Subaru WRX STI Blob-EYE
Underbody Restoration:
Craig’s Build
Craig first came to us with his black Subaru WRX Blobeye, which had undergone a full STI conversion. He wanted a thorough inspection and an estimate to see what was involved in restoring the underbody. Unfortunately, the shell was in such poor condition that we had to condemn it. Craig said, “hold my beer.”
A few months later, Craig returned with a blue WRX, ready to start a proper restoration. After a second inspection, it became clear this car also had some hidden surprises in the chassis, but we had a goal in mind: to restore it correctly, thoroughly, and with longevity at the forefront.
Preparation & Component Salvage
The blue WRX arrived after a stint with Engine Tuner, who had removed the engine and drivetrain for a full overhaul with forged internals. Our focus was the chassis. We began by parting out the black STI chassis, salvaging all reusable components to be refitted once the new chassis was ready. The same process was repeated for the blue WRX, allocating all STI components to the new car and storing older unused parts. The black car was then retired.
Stripping & Restoration
With the blue WRX completely stripped, we began the detailed restoration of the underbody:
Undercoat removal: We stripped all areas requiring panel repairs or replacement and addressed any lightly corroded sections before the full strip for recoating.
Front end: Replaced the radiator core support using a genuine Subaru repair panel set.
Rear end: Cut out the rear sills, inner rear arch tubs, rear arches, and strut tower structures, removing all panels affected by corrosion. Once the panels were removed, new panels were fabricated and shaped, and the rear sections were fully reconstructed to restore strength and structural integrity.
Front floors and sills: Replaced panels as required, removing large sections of the sills, inner structures, and floors to gain proper access for repairs.
Body kit integration: While rebuilding the rear arches, we fitted a rear arch body kit to allow larger wheels, per Craig’s request, and trimmed the front arches to fit the front bumper and kit seamlessly.
Once welding and reconstruction were complete, we fully stripped and recoated the underbody, ensuring long-term protection and durability. The recoating was carried out in multiple stages: first, a sealing base primer was applied; next, a spray seam sealer was added to match the OEM look and ensure all laps and edges were properly sealed; finally, the underbody was finished with a black top coat, giving a durable, OEM-style finish.
Component Restoration & Suspension Upgrades
While the chassis was being rebuilt, we carefully restored and organised all components to be refitted to the freshly prepared chassis. Many parts were sent for powder coating, ensuring a clean, durable finish, while worn items were replaced with new high-quality components.
The car’s suspension and handling were fully upgraded to match the overhaul, including:
Whiteline fully adjustable lateral link arm kit
Whiteline stiffer anti-roll bars with adjustable drop links
Full poly bush kit
Whiteline roll centre adjustment kit
STI undercarriage conversion from the WRX
All hardware was replaced with genuine new bolts, and additional performance-focused modifications were integrated to ensure the suspension geometry and chassis dynamics were optimised. Combined with the fully rebuilt underbody, these upgrades deliver enhanced stability, precise handling, and excellent driving performance, providing a car that drives confidently and performs exceptionally on both road and track.
Reassembly & Completion
Once all components were ready, the car was carefully reassembled, rolling on a fully restored chassis with upgraded suspension and fully rebuilt underbody. The result is a structurally solid, corrosion-free, and high-performance vehicle, ready to return to Engine Tuner for the next stage of Craig’s build — a car that now drives with precision, confidence, and purpose, fully capable of handling its upgraded power and performance potential.
