Project RSTi Unicorn

[Dewey]

Original thread: http://www.rs25.com/forums/f145/t183...i-unicorn.html

Project RSTi Unicorn

I’ve been the proud owner of an Arcadia green 2.5RS for several years now. However, last year, I started experiencing the symptoms of a headgasket malfunction. I considered many options for my future transportation. I often thought about selling the car and financing a new one, but I knew that if I went that route, I would miss the car and regret selling it. So, I decided to go all out (for a college student) and do an RSTi engine swap.

Before I bought the motor, the previous owner (Kaos22b) refreshed it!









Over the last two summers, I have dreamed day in and day out of doing this swap, so in preparation and wishful thinking, I revamped my little garage to accommodate my big dreams.



Of course, I needed a research station to make sure everything could go as planned…



After a few bloody knuckles, spurts of profanity, and 3 (yes THREE) broken breaker bars, the engine, interior, and accessories were removed.



When I bought the car!





Swap Wiring!




Progress Pictures!




Goodies!



Old motor and new crossmember:



I’ll update periodically, and when I get new parts for the car. I also love to drive at the track. I have driven at Infineon, Reno/Fernley Raceway, and Thunderhill. I began autocrossing when I was 17 and fell in love with cars and racing from then on.


To do list (as of 9/16/12):

Install Perrin 22mm Swaybar brackets (sway is loose at the moment)
Modify FMIC to fit better
Make better radiator brackets
Wire Radiator Fans, speed sensor, and neutral switch
Install OEM boost solenoid
Connect misc mechanical pieces to top of motor (fuel lines, tee the lines that typically run across intercooler, etc)
Install BOV
Install Downpipe (aftermarket no name)
Install Powersteering Reservoir
Install Powersteering Rack-lines
Finish putting the interior back together
Fill power steering fluid and coolant
Install Hotchkiss rear sway bar
Start the car!
Custom Black Suede for Door Cards and Roof Liner

Done Already:
Power:
Walbro 255 Fuel Pump
Kartboy Shortshifter and Bushings
Group N Heavy Duty Transmission Mounts
Group N Heavy Duty Engine Mounts
Install Turbo Legacy crossmember
Finish running the front harness through the engine bay
Install GMS Catback
Put EJ257 in
Have clutch fork reinforced

Handling:
Koni Struts
Koni Yellow Adjustable Inserts
Group N Top Hats
Prodrive P1 Springs
245/45/17 Bridgestone RE01 Tires
WRX Rear Swaybar
Whiteline Steering Bushings


Exterior:
17” Rota Boosts
Version 5 Front Bumper
Pink "i" Badge (was originally purchased for my hawkeye)
Black Side Spats

Interior:
V3 Front Seats
Alpine 9856 Head Unit
Alpine 850/2 Amp (subwoofers)
2x 12” Kenwood Typhoon Subwoofers
Kenwood 400/4 Amp (speakers)
6.5” Infinity Kappa Component Speakers (front)
5.25” Infinity Kappa Coaxial Speakers (rear)
Autometer EGT Gauge
Autometer Boost Gauge
Autometer Oil Pressure Gauge
Kartboy Shiftknob

[michio10]

Nice man! nice to see the progress on your car!

idk if its just me but i saw one the person on pic in a tacoma around the convention center... i drive a black peanut eye WRX with CF hood and trunk

[Dewey]

From 9/10/12 - I guess I forgot to post this here..


I got a ton of work done in the last few days.
Sorry I haven't posted any updates; I have been too busy working on the car!

Motor is IN! I also started to mock up the intercooler, radiator, and some others..





Also, adding to my list of parts, I got a 24mm Hotchkis rear swaybar with Whiteline bushings and endlinks!

Enjoy! More to come soon!

[Dewey]

Fun pics added.. these were taken in 2010 in the Black Rock Desert





And, a little food for thought.. Don't try to rally a Four Runner..



:facepalm:

[Dewey]

Here's the cluster opening ceremony as promised. Sorry about the shaky camera.
2.5RS with 2005 STi motor and cluster swap. First attempt to get the cluster working. - YouTube

[ScottyS]

Neat - and I love the 4Runner photos too.

[Dewey]

So, I ran into some big issues... I need a 1999 -2001 transmission in order to get my speed sensor plug to line up. The 1998 has a magnetic speed sensor, and they won't match up to the electrical sensor in the 05 sti harness without replacing the trans. Since a 6mt is out of the question for now, does anyone have an RS transmission laying around that I can trade or buy?
-Also posted in the classifieds.

[Dewey]

I got my car started two days ago, but I am having trouble with the tune. I have been trying to access the rom with a Tactrix cable, but I can't read or write. However, I can view parameters. This leads me to believe that there is a tune already written to the ECU from an AccessPort or with ECUtek.

Does anyone have an AccessPort that is compatible with an '05 STi? I would need you to unmarry it from your car, allow me to marry it to mine, then immediately unmarry it from my car to put it back to stock. Then obviously you would be able to remarry it to your car.

Unfortunately, until I do this, I am too uncomfortable to drive it, so I would be willing to give anyone who can come over to help me with this $20. For no more than 30 minutes of time.

Please help!

I can't wait to be able to drive my "new" car!

[100_Percent_Juice]

My car had an accessport map on it and then my AP took a crap. I was able to reflash a new map with my laptop. I can't remember how exactly I did it but it wasn't too hard.

[Dewey]

Juice, did you have to use the Cobb dongle and connect via RaceTuner or AccessTuner or any other Cobb proprietary software?

If I can do it with just a Tactrix cable, I may be in luck...

Thanks for your input!

[sperry]

Originally Posted by Dewey

Juice, did you have to use the Cobb dongle and connect via RaceTuner or AccessTuner or any other Cobb proprietary software?

If I can do it with just a Tactrix cable, I may be in luck...

Thanks for your input!

I think all you need is the cable... It's just hit or miss. It takes several tries to get it to work, and there's a risk of bricking the ECU.

'Course my experience was with EcuTek on an older 16bit '02 WRX ECU. YMMV.

[Dewey]

Originally Posted by sperry

I think all you need is the cable... It's just hit or miss. It takes several tries to get it to work, and there's a risk of bricking the ECU.

'Course my experience was with EcuTek on an older 16bit '02 WRX ECU. YMMV.

I definitely cannot risk bricking the ECU, I simply cannot afford to replace the ECU, immobilizer, and key.

The problem that I am running into is that the car just doesn't run right, I have checked multiple times that I have installed everything in the engine bay correctly, but there is a slight possibility that I hooked something up wrong.

If the ECU is locked with an EcuTek map, what would I have to do to get it back to factory? Scott, would you be able to help?

Thanks!

[sperry]

Originally Posted by Dewey

I definitely cannot risk bricking the ECU, I simply cannot afford to replace the ECU, immobilizer, and key.

The problem that I am running into is that the car just doesn't run right, I have checked multiple times that I have installed everything in the engine bay correctly, but there is a slight possibility that I hooked something up wrong.

If the ECU is locked with an EcuTek map, what would I have to do to get it back to factory? Scott, would you be able to help?

Thanks!

Well, there's not much I can help with... I was just in a similar situation. Look familiar?

http://www.seccs.org/forums/showthread.php?p=144190



Here's what Heather told me after the fact:

Originally Posted by Ms Heatha

It wasn't working at first. After the first couple tries, it wouldn't do shit. But after a wee bit, it slowly started to communicate with the ECU. We hopped onto NASIOC to see what we could find. A guy posted that for some reason after 20+ times it worked. So we just sat there a played with it over and over again. After 20+ times, it worked! Oh, and you have to make sure that you have 12 or more volts. It would only work if I had my radio, lights, etc. off. So....yeah!

Heather

But keep in mind, all that was on an '02 ECU. No security immobilizer, 16bit, v1 tactrix cable and old version of RomRaider/OpenECU.

[100_Percent_Juice]

I used the latest version of Tactrix cable and ECUflash. Now that I think back, COBB might not have been doing the map lockout thing when I installed their map on my car years ago.

[Dewey]

So, after a long talk with the guy that sold me the motor and ECU, I think I may have a coil pack or spark plug issue. He said it ran fine when he started it up to test it. Maybe I hit a coil pack when installing the motor or something. I obviously still need to find an AP to get the map back to stock, because my CEL isn't coming on. I know it should, because I don't have my rear o2 sensor plugged in.

I'll post with more details later.

Thanks for all your feedback!

[100_Percent_Juice]

Yeah, you need to get the Cobb map off there if you are going to pass smog. My Cobb map was blocking the CELs for various things and when my ECU was reset, the Cobb map was keeping those tests from completing and my car would not pass smog because it came up as "not ready".

[A1337STI]

Originally Posted by Dewey

So, I ran into some big issues... I need a 1999 -2001 transmission in order to get my speed sensor plug to line up. The 1998 has a magnetic speed sensor, and they won't match up to the electrical sensor in the 05 sti harness without replacing the trans. Since a 6mt is out of the question for now, does anyone have an RS transmission laying around that I can trade or buy?
-Also posted in the classifieds.

Oh crap. i do, i literally have an 00 transmission laying in my storage shed. (sans center diff and some assembly)

if you just want to swap the speedo sensor that would work. as my car needs the mechanical sender anyways it would make more sense for my spare transmission to have that part already installed.

text me, cause i may not check back on here in a timing manor

775-901-0992

[Dewey]

Originally Posted by A1337STI

Oh crap. i do, i literally have an 00 transmission laying in my storage shed. (sans center diff and some assembly)

if you just want to swap the speedo sensor that would work. as my car needs the mechanical sender anyways it would make more sense for my spare transmission to have that part already installed.

text me, cause i may not check back on here in a timing manor

775-901-0992

I'll contact you fairly soon. Since replacing the sender would require opening of the transmission, a straight trade may work better for the two of us.
Thanks!

[A1337STI]

we'll chat more offline, but my 00 tranny will require some re-assembly, i bought it for $100 , its missing a center diff, and its been partially taken apart (rear section with center diff is off) and i seem to recall its only loosely bolted together... but i could be mistaken on that.

its still wrapped in the garbage bags we used for delivery (trunk of a wrx) hehehe

[ScottyS]

Update?

[SpecB#127]

In for updates. Looks like a great project!