The Bomber... Just another Impreza?

[frayz]

Cheers everyone.
Much appreciated

[frayz]

Bomber got a new setup today.
Finally starting to find a setup I like. Ill drive her for a bit and make some tweeks to the dampers, possibly raise the rear ride height slightly. Then maybe a few slight alterations on the day.
Should be fun





I'm no racer so don't care about posting my setup:

KW Variant 3 dampers
Ride height front 350mm
Ride heigh rear 335mm
Bump front 7
Rebound front 7
Bump rear 7
Rebound rear 8

Front 22mm ARB soft
Rear 22mm ARB hard

Caster 6.1 degrees
Toe front -0.10min
Camber front 2.3 degrees
Toe rear -0.20min
Camber rear 2.3degrees



On the way, 4th gear roll on at approx 50mph. (Vpower only 525bhp)

http://youtu.be/fRmhzMffIqA

[frayz]

Something I've been meaning to do for a while but not got around to it.
Made up a little polycarbonate under vent shield for when the weathers bad. Initially the polycarbonate one was to be used as a template for either aluminium or carbon. But since fitted I think this looks quite cool.
Spaced from the vent so still allows heat to escape while protecting the motor from the bulk of rainwater when stationary. The depression created above the vent keeps water out on the move.
Held in with some nice alloy M5 button heads to keep the look neat.

[frayz]

Zero traction in 1st gear, hooks up in 2nd.
525bhp, no LC or ALS.

http://youtu.be/MDW5VlmaGjA

[frayz]

Gave the old girl a scrub up ready for a drive out with the Pistonheads boys last Sunday. .





The results of demonstrating antilag on the grass.



Another great shot of her at Paul Stephens by Nick Johnson.



Video of a brisk getaway.
http://youtu.be/KH6nbvnsP4E

Teaser clip of our drive out. Full video coming soon.
http://youtu.be/uy623C1XoYs

[frayz]

Thanks for all the kind comments guys, really appreciated. It's been an 8 year love/hate affair and I still toy with selling it to buy something NA, RWD and "special".
Unfortunately many imprezas these days have been modified to death and ruined by cheap tasteless mods. Some may argue I too have done the same. But Im pleased to see most can see the direction I'm trying to achieve with it.

The vid above is on her 1.9bar Vpower 525bhp/480lbsft map.l and was nice to see it was plenty enough for keeping with an LP640... Certainly below big vmax style speeds.

Full video of our day to come.

[frayz]

We had an external mic linked to the Go Pro mounted under the scuttle. So yes the sound is amplified but in all honesty, not that much from the real thing. Her induction note is very aggressive.

[frayz]

The scoop does nothing other than circulate fresh air into the engine bay. I could remove it but the scoop is synonymous with the imprezas silouette. So I won't remove mine.

[frayz]

Cheers again, il post the full drive video once our man is done editing it all together.

[frayz]

djneils98 said:

love the car (i got a standard bugeye wagon) and the mods look serious quality but when I see cars like this I can't help wonder how much they cost and what could have been bought, car-wise, with that money instead.

Realistically to build a replica of this without the man hours I've done probably over £60k.
But please bare in mind that's over 8 years. The numbers are crazy I know, and yes I'd much rather a 911, but its something I always wanted to do and have done it all myself.

I don't drink, I don't smoke and I don't shove gear up my nose, so the way I see it...

A 40 a day smoker over the last 8 years would have spent over £40k and have ruined health and nothing to show for it.
I have a car which is unique, my health and if I broke it could sell it for reasonable return should I need to.

So although it cost me a lot of money, I don't owe a penny on it, she's all mine and I can mothball her in the garage should I decide I want to.

Easily justifiable in that context to me.

[frayz]

Not offended at all. You asked a valid question and I felt it deserved a reply.
Maybe so that others who think along a similar vein can understand the reasons people like myself build cars that cost in many cases more than the car should ever have spent upon it.

[frayz]

Full Pistonheads drive video is now live.
On boards include, The Bomber, LP640, F40, RWD Vtec mini, FQ360 and E90 M3.
Enjoy.

http://youtu.be/sWr9uRd4Hec

[frayz]

That's Adams E90 M3.
That V8 sounds absolutely godlike with his mildly modified OEM rear box.

[frayz]

I believe they cut open the OE rear box and wrap the perforated tubes within before welding it back up. Basically makes the rear silencer straight through. Then welded back up. All looks completely stock but sounds lovely and not OTT IMO.

[frayz]

Well after 9 years my cars worn gold wheels of some sort.

It's was time for a change so I took quite a big punt on these. Always anxious of the murdered out black on black look. But I must say, so far I quite like it.
So far I think it makes the car look pretty brutal even when stationary. Also swapped to small stone guards rather than full mudflaps for a less rally look.

I need to get these Goodyears off and my own tyres on, and tempted to change the colour.

What do we think?

RAYS Volk Racing CE28N 18x8, ET44 ltd edition diamond black.

Sorry for the quick phone pics, I'll get out and take some good ones soon as I can.











Kaylan mini stone guards

[frayz]

Centurion07 said:

Nope. Gold wheels and rally flaps back on please. Thank you.

Sorry dude, I know I've broken a heap of Internet hearts by selling the speedlines. But after 9 years on gold wheels I had to change.
These were the ONLY upgrade IMO.
Compomotives 18x8 = 13kg
Speedlines = 9kg
CE28N (forged) = 7kg.

I was tempted to change the colour but the more I look at it the more I like its "harder than a coffin nail", "murder you from 500yds" looks. Lol

[frayz]

C7 JFW said:

What a great car!! I nearly ended up purchasing an Impreza shell after reading your two work in progress threads but managed to resist and opted for a Skyline instead.

Keep going Frayz, it's an outstanding project and the attention to detail absolutely makes the car.

Do you really find the change from Goodyear Eagle F1s to Michelin Pilot Sport worthwhile?

Yes the Michelin Pilot Super Sports are absolutely superb.
Took her out for a quick drive with the Goodyears just to have a feel of the new rims and she would light up all four in 2nd. In the dry!
Would break traction in 3rd too if I really provoked it. My Michelins only really spin up in the damp/wet.

[frayz]

Thanks to everyone else's comments too

[frayz]

Had the car up on stands as the wheels were getting the Michelins put on.
Naturally the new Volks got clayed, polished and waxed.
Glad I did as they came up pretty nice.





While she was up on stands I decided to drop the arch liners and give her a good scrub. Dropped the discs off to clean them up too. The front calipers are getting an overhaul this winter and the rear Brembos are getting sold.




However a mishap with the pressure washer meant I managed to rip some paint clean off my front fog cover.



With that done I figured they would need re painting anyway so decided to redesign the intake ducts up front for something a bit more aggressive.

So the covers have had the chop and will get all new designed ducts grafted in.
You'll see they have been cut inline with the flutes on the Prodrive covers.



To be continued....

[frayz]

A bit more work stripping the car of gauges.

All the Defis are now sold and so are the steering column mounted wideband and act.
The dash will be all coming out for a refresh soon anyway so wasn't bothered about the mess. Lol



All out and tied up.



Thanks to Tim @ JTi for the superb service and the replacement Toucan and sensor that will be going in.