Jon Erickson - 2011 Subaru STi
Story by Adam Gordon
Photography by Dakota McCreary-Hutchinson (@dakotascollection)
When Jon Erickson picked up his 2011 Subaru STi, he expected the usual cycle: enjoy the car, make upgrades, and gradually shape it into something of his own. Instead, a string of motor issues within the first two years forced him into a decision most people don’t want to make. Rather than walk away, Erickson stripped the car to a bare shell and rebuilt it around an idea that would challenge him as a builder.
“I don’t fit in a lot of cars, and I don’t always like the ones I do fit in,” Erickson admits. “So I decided to build my STi with an LS3 crate motor, a TR6060, and a Nissan R200 with a 1.5-way Kaaz LSD.” From that point, the Subaru could no longer stick to traditional recipes, and became a canvas for Erickson’s experimentation.
The drivetrain set the tone for everything that followed. The LS3 is strengthened with a cam, springs, and rods, paired to the TR6060 with an S1 sequential. A Radium fuel cell and Accusump keep the motor supplied under load, while a tilted radiator and CSF coolers manage heat. Braking is upgraded front and rear, and every Whiteline suspension component available has been installed to make the chassis as responsive as the added power demands.
With performance handled, Erickson focused on presentation and aero. A Varis widebody forms the base, but nearly everything else outside is custom work. The wing, splitter, and diffuser are all chassis-mounted pieces he created in his garage. Hood modifications, headlights, and a hidden trickle charger behind the fuel door are other small details that keep the car unique without straying from its track-focused intent.
Inside, the same philosophy carries over. A pair of Sparco Evo seats with harnesses handle driver and passenger duty, while Erickson grips a matching Sparco wheel. The dash is flocked to cut glare, while an AEM CD-7 handles data display. Weight has been stripped where possible, with the glovebox, radio panel, and rear seats deleted. A half cage ties the chassis together, while subtle interior lighting ensures the car doesn’t feel unfinished.
The majority of the build took place at home, with Erickson and two friends handling nearly every step. Beyond just swapping parts, he used the project as a way to learn. Fiberglass, bodywork, and fabrication were skills developed along the way, each one applied directly to the Subaru in real time.
The STi hasn’t yet seen a track day, though Erickson has set that as a primary goal for the near future. For now, the car stands as proof of what’s possible when the challenge is less about the platform, and more about the person building it. This Subaru is truly more than meets the eye.
ESSENTIALS
VEHICLE:
2011 Subaru STi
LOCATION:
Orangeville, ON
HORSEPOWER:
530 whp
SOCIAL:
IG: @rallylow_racing
ENGINE:
Chevrolet LS3 crate motor + Upgraded cam, springs, and rods + Radium fuel cell + Accusump + Tilted radiator + CSF (oil cooler and transmission cooler)
EXHAUST:
Custom exhaust by Fusion Motorfab
DRIVETRAIN:
TR6060 transmission + S1 sequential + Nissan R200 + 1.5-way Kaaz LSD
WHEELS / TIRES / BRAKES:
Front and rear big brake kit
CHASSIS / SUSPENSION:
Custom front and rear subframes + Custom front and rear crash bars + Upgraded coilovers + Whiteline suspension (arms, bushings, and links)
EXTERIOR:
Varis widebody + Custom chassis-mounted wing, splitter, and diffuser + Custom headlights + Gas cap trickle charger + Reverse intake carbon hood + Custom hood vents
INTERIOR:
Sparco (wheel, Evo seats, and harnesses) + Flocked dash + AEM CD-7 digital dash + Radio panel delete + Glovebox delete + Rear seat delete + Half cage + Full interior lighting
PHOTO CREDIT:
Photography by Dakota McCreary-Hutchinson — @dakotascollection
GALLERY
