2002 Subaru Impreza WRX - Autodidact

With the heart of the motor rebuilt and finally good to go, Chris could take a moment and breathe before addressing other aspects of the build. That was until he came back from running some errands one day and he used the remote start on his alarm to warm the car up. When the vehicle was cold it would idle around 2,500 rpm, which was just enough to power through the e-brake. Yes, that’s right, the car took off right when it was started. Chris ran to the car and damn near got run over as he held onto the ’cage, hit the brake, and shut the car down. Unfortunately, the vehicle hit various wood and metal parts and there was damage to the front end and the left side of the vehicle. “My only option was to learn how to do body and paintwork,” he says. “I ended up fixing all of the damage and respraying the whole car.”

After going through all of that, Chris finally had a completely redone and rebuilt vehicle. Finally able to enjoy the fruits of his labor, he settled in and drove the car but it was only a matter of time before he decided to take the build to the next level. A buddy of his purchased a legitimate righthand-drive Silvia, and after driving it around Chris decided that he was going to do the conversion to his vehicle—even though there was virtually no information out there. When the complete front clip arrived, Chris sat there and stared at it, wondering what he had gotten himself into. But as with everything else, he continued with his self-directed philosophy and DIY mindset and went to work. “The first cut was nerve-racking, but everything began to fall into place,” he says.

Autodidact, the definition is simple—a person who teaches himself something—but the process by which one goes about attaining that knowledge may not be so simple. The story of Chris and this amazing WRX build is testament to what one can achieve when applying this philosophy in combination with willpower and determination. “When I first got the car I had minimal knowledge of Subarus,” he says. “This car was my automotive school. I learned as I went and succeeded in the process.” We couldn’t agree more, Chris.

Behind the Build

Name.
Chris Shuemake

Age.
25

Location.
Fresno, CA

Occupation.
semitruck/trailer mechanic

Build Time.
3½ years

Hobbies.
saltwater aquariums, cars, golf

Motivation.
To have a cool car

Feedback.
blkwagon@gmail.com

2002 Subaru WRX

Output: 310 whp/340 lb-ft

Engine EJ257 engine; STI IHI VF39 turbo; Synic EL turbo exhaust manifold; GMS silicon turbo inlet; Brian Crower cams, valvesprings, titanium retainers; Darton sleeves; CP pistons; Eagle formed H-beam rods; Perrin V1 fuel rail, FMIC, and piping; JDM STI pink 565cc/min injectors; Walbro 255-lph fuel pump; SMC methanol injection; Group N motor mounts; GMS lightweight crank pulley, silicon after MAF hose; HKS super mega flow intake, 3-inch catless downpipe, and Twin Power ignition; APS catless up-pipe; JIC non-resonated titanium cat-back exhaust; Mishimoto radiator; Samco Sport hoses; ARP headstuds; Hondata 8mm TGV spacers and ported deletes; Cosworth cam angle sensor adapter, oil pump; ARC blow-off valve, pulley cover, radiator cap; Blitz header tank cap, oil cap; Crawford air/oil separator; Cusco cooling panel; NGK LFR7AIX spark plugs; Optima Red Top battery; Sun Auto hyper voltage; powdercoated white valve cover, intake manifold, TGV bodies, air/oil separator; Hallman boost controller; tuned by Equilibrium Tuning

Drivetrain ’05 Subaru STI six-speed transmission and R180 3.9 differential; Group N transmission mounts; Cusco twin-disc clutch and flywheel; Cobb double adjustable short shifter; Redline lightweight shockproof transmission fluid

Suspension KW V3 coilovers, 455-lb/in spring rate (front), RCE linear spring conversion (rear); Cusco camber plates, OS front strut bar, H-brace, rear subframe brace, six-point rollcage powdercoated white with optional carbon bar, spherical rear lateral links, spherical trailing arms; Cobb tubular 25mm front sway bar, adjustable rear sway bar, HD adjustable sway bar mount, billet endlinks with spherical joints; Turn In concepts Klunk Killer, Sexy Rearend, tranny X-member bushings; Kartboy front and rear shifter bushings; Whiteline anti-lift kit, steering rack bushings

Wheels/Tires Advan RCII wheels (17x8.5 +45mm); Falken Ziex 912 tires (255/40-17); Project Kics caliber heptagon lug nuts

Brakes ’05 STI OEM front and rear Brembo calipers powdercoated silver; StopTech slotted rotors and pads (front and rear); Goodridge front and rear stainless brake lines; JDM STI OEM master cylinder; ATE Super Blue brake fluid

Exterior C-West front bumper and side skirts; JDM STI OEM HID headlights and ballasts with TSX projector retrofits, grille, power folding mirrors, Spec C roof vent, side markers, rain guards; RHD window wipers and cowl; rolled and pulled fenders with ’05 STI wheel arches, rear bumper, taillights; APR carbon rear diffuser