It depends on your skill set, what you have available, and your plan for the vehicle. I had my GG before I picked up Benji. My original plan was to swap everything into my 98 (awd), but I was able to get Benji for $450 and the chassis had 100k less miles than my other GC. The labor to convert fwd to awd is the same amount of labor if I used my awd. My plan from the beginning was to strip the car to the bare chassis for cleaning, resealing, and paint. The awd subframes bolt directly into the fwd chassis. So it is the same process, just with different parts. For non-turbo models, you have to modify or replace the front subframe to fit the downpipe anyway. For the rear, you just have to peel off stickers that cover the awd bolt holes ( mine looked brand new with 130k miles). I was able to daily my other GC during the project (saved money on buying another car), So for me it was definitely worth it. I don't know your situation, but I hope this helps you weigh your options. Let me know if you have any more questions.

@@RyKingUploads thanks for sharing your build. i really enjoy your content not many subie gc owners have a decent video content on this platform not as i know of anyway. im from malaysia, i saw one of our local subie group on facebook selling his gc3 that has already fully converted to gc8. its a 4 door, v4 engine swap and much more. i was just wondering if i decided to buy the car will the market price will go up or not. but i think if i buy it i wouldnt sell it ofcourse hahaha just incarse of an emergency and stuff. fyi in my country at the moment almost all impreza model market priced has raised up soo expensive. NO WAIT ALL CARS THAT HAS BEEN FEATURED ON MIGHTY CAR MODS CHANNEL HAS SKYROCKET THE PRICE HAHA. take a look tell me what you think, gc3 to gc8 | gc8 sti rebuild. heres the link ads : facebook.com/marketplace/item/557739825129400 www.mudah.my/1997+Subaru+impreza+wrx+sti+gc8-77494477.htm?last=1

Appreciate the kind words. I'm happy to help. Market value is hard to determine, but it looks nice. The price for most GCs are going up everywhere bc they are getting older and it's a classic in it's own right. Obviously the authentic ones will have more value, but if you appreciate the car for what it is (converted or authentic) then that's what has true value in my opinion. I know my car isn't worth much on the market, but it's what I've always wanted, so it's a win for me. If you like it, go for it!

@@RyKingUploads thanks man!

No problem

Thank you

Glad you like it. It is a very fun car to drive and the transformation is rewarding as well. Feel free to ask questions and good luck on your project.

@@RyKingUploads appreciate it man. I'll definitely hit you up if I have any questions

@@RyKingUploads I am actively looking for a base to start a build on one of these. What was the total project cost, time frame and experience level going into this? It turned out incredible! Things like installing sound deadening material and replacing the carpet are not something you hear about often but so smart 👌 That paint selection is flawless too 👍

Thank you. The project cost depends on so many variables. The cost of the project car and donor car are a major factor, personal customization choices and skill set being others. I got my GC for dirt cheap ($450). The donor GG WRX was 4K. So I guess technically I could have done it for around 5K without mods or paid labor. Paid labor for the swap with no mods I'd add another $5k. So 10-12k for a basic swap, paid labor. To get my car where it is at the point on this video costs around $20k. I did most of the labor, but that also includes a couple thousand in tools, consumables, and cheap paint labor. So I think $20-25k could get you a nice project (paid labor). Either way the skill level required is pretty high. To do it well you have to know good mechanical/electrical practices, have specific knowledge about the vehicles involved, and have a lot of patience for this kind of project. Patience is a key factor because to do anything well, it takes time. And patience usually comes with experience. I hope this answered your questions.

It could take 6 months to a year on the fast side of time-frames if you're "soloing" it, fast working, and get parts on time. I think a year and a half if you want to get everything done well and just how you want it.

I appreciate the kind words. The indicator thing may have been some sort of oversight or mistake because most cars have the indicators next to the headlights 🤷🏾‍♂️. Thanks for watching.

Wow thanks!

Thank you!

Thank you, I'm happy you're motivated. Feel free to ask any questions, if I don't have the answer I'll try to point you in the right direction. Look forward to hearing about your project.

I just got a bug eye that's in really bad shape, that's the next restoration project. So now everyone will see the entire process from start to finish. I also want to involve subscribers suggestions.

Thank you very much.

Nice!

Thanks. One of things I really like about these cars is how easy they are to enjoy. They don't have to be "fast" to be fun. A nice set of springs and tires is enough to have tons of fun and look good.

Appreciate it!

Thanks a lot

Thank cuz

Glad you liked it!!

Thank you!

That's awesome, congratulations. Definitely a versatile platform. Good luck on your build.

Thanks 👍

Thanks

Thank you

It can be intimidating if you try to do everything at once. You have to plan and do things in sections. How intimidating it is also depends on your current level of skill. The cool part is as you work through the project, you will get better and better. By the time you're done you will be very familiar with every part of the car and it would be easier to do it again. My playlist "Building your project car" has some videos on organizing and budgeting for a project, they may be helpful. Let me know how it goes and good luck.

Thank you! 💪🏾

Thank you

Appreciate it!

Thanks, congrats!

Thanks

Thank you

Thanks, wagons are awesome! Good luck with the build and feel free to ask questions.

Thanks

Thanks!

Thank you!

😂 I wish. I just took my time, worked hard, and planned everything out.

@@RyKingUploads love it! definitely an inspiration. where did you dinf your subframes if you dont mind me askin?

Tss fabs. I have videos with the install and info. They are in the "My Subaru Project" playlist.

@@RyKingUploads ill check it out!

Thanks a lot. Appreciate you watching too.

@@RyKingUploads I have a 2000 2.5rs and wanting to swap engines!!!

That's cool. The engine swap isn't bad at all. The main thing is merging the wiring harness and iwire has kits. The car was already fun to drive, but the extra power is a game changer. Even if you do a stock swap it will be a ton of fun, esp with a good suspension setup.

Lmk if you have any questions or wanna share ideas. If I don't know the answers I'll try to point you to someone who does.

@@RyKingUploads will do man much appreciated

I'm sorry to hear about your father, that must be difficult. I hope you and your family will find peace. In terms of the project, the first thing to figure out why you are doing the swap (like what are your goals in terms of drivability and performance). This should be fairly specific. Once you figure out what you want out of the car I can help point you in a direction. If your family are mechanics it will be helpful even if they don't know Subarus specifically. Imprezas from 93-07 are relatively low tech, so most of the work is anolog mechanics. There are tried and true resources for the wiring and tuning if there is a familiarity issue. Sometimes things can be overwhelming, and I think it's best to take things one step at a time. I have a playlist for this project that goes over swap options, swap notes, and installs. They should give you a general idea of what's in front of you. If you have any questions feel free to ask. Thanks for watching

Wow man thanks for the reply to my vent! I appreciate your time and consideration.

Thank you

Thanks for watching, I appreciate that. 🙌🏾

Thanks, wagons are great. I was close to getting another one but didn't have anywhere to park it lol. I'm not sure if a gf has as much space as a crown Vic though. If it just a guitar or three and an amp you'll be fine. Speakers and drums may be an issue. If you like the 02-07 subies, those wagons are larger and are great as a daily. The naturally aspirated models are pretty affordable too. You just have to look out for rusting on the rear strut towers ( major issue). You'll still have the classic sedan to build.

Imagine, pulling up with a Subie then u start playing some rock/metal .. :D You're amazing, dude! :D Sincerely, A guitarist and a Subie owner.

I Can't remember if 04s have a microfilter or not. I suggest switching your HVAC system to the recirculate position when driving on dirt. Filter or no filter, it should reduce the dirt/dust from coming in the cabin.

There are a couple options in regards to the wiring. I used the parking light connector and wired the turn signal wiring to it. You can do the opposite for where the turn signal was. So now the turn signal is next to the headlight and the parking light is in the bumper. Another way to do it is to source (or make) a double filament bulb & socket that fits the original parking light housing. From there you can wire both parking and turn signals into the same position. If you do this make sure you wire the turn signal to the brighter filament side so it works properly visually.

Thank you! I received my parts from many sources. Some parts I got directly from the manufacturer/fabricator like: tss fabrication, Crawford performance, iag, & Subaru (you'd be surprised how much easier/cheaper it is at the dealership), a specific dealership- heuberger motors they are awesome. Some parts dealers include: flatirons tuning, rallysport direct, ralliespec, defined performance, & Maperformance. I'm sure there are more that I missed. If you wanna save a couple coins I suggest having a spreadsheet with what you want and note the prices/trend. I have a vid on how to organize your build, it includes stuff like that (in my "build your car" playlist). I hope this helps.

That's cool. The RS conversion is nice because it's all oem fitment. I have something special in mind for the whole body including the rear aero, so it's not its final form yet.

RyKing Uploads oh yeah it’s still probably my favorite gc build I’ve seen for sure I hope mine turns out even half as good

I appreciate that very much. If you have any questions or need tips I'd be glad to help. It was a long road but once you take that first drive it will be worth it. I have a playlist dedicated to helping people with their projects called "building your project". Hopefully there is info you can use to help you reach your goals. Look forward to hearing about your progress.

RyKing Uploads awesome thanks man yeah that will help a lot, do you have an Instagram I can give you a follow😁

@@gabeclark3684 yes, there should be a link for my Instagram in the description

It's totally worth it in my opinion. First gens are so light and the styling is timeless. Combined with newer tech it's a great drive.

Those hold the power steering rack in place (which isn't there). This part of video is from my subframe install video, that's why the rack is missing. It's just a better view of the frame, all the bolts are set properly. Good eye!

Sorry to hear about your car. Denver roads are probably pretty snowy by now. Depending on where you're located, you might find someone in a local subi group that is going that way for work or ski trip or something?

Yea, the hardest part about project cars is that you usually have to have another to daily. Building one car and maintaining another can be a bit much sometimes. Maybe get a canopy or a car cover for the RS so when the time is right there won't be any surprises from weathering.

Thanks Ben! The hood scoop came with the hood which is made by Seibon carbon. I believe they sell variations scoop separately. There are several vendors that carry their products too. I hope this helps, good luck with your build.

It's not too bad if you have a donor car. Can be another awd gc or gd. The parts bolt right in convert to awd. I have a playlist with videos if you want to see more of the process.

Thanks a lot, I appreciate it.

Thanks, feel free to ask questions and I try my best to help you find answers.

I had a donor car which made it easier. My donor was in ok shape and I drove it for over a year before I took it apart, cost 4k. But that's an entire running 2004 wrx. I had to change the front and rear subframes, gas tank, suspension with hubs, and transmission. I recently pulled the same components from a scrap yard for just under $1k.

Thanks. It's the Momo "Race" wheel.

They're fine

Yes it's a lot of fun lol. But most of the time I try to keep grip, that's why I have the wide rims & tires.

Yes, it supplies cold air to the turbo intercooler.

Nice man, was scrolling and found this cool transformation👍

I built the engine myself, so that labor was free. Machine-matching the pistons to the case halves is around $300. Completed Build (running long block) just about everything brand new I think was around $4,500-5k. That doesn't include bolt-ons like turbo & exhaust.

Yes, it was converted to AWD. Everything bolts in, no modifications needed.

Absolutely not 😂. Unfortunately BBS doesn't make them in the size or bolt pattern I need. What I have are JNC style "005" also referred to as rep wheels. The bright side I saved about 4k on the rims lol

They look really good are they the hyper blacks

Thanks. I think they are the hyper black finish.

95

You can! The key is to take your time. Slowly developing a project is very rewarding and helps prevent being overwhelmed in terms of energy and finances.

13:38

Good question, there are several reasons. First I wanted to see how the braking felt with this setup. I figured I'd try out what came with the donor car before upgrading. The fun part about developing a car/project is setting and surpassing benchmarks. The GC chassis is significantly lighter than the GD chassis, and the DBA rotors and Stoptech pads are very good for street use and a track day or two. The calipers have plenty of clamping force for that application as well. I also had the stock wrx intercooler, subframes, control arms, bushings, and driveshaft before I upgraded. I have more goodies in the garage and on order, so if you stay tuned you may appreciate the process.

@@RyKingUploads Right on!