Kevin's 2.5i

[kevinblahh]

Hey so i've been here for some time, posted a few random threads with pictures but figured I would make a members journal. So first I started out with an 05 Ford Ranger. I went with this because I really didn't have any idea about what I wanted for a vehicle. Even with this I was already getting it dirty by driving down the power lines, sand pits, and playing in the snow. One year forward, I decided I wanted to be driving with a little more room, better gas mileage, manual transmission, and something just a little more fun. When I got the subaru, I was 18, all I really knew about subarus were wrx's. I wanted to get something new so I could rely on a warranty if anything ever went wrong, the insurance for a wrx was a bit too much so I looked into the 2.5i's. In the long run I wish I had gone with something used, such as a wrx or rs, but right now I can say I'm completely satisfied with my 2.5i. So I picked up an UGM 5MT 2007 2.5i, here it sits stock in June of 07:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/car/2660082_2_full.jpg
I was enjoying every second of my car from the time I picked it up from the dealership. I then started researching DIY mods on some forums, and decided to paint the headlights for my very first mod!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/car/DSC08316.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/car/DSC08320.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/car/DSC08331.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/car/DSC_0156.jpg
This is how they stand today, with the clear reflector bulbs, which I think make it look a lot better than with the orange bulbs. The next thing I looked into getting was an exhaust. I had gone with the stromung dualtip cat-back.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/car/DSC08618.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/car/DSC_0046.jpg
The cat-back gave off the perfect, not too quiet, not too loud sound, with a bit rumble. Winter was creeping ahead and I had looked into some rally armor products, which next I went with the RA mudflaps.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/car/DSC_0081.jpg

At this point I was very satisfied with my car. I was in the middle of my first year taking off from school, and I was just working. I was looking into some options for school. First I was looking at going to UTI/Wyotech, but really just thought I'd rather just keep something like that as a hobby, much like how I've done work to my car myself, rather than having it be an every day thing. Winter provided something more to do than be cold and miserable in the snow:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/car/snow/DSC08598.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/car/snow/DSC08609.jpg
Spring was getting closer and snow playing changed to sand pit playing:mrgreen:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/car/sandpits/27.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/car/sandpits/28.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/car/sandpits/29.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/car/sandpits/36.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/car/sandpits/50.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/car/sandpits/51.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/car/sandpits/53.jpg
Every day someone would tell me to wash my car and I was like "I got it like this on purpose, why was it?:p"
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/car/sandpits/61.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/car/sandpits/2-1.jpg
I then looked into going to school for photography up in boston, so I sold the parts off my car(wow, a bird just flew into my window as I'm sitting here typing this hahaha)then started trying to sell my car. During the time I was trying to sell my car I was thinking a lot more about school. I eventually decided to hold off on photo, and planned on going to community college close by, for criminal justice(which im doing now). This would allow me to keep my car because school was so close and I could continue to work to pay off my car. So now I was back to almost stock. I picked up a K&N Drop in filter:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/car/DSC08493.jpg
Then decided to pick up the kartboy ss, and bushings:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/car/DSC_0144.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/car/DSC_0147.jpg
After that some time went along and I tired a few different axleback setups that I really didnt like. I went to my first rally, STPR 08, where I had actually met vermillion and pigpen, and was just completely hooked on rallying:crazy::crazy::crazy:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/vacation/6-7-08/DSC_0025.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2352/2564922521_4daac79759_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3156/2565786534_a2b7f7e30e_b.jpg
After going to stpr I regained more interest in doing more to my car. I was thinking about getting a stromung cat back again, but didnt wanna shell out the money for it. So I researched uel headers, went with borla replicas brand new from ebay, random tech hfc, and a stromung midpipe:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/car/Photo0117.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/car/Photo0116.jpg
Right now I'm trying to find an axleback, I've been driving around with this setup for a few weeks and have been able to keep it quiet when I spot a cop haha, other than that it sounds pretty mean. So the dirt playing continues, and cleaning your car does help haha:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/car/DSC_0013.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/car/DSC_0004-1.jpg
Last week I ordered ra mudflaps again, put them on yesterday, and did the day time running lights delete:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/car/DSC_0142.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/car/DSC_0152.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3099/2705458274_7164c25b1e_b.jpg
Next week I have 3 items coming, preparing for the TSD, and Rallyx for RAL, I'll be sure to update when the items come, and hope to meet some DI members at this event! Care to guess what might be coming?;)
Update coming soon. (sorry for such a huge post haha)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/car/DSC_0010.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3001/2521647758_a038358ba0_b.jpg

[strat]

awesome write up!!

car looks great! sorry i missed ya at STPR. maybe i'll catch ya next year!

[kevinblahh]

awesome write up!!

car looks great! sorry i missed ya at STPR. maybe i'll catch ya next year!

when i first rolled into the wellsboro area i believe i passed you on the road, and we beeped and waved ahaha

[nordicskiah]

awesome!

nice HDR image at the end

[pigpen]

why did you have to replace your mudflaps? i love the shot of all that cake in your wheels...good stuff.

[kevinblahh]

why did you have to replace your mudflaps? i love the shot of all that cake in your wheels...good stuff.


i originaly sold the first set when i was gonna sell the car

[pigpen]

oh, i missed that part...got caught up looking at your pictures :D glad you were able to keep the car!

[kevinblahh]

haha me too, i feel like its coming along pretty well for what ive done to it, something special is coming friday too:)

[kevinblahh]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/DSC_0194.jpg?t=1217598108

care to guess whats inside each? bottom ones pretty easy, top one not so much haha

[pigpen]

ummm...one skidplate and one rear diff protector?

[kevinblahh]

one part of that is correct:)

[WRXCMM]

dude i'm glad you kept her...and this pic

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3001/2521647758_a038358ba0_b.jpg



is bad ass...:headbang:

[kevinblahh]

haha thanks.

[kylelikewhoa]

You've got a whole lot of dirty pictures. Around here, there isnt a damn place to go have some fun. Looks like down the Cape though, you have alot of places to play. Where do you go, if I may ask. I may be interested on spending a day at the Cape, getting dirty.

[Recoil]

Haha, Nice pics :) love the shots of the headlights in my oven...Photo cred to me on the sandpits shots :) Nice write up, homie.

other than that it sounds pretty mean
Lies. pretty mean=obnoxiously loud, dont listen to him!! although, obnoxiously loud=ultra bad ass

[kevinblahh]

Right now im looking into a light bar, I saw a setup on an 08 that looked like something I'd like on my car, this is a basic set up I came up with:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3027/2762188766_0f052218eb_b.jpg

the only thing im not sure about is how to secure the bottom part, possibly bend under and attach it to the bumper some how? anyone have any suggestions? This is the idea im working off of:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/car/2372193305_69f1ef2823.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/car/2373031050_fa89bc535b.jpg

[04caliwrx]

nice work with that HDR man it looks bad!

[saturn]

hey that's my car... !

just a note, you may want to look into a different way of mounting it. that setup wobbled a LOT for me.

I'm going to redo it using pipe (instead of flat steel) but some sites out there have pre-made setups for the 07 models (rallylights.com, jackson rally, rallyinnovations, etc)

[pigpen]

kevin, have you looked for the different DIY/picture thread setups people have created over the past year or two here? there aren't too many, but there are a few that have quite a few different ideas and different amounts of wobbliness.

[saturn]

http://www.dirtyimpreza.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2926

[kevinblahh]

haha wow didnt even realize you were on here.

i looked through the lightbar thread, i like the jackson one but as far as i know they arnt that far into production with them yet? and I dont see many setups for my car either.. i do like this one though

http://carl-s.smugmug.com/photos/235068335-O.jpg

[saturn]

your best bet is the rallyinnovations (http://www.rallyinnovations.com) bar...

http://rallyinnovations.com/product/lightbar/sti06/sti_1.jpg

unless you weld one yourself. I'm probably going to make something similar to this but more centered around the upper grille...

[kevinblahh]

see thats the thing i dont have a welder, and i dont really like the looks of the rally innovations that much

[MConte05]

Whoring my light setup:

http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/9008/dsc0533hu2.jpg

[kevinblahh]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3181/2779365347_a79253ce2c_b.jpg

[kevinblahh]

So, the 2 updates were the window decals for rallyx, and a primitive skid plate, made to hit the borla replica headers, only issue i had with putting them on was the front left mounting hole was bent to the side, so a few hit with a hammer and everything went on smoothly:)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/DSC_0216.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/DSC_0218.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/DSC_0219.jpg

[pigpen]

nice...now i expect to see some more dirty pics soon!

[saturn]

I need a skid plate! probably going to end up building my own. anyone know if the older ones (legacy, forester, impreza) fit the 08 imprezas?

[kevinblahh]

haha yea hopefully be able to get some at rallyx this weekend!

also, almost forgot haha
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/DSC_0228.jpg

[pigpen]

^^^ sweet! i also like the STPR calendar...where did you grab that?


I need a skid plate! probably going to end up building my own. anyone know if the older ones (legacy, forester, impreza) fit the 08 imprezas?

1. not the right place to ask.
2. i don't know, but my guess is that the holes wouldn't line up even if the plate fit in the right place.

[kevinblahh]

^^^ sweet! i also like the STPR calendar...where did you grab that?

if your referring to the poster for stpr, i got it at the special stage at tioga county fairgrounds, if your referring the the actual calender, its a bmx calender haha

[pigpen]

i'm an idiot...i thought they were both calendars. :crazy:

at any rate, good luck running the rallycross with all your new gear!

[kevinblahh]

My first rallyx this past weekend, I had an awesome time. Friday night of the weekend was the road rally which recoil and I got lost on half way through, but eventually made it back to the New Hampshire Motor Speedway, to run 2 laps on the track, at night, with only headlights! met a few members from the forum, and camped out. Saturday we drove around on some backroads of Belmont NH. Found a nice road with a jump in it, went off doing about 40 and got probably a foot of air, luckily, the skid plate took the damage:muhaha:
Then we just watched a few races at the track. Sunday was rallyx time. As kathy asked me, Yes, I'm now addicted. After the first run I just wanted to go again right away and try to make it a little quicker than the first time. I'm still waiting to see the overall results but in our class, I made 9th out of 10, which im pretty excited about because I didnt come in last :lol2: Overall the day was a lot of fun, I learned a bit about rallyx and got some helpful hints from some drivers, deffenitly cant wait until the next one, right now, I'm looking to get a set of 15" wheels to wrap some good tires around for rallyxing:mrgreen::waving:

heres a few pics:

Trunk Chicken FTW
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/RAL%202008/IMG_2519.jpg
Chillen with Recoil, Bampalo and Blix
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/RAL%202008/IMG_2535.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/RAL%202008/IMG_2546.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/RAL%202008/IMG_2548.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/RAL%202008/IMG_2558.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/RAL%202008/ZED_7667.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/RAL%202008/ZED_7814.jpg


As the next rallyx gets closer I'm gonna look into getting a camera mount.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/?action=view&current=MOV08704.flv

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/?action=view&current=MOV08702.flv

[Recoil]

all the coolest guys have green shorts, get with the program, homie.

[MConte05]

You jumped the car a foot and didn't break the lip?

:bs:


:p

What is your catback now? Looks like a straightpipe? Any resonators in there?

[Bampalo]

What is your catback now? Looks like a straightpipe? Any resonators in there?

It sure is a straight pipe, He started the car up saturday morning while i was still asleep and I just about **** all over the inside of my tent. :pissed:

[kevinblahh]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/DSC08712.jpg
picked these up for $120, just need to clean them up and paint them then get some tires! anyone know a good way to get corrosion off of the wheels?

[saturn]

sandblaster (since you're painting them)?

try CLR maybe? brillo pads?

[MConte05]

Kevin,

How do you deal with the excessive noise? I would love to run my car as a straightpipe but I know I would get pulled over rather quickly.... Especially since I drove home from the last RallyX with it. Too F'in loud....

[Blix666]

for the wheels...get one of these http://www.hardwarestore.com/media/product/169847_front500.jpg

my winter wheels looked equally bad or worse than those and they came sweet.

you can pick these up @ The Deephole for prolly like $9 and they go right onto any drill. make sure you pry those wheel weights off before prep and after painting, have whoever mounts your tires use the inner wheel weights. when i had the outer rim weights on my steelies, they would move and/or fall off during rallycrosses.

[kevinblahh]

Kevin,

How do you deal with the excessive noise? I would love to run my car as a straightpipe but I know I would get pulled over rather quickly.... Especially since I drove home from the last RallyX with it. Too F'in loud....


lol i couldnt find a muffler in time for the rallyx so i just had a piece of pipe made up to be put on there, just a temporary fix, if i cant find a used stromung before the next rallyx, im gonna buy a stromung from boxer so i wont have to deal with any exhaust stuff again haha.

and to blix, conveniently, i have one of those in my basement haha. What i'm gonna do though is get the flat/leak in the one tire fixed and run the tires for the next rallyx so I dont have to spend money soon(i need to get a muffler)theres still some tread on the tires left so i might as well run them, how to do the wheel weights work, as in, how do you get them back on?

[rollo]

I think Blix was saying to pry off the outer ("clip-on") weights, and then have the wheels re-balanced with the inner type weights (the ones that stick on to the inside of the wheel). Honestly for rallyx it probably doesn't make any difference if the weights are on or off, as long as you're changing wheels there at the event.

[Blix666]

^exactly. what i've found though, is sometimes you need to leave the event to go to the store for food or what not or get gas, and it's nice to be able to drive semi-normal on those trips without worrying 'bout damaging your wheel bearings due to off-balance wheels.

[Ty Ty]

I don't balance anything I put on the Audi. It just flings the weights anyway. The Jeep flung all of it's stick on weights at the Winter Challenge TSD this year as well.

[kevinblahh]

alright well im just gonna pry them off and be whatever haha. im cleaning the wheels right now and there coming along pretty good, the flat tire in the picture does have a leak so im gonna have to get that taken care of, the other 3 are filled up and havent gone down, im gonna check them again tonight then tomorrow to make sure, ill post some pics of the wheels cleaned up in a day or two, then hopefully ill start preping to paint, im most likely going to go with black, any suggestions on other dark colors?

[kevinblahh]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/kevinblahh/Photo0134.jpg

the poor little outback i got the wheels from :)