture047.jpg

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii213/domigringa/Picture050.jpg





October 2009 – I lost traction and side swiped a guard rail. Causing over $6000 in damage to the entire drivers side. Don't have pics of it but believe me it was pretty ugly....
- Brought to F&S Auto where Theo completed all the body work….


November 2009 – Got car back from Auto Body Shop.
- First someone broke into it and tore up the trunk liner to steal the amp...that didnt even work....:lol:

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii213/domigringa/Picture076.jpg
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii213/domigringa/Picture078.jpg


- And 2 weeks later, neighbor backed up into drivers side door leaving a huge dent in the fresh paint!! Sorry can't find the pics of this either....


January 2010 - Come to realize that we are having a fuel to oxygen ratio problem. Have a leak in either the fuel pump or could be a vaccum leak.
- Purchased a wideband to keep an eye on where the problem lies.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii213/domigringa/Picture186.jpg

February 2010 - Time to change the brakes and rotors…..
- While taking the calipers off Ed ran into a problem… Two bolts snapped on the drivers side rear caliper. Apparently whomever had changed the brakes last, decided to use autozone brake pads and NOT put anti seize on the caliper bolts!!! WTF!!! Bright idea! So not only were the bolts glued into the caliper but the crappy pads ruined ALL the rotors….
- Took caliper to machine shop to removed snapped bolts and installed heli-coils.
- Purchased and installed drilled rotors and performance pads for a great price from a performance brake shop in Lowell MA.

So far so good, although in the hole over $10,000 in less than a yr!! And still going… Lets see what will arise next. Its fair to say that whoever had this car before us definitely did not take good care of it causing us to run into prob after prob…. Which is what we get for getting it so cheap. But after putting all the effort into this car, there is no way that Ed and I will ever get rid of it. I can fairly say that this car will be sitting in our garage when we are 50 yrs old with a loooong list of repairs… lol But we LOVE it!
xxthat girlxx
02-19-2010, 12:01 PM
:eek:

Nice story. You're almost at the light at the end of the tunnel? ;)
jessickascarling
02-20-2010, 09:47 AM
But after putting all the effort into this car, there is no way that Ed and I will ever get rid of it. I can fairly say that this car will be sitting in our garage when we are 50 yrs old with a loooong list of repairs… lol But we LOVE it!

That's going to be Dan & I. hehehe At least you guys are taking good care of the car now and it's out of the clutches of the previous owner!
SassySTi284
02-20-2010, 11:39 AM
wow what a history!!...keep it goin. Love that wingless trunk. Sorry to hear of all the troubles tho;(
sugarayearth
02-20-2010, 02:39 PM
quite the love affair you guys have there with that subie! :)
MoN
02-20-2010, 04:40 PM
Thanks everyone! It has been a long and windy road. Hopefully we are at that light at the end of the tunnel!!
Jonathan
02-20-2010, 09:31 PM
I hate to even suggest it, but sometimes that "light at the end of the tunnel" is a freight train headed in your direction.

You have a most impressive STi. While you might have done better to purchase a more expensive example in better condition, for better or for worse you have what you have, and you have worked very hard to get the car where it is today.

Someone broke in to your car to steal an amplifier that didn't even work ? That totally sucks.
MoN
02-21-2010, 02:27 PM
I hate to even suggest it, but sometimes that "light at the end of the tunnel" is a freight train headed in your direction.

You have a most impressive STi. While you might have done better to purchase a more expensive example in better condition, for better or for worse you have what you have, and you have worked very hard to get the car where it is today.

Someone broke in to your car to steal an amplifier that didn't even work ? That totally sucks.

Thanks! And ya lets hope the train pulls its breaks on in time!! But honestly the car is in great running condition now, every part we purchaed new so the only issue now is finding where the hell the fuel and/or air leak is coming from, hopefully wont be too expensive to repair....

And ya dumb ass crackheads or whomever thought they were getting a fortune of some kind, all they got was a hunk of junk... :lol: The idiots attempted to take out the radio but apparently realized that it was screwed into the console and they gave up and went for the amp....
MoN
03-11-2010, 12:30 PM
Update: We now seem to think that the fuel/air pressure issue may have something to do w/ the fuel pump, which is a bummer because we bought this walbro brand new less that 6 months ago.... That came w/ no warranty...

Ed also seems to think that by getting a fuel pressure regulator that will help control future issues of this kind...

He is also working on creating a custom oil/air seperator because apparently the only one that has been proven to work well on an STi is the Crawford Performance's which costs over $350, ridiculous for a device that has zero mechanics in it... Its basically just a cylinder w/ pipes within it....

Here's a couple new pics I took w/ my moto cliq, sorry im at work so I can only post attachments for pics....
buniboo
03-11-2010, 12:54 PM
Your car is very pretty I must say. I hope you get everything worked out with it for sure!
xxthat girlxx
03-11-2010, 02:47 PM
Mon... I'm impressed with how natural you were with the placements of the car in the photos you took. You should look into photography classes! I think you'd be a natural. :)

And which high rise is that? I like the buildings around it. :)
MoN
03-11-2010, 02:54 PM
Tx!! Ya Ive always loved taking pics at strange angles i think they come out with so much more style... lol and Ive been dying to get a nice Nikon camera, but I gotta start saving up. And When I do im def going to be taking the classes that they offer here at the worcester art museum, a few people from work told me they are really good and inexpensive...

And that was on the top floor of the parking garage for the tall glass building in downtown Worcester.. I was trying to get the top of the building in the pics but the camera wouldnt let me get it all in the pic without getting farther away from the car... Another good place like this would be the top floor of the old fashion outlets mall downtown you can see this building and city hall in the background of that one too.
MoN
07-31-2010, 02:05 PM
Today is a sad day for the STi ...

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii213/domigringa/2010-07-31112904.jpg

So in leu of that heres some updates pics of him with the hood scoop delete :)

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii213/domigringa/kancS10015.jpg
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii213/domigringa/kancS10012.jpg
07SubieQT
07-31-2010, 02:07 PM
Nah.. My BF's STi hit 100,000 last year!! Still goin strong!! Nice pic!!!
WhtRexGrl
07-31-2010, 03:39 PM
I feel like I have seen that car before....but where? Hmmmm I just can't put my finger on it? Just kidding it looks great as always!
WhtRexGrl
09-22-2010, 11:11 AM
Hey congrats on the tune BTW!!! Is the outback going to be ready soon?
MoN
09-22-2010, 01:20 PM
O ya! I forgot to post that! Thanks Christine!

Dyno numbers:
395whp / 396 wtq @ 23 PSI

woooot! It feels freaking awsome now! After Bren's tune it feels so much smoother, and faster :devil:

Now we can't help but to do pulls at every light on rt20 just to get the feel of it! hahaha

Bren said that the motor feels very strong. I guess he turned the boost up to 25psi, and there was no ticking or anything, so we are very happy with Ed's build. He has met his goal for this yr. Next yr he wants to get to 450whp... :rolleyes:

Uggh the outback :(. ed just started up the new motor today to find an oil leak in the rear main seal!! So he's pullingi t back out right now... poor guy...
WhtRexGrl
09-22-2010, 01:26 PM
That sucks about the outback!!
Tell Ed, to just cool it on the 450whp...you guys still need it to be a daily driver. 400whp seems to be the majic number with thes cars that they become unreliable....:sadbanana: not that he will listen cause he is Mr :cool: man!! (lol)
MoN
09-22-2010, 01:40 PM
Ya pshhh, I tell him stuff all the time... like the time about towing the outback with the sti using tv cable wire was NOT a good idea... did he listen? You already know, the outcome of that situation... :lol:
WhtRexGrl
09-22-2010, 01:45 PM
sadly...yes I do http://smiliesftw.com/x/roflfail.gif http://smiliesftw.com/x/roflmao.gif
xxthat girlxx
09-22-2010, 07:09 PM
Congrats on the tune. DAMN!


http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii213/domigringa/kancS10015.jpg


Where is the above picture taken? Shoot me a text or email!
MoN
10-01-2010, 05:27 PM
tx That was at the spring Kanc cruise 2010. It's a resevoir up in NH, gorgeous view!
xxthat girlxx
10-01-2010, 08:04 PM
That doesn't help me any! Lol. Thanks. And yes, gorgeous spot.
MoN
10-04-2010, 10:50 AM
Ya I believe its the Moor'e dam resevoir...

And maaannn, the poor STi got rear ended by a 16 wheeler this morning!!! The cars okay, I havent seen the damage but Ed said it just cracked the paint on the rear bumper and shifted it a little, but he's feeling it. He just left the hospital now... :(
WhtRexGrl
10-04-2010, 11:37 AM
Are you kidding me??? Holy crap Mon..you guys have the worst luck!!
MoN
10-04-2010, 12:25 PM
Nope not kidding, Ed's home right now w/ some pain, thankfully they gave him somehting to alleviate it a little.

And ya I've been saying we have the worst luck, EVER!!
xxthat girlxx
10-05-2010, 11:07 AM
Oh m gosh! Glad he's okay.
MoN
10-05-2010, 11:18 AM
Ya he's okay thank goodness, The bumper is now permanently imprinted with two bolt marks from the trucks bumper! :lol: And there was some cracking on both sides of where the license plate goes, Ill try and get good pics to post it.

He said that when it hit he right away released the brakes so it more pushed him than anything, Im sure if he would have held the brakes it would have cracked and possibly crushed some of the bumper! :eek:
Jonathan
10-11-2010, 08:17 PM
He said that when it hit he right away released the brakes so it more pushed him than anything, I'm sure if he would have held the brakes it would have cracked and possibly crushed some of the bumper! :eek:

Bumpers you can replace. That is what insurance is for.

Ed's neck isn't as easily replaced, though. :)

Hopefully in a few more days Ed will be feeling much better, although a few visits to Mr. Chiropractor might not be such a bad idea.
MoN
10-12-2010, 10:14 AM
Yes he is feeling better thank you :)
TrunkMonkey24
11-10-2010, 12:47 PM
so i'm new to this particular forum and am reading through the build threads here and my god Mon, this is truly a run of bad luck for you guys! i'm glad to hear Ed was ok after this latest mishap though...congrats on those tune numbers, they are quite impressive! Love the wrb with the carbon hood/trunk, talk about sexy:love:
MoN
02-07-2011, 01:00 PM
Soooo we gotta love our snow plow guys..... *unamused*

Not only is the damage looking pretty ugly, but the car's not holding boost either! Thanks Traveler's insurance for sponsoring a new FMIC! :p
xxthat girlxx
02-07-2011, 08:55 PM
Ugh!! Good thing for the insurance!!
SubyFr3ak
02-07-2011, 08:55 PM
Dang that really sucks, poor scoob :( Good to hear you're getting a new IC :)
MoN
02-08-2011, 10:57 AM
Tx guys! Yes thank god that the plow guy had insurance!! lol

I swear this car is cursed, been cursed since day one. We did a list and we have had 6 incidents (one of which was my fault, the rest were due to stupid people) since we bought the car only 2 yrs ago!!! can someone please uncurse it for me when you get a chance? Thanks. :lol:
djmatao
02-15-2011, 05:32 PM
Tx guys! Yes thank god that the plow guy had insurance!! lol

I swear this car is cursed, been cursed since day one. We did a list and we have had 6 incidents (one of which was my fault, the rest were due to stupid people) since we bought the car only 2 yrs ago!!! can someone please uncurse it for me when you get a chance? Thanks. :lol:

ZOMG thats averaging an incident ever 4 months :eek:

We need to do a little uncurse dance on your behalf lol
MoN
02-16-2011, 10:18 AM
ZOMG thats averaging an incident ever 4 months :eek:

We need to do a little uncurse dance on your behalf lol

Yes we do like right now cuz we need to add another incident to the list lol, although this happened to Ed this morning while driving the rental i dunno if it counts but I'm counting it anyway....

He got Hit & Run by some psycho road raged lady this morning. There was no damage to our rental but her rental apparently got scraped up on the side when she side swiped him. So not even 1 hr later, I got a call from the rental co, stating that SHE reported HIM for a hit and run!!!! fml.... :huh:
WhtRexGrl
02-16-2011, 10:33 AM
holy hell Mon, I hope he caleld the cops when she hit him!!! It seems I find out all the good stuff like - you got another outback on SG :lol:
djmatao
02-16-2011, 11:40 AM
Damn!!! Thats no bueno.... im moving your ratio to ever 3.4 months now :(

I must go do my uncurse dance now...

**walks out side and starts doing tribal dancing to uncurse
MoN
02-16-2011, 05:26 PM
holy hell Mon, I hope he caleld the cops when she hit him!!! It seems I find out all the good stuff like - you got another outback on SG :lol:

yaaa, she called the cops b4 he did, so now its a he said she said ordeal... smh... and OMG I TOTALLY forgot to tell you!!! Well you;ll be one of the 1st ones to see it on Saturday when I go pick it up ;)


Damn!!! Thats no bueno.... im moving your ratio to ever 3.4 months now :(

I must go do my uncurse dance now...

**walks out side and starts doing tribal dancing to uncurse

lmfao!!! Thank You!!!! :D