Misc. subaru questions

[michael everson]

I have some misc Subaru questions for all you experts out there. I know very little about these cars, so maybe i could get some answers here.

What bolt pattern are the hubs for the donor range of 2002-2007? I see aftermarket wheels with 5/100 and 5/114 Which is correct?

2.5 motors. Are they a direct replacement for the 2.0?

Brakes? Are there performamnce brakes that are a direct replacement? Are STI etc a direct swap? On the ford stuff lots of people swap out the stock brakes for the larger Cobra brakes. Cheap alternative to aftermarket. Just wondering if Subaru is the same way.

Seats? are the all the same basic bolt pattern?

Gauge cluster. Do they make a white face unit?



Just looking to upgrade my donor as I drive it with parts that I can use in my Kit.

Thanks Mike

[mydream]

Hey Mike
Nor an expert at all but I can answer one question, and wait other people response as they are great questions.

The WRX bolt pattern is 5x100 and the STI are 5x114.3

T

[Red Tag]

Mike,

Here's some quick feedback on the wheels and motor. . .

The WRX used both wheel bolt patterns, depending on the year and whether it is an STI. Unless you have a 2005~2007 STI, you have a 5x100 wheel bolt pattern (or PCD - pitch circle diameter) with a +55mm offset (distance from the wheel mounting face to the imaginary center plane of the wheel). Only the 2005~2007 STI had the 5x114.3mm wheel bolt pattern. Here's a handy visual reference:

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2239019

The 2.5 motors were in the 2006+ MY cars. I'm not sure what you mean by direct replacement, but you might want to do a search on hybrid wrx motors, and that would give you more information.

Red Tag

[Mechie3]

2.5 motors. Are they a direct replacement for the 2.0?
--They are the same physical size. You will need an ECU that matches the heads though as the sensor types and locations are different on the 2.5 and the 2.0. 06/07 WRX came with the 2.5L stock. If you use an 06 engine, get an 06 ECU (makes it easier, there are other ways).


Brakes? Are there performamnce brakes that are a direct replacement? Are STI etc a direct swap?

IIRC, the front STI Brembos will bolt on, the rears require an adapter (unless you have an 06/07). However, the 06/07 already have upgraded brakes (search WRX 4 pot, they're red brakes, easy to spot on google image search). Brembos are overkill for a 1800lb car.

Seats? are the all the same basic bolt pattern?
Should be. Lots of guys swap out STI seats for their stockers.

Gauge cluster. Do they make a white face unit?
Not that I'm aware of. Most of the subaru crew actually dislikes white faces. There are mods to chang e the lighting color though.

[BrandonDrums]

I actually run a 2.5L on my 2005 wrx using the 05 wrx ECU. All you need is a cam sensor adaptor and you can simply unplug the AVCS solenoids. I'm about to rebuild and I'll actually be plugging the oil passage on the cams, swapping the AVCS cam gears for regular solid WRX ones as well.

AVCS is great but only nets about 10-15 extra ft-lbs on the lower end which just because it's larger displacement it already has more low end torque than the USDM 2.0L. Swapping to a 2.5L even without avcs is still an upgrade and tons of guys do it.

That being said, for the 818 you're going to have the engine harness and ECU out anyway so my suggestion is to make sure you have an AVCS capable ECU for the 2.5 because the only reason guys skip AVCS is because swapping the engine harness and ECU is a big project on a wrx. On the 818 you're stripping the car entirely so you don't have to deal with the super pesky re-install.

[narkosys]

Speedhut makes replacement gauge faces for the subaru: here (http://www.speedhut.com/shop/c/40:21//)> though i am going to go with a complete new set white with a blue glow at night (screw the subie crews). Also I need the speedo in metric which is why I am going custom gauges :P

P

[Mechie3]

Speedhut makes replacement gauge faces for the subaru: here (http://www.speedhut.com/shop/c/40:21//)> though i am going to go with a complete new set white with a blue glow at night (screw the subie crews). Also I need the speedo in metric which is why I am going custom gauges :P

P

I meant, you likely won't find many because there wasn't a big market for them unlike Hondas, where you can find tons. Those you listed only work with the 02/03 since the tach and speedo switched places in 04.

It lookst like those require you to pop off the needles. I know of 1 person able to do that and recalibrate the gauges afterwards. Most people end up with needles that aren't quite right. Make sure if you pop them off you find a way to indicate and realign the needles afterwards.

[Xusia]

Seeing that gave me an idea (being the cheapskate I am): You could take a screen shot (edit it to pretty it up or make whatever changes you wanted), and print it out on white card stock. You'd get pretty much the same thing for free! It might not last as long, but it would be free. If you really wanted something other than card stock, I'd bet you could get a printing shop to print the images on something better; still at a fraction of the price.

[VD2021]

I meant, you likely won't find many because there wasn't a big market for them unlike Hondas, where you can find tons. Those you listed only work with the 02/03 since the tach and speedo switched places in 04.

It lookst like those require you to pop off the needles. I know of 1 person able to do that and recalibrate the gauges afterwards. Most people end up with needles that aren't quite right. Make sure if you pop them off you find a way to indicate and realign the needles afterwards.

If the opening in the gauge face is large enough for the base of the needle to fit around there is no need to remove them. You can carefully maneuver them into position.

If not, I wouldn't interrupt them. It really sucks when your instrument's calibrations are off.

[VD2021]

Seeing that gave me an idea (being the cheapskate I am): You could take a screen shot (edit it to pretty it up or make whatever changes you wanted), and print it out on white card stock. You'd get pretty much the same thing for free! It might not last as long, but it would be free. If you really wanted something other than card stock, I'd bet you could get a printing shop to print the images on something better; still at a fraction of the price.

That technique was how it was done prior to people then companies creating faces for direct replacement/upgrade. Photoshop, cardstock and different colors of translucent sheets.

[NonProfit]

You could take a screen shot (edit it to pretty it up or make whatever changes you wanted), and print it out on white card stock.

Google "diy guage faces" and there is a lot out there. http://www.revlimiter.net/mods/gauges.php is a great place to start.