Subaru Project Build: Part 2

We told you we’d be back with more installments on our Project WRX. Check out what we have in store for you this month. A new paint job, tight-ass suspension, brakes bigger than Fat Albert’s head, and a day at the track. That’s a lot to take in for one month, but we’re doing it all for you.

First, let’s discuss paint. Silver, the WRX’s original color, was nice, but it’s stock. And we’ve all learned by now that stock just doesn’t cut it. So in our mission to shed as much stock as possible, we thought it’d be an excellent idea to reconfigure the paint. Deciding the color is when the headache begins. Designing a scheme is when the headache evolves into a migraine. With so many WRXs beginning to flood the streets, we needed a color that stood out like nothing else—something that would cause people to turn their heads so fast they’d suffer from whiplash. Larry Ashley and his designing crew over at APC borrowed the Tangerine Orange paint from a ’95 Ford Mustang, while the accents and Subaru stars were done in Candy Metallic Blue. There’s no way we’ll get lost in a crowd of WRXs now.

With the new paint job in place, we were ready to start working on the handling and stopping power of the car. We’re not skimping with our WRX, so nothing but the very best products will be used. RE Works and its Zeal Function B-6 fully adjustable coilover suspension was the answer to our needs. When most people think of suspension, they think in terms of buying a set of springs, or simply cutting their stock ones (yikes). More than a shock-and-spring combination and more than a mere coilover sleeve that rattles loosely when you hit bumps, Zeal coilovers take suspension upgrades to the next level. How do we know these are the bomb? Because they’re made in Japan, and race teams like Endless are constantly testing, adjusting, and re-testing these coilover systems on the track for Zeal.

Not to worry, though, Endless USA has a full line of Zeal coilovers in stock and can special-order any they don’t have just yet. There are three different adjustments that can be made to your ride, thanks to these fully threaded shocks: (1) preload adjustment to the spring tension, (2) six-way piston valve adjustment for the shock, and (3) ride-height adjustment through the lower adjustment bracket. A lot more complicated than your usual spring and shock combo, we reckon. The preload adjustment made to the spring allows the spring to be compressed before the car’s weight is even put on it. The six-way piston valve adjustment lets the internal damper be loosened or tightened for softer or stiffer rides. In order to get some coilover-install shots, we paid a visit to Raceline Development in Temple City, California.

By Ricky Chu

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