Mediapainter

Aside from the fancy livery and Prodrive wing, it looks stock.

It’s hard to tell with the loud graphics and overly large $4000 carbon Prodrive wing, but Ken Block’s 08 STi is for the most part, stock, on the outside. Sure you’ve got that roof vent and rally mirrors; the bumpers, side skirts, fenders, that’s all from the factory though. For weight savings, it looks like the hatch and hood have been switched out for carbon, but they both retain the factory appearance. Apparently the roof is carbon as well. It’s really in the details that make this car rather amazing, at least to me anyway. There’s more I’ve missed, you get the idea; it’s light as can be.

I love that Prodrive carbon wing.

Actually, I have to mention the carbon door panels from Syms! I didn’t even know Syms had carbon door panels. But anyway, the custom Volk TE37s with the neon yellow Brembo big brake kit; very cool! I’m curious about that Tein SRC setup with custom valving. I’ve heard Tein is very supportive and makes sure you get the real deal if you’re actually serious in racing. They’re certainly more affordable than JRZs, but if you’re an average joe like myself, I doubt you’ll get the same sort of treatment.

You're looking at a gold mine.

I know this engine is stroked, I know it has a forged crank, but what I really like is that setup with the air oil separator and I guess what they call a “fuel swirl pot.” I asked my buddy Vince about it who’s more of an expert on this sort of stuff; he says it’s a surge tank with a fuel pump next to it. I wonder if Crawford would be interested in selling something like that. I’d just have to get rid of my Cusco strut bar to make room. Supposedly the chassis on the new STi is very stiff as is, having no need for a strut bar.

Look I'm not the only one that likes to sit ultra low.

You know what I noticed; the serious guys sit in Recaros with Motec dashes. Not all, but a lot of them do just like the STi Nurburgring car. You can get a closer look at the carbon on those Syms door panels; very cool. I guess I know what I’ll be dreaming about tonight, except in my dreams, the engine bay will have an HKS rotated turbo kit instead, with Cosworth heads!

I got it bad.

I have so much great Subaru content to post; I’ve been excited all day just thinking about when I’d finally finish all my deadlines so I could get to it! Last month, Jon and I were at the Spocom show in Long Beach checking out the HKS booth, chatting with Mike at HKS about how much I appreciated having to buy an HKS downpipe because their exhaust doesn’t fit with any other downpipe. Well I wasn’t too sore about it; the HKS piece was a lot higher quality than my Invidia and I recently upgraded my turbo to a stock location ATP 3071 anyway. It all sort of worked out, kind of, not really.

But anyway, HKS had a 08 STi on display sporting a prototype rotated turbo kit and front mount intercooler (not prototype anymore!). We were drooling for days on that setup. It’s an external wastegate turbo (50mm), basically the HKS version of the GT30R (rotated baby yeah!) that dumps to the downpipe and it’s v-band. Comes with the uppipe, downpipe (great, I need to buy a new one, again), bypass pipe, chamber pipe, suction pipe, water lines, oil lines; everything you need, except for the intake and exhaust manifold.

I want!

The front mount intercooler requires a smaller battery and is flanged for the infamous HKS SSQV blow off valve, you know, the one that goes “pew pew.” If you’re not familiar, watch Fast and the Furious or watch this video for reference. I don’t have a problem with a smaller battery; I was actually planning on doing it anyway. You can probably shave a good 30 pounds just by switching to a small battery.

How ricers let themselves be known.

I’m a little hesitant on that blow off valve though. You see, the HKS SSQV is world renowned for being the mark of the ricer. It has a distinct 3 fin fitting where the air is released, creating this unique whistling (pew pew) that ricers seem to love. On the other hand, there’s something amusing about being mistaken for a ricer when you’re putting down 400 horsepower to the wheels! I mean I guess you could remove that and your BOV would sound normal, but what fun is that? Alright, maybe I’m a little ricey, just a tad.

I’m set on getting this kit, I must have it! I have a built motor ready to handle the power and put the smack down on the circuit. The only problem is, after I add up the cost of the intake and exhaust manifold, I’m looking at $8830 list price. I get a significant discount, but still, we’re talking a good amount of money here. I still need to get some aero modifications along with new coilovers too. If you know anybody who needs web work, send them over to so they can help support my new turbo kit fundraiser!