New WRX SL PPP Wagon: what’s next?

[WickedWizzzard]

Sooooo….after some back and forth with the dealer, we agreed on a partial refund, enough for me to do the top end. But after a deeper examination of the whole car I decided to do a full engine rebuild with Neil Case at Slowboy Racing. Furthermore, the wagon is getting a brand new EJ207 short block and new clutch. Suspension and breaks are good enough and will have to wait. Poor thing evidently was run on a shoestring budget, but deserves a second chance and should be a fun project.
Picking it up on Monday, looking forward to being reunited and begin breaking in the new engine. Pic of the engine after heads installed.

[Cambs_Stuart]

Always good to see a WRX wagon! It's been a few years since i had one, but it's one of he few cars I've owed I really regret selling.
This old thread was a inspiration for mine. It's just a really good OEM+ build.

https://www.scoobynet.com/members-gallery-5/100484...

This thread, done with much less skill and a lower budget, but more blood, sweat, tears and swearing shows my wagon:

https://www.scoobynet.com/projects-40/1031303-2005...

[Drummer_DL]

As a fellow WRX wagon owner I'll also pop my head in to say welcome to the club

Do you mean you're both rebuilding the EJ205 block already in there, and building a new EJ207 to go in, or just replacing the current block with a built EJ207? Looking forward to seeing how you get on, I had my EJ205 rebuilt to standard spec by Subbus last year and so far other than a coil pack dying on me it hasn't put a foot wrong. Even with the standard 221bhp it never fails to make me grin like an idiot when out on country roads!

[WickedWizzzard]

Cambs_Stuart said:

Always good to see a WRX wagon! It's been a few years since i had one, but it's one of he few cars I've owed I really regret selling.
This old thread was a inspiration for mine. It's just a really good OEM+ build.

https://www.scoobynet.com/members-gallery-5/100484...

This thread, done with much less skill and a lower budget, but more blood, sweat, tears and swearing shows my wagon:

https://www.scoobynet.com/projects-40/1031303-2005...

I know it’s been a while, but wanted to say thanks for those two links. Have read them through and it’s super helpful. You can read below how I have been getting on.

[WickedWizzzard]

Drummer_DL said:

As a fellow WRX wagon owner I'll also pop my head in to say welcome to the club

Do you mean you're both rebuilding the EJ205 block already in there, and building a new EJ207 to go in, or just replacing the current block with a built EJ207? Looking forward to seeing how you get on, I had my EJ205 rebuilt to standard spec by Subbus last year and so far other than a coil pack dying on me it hasn't put a foot wrong. Even with the standard 221bhp it never fails to make me grin like an idiot when out on country roads!

Hey. Apologies for the delay, life got in the way. So, to clarify, I just replaced the original EJ205 short block with a brand new EJ207 short block, an S20C to be precise. Keeping the original heads and all the ancillaries. Used Cosworth gaskets and ARP head studs. Naturally used the opportunity to replace belts, water pump, oil pump, thermostat, filters, plugs, you name it.

Literally yesterday the car was in for the first major service after the first 1000 miles of the new engine. Don’t drive it much so took me about four months to run the engine in. And it drives so sweet.

[WickedWizzzard]

Further update. Apart from the engine (read above) I have been refreshing the car inside, a couple of touches outside and to the engine bay. Just some detailing and a few tasteful upgrades.

Found a set of OZ Prodrive 18s that I really liked, so went for the upgrade. Changed the feeling of the steering a bit, but feels good and the ride is still very comfortable.



Also polished the headlights, resprayed a few black bits like wiper blade arms and some engine bay brackets, refurbished the steering wheel, put a new gear shifter.

But I think the best upgrade has been a brand new center console I found from ICP, dark grey originally from the STI, together with a new double din head unit. That was a fun project and so worth it.



Last but not least, got rid of the old sigma alarm and replaced with a new Vodafone cobra.

Now I’m broke …

[Cambs_Stuart]

Good work! I I think I had that knob on my impreza.

Who built the engine for you?

Hope you get a lot of miles of fun from it and no more big bills for a while!

[WickedWizzzard]

Cambs_Stuart said:

Good work! I I think I had that knob on my impreza.

Who built the engine for you?

Hope you get a lot of miles of fun from it and no more big bills for a while!

Neil Case at Slowboy Racing near Brands Hatch did the engine.
Yeah, fingers crossed nothing major for a while.

[Cambs_Stuart]

WickedWizzzard said:

Neil Case at Slowboy Racing near Brands Hatch did the engine.
Yeah, fingers crossed nothing major for a while.

Slowboy have a good reputation. I haven't used them, but some Essex based trackday friends have and really rate them