Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Customised Boot Nears Completion


Richards team at P&P Car Sound Specialists have been working full speed ahead to have the Subaru's boot installation complete for collection. The Rockford Fosgate woofer enclosure is finally sealed and assembled.


A panel housing the two Lightning Audio amplifiers is placed against the enclosure and features a unique badge-shaped window that exposes the back of the Rockford woofers magnet. The blue neon inside the woofer enclosure as well as the standard blue illumination of the amplifiers gives the back panel of the cusom boot a unique glow and space-age feel.


The custom amplifier panels that were upholstered in blue alcantara are applied to the installation that is wrapped in genuine black napa leather.


Richard had the badge-shaped window further customised by having the P&P & RF symbols laser-cut into the glass.

Monday, March 19, 2007

Upping the Current in the STi


Due to the abundance of audio, video and multimedia products we've crammed into the Subaru STi, the standard battery needed to be swapped out for something a little more... powerful. Kinetik HC Power Cells are used in the "Worlds Loudest Vehicles" and provide a very low ESR and high energy density. We opted to use Kinetik Power Cells as they are acclaimed for being the most powerful, reliable and compact car audio power cells on can buy.

Sunday, March 18, 2007

Custom Boot Installation Underway


The woofer enclosure has been completed by P&P Car Sound Specialists. The face cone of the Rockford Fosgate 15 inch woofer will be seen when the arm rest in the centre of the back seats is pulled down.


Inside the boot, the amps are positioned in a custom back wall. The install is designed in such a way that it gives access to the standard spare wheel.


Richard cuts a custom panel he has designed and built to cover the two Lightning Audio amplifiers.


The capacitor has been moulded into a custom panel - one of many that will fit together tightly to form the complete boot installation which is taking shape very quickly...


The custom fabrication is nearing completion. The capacitor and amplifiers all illuminate blue. The 3Sixty processor has been hacked by Richard to do the same. The badge-shape cut-out will allow the magnet of the Rockford Fosgate woofer to be seen in the centre of the installation. Once all the items have been set in place, the parts will go to CustomEiss for upholstry and covering in complimentary leather and alcantara materials.

Friday, March 16, 2007

Panasonic Head Unit Slides into Place


The Panasonic CQ-VD6503N head unit has been selected for the Castrol Edge Auto Makeover project. The product is touch-screen operated for most functions. All you need to do is touch the screen and the intuitive graphical user interface will display clear, color graphics and text that let you "touch and choose" what you want - very easy to use.


The double din head unit, which arrived at P&P Car Sound Specialists this week, features a 6.5 inch screen with DVD player and can play back other sources in the Subaru or be used as a source itself.


The Panasonic screen also has a gunmetal trim which matches the Subaru OEM centre console - it will be wired into the system before it is snugly fitted into place.

Monday, March 12, 2007

Tailored Subaru Door Panels


Today I received images of the latest door panel designs for the Subaru STi. CustomEiss, who employ a bunch of perfectionists, have finally settled on a design that they believe is "the one" - and I tend to agree with them!


The main segment of the door makes use of the same blue alcatara used in the seats, steering wheel, gauge cluster and sun visors. The "arm rest" segment is moulded in carbon-style pressed leather with blue stitching. The top segment of the door panel is finished in smooth black napa leather.


As you can see, the blue alcantara contrasts beautifully with the Rockford Fosgate speaker grill and crossover making these doors unique, stylish and one-of-a-kind!

Video Timelapse: Unpacking Chargespeed Body Kit at Creative Rides


This video was recorded at Creative Rides when the Chargespeed Wide Body Kit originally arrived. We unpacked it to make sure all the parts had arrived in good order before they are sent to to be prepped, painted and fitted to the Subaru.

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Prepping Chargespeed Wide Body Kit for Prepping


The Chargespeed Wide Body Kit, imported by Creative Rides, was delivered to Sportech in Modderfontein today for paint and fitment preparation.


I unpacked the kit from the shipping boxes and laid them out in the workshop for the second time - I removed the protective padding so I could see the parts in all their glory this time round.


The front fenders are wider than I expected them to be. The indicator hole matches the stock Subaru fender, but the three air vents really set this panel apart - these will be visible from the rear angle in front of the driver and passenger doors.


After unpacking the front bumper and the side skirt I was able to balance the front fender in place to give me an idea of how aggressive the Chargespeed conversion is. The panels fit together beautifully, forming the new shape of the STi.


I positioned the rear door panel and the rear fender together to get an idea of how the Subaru will flair out towards the rear - it's dramatic! The standard wheel arches will need to be cut with a plasma cutter for these parts to fit into place properly and allow sufficient room for the custom 19" wheels.


The two-piece rear bumper, which most drivers will be seeing, gives the Subaru a bulky and sporty look with its carbon fiber diffuser. Like the boot lid, its quality is exceptional!


The Chargespeed fiber glass (FRP) rear wing completes the kit with a carbon fiber top segment. The wing (which is synonymous with Subaru) is fitted further back than the standard wing, it will hang over the boot lid to give the car a GT appearance.


I was handed a wrench by a busy Sportech employee and told I would need to dissemble the carbon fiber parts from the ARP before prepping could begin. I got to work on the four-piece front bumper, removing the bottom segment which is made up of two side pieces and a central carbon fiber lip.


The carbon fiber lip on the Chargespeed wide body kit has a beautiful "Chargespeed" emblem embedded into the black weave.


Next I removed the rear diffuser (which also features the "Chargespeed" emblem) from the rear bumper as well as the top beam of the rear wing, separating all the fiberglass pieces from the carbon fiber so Sportech can proceed with prepping the FRP for paintwork and fitment.


Lastly I laid out all the parts of the Chargespeed wide body kit to show you exactly how many parts will be fitted to the Subaru STi - there are 22 pieces - the bonnet, front scoop and boot lid brings the total to 25 pieces of Japanese beauty!

Thursday, March 8, 2007

STi Gets Eibach Pro-Street Flexibility


The Castrol Extreme Auto Makeover Subaru is nearing the second phase of its transformation - performance. This not only includes power and tuning, but handling - possibly the most vital element in modern vehicles.

This week, the Subaru was taken to East Coast Dyno Tech in Jeffreys Bay by Richard from P&P Car Sound Specialists to have it's new Eibach Pro-street suspension fitted. It was essential that this be installed before Richard can complete the customisation of the vehicles boot. East Coast Dyno Tech were selected due to their high level of expertise and advanced workshop which includes an all-wheel dyno.


The next level of high performance suspension technology, Eibach tuned coil-overs, will be used in the Subaru STi. The system, made up of Eibach ERD Racing Dampers and ERS Racing Springs, is used in top-level racing series all over the world including Formula 1, NASCAR, CART, IRL, Super Touring Car and the World Rally Championship.


The rust-free stainless steel products were laid out in the workshop before the car was hoisted up so the fitment and setup of the suspension could begin.


Jakes from East Coast Dyno Tech begins the process by removing the nuts from the top mounting point of the original front suspension in the engine bay.


The next step is removing the bolts that secure the bottom mounts of the suspension to the steering knuckle - these are found behind the brake calipers and wheel hub.


The quick adjustable Eibach coil-overs are then bolted into the same position as the stock setup.


The difference in quality is easily identified when the car is hoisted up. When lowered on the ground, the only way to identify the upgrade is through the visual stance of the vehicle that can now have its ride heigh and the corner weight of each individual wheel adjusted for precise flexibility on both the street and track.

Let the Games Begin

Putting a games console into a car is perceived by many to be a simple task - it is not, especially if you want to do it properly! As xbox 360 is a partner in the Castrol Extreme Auto makeover, it makes obvious sense that we're going to be using the console in the STi...


P&P Car Sound Specialists have addressed several issues while planning the installaton of the console, namely; Heat, access, wiring & aestetics. The xbox has a very large air intake with a fan as well as two extractors on either side of the console to keep it running at a low temperature. The unit also requires 220V power, so an inverter is being used to step up the cars ordinary 12V power supply.


After alot of brainstorming, it was decided to custom fit the xbox 360 on the Subarus parcel shelf, between the two back seats, making the task of changing games or DVD's very easy for the passangers. Heat will be addressed by using LLumar window tinting and solar-control film, which is designed to block out the sun and trap cool temperature inside the cabin of the car.


The custom built housing panel exposes the entire front of the xbox 360, and also leaves room on either side for air to escape the console.


At the rear (against the rear window) two sloped moulds are used to cover the power cables and AV cables. The centre is left open for the fan to suck in cool air.


The xbox 360's logo is visible through a slice in the housing and will be linked to the Audiovox AV changer - each passanger in the car can then select the xbox as the source for their very own Audiovox LCD screen allowing them to play games or watch DVD's.

Tuesday, March 6, 2007

2006 Makeover 350Z Spotted


I received an email from someone who recently spotted the Nissan 350Z that we build for the 2006 Extreme Auto makeover. The 350Z was won by A. Bremner in November last year at a gala event in Fourways.


The Nissan shared numerous partners with this years Subaru, including; Rockford Fosgate, Audiovox & Sportech.


I'm very proud that people still recognise the car and identify it as the vehicle used in the 2006 project. It further excites me to know that we're planning to expose the Subaru Sti in a bigger way this coming year.

Monday, March 5, 2007

STi Interior Taking Shape


CustomEiss has completed the seats for the STi and delivered them to P&P Car Sound Specialists. Covers have also been made to protect the leather seats during the 12 month road show that the STi will embark on once completed.


The seats, which make up the bulk of the interior fabrication, are finally installed into the car - it's great to see it coming together!


The Defi gauge cluster has been fabricated in matching blue alcantara. Initially I had my doubts about this being out of place, but seeing the seats in car and noting that the sun visors will match, I'm feeling confident that a constant style, look and feel will flow comfortably through the cars interior.

Friday, March 2, 2007

Is it a Bird? Is it a Plane? No! It's a Chargespeed Wide Body Kit! And it's Landed at Creative Rides!


I was very excited to get a call from Bryce Roberts at Creative Rides to say that the Chargespeed Wide Body Kit had arrived and cleared customs without any delays. I immediately made my way to the importer, Creative Rides, to unpack and take a closer look at the parts that were sponsored to us by Chargespeed in Japan.


We gathered the five large boxes into an area in the Creative Rides warehouse, unpacked them and layed out all the parts of the 18-piece wide body kit on the workshop floor. We were in awe!


The first parts were the front fender replacements. Almost two inches wider on either side, these are going to give the STi its mean aggressive look! See the hole for the side indicators.


Next we found the rear door add-on panels. These have a lovely line running across them into a 'fake' vent where the new hidden rear door handles will be.


The door panels flair out to meet these widened rear fenders. The original Subaru rear wheel arches will need to be cut out in order to fit this part and make room for the large wheels.


The carbon fiber boot lid was next - it has the best carbon weave I have personally seen. The rear bumper is laid behind that and features a beautiful carbon fiber diffuser at the bottom that will hug the exhaust pipe. At the very back is the new wing which was produced shorter than the standard wing - it is made of an FRP base with a carbon fiber wing top. Its extended base positions the wing against the very rear of the boot lid so that it overhangs and protrudes off the back of the Subaru in a "GT" style.


The Chargespeed Wide Body Kit parts will remain at Creative Rides, sealed in their protective packaging until the STi is back in JHB and ready for pre-fitting, spraying and fitment. I will post more images of the products when they are fully unpacked.