TEXT FPO - Driving Sports TV

HELL’S LEGACY REBORN
does not get to the engine. Yet, the MaF is telling the
eCU to add fuel to compensate for the extra air. The
end result is too much fuel and poor idle. The new intake
fixed all this by moving the MaF away from this
airflow.
suddenly, our rough idle was gone and fueling
returned to normal. The only thing that worried me
was that all the tubing in the fender was a little close
to where the wheels sit, and knowing that we would
reinstall the 18-inch Konigs, albeit with narrower
Yokohama s.Drive rubber measuring 225/35/18,
it would be close. but no matter. We had to get the
stickers on, as the truck that was coming to take the
car away to Vegas was just three days out.
at this point I have to take a moment to thank
someone who, without his help and hospitality, none
of this would have ever happened. eric Lyden is one
of those friends that you meet by sheer chance, but
also is just one of the coolest guys I have ever known. I
met him last year when we were scrambling to get the
car done. he runs and owns Fleet signs and Graphics.
not only did eric do an incredible job with a very
complex sticker package, but eric opened his home
to me for three days while we feverishly scrambled to
get the car done before its ill-fated date with a winch.
This year, eric again came through in the clinch, offering
me the guest room for well over a week while
I sorted the final details and he single-handedly designed
and saw to the printing, cutting and application
of yet another overly-complex sticker scheme.
Without him, the project would never have been
completed.
On Wednesday, October 24, the weather was
clear and bright and we had just under 12 hours to
get the car finished and on the truck. again, we had
lots of stickers to apply and not a whole lot of time to
do it. In addition, I decided that the old rotors needed
to be replaced, so I hit up World One Performance for
a set of ebC rotors which look oh-so-pretty in their
anodized finish, perfect for a show car on its way to
seMa.
as I set about installing the new brakes and fitting
the Konig wheels with the new Yokohama rubber,
eric busied himself with the final preparation of
the stickers.
With the wheels and tires installed, I was to drive
over to eric’s shop to fit the biggest of the vinyl. This is
where my fears were realized. There was indeed not
enough clearance between the new intake pipe and
the big tires. however, it only rubbed if you turned left
all the way, so I would just have to be careful.
The car made it to the shop without incident and
eric and I were able to get the stickers installed. as
the sun went down, and the time to meet the truck
42 July 2008
approached, we fitted the final stickers. as we applied
the last sticker, a window banner, the truck driver
called to let us know he was ready and waiting. With
a final once-over to make sure we had everything, I
drove the car to the lot where the truck was waiting.
We were relieved to see several seMa-bound cars
already loaded. after we related the horror from last
year, the driver allayed our fears and loaded the car
without incident. he even covered it once in the enclosed
trailer to ensure that nothing got on the paint.
as the car was loaded onto the truck and the
trailer was buttoned up, a wave of relief washed over
me. two years of late nights, begging, busted knuckles,
bleeding, sickness, frustration, disappointment,
inconvenience, paint fumes, sanding, broken tools,
sweat and hard work rolled away into the dark. I had
done it. I had finished the car. suddenly I felt almost
empty. The largest project I had ever worked on in my
life was now finished. There really are no words to describe
this feeling.
I came to the realization that the next time I
would see the Legacy, it would have arrived at seMa
without my having to do anything. someone else
would have driven it off the truck, parked it at the
sony booth and would have possession of the keys. It
was now out of my hands. It would be the only car of
its kind at the show. I would like to think that it is the
only bD chassis Legacy ever at the seMa show.
to be sure, building cars is one of those uniquely
human endeavors. at the end of the road the only
thing I have to show for all of my efforts is my own
satisfaction at completing such a difficult project. a
project that at times made me want to quit my job
altogether and forget the world of cars. but like all
humans, that bitter taste is quick to fade and I once
again find myself looking for another chance to do it
all again for next year. <
ROYAL PURPLE 1997 LEGACY GT
Powertrain EJ257 Hybrid, 2.5RS heads, Crawford S2
STI block.
Drivetrain JDM Legacy Type-RA 5-speed 4.11:1 ratio,
Automatic to Manual conversion, Exedy
Hyper Single clutch and flywheel.
Engine Perrin Header, Perrin rotated mount turbo
kit, GT2860RS turbo, USDM STI Injectors,
Walbro fuel pump, Perrin FMIC, Perrin/
PIA custom intake, Modified WRX Vibrant
exhaust, Perrin BOV.
Exterior Primitive Racing body kit, Custom paint by
JMI Motoring. Stickers by Fleet Signs and
Graphics.
Suspension Endura-Tech Coilovers; Whiteline: front
and rear sway bars, antilift kit, heavy-duty
sway bar mounts, front and rear endlinks,
rear subframe lockdown kit, differential
bushing kit, steering rack bushings, front
and rear strut braces.
Brakes EBC slotted and vented rotors.
Wheels/Tires Konig Maxxim Guilt 18x8-inch rims.
Yokohama S.Drive 225/35/18 tires.
Electronics Sony: dual DIN touchscreen headunit,
6-inch component speakers, tweaters,
Slim Line amps, Slim Line 12-inch
subwoofers, HD Radio receiver, AutoMeter
Nexus gauges (boost, oil temp, oil
pressure, fuel pressure, tachometer),
Audio Integrations custom enclosures and
gauge pods.
Interior NRG EVO seats, NRG steering wheel with
quick release, 2.5RS rear seat.