[BlyatRZ]

Welcome to my build thread!

I will be using this thread to document the evolution if my 2022 BRZ as long as I have it. I will say it started off as a mild track build and has ended up being a bit more of a daily driver thanks to the addition of a 2004 Mazda Miata to my household that serves as a track rat. This enabled me to do more of a visually appealing & fun to drive car vs something more track oriented which would sacrifice comfortability for performance.

Background:

I bought my BRZ with the intent to use it as a platform to "learn" RWD on. I have been doing HPDE track days, the occasional autox event, and as much twisty road driving as possible in my previous cars which have all been FWD. For me these desires are rooted deep in the past and probably came about while watching Initial D / Hot Version / Keiichi Tsuchiya / Max Orido etc etc. I had originally intended to start this journey way back in 2015 by purchasing an Ultramarine FR-S, it turned out to be an automatic and I bought a different (manual) car.

When I saw that the second generation was coming out I knew I had to at least test drive one. I test drove a 2018 BRZ, 2022 BRZ and a 2021 Miata RF on the same day and knew that although the Miata was the better "sports" car the new BRZ was the best compromise between function and form. I do not plan on going buck-wild with this car, since I am new to the platform and to RWD but I am taking it to its first autox next week and can't wait to see where things go from there.

Lets also address the elephant in the room. Why did I buy a BRZ instead of a GR86 just to swap the bumper (and slowly swap the interior / trim) to the Toyota variants?

- I wanted blue, Neptune was nearly impossible to find when I was buying and I wasn't super happy with Trueno / Sapphire Blue​

- I prefer the slight differences in driving the BRZ vs the GR86​

- I wanted the red stitched interior / red accents​

- I wouldn't have to wait as long to get the car in the exact spec that I wanted​

Of course there are small things that I wish I had like the GR logo start up, and the GR86 track mode display.

All that said this is my 2022 WRB BRZ!

Current Mods:

POWERRRRR:
-K&N Typhoon Intake

Wheels / Tires / Brakes/ Suspension:
-17x9 +45 Gold Enkei RPF-1
-245/40/17 Falken RT660 Tires
-Muteki SR48 Lug Nuts, Black (long, open end)
-ARP 100-1776 Subaru 3" extended wheel studs
-WRX 4 pot front & 2 pot rear brake calipers
-Torque Solutions rear caliper bracket adapter
-RCE SuperStreet 1 Coilovers
-Perrin master cylinder brace (black)

Exterior / Interior / Quality of Life:
-Cusco accelerator pedal cover
-JDM clear marker lenses
-A/T center console conversion
-Cusco polyurethane exhaust hangers
-ProSport EVO oil pressure gauge
-Noble Performance hood struts
-Noble Performance smoked 3rd brake light
-Perrin wrinkle red engine cover
-Billetworkz shift knob
-Billetworkz short shifter

GR Conversion Parts:
-GR86 front bumper swap
-Front & rear Toyota badges
-TRD duckbill spoiler
-GR Push start button
-Replica Tom's front lip

Previous Mods / Not Currently Installed:
-Invidia Gen1 front pipe (no resonator / cat) pipe too small for my liking, also car too loud
-H&R 5mm spacers switched to 20mm on all four corners
-20mm spacers no longer running OEM wheels
-HKS Hi-Power exhaust (version 2) Sold
-AWE Touring Exhaust cold starts sucked, too loud for me- FOR SALE
-HKS drop in filter replaced with a full intake
-GrimmSpeed post MAF tube ^
-Intake resonator delete ^^
-JDM Red STI push start button (gen1 part)

Wishlist / Planned:
-Verus Engineering Front / Rear / Side diffuser kit
-Verus Engineering Transmission Tunnel Cover
-Toms 8mm Over Fenders
-Intec Tail Light Set
-Head unit upgrade


How it started:

How its going:

Track pics:

PBIR:

Sebring:

 

[PhoenixM3]

I’m selling my ‘18 FiST now. Which turbo? I just pulled my S280 this morning..... Gonna miss this car, but look forward to new adventures in the GR86.

 

[BlyatRZ]

So far I have only put an HKS Hi-Power V2 catback on it, I need noise and this is just about perfect. I am hoping that removing the secondary cat makes it just right. I also have a TRD ducktail to install but it needs to be painted. I will be looking at upgrading the suspension eventually and the brakes as well. The goal is to have a quick, and well balanced daily driver that is also somewhat competitive at autox and track days.

 

[BlyatRZ]

I’m selling my ‘18 FiST now. Which turbo? I just pulled my S280 this morning..... Gonna miss this car, but look forward to new adventures in the GR86.

I too had an S280, miss that thing. Good thing my roommate also has an S280 turbo on his Fiesta ST!

 

[joeyzilla]

Welcome! You have great taste in cars... also, you inadvertently posted the best and most motivational Pep Boys / responsible father ad ever: Pep Boys; Because of a Promise. 🤣

 

[BlyatRZ]

Welcome! You have great taste in cars... also, you inadvertently posted the best and most motivational Pep Boys / responsible father ad ever: Pep Boys; Because of a Promise. 🤣


View attachment 5020

Lmao, I used to work there and I don't think I've ever bothered to look at those signs in my entire life

 

[BlyatRZ]

By chance I came across an Invidia front pipe and Tomei overpipe from a Gen1 car for sale over the weekend while I was doing autocross. So I bought them both and probably will sell the overpipe since I do not care to deal with that.

I installed the front pipe yesterday though and while it directly bolts on, it appears to be mildly shorter than the stock piece, which means that my HKS now sometimes rubs on my rear subframe... I think poly hangers should fix that but just a warning to everyone else. Not all parts will be identical. The noise is nice though

 

[BlyatRZ]

And a few from the event. I have video too, but I don't really want to put it up on youtube just to link it here.

 

[BlyatRZ]

Installed my TRD duckbill today after getting it back from paint. I absolutely love this, and it should have been a factory option.

 

[BlyatRZ]

Got confirmation that my "race" wheels are on the way. I am excited, can't have a blue Subaru without gold wheels

 

[BlyatRZ]

Some pics of the RPF-1 and why I picked up the 5mm spacers, can't wait to get tires on these.

 

[BlyatRZ]

I had a track event on Tuesday and received the photos from that event yesterday, so here are a few

This is by far the most fun car I've ever had the pleasure of driving on a track.

 

[BlyatRZ]

Got the Falkens mounted on the RPF-1s, sort of messed up on the spacer install so I had to buy APR studs. But otherwise I love the look, I'm upset they aren't my daily wheels lol.

Clearance to the stock strut is minimal but should be enough with the 5mm spacer

 

[Dom]

Funny how many of us in here used to own FiSTs lol. How's the fitment on your track wheel/spacers setup? Thinking of doing something very similar (17x9 et38 on 245/40r17s).

 

[PhoenixM3]

Installed my TRD duckbill today after getting it back from paint. I absolutely love this, and it should have been a factory option.

View attachment 5882

View attachment 5883

View attachment 5895

It that a 2016 Fiesta ST in the background with a (gasp) stock intercooler!?

 

[BlyatRZ]

It that a 2016 Fiesta ST in the background with a (gasp) stock intercooler!?

It is a 2016 but it does not have a stock intercooler. We're running a Whoosh V3 in that car with an S280 turbo kit (like your old one). Still not happy with the tuning honestly, Mitch at CPE was the best and he is no longer in the biz.

 

[BlyatRZ]

Funny how many of us in here used to own FiSTs lol. How's the fitment on your track wheel/spacers setup? Thinking of doing something very similar (17x9 et38 on 245/40r17s).

I find a lot of ST owners coming to this car which is funny to me considering that a lot of people avoided the Gen1 in favor of the STs.

Fitment is spot on. I think +40 is the best setup for these cars. My wheels are +45 but with the 5mm spacer they are pretty much +40. I will say that getting all four wheels into the car is a pain in the ass but it can be done, just not as easily as if they were 17x7.

If you end up needing a spacer for clearance of the strut or tie rod end (which you shouldn't with +38) you'll need extended studs for anything over 3mm.

 

[BlyatRZ]

Chanced a bid for a Gen1 STI red push start button that was used on eBay. Turns out it works and functions just fine on our cars! Super easy to install too.

 

[ravenwrx]

Got the Falkens mounted on the RPF-1s, sort of messed up on the spacer install so I had to buy APR studs. But otherwise I love the look, I'm upset they aren't my daily wheels lol.

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View attachment 7401

Clearance to the stock strut is minimal but should be enough with the 5mm spacer View attachment 7404

RPF1 look great. Do you have any issues with the tire rubbing the fender in the rear with the 45 offset?

 

[BlyatRZ]

RPF1 look great. Do you have any issues with the tire rubbing the fender in the rear with the 45 offset?

Nope, no rubbing issues. I was worried about it rubbing the emergency brake line, but it does not.