A Happy New Year to you!  …And what better way to ring in the new year than with this earth-shattering Mazda RX-8?  Garrett has taken this car to a level of it’s own, and while we’re betting that this brawler doesn’t often see tail lights, it’s likely that it’s not seeing the snow either.

2004 Mazda RX-8

Suspension:
GTSpec 6 Point Front Strut Bar
TC Sportline Rear Strut Bar
Ohlins Coilovers
Racing Beat Sway Bars & Endlinks

Engine:
Greddy EVO TT Cat-Back
Agency Power Resonated Midpipe
AEM CAI
HKS Twin Power DLI II
UR Underdrive Pulleys
Exedy Stage 1 Clutch
Greddy Oil Catch Can
Sun Auto Voltage Stabilizer & Grounding Kit
Reflashed ECU & Tune

Exterior:
Ings+1 Hybrid Aero N-Spec Body Kit
Varis CF Hood
Mint Blue CF Rear Wing
Carbign Craft CF License Plate Shroud
Debadged Trunk
Repainted in MB Iridium Silver
Volk GT-S 19×8.5(f) 9.5(r)
Complete LED Exterior Light Conversions
JDM Clear Corner Side Markers

Interior:
GT Factory Prototype Vertical Door Kit
Complete LED Interior Light Conversions
Greddy Informeter Touch

Article by: Steve Dimock, Vehicle Credit: Garrett, Photo Credit: Pat Gentilli

We say ‘Diamond in the Rough’ because in the world of potholed roads and loose gravel that Montana offers, there are very few drivers daring enough to lower their truck. Shawn Lafavor is one of those brave few, and his truck is a testament to this. Shawn’s 2003 Silverado SS came fully loaded from the factory with all-wheel-drive, but that’s far from all it’s hiding.

Underneath it’s immaculate hood, this SS is hiding not only a Vortex 6.0L engine, but also an 88mm Garrett turbocharger, retrofitted with a Detroit Speedworks front-mounted turbo kit. But what’s a big turbo without the supporting mods? Shawn knew this when he fitted the SS with a Tial external wastegate and blow-off valve. These are complimented by 42lbs injectors and a Walbro fuel pump. In order to let this monster breathe, Shawn set the SS up with a full 3 inch exhaust with Hooker mufflers, and if that wasn’t enough a DHM exhaust cutout gives the truck it little more exhaust flow when at the track. A Keystone twin scoop cowl hood keeps the engine itself cool. The setup was tuned by Nelson Performance.

Perhaps one of the most striking features of this Silverado are it’s wheels. Boss Motorsport’s 330, 24 inch wheels wrapped with Nitto 305/35R24 tires gives the truck more than enough grip for both the street and the strip. The entire thing is lowered on Belltech 2 inch lowering spindles along with DJM -2 inch frame hangers and shackles.

The finishing touches for this truck can be found in the interior. A Kenwood DDX head unit combined with 2 15 inch Kicker solo baric subwoofers, a Hifonics Brutus 1200watt monoblock amplifier and Hifonics 400watt amplifier give the interior the extra kick it needs.

When it comes to imports, it doesn’t get much cleaner than Josh’s swapped 2002 Civic.  You might remember Josh’s EVOX from a feature we did a while back.  You heard right; Josh has two sick rides, and if his EVO is the bruiser, this Civic is definitely his cruiser.

However, this Civic isn’t just your normal ’02 Si… if that wasn’t already obvious.  Josh swapped a K20A2 engine and Blueprint Stage2 camshafts into this weekend track machine.  Along with several JDM accessories, this car is on a level of it’s own.

Type-R tail lights look just at home, nestled into the car’s hatch.  JDM mirrors and a Mugen grille help to tie it all together.  But that’s not all that pops; the interior is complimented by both driver and passenger Recaro seats.

Hotchkis 27mm rear sway bars help the car get around the track, while subtle aerodynamic upgrades keep it cutting through the air… and looking good.

Article by: Steve Dimock, Vehicle Credit: Josh Rollins, Photo Credit: Josh Rollins

This might just be the cleanest slammed Subie in the ‘States.  If this was what Kevin McGovern, the owner of this machine, was going for when he built it; well, he’s succeeded.  Kevin’s 2004 Subaru 2.5RS is practically a work of art in a world of very few bagged Subarus.

So what’s it take to go this low?  Well, it takes a journey and a little luck.  Kevin’s car sits on a custom Air Lift air suspension controlled by an AccuAir E-Level air management system.  The 18″ by 9.5″ Rota Grid wheels are wrapped in 215/40R18 tires, and tucked beneath the fenders with the help of H&R camber bolts on both the front and rear.

In order to get the Subaru to sink to it’s new low, modification of the actual frame needed to be made.

In order to add a little more grunt to this naturally aspirated machine, it was fitted with RalliTek DOHC camshafts as well as a Borla header and catback.  A Perrin short shifter helps control the power going to the wheels and a Perrin lightweight crank pulley allows the engine to rev up more freely.

Keeping in kind with the clean look that this car was designed to achieve, Kevin used factory STi front splitters and fog covers along with a V-Limited lip to clean up the front end and make it more aggressive.

A pair of Hella Supertone horns helps keep other traffic at bay.

Want more info on Kevin’s build?  Visit his thread on Stanceworks here.

Article by: Steve Dimock, Vehicle Credit: Kevin McGovern, Photo Credit: Kevin McGovern

If platinum silver is your thing, then Tyler Dimock’s 2005 Subaru WRX STi is doing it right. While Tyler’s car was primarily built with summer daily-driving in mind, it’s far from being a slouch.

Tyler’s car features a serious laundry list of modifications.  The whole car is lowered on Tein S-Tech springs, though he tells us coilovers are on the list of future modifications.  The wheels are Rota G-Forces in 18″ by 8.5″ wrapped snugly in Hankook Ventus EVO tires (245/35R18).  The icing on the cake are the blue Vision Motorworks tuner lugs and complimentary Volk Racing blue stem caps.

Riding low is all well and good, of course, but without the interior to compliment the style you can’t really claim to have the full package, and this 2005 STi is no exception to that rule.  The car has the full compliment of Polk Audio speakers, as well as a Pioneer AVH-P4000DVD head unit and amplifier.  A Hertz ES 300 10″ subwoofer provides a little additional balance to the music.

As we said, Tyler’s car isn’t a slouch, and we weren’t lying.  This STi pushes the stock turbocharger to the ragged edge, sporting a Perrin short ram intake (V.2), along with a Grimmspeed up-pipe and dump tube coupled with a Tial 38mm external wastegate.  The car growls through a Megan catless downpipe and Invidia N1 catback exhaust.  A Grimmspeed 3-port boost control solenoid works in conjunction with the stock ECU to deliver a consistant 18PSI of boost.  A DEI Cryo2 CO2 intercooler sprayer and purge kit keep the intercooler cool on hot days.

Dressing the engine up is a Cobb turbo heat shield along with a GFB hybrid blow-off valve.  A Perrin radiator shroud helps to direct air through the radiator while a Weapon R combination coolant and wash fluid tank free up some space in the engine bay.  In addition, Tyler’s car rocks Tein hood dampers and strut tower, an SPT oil cap and battery tie down, Zerosports radiator, and a Beatrush pully cover.

But what’s power and suspension without aerodynamic improvement?  Tyler’s 2005 STi has BaysonR CS replica side skirts and rear aprons along with a V-Spec front lip.  Rather than rock the stock STi wing, the wing is deleted in favor of the cleaner-looking Subaru wingless truck.  Just in case the car gets in a jam while on the track, it’s got both front and rear Dark Limited tow hooks.  Tinted tail lights and a deleted front plate and grille emblem are a good hint at the performance that lies beneath this car’s silver exterior.  Blue high beam bulbs add a subtle tinge to the front end of the car.

Inside the car an ATI clock pod houses Prosport Premium gauges, and an Autometer 52mm single gauge pod carries a Prosport wideband O2 sensor.  Even the shifter is more excessible withe a Kartboy silver shift knob mounted atop a GarageSpec shifter extender.

All in all, not your every-day STi, and you can bet Tyler will be keeping this car pristine in the future.

Article by: Steve Dimock, Vehicle Credit: Tyler Dimock, Photo Credit: Paul Aspen

Despite the night shots, Jake Timmon’s 2005 Subaru STi is undeniably clean.  The Subaru’s “Crystal Gray Metallic” paint pops, even in low light, combined with gunmetal Rota G-Force wheels wrapped in 235/40R18 tires.   Complimented by Dark’s rear tow hook, this car only barely hints at the beast within.

An Agency Power up-pipe and header give this STi a little extra breathing room.  Combined with and Invidia downpipe and HKS exhaust, the car has a deep rumble characteristic of Subaru’s boxer 2.5L engine.

In addition, an AMR top-mounted intercooler and Perrin intake and turbo inlet keep the car breathing healthily.  If that’s not enough to get the car through traffic?  Well, the twin Hella Supertone horns mounted behind the grille are enough to get the attention of the less-conscious drivers on the road.

Article by: Steve Dimock, Vehicle Credit: Jake Timmons, Photo Credit: Paul Aspen

Much thanks to Pat Gentilli for this excellent gallery of cars from the recent Golden Gardens stance meet.

Photo credit: Pat Gentilli