Edit**

I went back and found the original thread I started when I got my RX.

Didnt realize its been its been this long, what a journey. I'm combining some other threads to this about my upgrades and stuff.

I'll go back later and add the links to the original threads for reference.

 

The beginning:

 

After a year of waiting and hoping the owner wouldnt sell it to someone else or fix and drive it, I finally got the car I've been wanting. Black 89 RX Full Time 4wd with diff lock, LSD rear end, rear disc, etc. These are the beginning shots. As it progresses I'll be taking more pics. The engine was ran out of oil, so its got "some" issues. The thing got so hot, it melted the rear bumper around the exhaust pipe. I've already got the motor to replace it, and a spider intake also.

 

So, what do ya'll think? Is it a keeper?

Edited May 28, 201213 yr by Turbone

These are from the EA82T years and the many looks the car had over the years.

 

The EJ swap.

 

 

Stats:

89 RX with fulltime D/R tranny/diff lock. Tranny adapter from Rgyver.

Using XT6 flywheel drilled out to mate to EJ engine.

 

Had a few issues with original EJ install, had to reclaim old engine.

This is the install.

 

Heres a few pics of the work I did this round.

 

Stripped the intake and cleaned it

 

Cut off the heatshields around the headers. Had to on one side, just to get the nuts off the head Cut off the mounting points for them, ground them down and sprayed with hi temp paint.

 

Almost ready

Also had a broken engine mount, got that fixed.

Edited May 28, 201213 yr by Turbone

The HID projector mod.

 

We all know that the GL/Loyale lights are not the brightest setup around.

When I did my EJ swap I got about a 20% increase improvement from the updated charging system, but I wanted more. For about 5-6mo I contemplated and researched, looking at all the styles in current OEM systems. I was hoping I could make a factory system work, but nothing matched the GL bucket (go figure).

Then as my luck would have it, Mr Brat had a set of projectors he got off Ebay and decided to go a different route. I purchased the set from him and the real work began.

 

No, these are not 7 colors and are 6K bulbs.

 

I first had to find out how the projectors would fit in the buckets, so I had to separate the lens from the bucket. I did this the same way the new gen guys do their plastic headlights, put it in the oven......300deg for 25min.

It worked ok. The sealant, being over 20yrs old, is a pita to pull apart.

I cracked on lens trying to separate it, mostly because I didnt heat it long/hot enough. Then you need to clean off all the old stuff, another pita.

The projectors fit perfect. My main concern was that they might be to long and I would have zero clearance with the glass.

 

 

In order for projectors to work, you need a clear surface. The ridges on the inside of the OEM lenses are designed for 9004 halogen bulbs and to refract the light coming out, so it had to be ground smooth. I was planing on making a completely different lens at first, removing the glass and replacing it with plexi. I experimented with heating and forming, but it was hit and miss without the proper equipment.

My other option was to grind and polish the glass lens. I did a bunch of internet research on it and decided to give it a try. I had some glass polishing pads and polish I got from Griot's Garage and 3-4 different grits of 3M sanding disc. I used my cordless drill for starters. I made a circle that was somewhat bigger than the projector and got to work.

It was very slow going as I didnt want to overheat the glass and crack it.

I did start with a old headlight, I didnt want to ruin what I had on my car as they are the best I've found to date. I used a squirt bottle of water to keep things cool and went from the glass polish to eventually using rubbing compound. This got the heavy scratches and glaze off, then I had to use finer compounds like Mequires.

When I thought I had it clear enough I assembled it all and put it on the car for a test run. As you can see, theres quite a difference.

 

 

So now that I knew it would work, I had to make things faster/easier.

As it was, I was spending hours grinding and polishing. I'm serious......polishing these lenses - without screwing them up - takes a long time, I have at least 8-10hrs of work in each lens.

If it wasnt for the drill press it would have taken forever and I probably would have given up.

I had a old Craftsman drill press (that I've used once and its been on my patio for over 10yrs), so I drug that out and set it up. This cut at least a day or two off the job.

The process at work.

 

 

Besides the time involved with the glass, it was a pretty simple job.

Wiring is standard HID stuff, but I decided not to have the halo (blue) on with the running lights. I will wire it separate and use a switch - for show purposes (maybe).

 

Now that the projectors are done, heres were I make things over the top

These arent the projectors, obviously.

 

 

Hmmm, what do we have here?

 

 

LED strands. Very simple and easy to install......anywhere.

 

 

If you look at one of the pics above, you will see that I removed the turn signals in the bumper and replaced them with driving lights (can never have enough light for my old eyeballs). So I had to relocate the turn signals up the corner lights.

I had extra LED's (when buying, you need more than what it takes. A strand can be cut every 3rd LED). So it wasnt really that hard to make them work as signals.

 

Current setup.

 

 

Have more mods coming up soon, I'll be sure to post them here.

Will certainly be at WCSS14, so come by and check it out.

Such an awesome car, and great work too.

such an awesome car, and great work too.

 

+1

Current setup.

 

 

 

 

 

So if a fella had to choose...

both pics are "strangly arousing"

What a great thread.

Hey! You have those Headlight covers too! I have two sets, they are awesome for shows!

Love this car, pretty much the reason I bought mine even though I'm going a different direction with it.

 

Where'd you get those?!?

Ordered thru my work from BC. They are in Taiwan.

What the... Nice adjustable coilovers! Taiwan, thats a ways away :cool:

Wow, such a clean car

how are you doing your rear mounts? that's the only thing slowing me down from seriously considering c/o's on my wagon.

Using the stock top mounts, they need to be trimmed some.

When I do the install I'll take pics and notes.

Trimmed to clear the studs on the new top hats? Very interesting. Is it a one vehicle application, or did you have to mix and match fronts with rears so your car will ride level?

Trimmed to clear the studs on the new top hats? Very interesting. Is it a one vehicle application, or did you have to mix and match fronts with rears so your car will ride level?

 

I'm going by what Suberdave did on his coilover install on his wagon. They are completely adjustable, so theres no issue about riding level. Part of the point of coilovers is being able to adjust ride height.

I had to use 02 WRX coils up front and 05+ Legacy in the rear. The rear mounts need to be cut in order to fit the tophat of the coilover. The WRX tophats are bigger and the strut tower needs modification also.

Its not a bolt in application.

I wonder if the BC's go lower than the Ksports I had...

 

How low are you shooting for?

Still anxious to see what you come up with in the back too!

The fronts bolted right in, no fabbing required. I still need to fine tune them, I'm scraping the left front fender.

The rears were a little more involved and took some drilling. The bottom bushing is bigger on the BC's and the EA bolt is too loose. I pressed the bushing out of the EA shock and was going to do the same on the BC but it was messing up the polyurethane so I said screw it. I knocked off the capture nut on the bottom shock mount, drilled the hole out and used a bigger bolt. The EA top mount needed the bottom bushing cup cut off and then put on the tophat of the BC. That bolted up fine

I'm a little bummed on the back ones tho. I'm adjusted all the way down and its just a tad lower than what I had stock

I didnt take pics of the backs yet.

Get any pictures of the rear set up?