Subaru Impreza GB270 Wagon
Discussion
Subaru Impreza GB270 Wagon No.17
Where to start... always been a lurker on Pistonheads and Readers rides has been the first sub-forum to check out whenever I login. Until now though I've never thought any of my steads particularly note worthy but perhaps now is the right time to enter the fray.
A massive mix of thoughts behind this purchase but hoping it can do a bit of everything. Give me something to tinker with, something that has a broader non-car person appeal, a solid aftermarket scene, fast and fun, still big enough for family duties. Obviously as a 90's child Scoobies hold a massive appeal (even if they are a bit council).
Got to be a wagon to suit family duties which restricted choices.
Started looking for just WRX Wagons as the imported STI's are rare, but then came across this in bargain territory and got over excited. With no service history and 160k on the clock it is a gamble, especially with the 2.5 motor, but I had to have it at £3k.
A week later and I'm on the train to collect this:
And at home:
I'll follow this up with the first impressions next. (hope this wasn't too much of a ramble.
Where to start... always been a lurker on Pistonheads and Readers rides has been the first sub-forum to check out whenever I login. Until now though I've never thought any of my steads particularly note worthy but perhaps now is the right time to enter the fray.
A massive mix of thoughts behind this purchase but hoping it can do a bit of everything. Give me something to tinker with, something that has a broader non-car person appeal, a solid aftermarket scene, fast and fun, still big enough for family duties. Obviously as a 90's child Scoobies hold a massive appeal (even if they are a bit council).
Got to be a wagon to suit family duties which restricted choices.
Started looking for just WRX Wagons as the imported STI's are rare, but then came across this in bargain territory and got over excited. With no service history and 160k on the clock it is a gamble, especially with the 2.5 motor, but I had to have it at £3k.
A week later and I'm on the train to collect this:
And at home:
I'll follow this up with the first impressions next. (hope this wasn't too much of a ramble.
Edited by ntbilling on Wednesday 4th September 10:25
Edited by ntbilling on Wednesday 4th September 10:27
For now the wagon has been hidden away in the garage until the lease is up on the V90, which gives me time to tinker 
On the test drive it seemed a bit low on performance and had a knock over speed bumps from the front. Then on the run home the EML came on for a cylinder 2 misfire while idling. Cleared it and it hasn't reappeared but it ran a little rough at idle.
As I'm not driving it just yet I thought it would be worthwhile getting all the serviceables done, along with new standard prodrive suspension and cambelt. Then I can trouble shoot any issues nowing the basics are covered.
To this end I started with servicing. Air filter was an easy swap from an oil covered foam item to a standard paper element. I've read that oiled filters can affect the running of the EJ engines in a number of ways but the standard airbox can also handle upto so my thinking is that a standard paper filter should do the job for my needs and I will just service more regularly.
Cabin filter next. I have a pic of the old item but best to say it was probably the original and was 100% black with dirty. Replaced for a clean item.
Oil and filter are yet to be done when I have time to jack it up and see what condition the oil is in. Also have new spark plugs to fit which will coincide with a compression test while I'm there. Fingers crossed that is all good.
Fuel filter has been replaced. Although I will mention that the part number I found (42072FE030 rather than 42072FE020) was actually for a newer in-tank filter than mine but the elements can be swapped over. Also found a Walbro 255lph upgraded pump already there , which means the one I planned on installing can be sold, but also makes me think that maybe some one might of mapped the car beyond the Prodrive stuff as I don't think the Walbro was standard on GB270's (correct me if I'm wrong). Either way it definitely needed a filter as the old one was completely black.
I've purchased some braided brake hoses and fluid but might send this to a garage to do as I only have one set of hands, but hopefully this will go some way to improving the brake feel as it has new disks and pads already, along with new tyres all round (ditch finders
)
Suspension refreshing. GB270 came with prodrive specific springs paired with standard shocks. So I have gone for KYB replacement shocks all round and then sourced new springs from Peter at PCA Dynamics. He has spec'd the exact springs from Eibach that prodrive used. I am then using new hardware to mount this all up. All of which I'm sure will show up the bushes next but at least I now the units are solid and Peter will also be setting up the geometry. All for the price of decent coilovers.
With that lot sorted I should then just drive the car and enjoy what prodrive thought was a worthy curtain call for the newage WRX. But... with uprated injectors, an uprated fuel pump, a catlless up-pipe and improved inter-cooler all standard on these it seems a waste to not to tinker a little. A milltek cat-back already improves the off beat rumble but a sport-cat downpipe has been acquired, and then it is only a used STI turbo away from remapping to 350bhp (or so I have read). Am I crazy for thinking this is an awesome idea after only driving 70 miles..... answers on a postcard.
On the test drive it seemed a bit low on performance and had a knock over speed bumps from the front. Then on the run home the EML came on for a cylinder 2 misfire while idling. Cleared it and it hasn't reappeared but it ran a little rough at idle.
As I'm not driving it just yet I thought it would be worthwhile getting all the serviceables done, along with new standard prodrive suspension and cambelt. Then I can trouble shoot any issues nowing the basics are covered.
To this end I started with servicing. Air filter was an easy swap from an oil covered foam item to a standard paper element. I've read that oiled filters can affect the running of the EJ engines in a number of ways but the standard airbox can also handle upto so my thinking is that a standard paper filter should do the job for my needs and I will just service more regularly.
Cabin filter next. I have a pic of the old item but best to say it was probably the original and was 100% black with dirty. Replaced for a clean item.
Oil and filter are yet to be done when I have time to jack it up and see what condition the oil is in. Also have new spark plugs to fit which will coincide with a compression test while I'm there. Fingers crossed that is all good.
Fuel filter has been replaced. Although I will mention that the part number I found (42072FE030 rather than 42072FE020) was actually for a newer in-tank filter than mine but the elements can be swapped over. Also found a Walbro 255lph upgraded pump already there , which means the one I planned on installing can be sold, but also makes me think that maybe some one might of mapped the car beyond the Prodrive stuff as I don't think the Walbro was standard on GB270's (correct me if I'm wrong). Either way it definitely needed a filter as the old one was completely black.
I've purchased some braided brake hoses and fluid but might send this to a garage to do as I only have one set of hands, but hopefully this will go some way to improving the brake feel as it has new disks and pads already, along with new tyres all round (ditch finders
)Suspension refreshing. GB270 came with prodrive specific springs paired with standard shocks. So I have gone for KYB replacement shocks all round and then sourced new springs from Peter at PCA Dynamics. He has spec'd the exact springs from Eibach that prodrive used. I am then using new hardware to mount this all up. All of which I'm sure will show up the bushes next but at least I now the units are solid and Peter will also be setting up the geometry. All for the price of decent coilovers.
With that lot sorted I should then just drive the car and enjoy what prodrive thought was a worthy curtain call for the newage WRX. But... with uprated injectors, an uprated fuel pump, a catlless up-pipe and improved inter-cooler all standard on these it seems a waste to not to tinker a little. A milltek cat-back already improves the off beat rumble but a sport-cat downpipe has been acquired, and then it is only a used STI turbo away from remapping to 350bhp (or so I have read). Am I crazy for thinking this is an awesome idea after only driving 70 miles..... answers on a postcard.
Your cylinder 2 fault will probably be an injector fault if running rough at idle and the plug and coil pack change don't fix it. If it was cylinder 4 I'd have said ring land failure! Remapping a 160K 2.5 really is 'rolling the dice' if it's never been rebuilt but fair play to you for having balls!
I gave up on the 2.5's and went back to a 2.0
I gave up on the 2.5's and went back to a 2.0
I'm going to try and keep this up to date so anyone else searching for info might find something useful.
I now have a complete set of brand new shock units ready to go on and a full alignment booked with Peter at PCA Dynamics so I will report back when that is all buttoned up.
On the engine front I have just finished a compression test last night and on a cold motor the results came back at 120-110psi so from what I've read it seems healthy. However during the strip down I found the coilpack and spark plug on cylinder 2 to be different from the others.
This might be a 'fix' a past owner has tried or it could be the cause. Either way I have ordered a replacement oem coil and a full set of NGK plugs have been installed to give it the best start.
An oil change was done as well which lead to only about 2 litres being drained so that is something to keep an eye on as there should be 4.5 litres in a healthy engine.
Another week until it goes into daily duty but in a stroke of luck I have managed to get in touch with owner 2 of the past four, who has alot of history from the car and even a link to his for sale ad. This has helped alot and even saved me a timing belt as he had it done only 2 years and 15k ago. Can't wait to get the Subaru rumble out and about.
I now have a complete set of brand new shock units ready to go on and a full alignment booked with Peter at PCA Dynamics so I will report back when that is all buttoned up.
On the engine front I have just finished a compression test last night and on a cold motor the results came back at 120-110psi so from what I've read it seems healthy. However during the strip down I found the coilpack and spark plug on cylinder 2 to be different from the others.
This might be a 'fix' a past owner has tried or it could be the cause. Either way I have ordered a replacement oem coil and a full set of NGK plugs have been installed to give it the best start.
An oil change was done as well which lead to only about 2 litres being drained so that is something to keep an eye on as there should be 4.5 litres in a healthy engine.
Another week until it goes into daily duty but in a stroke of luck I have managed to get in touch with owner 2 of the past four, who has alot of history from the car and even a link to his for sale ad. This has helped alot and even saved me a timing belt as he had it done only 2 years and 15k ago. Can't wait to get the Subaru rumble out and about.
Just to help anyone running one of these I have now sold the car on to WBAC at a decent loss as it has been diagnosed with a cracked piston. Misfire was still there although only setting of the EML when idling warm. So much so that Mark @ TDR (top guy) could disconnect the cylinder 2 coil and it made zero difference. Coil, plugs and injectors were all checked and it used a litre of oil in 500 miles so it was a pretty cut and shut case as far as Mark was concerned.
There was no way I was going to drop a few grand on a rebuild for a car with 160k on the clock so it had to go.
I'm trying to add as much detail as I can as I have now found the wagon up for sale on eBay from a used dealer in Brum. I'm not sure it will sell for the price they have it up for (£6.5k) but should any one be searching these pages for its history I hope this helps.
I've now picked up a sensible Golf R that kind of brings the Impreza's ingredients into the 21st century and ticks all my boxes.
There was no way I was going to drop a few grand on a rebuild for a car with 160k on the clock so it had to go.
I'm trying to add as much detail as I can as I have now found the wagon up for sale on eBay from a used dealer in Brum. I'm not sure it will sell for the price they have it up for (£6.5k) but should any one be searching these pages for its history I hope this helps.
I've now picked up a sensible Golf R that kind of brings the Impreza's ingredients into the 21st century and ticks all my boxes.
Thanks for the link, I should of added it to my post.
I highly doubt the engine has been swapped in 2 weeks and unfortunately the fault isn't noticeable without having some experience of these cars or going over the car with a very fine comb.
I was gutted at having to sell the scooby and lose money but if I had paid twice as much in the first place I'd go mad. Hope the 12 month warranty is good.
I highly doubt the engine has been swapped in 2 weeks and unfortunately the fault isn't noticeable without having some experience of these cars or going over the car with a very fine comb.
I was gutted at having to sell the scooby and lose money but if I had paid twice as much in the first place I'd go mad. Hope the 12 month warranty is good.
Registration is the same on both AV57HWR
I had a look at Hawkeye Wagon but was put off by the engine failures, ended up getting an EJ205 Blobeye instead.
ntbilling said:
Just to help anyone running one of these I have now sold the car on to WBAC at a decent loss as it has been diagnosed with a cracked piston.
Did the car smoke badly on startup and also wondered if the earlier compression test could show up that one of the pistons was cracked?I had a look at Hawkeye Wagon but was put off by the engine failures, ended up getting an EJ205 Blobeye instead.
I just had a quick back and forth with the seller, supposedly it has been rebuilt... i strongly suggested he add that fact to the listing, as the history of the car is very much out in the public domain.
Remains to be seen whether he will, but at least it could help a prospective buyer.
Remains to be seen whether he will, but at least it could help a prospective buyer.
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