'95 Subaru Impreza daily driver
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'95 Subaru Impreza daily driver
Haven't been on H-T in an age, I still have my civic as my primary toy, but have been daily driving a series of crappy subarus. A lemon 2000 RS, a couple of legacy wagons, but this one was my favourite, so thought I'd share a little of the effort.
As she's sold now, here is a before and after, the day I got her and the night I washed her before handing her over to a new owner.
and now onto the "build"
As she's sold now, here is a before and after, the day I got her and the night I washed her before handing her over to a new owner.
and now onto the "build"
Last edited by MonkeyPuzzle; 07-18-2014 at 07:05 AM.
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Re: '95 Subaru Impreza daily driver
the day she came home to me
a very necessary car wash
and teh start of hours of polish and wax, turning the 8 different shades of red/orange into one consistant shade of red
and to make life bearable, a 6 disc CD changer from an '02 WRX, basically free from craigslist
roof rack, a transplant from my '00 RS (sold)
then onto some essential maintenance items, my daughter in the garage all night helped me replace all the fluids, like ALLLLLLL the fluids
front brakes
which were WELL past needing to be done. had to lube the calipers too, as you can see the uneven wear on the pads
and spark plugs and wires, also well past due
and the rear drums, oh how I despise drums, but these ahd to be done NOW! and couldn't wait for finding a disc swap
a very necessary car wash
and teh start of hours of polish and wax, turning the 8 different shades of red/orange into one consistant shade of red
and to make life bearable, a 6 disc CD changer from an '02 WRX, basically free from craigslist
roof rack, a transplant from my '00 RS (sold)
then onto some essential maintenance items, my daughter in the garage all night helped me replace all the fluids, like ALLLLLLL the fluids
front brakes
which were WELL past needing to be done. had to lube the calipers too, as you can see the uneven wear on the pads
and spark plugs and wires, also well past due
and the rear drums, oh how I despise drums, but these ahd to be done NOW! and couldn't wait for finding a disc swap
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Re: '95 Subaru Impreza daily driver
I hated these generic 14s, so I was not upset in the slightest when the tyres failed
off to craigslist for some '02+ WRX wheels
my kids loving the new look :D
my daughter helping again, note: kids love helping, and finding a simple task for them will greatly speed your night as they will come bother you anyway, might as well put em to work
and using them exactly as designed, a preview of the white wheels to come
project on hold for a bit
off to craigslist for some '02+ WRX wheels
my kids loving the new look :D
my daughter helping again, note: kids love helping, and finding a simple task for them will greatly speed your night as they will come bother you anyway, might as well put em to work
and using them exactly as designed, a preview of the white wheels to come
project on hold for a bit
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Re: '95 Subaru Impreza daily driver
so moving on to some cosmetic work, pealing clearcloat can't jsut be polished away, so sanded back and would be painted later
sanded, one of many places where I sanded back the peeling clear, the roof was esspecially bad
and removed these peeling stickers, old glue from dealer tag, and the subaru emblems off for paint
after
And how I rolled for a while, she was my daily driver after all, so most work was done in the evenings then driven around raw in betwee
all of the black parts were deepkly faded, buy back to black product works a treat, testing on one small area here, which I left for a while and washed etc to see if it would last
door handle before
after, and it stayed this way for at least the next year, so I'd recommend the product
trim
sanded, one of many places where I sanded back the peeling clear, the roof was esspecially bad
and removed these peeling stickers, old glue from dealer tag, and the subaru emblems off for paint
after
And how I rolled for a while, she was my daily driver after all, so most work was done in the evenings then driven around raw in betwee
all of the black parts were deepkly faded, buy back to black product works a treat, testing on one small area here, which I left for a while and washed etc to see if it would last
door handle before
after, and it stayed this way for at least the next year, so I'd recommend the product
trim
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Re: '95 Subaru Impreza daily driver
next onto some rust repair. no rust anywhere else except under this poorly repaired dent from a previous owner
bubbling up through the p
chipping away the many layers
so thick!
testing out the rattle can paint, its a great match
after pushing the dent out, no idea why the previous owner didn't, onto some bondo
primer
fun, how I rolled for a while until I was ready to paint
and temporary red, it later got a gloss finish and blended far better
bubbling up through the p
chipping away the many layers
so thick!
testing out the rattle can paint, its a great match
after pushing the dent out, no idea why the previous owner didn't, onto some bondo
primer
fun, how I rolled for a while until I was ready to paint
and temporary red, it later got a gloss finish and blended far better
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Re: '95 Subaru Impreza daily driver
ok, the sad state of the wheels was bugging me, so onto some cheap rehab
the centre caps before
sanded
primed
white
and red lettering to match my civic
the wheels, I just redid the front as this is just a daily driver, keeping those costs down
taped up and scuffed back
yeah... make sure you press that tape down nice and tight, didn't make the same mistake on the other three
result
one painted at a time, so it took a week, but I painted one each night as soon as I got home, then drove it to work the next morning :D
all done
and, don't forget to wax your white wheels people!!! cleaned this off and waxed them up really well
the centre caps before
sanded
primed
white
and red lettering to match my civic
the wheels, I just redid the front as this is just a daily driver, keeping those costs down
taped up and scuffed back
yeah... make sure you press that tape down nice and tight, didn't make the same mistake on the other three
result
one painted at a time, so it took a week, but I painted one each night as soon as I got home, then drove it to work the next morning :D
all done
and, don't forget to wax your white wheels people!!! cleaned this off and waxed them up really well
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Re: '95 Subaru Impreza daily driver
some minor things to make life bearable for the daily commute, the cheapest speakers amazon has, as I wouldnt be running an amp
wet, factory, paper cones had to go
not amazing, but SO much better
in the doors, and in the rear
then a friend said, want some free stuff? uhh, yes! I like how the retro equipment fits with the ago of the car
and to replace the bent and cracked antenna, one from a 2002 WRX, I get radio so fast now!
wet, factory, paper cones had to go
not amazing, but SO much better
in the doors, and in the rear
then a friend said, want some free stuff? uhh, yes! I like how the retro equipment fits with the ago of the car
and to replace the bent and cracked antenna, one from a 2002 WRX, I get radio so fast now!
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Re: '95 Subaru Impreza daily driver
fading dash plastics were a pain to see everyday, they had to go too
before
out and painted
after some vinyl spray paint
before
after
before
out and painted
after some vinyl spray paint
before
after
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Re: '95 Subaru Impreza daily driver
next onto an ugly headliner
out, this is how I rolled about for a week while I did the headliner (at least it wasn't 3 years like my last headliner project in the civic). can't believe how hot that roof panel gets without the headliner in
before, vinyl, cracked, generally ugly
new fabric
and in
vinyl sun visors still, but a vast improvement
out, this is how I rolled about for a week while I did the headliner (at least it wasn't 3 years like my last headliner project in the civic). can't believe how hot that roof panel gets without the headliner in
before, vinyl, cracked, generally ugly
new fabric
and in
vinyl sun visors still, but a vast improvement
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Re: '95 Subaru Impreza daily driver
and my favourite part I think it totally transformed the car, a legit subaru v4 WRX bumper I bought used. previous owner bought it but never even painted it before hitting a pole and cracking it
first i had to straighten out the bent support
before
the other side to compare
after
before
test fit
I cut a relief here and heated the bumper to push a big bump back down
filled
the more serious side, a large crack that needed to be brought back together
zip ties to hold it all in place while I fibreglassed the backside
then sanded and primered, this is the corner that had the huge crack, came out pretty nicely
paint paint paint
done with paint
some new lights in, and vents looking a little empty
so cheap *** chicken wire type fill for empty looking vent holes
and a garage door seal cheap *** lip added
and on the car
this is the repaired corner, a little rippling still visible, but I'm ok with it
the good side
first i had to straighten out the bent support
before
the other side to compare
after
before
test fit
I cut a relief here and heated the bumper to push a big bump back down
filled
the more serious side, a large crack that needed to be brought back together
zip ties to hold it all in place while I fibreglassed the backside
then sanded and primered, this is the corner that had the huge crack, came out pretty nicely
paint paint paint
done with paint
some new lights in, and vents looking a little empty
so cheap *** chicken wire type fill for empty looking vent holes
and a garage door seal cheap *** lip added
and on the car
this is the repaired corner, a little rippling still visible, but I'm ok with it
the good side
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Re: '95 Subaru Impreza daily driver
ruh roh, failed water pump led to complete timing belt meltdown!!!
away she goes
the beast that I borrowed to pickup my new engine
and a brand new... ok 150,000 mile EJ1.8 at home
and torn down, we did new head gaskets and all new timing belts etc while it was out
very happy to find it so healthy after taking off the valve covers, you never know with a used junkyard engine
and while we have them off, a little cleanup
and some paint
intake runners getting the same treatment
the end result
time to pull the dead engine
a little side by side
engine bay scrubbed while it was empty
this shouldn't happen, some leftovers when I installed the new engine
fortunately, I had my dad taking photos as we removed the old one, a few minutes reviewing and I found the plug and the hose's home
little known fact, although identical in every other way, the FWD engine I replaced my AWD engine with had a different accelorator cable mount, so I had to build my own
I kept my car AWD, as I didn't replace my transmission
in and running!
and out on the street under its own power
and the old engine torn down, and rebuilt ready for resale, sold for only $100 less than I bought the replacement engine for
away she goes
the beast that I borrowed to pickup my new engine
and a brand new... ok 150,000 mile EJ1.8 at home
and torn down, we did new head gaskets and all new timing belts etc while it was out
very happy to find it so healthy after taking off the valve covers, you never know with a used junkyard engine
and while we have them off, a little cleanup
and some paint
intake runners getting the same treatment
the end result
time to pull the dead engine
a little side by side
engine bay scrubbed while it was empty
this shouldn't happen, some leftovers when I installed the new engine
fortunately, I had my dad taking photos as we removed the old one, a few minutes reviewing and I found the plug and the hose's home
little known fact, although identical in every other way, the FWD engine I replaced my AWD engine with had a different accelorator cable mount, so I had to build my own
I kept my car AWD, as I didn't replace my transmission
in and running!
and out on the street under its own power
and the old engine torn down, and rebuilt ready for resale, sold for only $100 less than I bought the replacement engine for
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Re: '95 Subaru Impreza daily driver
leaking steering rack, the best part was it was dripping oil directly onto the exhaust
out and rebuilt, all new o rings etc etc
and back in
out and rebuilt, all new o rings etc etc
and back in
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Re: '95 Subaru Impreza daily driver
I felt the grill needed a little updating. as going to the newer version grill would mean new grill, headlights, and hood, I tackled doign it on my own
the centre torn out
mock up
glass and bondo, lots of smoothing
daughter in on the game, saw me with the dremel and safety glasses and grabbed her own toys and glasses to come help
paint paint paint
done
and in place, but I felt the centre of the grill was not too empty
so I added an emblem left over from my RS
the centre torn out
mock up
glass and bondo, lots of smoothing
daughter in on the game, saw me with the dremel and safety glasses and grabbed her own toys and glasses to come help
paint paint paint
done
and in place, but I felt the centre of the grill was not too empty
so I added an emblem left over from my RS
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Re: '95 Subaru Impreza daily driver
wheels, set #3, I really liked the "gold" with the red, and selling my WRX wheels and replacing with these was actually a profit
making friends at the office
oh... and a new toy in the driveway
making friends at the office
oh... and a new toy in the driveway
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Re: '95 Subaru Impreza daily driver
hoods hoods hoods, I don't really like the RS hood scoop, so the plan was to replace with a legacy hood scoop
stock
legacy hood (not a direct fit)
and a second impreza hood purchased so I could hack to two together whilst still driving around a whole car
and some ms-paint shoppery to give an idea
I actually ended up selling the car before I finished this project. but as I still have the extra hoods I'm probably going to finish it and sell it or put it on my next impreza
stock
legacy hood (not a direct fit)
and a second impreza hood purchased so I could hack to two together whilst still driving around a whole car
and some ms-paint shoppery to give an idea
I actually ended up selling the car before I finished this project. but as I still have the extra hoods I'm probably going to finish it and sell it or put it on my next impreza
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Re: '95 Subaru Impreza daily driver
wheels again, set #4, from a forester S. too large, but I took them in trade plus cash for the last wheels
then sold the forester S wheels and sat on jackstands for a day while I picked up some legit RS wheels with nice tyres
and that is the end of my little tale
I never got a chance to finish the hood, and I always wanted to lower it, and I didn't finish the paint.
the new owner has since painted it, and put on factory lips and sideskirts, lowered and an exhaust. I think he plans a WRX engine swap too, but hasn't happened yet. clearly he isn't looking for the 30+ MPG the little 1.8 offers
then sold the forester S wheels and sat on jackstands for a day while I picked up some legit RS wheels with nice tyres
and that is the end of my little tale
I never got a chance to finish the hood, and I always wanted to lower it, and I didn't finish the paint.
the new owner has since painted it, and put on factory lips and sideskirts, lowered and an exhaust. I think he plans a WRX engine swap too, but hasn't happened yet. clearly he isn't looking for the 30+ MPG the little 1.8 offers
#17
Re: '95 Subaru Impreza daily driver
The RS wheels like right at home. Great work with the car, seems like a blast to drive. Seems like a lot of fun and experience to break down an engine and rebuild it yourself. Still haven't found the courage to do that yet :')
Regards,
Dan.
Regards,
Dan.
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