BattleBorn
Blanket Statement: When any of us get our grubby hands on a new car project, we always have ‘that Vision’ for it. The Vision is the motivator – 100%. It’s our A.D.D. It’s what caused us to lust after the car, and ultimately pull the damn trigger. The Vision is what we’re chasing with every dollar spent & every hour put in. But I’ve noticed a pretty clear-cut divide among us tuners… in how we get there. Basically two types of people:
Go With the Flow’ers
Not flowers… but flow’ers (I couldn’t think of a better word). These people more or less glide down whichever natural build-path presents itself. Metaphorically – they’re just tubing down the river. They know pretty much where they’ll end up, and how they’re gonna get there… but they’re not gonna force or fight it… right? They tend to be the dreamers. And just like dreams, the passions are real… but the details are probably hazy. The car may be white in their dreams, but if a good deal comes along on a yellow one… that damn dream gets rewritten with a grin & some optimism lol. And it’s the same story for the mods that go on the car. It’s all flexible to a certain extent… written in pencil not stone. The build follows life & all of it’s twists, turns, and recalculations. It chases Group Buys, Black Fridays sales, bro-hookups, and all those impulse-opportunities that pop up along the way. PS: this describes me to a T… I am this. But then we have guys like Ronne Medina here…
The Strategists
The Strategists are the flip-side of the Go With the Flow’er coin. These are the soldiers, the generals. They have a strategy. An order of operations. A friggin plan Stan. For these guys, their ‘Vision’ is not like a silhouette in a dream… or a mental flash of colors & shapes. It’s a damn blueprint. These guys know precisely what parts they want, where they’re going to get them, and in what order. The have objectives, goals, and completion dates. And I thiiiiiink for these guys, a lot of the enjoyment & reward… comes from adhering to the plan, successfully seeing it through, and seen The Vision become a physical thing.
Like I mentioned above – Ronne is a strategist. And a car like this takes strategy. It doesn’t happen on a whim. For Ronne, it’s all about thought out parts. He believes that name brand stuff is important… but it’s NOT necessarily the end-all be-all. For him, its more vital to have thought & patience in the details.
I think a lot of us wish we were maybe a little bit more like the other.
“The grass is always greener” syndrome. But there’s no right or wrong side to be on here. Doing it your way = doing it right.
Text by Wooley Photos by Benny Whiles
2006 Subaru STI
If you’re trying to source overseas JDM parts for your build & getting irritated, maybe give Ronne Medina a shout. He runs Battleborn Motoring US (known as Top Car Motors TCM in Japan). He can recommend options & mod paths… and can properly & efficiently get JDM parts to the US & through Customs when you’re ready to buy.
Ronne Medina on Facebook; battleborn_sti on Instagram.
ENGINE
Engine: Subaru EJ257, 2.5T
Horsepower: 345 all-wheel horsepower
Torque: 365 all-wheel ft/lb @ 4500 RPM
Tuning by Church Automotive Testing
COBB Tuning Accessport Version 3
SPEC Stage 2+ clutch with SPEC steel flywheel
OEM STI headers, ported
Injen intake
Custom K&N filter to fit Injen intake
Custom external air duct to front bumper
HKS Hi-Power exhaust
Crawford Performance air/oil separator, closed loop system
Killer B Motorsports ultimate oil pickup
OE Subaru 11mm oil pump upgrade (the 2006 STI uses standard 10mm)
DeatschWerks 300 fuel pump
DeatschWerks 1000cc fuel injectors
GrimmSpeed phenolic intake manifold spacer, 3mm
Mishimoto silicone induction hose upgrade
GReddy front mount intercooler
PERRIN recirculating BOV
PERRIN downpipe, catalytic converter equipped
PERRIN upper & lower engine mounts
GrimmSpeed up-pipe with GrimmSpeed wastegate bracket
Tial 38mm external wastegate, with lower dump tube
COBB boost controller
BeatRush radiator cover panel
BeatRush alternator cover panel
BeatRush oil cap
SUSPENSION
BC Racing coilovers
Swift Springs front 10k spring rate / rear 12k spring rate
SPC front & rear camber bolts
StopTech steel braided brake lines
CARBING front strut tower with master cylinder brace
Whiteline anti-lift kit
Kartboy Engineering – shifter bushings
Kartboy Engineering – transmission cross-member bushings
Group-N transmission mount
Cusco D1 6-point roll bar, chromoly
INTERIOR / ELECTRONICS
Defi Tri-Gauge Center Dash Pod Mount
CR Advance 60mm, Boost
CR Advance 60mm, Oil Pressure
CR Advance 60mm, Exhaust Temp
AEM UEGO wide band air/fuel ratio (AFR), 52mm digital meter
Pioneer AVIC-F900BT
Viper 5901 security
Splash steering wheel hub adapter
Sparco L777 black leather racing steering wheel
Cactus Racing seats
Top Stitch Trim – custom center arm rest, diamond stitch w/ blue side etch
Top Stitch Trim – custom Bride Style shift & e-brake boot (soon to be changed)
DIY carbon fiber skinned a-pillar covers
DIY black suede lower dash & headliner
DIY BRIDE fabric on upper door cards
DIY alcantara with red stitch on lower door cards
DIY composite/fiberglass subwoofer box, wrapped in alcantara
MTX Thunder amplifier
Kicker Comp S 12” subwoofer
EXTERIOR
ABW Motorsport 40mm fender flares
DIY front bumper flares, molded
Toyota fender flare edge trim, black
Hella horns, painted Breast Cancer pink
2004/2005 JDM WRX side skirts
JDM front side strakes
HT Autos United Kingdom side skirt extensions
2004/2005 WRX tail lamps, JDM re-wire
GReddy Aero Racer front lip
TSX-R headlight projector upgrade
RAYS Volk Racing TE37v MKII 18×11 et-7, bronze
BF Goodrich Comp 2 – 265/35/R18
RAYS Volk Racing 17 lug nuts
Top Secret Style (350z) rear diffuser, DIY
DIY blacked out headlights
DIY front splitter with side fins
DIY front mount intercooler air dam
