Projects

On the lift

The logs for each project car: what was planned, what got done, what's next. Costs stay in the spreadsheet.

Project 01 · In progress

1981 Toyota Land Cruiser BJ40

Bought in November 2020 and towed to the shop in December. The goal is a safety certificate, then trails.

Red BJ40 Land Cruiser on stands in a workshop with the hood raised

Recovery

Two tows in December 2020.

Brakes, fluids, safety

Brake job with OEM parts, all fluids, safety inspection list.

Engine refresh

Filters, injectors checked, glow plugs, timing, rubber lines replaced on the 3B diesel.

Body and underside

Hot-water pressure wash of the frame, then paint. Door skins and the rear quarter need work. The hardtop stays.

ARB lift, wheels, tires

Modest lift, all-terrain tires on the factory steel wheels.

3B diesel engine bay of a BJ40 — 3B diesel, four cylinders, mechanical injection.

New fuel and oil filters sitting on the fender of the BJ40 — Filters on the fender.

Open passenger door of the BJ40 showing the bare metal door card — Bare-metal door cards.

Orange BJ40 parked at night beside a brick wall — Street parked, before the tow.

Project 02 · Complete, sold January 2023

2003 Subaru WRX sedan "Spec R1"

Sonic Yellow bugeye, owned July 2019 to January 2023. Bought from a local shop, built with JDM imports, classifieds finds and a shop tune, then resprayed in 2019. The full list of what went on it.

Sonic Yellow Subaru WRX bugeye, front three-quarter

Power: Turbo and boost solenoid from Japan Direct, 440 cc injectors, top-mount intercooler, Mishimoto silicone hoses and radiator, Cobb Accessport with a shop tune, steel braided lines.
Chassis: Coilovers, STI struts, JDM front and rear STI sway bars with new links, Cusco front and rear strut bars, rear trailing arms, front control arms, new subframe, four-pot front and two-pot rear brake upgrade.
Exhaust: STI Genome muffler.
Body: Left and right JDM front fenders, respray in 2019, rust proofing, Killer B skid plate, OZ Prodrive wheels for summer and steel wheels for winter.
Not done: STI intake manifold, oil catch can, ram-air intake, Brembo swap, headlights and tail lights.

Sonic Yellow WRX sedan parked in a dry field — In a field, spring.

Sonic Yellow WRX next to a grey bugeye WRX outside a shop — Next to another bugeye outside the shop.

Rear wing and tail light of a yellow Subaru WRX — Sale day, January 2023.

Project 03 · In progress

2003 Subaru WRX wagon

The second Sonic Yellow bugeye, a wagon. Photographed alongside the sedan before the sedan was sold. Engine bay work done; body and interior next. Dates and the full list to be added.

Sonic Yellow WRX wagon, rear three-quarter, in an underground garage

Engine bay of the yellow WRX wagon with the hood up

Project 04 · Planned

2000 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS (GC8)

Owned since May 2020. Black coupe on gold wheels, with Speedlines bought in Montreal and a blue GC8 sedan bought as a parts car and towed in on a trade. Full restoration planned.

Black GC8 2.5RS coupe with the door open in a parking lot — The coupe, outside the shop.

Rear of the black 2.5RS with the RS badge — Rear, RS badge.

Black 2.5RS parked beside the yellow WRX in an underground garage — Next to the WRX in the underground.

Blue GC8 Impreza sedan parts car in the rain — The parts car, a blue GC8 sedan.

Rusted rear quarter of the blue GC8 parts car — Rear quarter of the parts car.

Body

Rust first

Floors, rear quarters, trunk, roof and rockers. Rust-proof, then paint in World Rally Blue.

Interior

STI inside

STI front seats, STI dash, rear seats, belts, door cards, shifter bushings, short shifter, cup holders.

Mechanical

Sort, then decide

Power steering pump leak, camber kit and suspension rebuild, brake pads, all fluids to synthetic. Engine and gearbox upgrades undecided.

From the parts car

Harvest list

Bumpers, headlights and tail lights, wing, trunk, hood, vents, panels, wheels, exhaust, manifold, pulleys, handles, switches, wiring, ECU.

Safety

Roll bar

An STI-pink roll bar is on the list.

Status

Waiting on paint

Body quote is in. Parts car is stripped.

Project 05 · In progress

2015 Subaru WRX STI engine rebuild

The EJ257 needed a rebuild. Options were compared on a spreadsheet, the order was placed in December 2024, and a transmission quote was taken at the same time.

Option	What it is	When it makes sense
IAG built short block	Forged internals, closed-deck options, warranty from a Subaru-only builder.	Raising boost and doing it once.
Crawford	Built short block, head package available.	Middle ground.
Outfront Motorsports	Built block with a long record in the Subaru scene.	Proven over new.
OEM short block	Factory parts and tolerances.	Staying stock at the lowest cost.
OEM long block	Complete factory engine with heads.	Time matters more than cost, or the heads are suspect.

Work completed with a receipt and waiver on file. Photos of the car to be added.

Project 06 · Closed, sold 2022

1978 Pontiac Grand Prix

Acquired in August 2020 in a straight trade for the 1981 Doral bowrider and its trailer. Burgundy G-body coupe. The transmission came out on the lift.

Grand Prix on a lift with its automatic transmission on the shop floor, a Land Rover in the background — Transmission out, on the floor.

TH350 automatic transmission on a transmission jack — The TH350 on the jack.

Underside of the Grand Prix showing the exhaust and rear axle — Rear axle and exhaust.

Steel wheels and tires in the bed of a pickup — Wheels and tires in the truck bed.

Project 00 · Sold 2017

1974 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40

The first Cruiser. Bought out of Ottawa, brought home on a U-Haul trailer, worklist written, sold to a friend in 2017. The list is a template for any 40-series.

Body

Door locks and handles, passenger and driver glass, rear lower half, fibreglass roof repair, rear door replacement, rear quarter panel, windscreen, door regulators.

Chassis

Bushings, leaf spring bushings, tie rod kit, steering linkage, front and rear suspension.

Brakes

Drums, lines, shoes, parking brake and cable, hardware kit.

Electrical and misc

Rear lights, headlight wiring, interior lights, turn signals, reverse light. Paint, bull bar removal, winch repair, seats, wheels and bearings.

Community

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Builds, roads, meets and paddock photos from anyone who drives. Everything submitted gets credited.

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