We’re all working on ourselves as we journey through life. If we’re honest, we know what kind of person we’d like to be at our core…
We know who the best version of ourselves is? The guy who has it all together, the guy who triumphs over adversity, the guy who sees the big picture, who takes the high road, and who doesn’t take more than he needs. Someone who’s got the wisdom, answers, and clarity.
And if we stay honest with ourselves… we all fall short. Everyday.
We slip, when we wish we’d been stoic. And we succumb to frustration & emotion, when we’d set out to be positive & level-headed. But you know what… that’s ok! Yeah? Because life tests us! And our life is a work in progress!
Becoming who you want to be… is not just a switch you flip.
Character is more like a ‘muscle’ than a ‘trait’. It needs exercise. You have to focus on it; make it strong. Wake up, and as you sit on the edge of your bed, visualize who you want to be that day… the best version of yourself. And try to keep that in your mind as life tests you. Know when you fail. Own it & learn from it, and regroup with humility. Because the important thing… is conviction… not perfection. Just like our shitbox cars lol, it’s all about the build.
Josh Freeman, the owner of this STI, is a 12/10 type of guy…
The kind of person who gasses-up the people around him. A beacon of positivity within car culture. That doesn’t happen ‘just cause’. It happens because he sets out & fights to be that way. Josh founded a car club / streetwear brand in 2016 called Vaded Mob. The brand/club is built around positivity, community, and the pursuit of higher standards.
Here’s a little bit from Josh Freeman of Vaded Mob…
My name is Joshua Freeman, and I am from Niles, MI. I’m fully immersed in the automotive industry in just about every aspect of my life – from work to personal. I work with a local high performance shop called Premiere Auto Sports. And I founded a car club / streetwear brand in 2016 called Vaded Mob that continues to thrive!
I bought this Subaru STi new in September of 2015, went home, and immediately started ordering parts lol. It got out of hand fast lol…
But I never had the vision for a ‘mild’ build. Out the gate, I wanted this thing to perform as mean as it looked. Over the next few years, I poured my blood, sweat, frustrations, and triumphs into this car. I’ve gained a lot of experience along the way. I’ve learned to appreciate different cars for what they were built for, I’ve met some of the best people I know today, and created great relationships with automotive aftermarket shops/brands.
Initially in 2015, I had full-bolt-ons with a custom flex fuel kit by Corbin Johnson (Johnson Tuning)… which proved to be very efficient for the stock internals on an STi at 428whp/373tq with the Blouch Dom 1.5 turbo.
But come winter 2016/17, it was time to take the car to the next level…
I added the widebody kit from IDL designs, and began an engine build to match the flared exterior flex.
My goal was to break the 800whp barrier. IAG Performance seemed to be the move when it came to reaching that goal, so I settled on their Stage-4 engine package… which leads to my now-lengthy mod list (at the end of this article). The car now puts down 821whp/618tq on 38lbs of boost!
Functionality was key, but I also wanted some 1-off parts to keep my build unique & custom…
So I took the car to Fathouse Fabrications to help me fab parts like – the custom front mount intercooler, the titanium hood-exit dump-pipe, the titanium intake pipe, and custom downpipe & custom equal length headers. Come 2018, I decided to swap over to a standalone ECU. After discussing a plan with my tuner (still Corbin Johnson at Johnson Tuning) we decided on a Motec ECU. The Motec allows me to push the car with rolling anti-lag launches. This is easily one of the coolest modifications of the vehicle. At around 6,500rpms, if I hold the cruise-cancel button on my steering wheel, the vehicle will build 28lbs of boost… and as I let off of the button, it will launch the car to 38lbs of boost and aggressively put you back in the seat.
I guess when it comes down to it…
I really built this Subaru STi (and continue to build it) to keep my mind in a positive place. The tasks are pretty much my route to get away from everything else going on in life. It gives me a huge sense of accomplishment to see this build through, and to share the car with old friends as well as new friends.
–Text by Wooley & Josh Freeman Photos by Taylor Galster
STi ENGINE & ECU…
IAG Performance Stage-4 block
Manley Turbo Tuff rods & pistons
Upgraded to HD wrist pins
Stage-5 CNC heads
Kelford 220C camshafts & beehive springs w/ titanium retainers
ACL high-volume oil pump
Killer Bee oil pickup tube
ARP 2000 1/2″ head studs
Manley valves
P&L Motorsports Clutch Competition Clutch (triple disc setup)
Password JDM carbon fiber dress-up pieces
IAG Billet caps (full set)
Motec M150 ECU & C125 display with data logging, aux control, & programmable LEDs
Custom wiring harness
STi FUEL SYSTEM…
Johnson Tuning flex fuel system
Radium dual fuel pump hanger
Two Walbro 450lpb pumps (drop in)
Injector Dynamics ID2000 fuel injectors
IAG billet fuel rails
Aeromotive AFRP
Fuel Lab 6 micron filter & custom lines
Cobb Tuning fuel pressure monitoring kit
Heavy gauge wires installed from battery, with relays for proper fuel pump voltage
STi PERFORMANCE PARTS…
Precision Turbo 6466 single scroll with V-band housing. The turbo uses a Ported S Cover, which is a 4” inlet and 2.5” outlet. The turbo features Precision’s Gen-2 billet compressor wheel.
Custom FatFab intercooler kit, 4” titanium intake pipe, & titanium hood-exit dump pipe, headers, and downpipe.
Process West intake manifold (with polishing & powder coating)
Boomba CNC throttle body
Tial MVR wastegate
Tomei Titanium Extreme single exit exhaust system
AEM 5-bar map sensor
IAG MAP adapter
Johnson Tuning plug n’ play harness for map sensor
AEM 50psi boost gauge
Perrin engine mounts (both side mounts and pitch stop)
Killer Bee EJ aluminum oil pan & windage tray
Koyo aluminum racing radiator
Fluidampr damper crank pulley
STi EXTERIOR…
IDL widebody kit with burnt titanium attachment bolts
APR carbon fiber splitter & carbon fiber lip, and 74” GTC-500 spoiler
Seibon carbon fiber fog housing covers & side skirt extensions
SMY Performance fog light housings
15+ JDM carbon fiber grille
Custom headlights by Jon Paul that feature quad demon eyes, quad Morimoto XSB v3 halos, and V3 Upgraded C-Light, RGB & strobe effects, as well as a custom-etched Vaded Mob club logo on the projector lenses.
Sequential ‘dancing’ LED tail lights with three different modes (custom)
OLM carbon fiber mirror covers
Carbon Creations rear spats
F1 style rear brake light
OLM rüf spoiler Version 1
STi INTERIOR…
1/1 (in US) red-stitched TAKATA Drift Pro LE seats with carbon fiber backing
TAKATA Drift III harnesses
Planted Technology seat brackets w/ sliders
Olden harness bar (custom powder-coated to match Brembo brake calipers)
Auto Power cage
Subispeed CP Style carbon fiber + alcantara steering wheel w/ red stitching
Leather display cover w/ red stitching
OLM S-Line carbon fiber switch panel covers
WeAreLikewise “The Suzuka” shifter extension parted with the “Daytona” engraved shifter
OLM carbon stereo visor
Pioneer 7” ADV head-unit
4x custom mounted Pioneer tweeters in doors
9-speaker sound system with Memphis 10” sub
Custom diamond-stitched trunk set-up with floating 5-gal airlift tank
Viair compressor, 5-gallon air tank, and Air Lift Performance Management
STi SUSPENSION / WHEELS / BRAKES…
Air Lift Performance Struts with V2 Management
Eibach front & rear sway bars
Cusco lower control arms
Whiteline toe arms
DBA slotted & drilled rotors
Brembo brakes
SSR Professor SP3 Spectrum Silver wheels with polished lip (18×12-4f & 18×12-25r)
Second wheel set: 326 Power 5 spoke “Yabaking” wheels with candy red face & polished lip (18×12-4f & 18×12-32r).
