148 replies to this topic

[Nizza]

Hey fellas, ive bought a blue 98 GC8 and am in the process of saving some cash so i can start working on it.

Iv got the car on the road currently so's i can learn how to drive it properly atm but i was thinking of doing the build in stages as oppossed to one big hit (money being the major factor there). i was thinking :
1.Brakes and suspension (rims and tyres)
2.gear box (hopefully do with engine but dont think ill hav money to)
3.Engine and computer
4.body, inc cage, seats, strip out



now i have a few questions that ive researched but would like a definate answer from someone much more experienced than i am with the brakes and suspension part.

i want to use the sti brembos from the GD and up. from what i gather the front brakes are a direct swap, however the rears require an adaptor plate of some sort. instead of that id preffer to use rear hubs from a GD its self, ive read the knuckle fits exactly the same as the gc8's and that the abs sensor and hand brake can directly match up, is this true?

should i get the hubs from an sti or standard impreza? sti=R180 whereas standard impreza=R160 (which is what the GC8 has).
Is it worth doing the R180 conversion or are there plenty of strengthened R160 axcles kicking around? sti brakes fit R160's yeh?
Finally when i get around to buying the suspension will i be ordering different rear suspension? id assume not seeing as its almost identical but just want to make sure.

any advice and knowledge will be very appreciated

Pics of what it looks like now?

Cheers
Nick

[Scott]

doing the r180 rear end is worth it if you have the cash
it bolts straight up all you need to do is use the hand brake cables from a gd or use adapter handbrake rotors
have done this a few times and will be doing it again in the future

btw what motor are you using in the track car?
and what mods

i will be doing a gc8 with gd running gear in the near future so pretty keen to hear your specs

[fatcat67]

If cost is a major concern (track car so probably is) I would just get the rear dogbones to mount the rear brembo's. $AU is great at the moment so getting them from the states is reasonable.
Also I wouldn't get the adaptor rotor as they are heavier than the standard GDB rear rotor.
If I remember correctly the internal diameter of GC8 rear handbrake drum(all part of the one rotor) is 170mm and on the GDB is 190mm.
The adaptor rotor as mentioned before is a DBA rotor with a 170mm diameter brake drum. Problem is there is 10mm extra metal all the way around the inside of the rotor (heavy) where the GDB ones with 190mm don't have that.
Please someone correct me if I'm wrong on those diameters as it's only from memory.
It's cheaper and lighter to take your handbrake shoes to a brake lining shop and get them to put a thicker material onto the shoe to fit into the larger diameter standard rotor.
This way you get to use the standard gear you already have.
My 2c.

[Evil_VZ-T]

If your going brembos then i assume by rally you mean tarmac rallying. As the STI brembos will not fit under 15" wheels.

I went the option of the DBA brembo rotor with smaller 170mm hand brake and have used this method a few times before.

Looking forward to seeing how your build goes

[Nizza]

i like the idea of thicker brake lining, sounds like the go.

im shattered to hear 15's wont clear brembos, is this an offset problem or the actual dameter of the rim?? but yeh more that likely tarmac rally, idealy getting into targa tasmania (if i can pass their stringent criteria,but thats REAL far down the track)

was thinking of using JDM EJ207, acvs would be nice to have, however ill be consulting a mate of a mate of mine that worked as a wrx specialist at suabru and ask what my options are. these engines alone cost around the 3k mark, for a bit more cash ill see if i can get better performance from a hand built engine perhaps with more displacement. once again itll be months before this happens.

so R160 fronts and R180 rears, am i hearing this right? with the R180 rear conversion, this means diff will change aswell (GC8 RA diff R180's?) does the prop shaft stay the same?

id like to make the most quality/reliable car possible within reason, so money will only slow things down,not force me to do the bodgies.

thanks for the input fellas your all champions, once this cash gets a move on ill be updating. wheels and tyres are up first once rego on the friggin liberty is sorted

cheers
Nick

[Evil_VZ-T]

The caliper/rotor combo is too big to fit under 15" wheels. So that rules out most aust rally tyres. As for tarmac 17x7.5 or 8 is the way to go as you xsn run the popular 235/45/17 tyre.

As for the rear diff, you can go R180 by using the gc8 RA rear end, or bugeye STI hub/knuckle/backing plates while retaining your lateral arms.. This will allow you to use the bigger spline R180 shafts and of course the Diff. Your tailshaft should stay the same, worse case you would change the flange on the pinion. However in doing so you will effect the pinion bearing preload and this will require attention.

As for targa tasmania, you will have to read the rules to see what class you will be in and be aware of the changes and modifications you are elligible to do.

In my honest opinion you are better off buying a already built car with all the fruit. Www.my105.com

I think there is a maximum motorsports built wrx on there with everything for a good price.

-Lance

[Nizza]

i know ive seen these cars...there amazing and cheap. but building my own car from scratch is whats important to me at the moment. when i inevitably write this one off ill defenatly consider buying one already done.

as for now, im in the process of buying some wheels, BRAID WINRACE A wheels to be exact, altho my question is will these clear brembos?

ill be using the r180 hubs and brakes from a bug eye, so will a 17x7.5 et 48 rim fit.
i rang S&J auto and 'sean' rekons offset on braids is irrelevant, he said 8' would fit but wasnt sure about 7'. but surely offset is the main contributing factor concerning clearance of brakes???! using 8's would mean id have to roll the gaurds and im not sure if theyll clear the strut after new bilsteins go in, and also at this point in time make the car defectable for the period its on the road.

so my question is what width does a standard GD sti wheel have? and what is the offset. i dont want to fork out $1600 for wheels that wont fit.

cheers
Nick

[aekOne]

Gd (bug) sti = 17 x 7.5

[Nizza]

thanks aek

[Nizza]

ok boys rims should arrive in about a week and a half.

this is them, you likey?

[Nizza]

also rang up heasman bilstein today to enquire about coilovers. they have GC and GD adjustable ones for around the 4K mark, i asked whether they where the same but he told me they were two different order numbers, so chances are they are two slightly designs

id like them to be my next step seeing as the oem ones are rooted.

my question is should i get the GC ones. my theory is that if oem ones will fit a R180 hub the GC billy will fit R180 hub too even if its from a GD? yeh?

[Ben_20EJT]

i think the fronts will fit but the rear wont, the bolts on the top plates for the rear have different spacings. i put gcd shocks in my bugeye and had to change the rear top plates.

should be good to see this gc8 built. my old man is also building a blue 98 gc8 as a race car.

[Nizza]

i put gcd shocks in my bugeye and had to change the rear top plates.

u mean GC yeh?

[Ben_20EJT]

u mean GC yeh?

yer the gc, im still out off it from the long weekend hahah.

post some pics up of the build.

[Nizza]

yeh mate i will for sure, altho its gonna be a looong build the way moneys going atm

RDO's are the bomb!

[Ben_20EJT]

its gonna be a looong build the way moneys going atm

yer i know haha, dads just built a new motor for his after his did a big end bearing at the last track day.

[Nizza]

ok some progress!!!

rims arrived, i rubbered them up (just P7's for now) installed on the car. i noticed they scrubbed abit around hard corners when it was loaded but not a huge concern.

next step is suspension, im in the precess of getting PSS9's, bilstein heasman quoted me something like like 4K which i thought was reasonable till i had a look on the net.....there're everywhere overseas for $2000 or less, so now im just waiting ona reply to my email.

with the left over cash i might even be able to snap up a DCCD STi box with matching 4.44 diff!!!

my question is will the REAR hubs from a RA gc8 (which are R180's) fit brembos without modifying them??!!

any help much appreciated, pics of rims very soon just gotta head to the shops to get stupid camera cable thingy.

Nick

[Nizza]

Old rims...

new rims...

front and rear...

[Adam]

I like!

[Morgan]

Looks awesome! I like white on blue...

Plans to go lower?