My (partial) donor is in my garage :)

[JAubin]

Found this locally on Craigslist: 2002 WRX Sedan, 79k miles. Hit in the front pretty bad, enough that the passenger side cam gears are broken, belt is toast. So without looking any further the pass side has bent valves, most likely both. I went and looked at it and passed, but then thought more about it and figured for the right price it could work as a partial donor after parting the motor out.
Picked it up for $1650 delivered to my house. My plan involves selling off the motor and some other parts, and I'm going to pick up a V7 EJ207 to replace it with. I imagine parting the motor, turbo, exhaust out should get me in the $1,000 area, and after selling some other parts off it (CF hood, etc) I can at least pay for the donor cost, and still be close to the $5k mark with the "new" motor.
After tuning it for 93 octane probably won't do much else to it, I think 280ish HP will be ludicrous anyway :)

Oh and some pics (sorry quick cell phone variety) 177491775017751

[Xusia]

Nice find! The rest of it actually looks to be in really good condition.

[metalmaker12]

My donor looked like that but with no motor for 2k so I got screwed lol

[JAubin]

Yeah I felt like it was a good deal, but a lot about it still makes me nervous, ie considering the condition of the car and the mods on it, I have a feeling it wasn't taken care of very well. Hopefully the transmission is ok, but I guess I'll have to crack it open anyway for the LSD install, so I'll find out if the synchros are in decent shape.

Oh, forgot to mention, I'm still really hoping to see what FFR comes up with for a hardtop or Coupe. If I had the money for everything right now I would probably be signed up and getting a kit next spring, but since I have parts to source and a need for a bit more cash before I can afford to get the kit, I'll wait a bit and see what the news is...after of course the team gets production rolling smoothly, takes a deep breath, maybe a few days off, and then jumps into Version 3 - 818C (???)

So much to do, but seriously can't wait to really dig into this. I would be doing it now, but a bit too much other stuff going on. Luckily I'm not in a rush.

[Movieman]

Yeah I felt like it was a good deal, but a lot about it still makes me nervous, ie considering the condition of the car and the mods on it, I have a feeling it wasn't taken care of very well. Hopefully the transmission is ok, but I guess I'll have to crack it open anyway for the LSD install, so I'll find out if the synchros are in decent shape.

Oh, forgot to mention, I'm still really hoping to see what FFR comes up with for a hardtop or Coupe. If I had the money for everything right now I would probably be signed up and getting a kit next spring, but since I have parts to source and a need for a bit more cash before I can afford to get the kit, I'll wait a bit and see what the news is...after of course the team gets production rolling smoothly, takes a deep breath, maybe a few days off, and then jumps into Version 3 - 818C (???)

So much to do, but seriously can't wait to really dig into this. I would be doing it now, but a bit too much other stuff going on. Luckily I'm not in a rush.
Sometimes you just have to follow your heart and jump in. Doesn't look like a bad deal at all. Good luck!

[Bob_n_Cincy]

Found this locally on Craigslist: 2002 WRX Sedan, 79k miles. Hit in the front pretty bad, enough that the passenger side cam gears are broken, belt is toast. So without looking any further the pass side has bent valves, most likely both. I went and looked at it and passed, but then thought more about it and figured for the right price it could work as a partial donor after parting the motor out.
.]

Jaubin
I bought an NA impreza that a crash smashed the right side timing belt sprocket. It had 1 or 2 bent valves in each cylinder. 17784 I replaced the sprocket, belt and all 16 valves and seals. About $500 with top engine gasket set from rockauto. It's running great, My son finnished 4th of 20 today in novice class autocross.
Bob

[JAubin]

Bob, sounds like you were able to get that motor running without too much into it, nice work! I'm 90% going to go sell off the motor, but if it doesn't look too bad I may just rebuild it. Mostly depends if there's any damage to the shortblock, and/or head damage beyond the bent valves. Have to tear into it before I really decide, but I wanted to make sure I had a path that didn't involve replacing valves and a shortblock.

Did a bit of work on the car this morning, started removing the bodykit on it...held on with 3" drywall screws (seriously?) took off the hood, and also discovered a factory subwoofer. Nice, a few more $ there.

[longislandwrx]

took off the hood, and also discovered a factory subwoofer. Nice, a few more $ there.

Nice, drywall screws and a subwoofer under the hood.

[JAubin]

Heh, to be fair they also used deck screws in some spots.

Got a few more things removed, and have a bunch of parts up for sale now. Exhaust is actually a pretty nice piece (APS 3" catless). Bonus is that a lot of people are interested in exterior parts (bodykit, wing, tinted aftermarket tail lights). Fun things I've discovered!
-One bad wheel stud, barely put any pressure and the lugnut spun off...because it was held on by like 2 threads! YIKES
-One low-grade fastener used on the caliper bracket. Yeah not a good place to gamble with a home depot bolt...not sure how they found an M12X1.25 as that's a non-standard size...
-One torn piston dust boot on a caliper, probably rebuild them anyway, bead blast, and put some caliper paint on them.
-Missing screws everywhere...nothing terrible yet, but the interior has definitely been apart and was thrown back together hastily.
-Replace stock speakers with cheap 6.5" ones that were a different bolt pattern...solution? You guessed it! Drywall screws.

So I pulled off the steering wheel airbag and was thinking "I'm not using this and it's not light"...does anyone make a cover that bolts in where the airbag + cover normally sit? I would just say pull it apart and just put the cover back, but it looks like they used one-way fasteners on it to prevent that sort of thing, and the frame of the airbag is what the screws thread into. Wonder if we could get custom empty covers and add an "818" logo on it... ideas besides just buying a new steering wheel?
18097

[Xusia]

Wonder if we could get custom empty covers and add an "818" logo on it... ideas besides just buying a new steering wheel?

I've wondered that as well. Here's hoping!

[Silvertop]

......... Wonder if we could get custom empty covers and add an "818" logo on it... ideas besides just buying a new steering wheel?
18097

Now there's a neat idea! Or maybe with the Factory Five Logo?)

[wleehendrick]

I have my donor's original wheel, but no airbag/cover, so I might be interested in this. My current plan is a Momo or OMP wheel, or perhaps the one in the prototypes, which I assume will be offered by FFR as an option.

[longislandwrx]

I think you might be better off with an aftermarket wheel. for the price someone might charge for this item (and considering people would probably end up using it to hide the no airbag)

A very decent small diameter wheel can be had for little money.

[wleehendrick]

Yeah, that's what I've been thinking, although Momo's are pricey, there are cheaper options for a nice sporty wheel. I really like the M-sport wheel in my wife's BMW 1, it's small diameter and thick and makes nearly every other production car steering wheel feel like an old pick-up truck's in comparison. Although a tiny formula style wheel would look badass, without power steering, I don't want to drop the diameter too small. I'd really like to know the dimension for the wheel in the prototypes.

[07FIREBLADE]

I actually want to get a new style wheel of the newer wrx. With audio controls. And fab a new badge for it. Also plan on integrating done audio system into this car. Most likley an android tablet and some 6.5. Im looking unto the DAMD wheel or prova wheel. Gonna mess with my donor wheel airbag and try and pry the Subaru badge off.

[07FIREBLADE]

I actually want to get a new style wheel of the newer wrx. With audio controls. And fab a new badge for it. Also plan on integrating done audio system into this car. Most likley an android tablet and some 6.5. Im looking unto the DAMD wheel or prova wheel. Gonna mess with my donor wheel airbag and try and pry the Subaru badge off.

[JAubin]

Got some more done on the donor. Got the motor apart and verified basically every valve was bent to some degree. Adding insult to injury there looked to be contact between valves and pistons on #1 and #3. On the upside the oil came out in really good shape, and the short block spun really smooth. Sold the SB and turbo today, picked up a few things for the build including an STi gauge cluster, and got some seats! Picked them up for an awesome deal, with OMP 6 point harnesses, and side mounts. They're currently on recaro sliders for a Mustang, but I'll probably just mount them fixed anyway. Cobra Imola Pro one is std size, one is the "GT" I'm pretty small so I'll be using the Std for the driver's seat, and figure the GT size will be good for passengers. I had originally planned on getting a matching set, but I'm not sure how many people I know that would fit into the standard sized seat comfortably. So far I've sold $1300 in parts so my donor cost me about $350. Of course still a lot of parts I need...

18603

[metalmaker12]

Got some more done on the donor. Got the motor apart and verified basically every valve was bent to some degree. Adding insult to injury there looked to be contact between valves and pistons on #1 and #3. On the upside the oil came out in really good shape, and the short block spun really smooth. Sold the SB and turbo today, picked up a few things for the build including an STi gauge cluster, and got some seats! Picked them up for an awesome deal, with OMP 6 point harnesses, and side mounts. They're currently on recaro sliders for a Mustang, but I'll probably just mount them fixed anyway. Cobra Imola Pro one is std size, one is the "GT" I'm pretty small so I'll be using the Std for the driver's seat, and figure the GT size will be good for passengers. I had originally planned on getting a matching set, but I'm not sure how many people I know that would fit into the standard sized seat comfortably. So far I've sold $1300 in parts so my donor cost me about $350. Of course still a lot of parts I need...

18603
Ahhh I remember those donor days, lol keep up the fight.