Subaru Audio and Multimedia Progress

P&P Car Sound Specialists have completed running the power, mulitmedia and audio wiring in the Subaru. Here PJ strips the Subaru passanger sun visor so that he can position the Audiovox LCD screen on to it.


Once PJ has set the Audiovox screen/mirror/light combo in place he strips the driver-side visor too. Both parts will be sent to CustomEiss for fabriaction and upholstry to match the rest of the interior.


Richard fits the Audiovox navigation/rear-view camera mirror into place and tests the system works. The small camera will only be fitted when the car is back in JHB as it needs to be moulded into the new rear bumper of the Subaru.


PJ positions and mounts the Audiovox DVD player into the glove compartment so that the front passanger has easy access for changing disks. The DVD player will be viewable on any of the Audiovox screens in the Subaru thanks to the Audiovox audio/video switching unit.


Barney continues to work on the boot panels which will make up the Rockford Fosgate woofer enclosure as well as the housing for the Lightning Audio amplifiers, capacitor and RF 3Sixty processor. Barney's task is complex as he needs to consider access to the spare wheel as well as the water bottle for the Subaru intercooler spray.

Aquamist Gives the Subaru a Safety Injection

Most people have heard of Aquamist, but few know what it actually does. The South African agents, Guru Performance Parts, were kind enough to deliver the unit that will be fitted in the Subaru STi to my office today.


The main function of Aquamist is to suppress detonation caused by high temperature and pressure developed within the combustion chamber when the effective compression ratio has been taken beyond the auto-ignition point by either a turbo or a supercharger - phew!


Basically, water (when pumped through the above Aquamist Injection System) has a high latent heat content - this is extremely effective for controlling not only the onset of detonation but also the production of oxides of nitrogen in modern day engines.

Water injection will not increase the power normally. But in countries like South Africa where the ambient temperature is very high, injecting water will lower the inlet charge temperature producing a small power increase.


In addition to the actual pump, the Aquamist Injection System has several other important components. A float switch is linked to an LED light through a relay to tell you when water is running low. Another light linked to the same relay indicates that the system is active. A pressure switch is mounted in the vehicles manifold and set to activate at a specific boost pressure. When the manifold boost pressure reaches the preset level, the relay activates the pump which sprays water into the intake of the motor. Tada!

Take a Seat

The new one-of-a-kind seats for the Subaru have been completed by CustomEiss. As you can see they are stitched together perfectly using new leather fabrics. The CustomEiss logo is embedded into the head rests.


The door panels have arrived from P&P Car Sound Specialists for CustomEiss to begin fabricating. Panels of fabric are cut to size and the applied to the panels...


The first attempt looks great with the carbon-print leather along the top, alcantara in the centre and napa leather being used for the bulk area of the door.


Various designs will be made up so that the door panels and seats match each other - CustomEiss is aiming to have the full interior design following through the various components that are being altered.


Let us know what you think by adding your comments to this post!!!

Sewing the Seeds of the Subaru Interior

CustomEiss cuts leather panels with close attention to detail as they enter the final stages of the interior upholstry of the Subaru.


The hand brake cover is wrapped in napa leather and the standard pink stitching is changed to a rich blue colour.


The gear knob is also hand finished to match the other interior components' new black and blue colour scheme.


CustomEiss have converted the steering wheel into a piece of art! The main portion is napa leather and the grip areas are wrapped precisely in carbon pattern leather. Stitching has been changed to blue and the addition of a rally-style-pointer at the twelve o'clock position makes this a one-of-a-kind product.


Materials for the seats are sprayed before they are applied to the seat frames and stitched into place.


The completed front seat cushion shows how CustomEiss has managed to convert a good looking standard seat into a great looking custom interior feature.


Detail shows the level of quality and attantion the STi is getting while in Port Elizabeth.


The arm rest between the two front seats is also custom fabricated so the black and blue theme runs throughout the entire interior of the car. The end result will leave people wondering "Why didn't the car come like this?!".

Custom Seats and Steering Wheel

CustomEiss is working full speed ahead on the interior of the Subaru STi. Below you can see the first test fitment of the new steering wheel which now sports blue stitching and a blue rally style "pointer" in the twelve o'clock position.


Vincent developes the rear seat backrests of the vehicle by tracing shapes of leather from the original seats.


Drucilla sews the traced material cutouts together to form the back cushions of the vehicle.


The rear seats take shape and look distinctly different to the originals after they have been improved for cumfort.


Below is a close-up of the leather and detailed stitching that CustomEiss offers. Wow!

Bass Baby!

The standard Subaru STi boot is fairly large and houses the spare wheel under the floor carpeting.


Richards team at P&P Car Sound Specialists need to custom build the boot in such a way to allow access to the spare wheel, rear light panels (for changing bulbs) and the tool kit.


The bass of the Rockford Fosgate sub woofer is mounted and a supawood mock-up enclosure is built to position the speaker in the vehicle for optimum sound.


For best effect, Richards team mounts the speaker so that it is facing into the Subarus cabin between the rear seats. Having the sub woofer fire in this manner will optimise the bass and allow P&P to custom build a visually appealing boot installation that doesn't intrude on functionality and practicality of the vehicle.

Custom Fitting Speakers

In the past week, P&P has been pre-fitting the Rockford Fosgate 6.5 inch mid range speakers into the Subaru door panels before they make their way to CustomEiss for fabrication. First on the agenda is the removal of the door storage pocket which will remain plastic when the entire door panel is completed.


Richard decides that he would like the Rockford Fosgate mid range crossovers to be seen in the door panels - the devices are traced and the shapes are cut out.


The crossovers are pre-fitted in the door panels to make sure they fit correctly.


A custom spacer is built for the speakers that will be mounted in the rear door panels - this will ensure they are mounted flush with the panels.


The last step in fitting the speakers into the doors is building custom mounting rings.


These supawood rings fit inside the door panels creating a rigid structure to secure the speakers to.


This will eliminating the speakers from vibrating and rattling once they are mounted into the door panels.

Sound Steps to Getting Wired

Kyle feeds the last of the speaker wire to the doors where the Rockford Fosgate mid range speakers and their crossovers will be housed.


The products are pre-fitted to make sure they fit firmly into the door panels without any rattles. Once completed, the panels will be sent to CustomEiss for leather upholstry and fabrication.


Richard from P&P Car Sound Specialists ticks off another step on his in-depth "to do" list. Now that the door panels have been finalised, Richards team can complete the remaining elements of the car in time for the arrival of the upholstered parts from CustomEiss.


The boot is measured for the custom installation that will house the Rockford Fosgate Woofer, Capacitor and 3Sixty Processor. The Lightning Audio amplifiers will also be incorporated into the boot which needs to be practically designed in order to allow access to the spare tyre.


Barney finalises the various power and speaker cables required for the components that will be placed in the boot of the Subaru.

CustomEissing the Scooby

CustomEiss, in Port Elizabeth, begins fabricating the smaller items from the interior. The new gear knob, steering wheel and handbrake will all sport blue stitching and a mix of black leather fabrics.


Designers begin tracing leather shapes that will be used to replace the original STi seat panels.


The new leather panels are stitched together and lined up on the original seats.


A closer look reveals the high level of stitch quality that CustomEiss is delivering on the Castrol Edge Extreme Makeover.

Sound Deadening the Subaru

Now that the Subaru has its interior fully stripped, the boys at P&P in Jeffreys Bay can begin working on the audio, multimedia and navigation systems.


Rockford Fosgate Power cables are run to areas where gadgetry will require electricity in the STi


Barney begins to "sound deaden" the Subaru doors on both the inner and outer metal skins. This effective processess will silence any panel vibrations in the car and also reduce exterior road and wind noise substantially.

Pump it Up!

As the Extreme Auto Makeover Subaru will also be getting a tweak in the performance department, a few measures need to be taken to ensure the reliability of the car. NXGen has provided a Walbro fuel pump that needs to be fitted to the car before P&P completes the customised boot. Once performance parts are added and the car is tuned using the ECUTEK engine manegement software, the motor will require more fuel - the Walbro fuel pump upgrade will deliver this. Below is the stock fuel pump after it has been removed from the STi: