DarkPhoenix's 97 OBW - UPDATED:20 May 2011 Head gaskets!

[DarkPhoenix]

What's up everyone?

Since getting this car in April, I have gone through a bunch of problems that are documented here on the site. Between the timing belt and tensioner being FUBAR'd and a few other annoying issues, I have realised that this is still a great car. I traded my S13 240SX Hatchback for it, straight trade. The 240 had 140k miles, with rotted frame rails and a slipping clutch. The OBW didn't run right, due to the timing being off, has cancer on the passenger side rear quarter, and looks like it was in a slight front end smack up. Other than that, the car was straight and relatively rust free. Oh yeah, and it only had 85k miles on it when I got it. :-)

MOD LIST:

02-03 WRX Seats
JDM Resin STi Shift knob
03 WRX Momo Wheel
"Custom" (read: jerry riggied) consisting of eBay UELs, HFC, 03 WRX Cat-back, and custom mid-pipe: Just needs header wrap.
07 Forester XT Suspension (Not Installed yet)
Snorkus Delete
99 2-piece headlights
eBay UEL Header
True Flow Intake Systems CAI
GoFastBits Underdrive Pulley
Custom grounding kit
16" 2000 Forester Wheels w/ 215/60R16 Continental Touring Contacts
FUTURE MODS:

Custom coyote tan or olive drab flat paint, unless I can find a body shop who can do MultiCam correctly.
Roof rack of some sort
02 WRX rotors and brackets
STi lateral links


Here are some pics the day I picked it up.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n79/DarkPhoenixTSi/91de4c38.jpg
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n79/DarkPhoenixTSi/fa88bdbf.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n79/DarkPhoenixTSi/96fd70aa.jpg


I took these a few days ago, after repairing the headlights, driver's side mirror, and installing the WRX seats.

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n79/DarkPhoenixTSi/2010-06-23154737.jpg
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n79/DarkPhoenixTSi/2010-06-23154753.jpg
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n79/DarkPhoenixTSi/2010-06-23154816.jpg
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n79/DarkPhoenixTSi/2010-06-23154852.jpg
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n79/DarkPhoenixTSi/2010-06-23154839.jpg


There is a lot of work that I still need to do to get it "mod" ready. First and foremost will be replacing the fuel filler pipe. After that will be the suspension. I am still trying to decide if I am going to do a swap. Being that my girlfriend got herself a GF Impreza, I may just swap a WRX motor into mine, rebuild the EJ25D with some extra ponies, and put that into her car. Only time and money will tell.

[1996Battlewagon]

I'm watching this one! I've always been curious about the XT Fozzy suspension swap; can't wait for your reaction.

[DarkPhoenix]

^^ Thanks. I am hoping it will give me the tightness that teh stock suspension lacks. Coming from a dropped S13, this thing feels like a Caddy.

[1996Battlewagon]

That's what I was curious about too. I don't want a lower ride because I still "use" my Outback for it's intended purposes, so I always wondered what the XT suspension would do. If you use the full strut/spring set up, it keeps the same ride height.

[DarkPhoenix]

Actually, according to a few people on RS25, it will raise a stock BG Outback about 2 inches, as long as you use the SG (2nd Gen) Fozzy springs.

This is my inspiration.

http://www.teamilluminata.com./Customers/OBAT/obat.htm

[DarkPhoenix]

Finally got my WRX exhaust installed on my wagon. The tips are a little shorter (that's what she said) but it sounds good.
Soon my OBW will have more WRX parts than Leggy parts.

[TGX4776]

hows it sound?

[DarkPhoenix]

^^ Almost like the stock exhaust at idle, but with the burble under load. I still have to fix the front of the exhaust, since I have a possible leak in the headers. It sounds like a bloody lawnmower under load.

[subie/legacy]

Did you use a full cat back from a wrx? if so what all did you have to do to make it fit?
what year sedan or wagon did you get it from?

[DarkPhoenix]

Did you use a full cat back from a wrx? if so what all did you have to do to make it fit?
what year sedan or wagon did you get it from?

It's the full cat-back from an 02/03 Sedan. The mid-pipe needed to be lengthened about 6 inches and the hangers on the axleback needed to be moved. It would probably now fir perfectly on a BD. On a BG, as I have found out, the tips are about 3 inches too short. I will get some pics at lunch.

[TGX4776]

Any Updates? Bump

[DarkPhoenix]

UPDATES:

The WRX steering wheel is installed, with the airbag working. I am not going to try to test it to see, but there is no light.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/

This weekend I will be doing my Forester suspension upgrade. I have to see if it is the top hats that I need to install, or just the top spring perches. I am looking for some pics of the front struts to see what I need before taking my DD apart. I know I can steal my girlfriend's GF, but I would rather have everything bolted back together for work on Monday.

[LiCelsior]

bump for a local OB owner! nice one u got there, was thinking on purchasing a wrx wheel also.

mines the same color as yours also :).

[evolegacy]

HAHAHA DUDE! i have that same CD Deck in my Leggy XD, anyways, doesnt look bad at all though, keep up the good work

[TGX4776]

updates?

[DarkPhoenix]

^^ Installed the eBay header and boy do I love that flat-4 rumble. :)

I have to re-torque the nuts on the header because I have a little leak. I will finally be doing the Fozzy suspension now that I have the rear tophats that I needed (RockAuto 905950 $20.74 for 04-07 Impreza/Forester)

I just have to get the 2.25" HFC and pipe installed, and my exhaust will be good until I decide to go completely custom. I will have the rest of the stuff done by this time next week with new pics and a rumbley video of my exhaust with the UELs.

Then on to find a body shop that can repair the cancer that is taking over my right rear quarter panel. I am t3h suck at body work.

[DarkPhoenix]

Installed the True Flow CAI and it sucked major ass, without making any power, just a lot of noise and banging the MAF against the fender. I cut the CAI down and made it an SRI. Now I just need to re-install the snorkus to get rid of the stupid bog in low revs.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/

[DarkPhoenix]

Here's my GFB Pulley.

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n79/DarkPhoenixTSi/2011-04-15_10-51-25_712.jpg

[DarkPhoenix]

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n79/DarkPhoenixTSi/2011-04-16_14-38-49_145.jpg

Got some Forester rims with tyres for dirt cheap from one of the LISC guys. I just need to strip them and repaint them.

[TGX4776]

much was the true flow? If it's cheap enough I'll do the hybrid intake.

[DarkPhoenix]

much was the true flow? If it's cheap enough I'll do the hybrid intake.

I picked it up used from prodriver1 for like $40 or something like that. Good luck finding another one of these as I don't think the company is around anymore. Just get the eBay special and do it that way. I had to take off almost a foot of the CAI to make it an SRI. I am starting to love it more and more. My girlfriend is a little upset that my car is faster than her's though.

[Danny-G]

Forester five spokes look so good on outbacks. What color are you thinking for the wheels?

[DarkPhoenix]

Forester five spokes look so good on outbacks. What color are you thinking for the wheels?

Thinking either gunmetal or black. I am still trying to decide what colour I am going with the car.

[Subieee]

Still want my outback wheels?

[DarkPhoenix]

Still want my outback wheels?


Maybe. The wife is bugging me about wheels for her car since she has steelies. If you have someone else who wants to buy them, by all means sell them.

[Subieee]

Ehh not many people ask about them lol they are basically yours whenever you get the money
And which headers did you get for your wagon? How do they fit? Direct bolt on and an o2spacer?(so I've heard)

[DarkPhoenix]

Ehh not many people ask about them lol they are basically yours whenever you get the money
And which headers did you get for your wagon? How do they fit? Direct bolt on and an o2spacer?(so I've heard)


I've got the eBay UELs (Borla replicas). I haven't wrapped them yet, but they sound great. They fit pretty well, but it still took some persuading to get them on. It took me 20 minutes from start to finish to get them on. As for the O2 spacer, I haven't gotten any P0420 codes, even with gutted cats. Now I just have one huge HFC and still no code. The space shouldn't be necessary unless you are ditching the cats altogether.

[Garrison]

Your forester suspension should bolt right up, top-hats and all. Mine did, at least.
Does the "click-clack" sound from unwrapped headers bug you? Is is loud in the cabin?

One more question: The wrx swap, is that essentially a bolt-up scenario, or what needs to be custom fabbed?
If you have a link for reading that would be wonderful as well.

Thanks

[DarkPhoenix]

Your forester suspension should bolt right up, top-hats and all. Mine did, at least.


It will, the problem is I didn't get the tophats or upper perches, just the springs and struts.


Does the "click-clack" sound from unwrapped headers bug you? Is is loud in the cabin?

Like you couldn't imagine. I don't hear it so much unless I have the windows down and the radio off. It gets quieter as it warms up, but I would like to eliminate it completely for the true Scooby rumble.


One more question: The wrx swap, is that essentially a bolt-up scenario, or what needs to be custom fabbed?
If you have a link for reading that would be wonderful as well.

Thanks

The WRX engine swap is pretty straight forward if you have the right parts. The biggest PITA is the wiring. There are a few people who will do the wiring for you, if you send them the harness for your car and the harness for the engine you are putting in. The only other thing that would need to change is the front crossmember if you want to use stock parts. You can keep the stock crossmember if you get a custom down pipe made.

Check the stickies in the Swaps and Conversions Forum. It will have all of teh info that previous and current members have gleaned from the internet and experience.

Good luck. :-)

[Garrison]

Cool, thanks a lot man. Good luck with your project :smt023

[DarkPhoenix]

Getting the head gaskets done. We will see how the car runs in a week!

[DarkPhoenix]

WOOHOO!! Got my muthafuckin' car back. It runs so nice and smooth. It is how I would assume a new Legacy would run. I still have the CEL for the all 4 cylinder misfire, but that will change once I get rid of the stupid UD pulley. And I still have to see where the hell my fuel is leaking from.

[evolegacy]

check your fuel filler pipe, thats where i had my leak on the '98. Coming out from the bottom bend just before the tank itself. Also glad to hear you got the wadon back, does feel nice after an HG change and a lil overhaul right? lol

[DarkPhoenix]

Yeah it started happening after I replaced the fuel filler pipe. I see the area where it is leaking from, but I can't reach the clamp without either dropping my gas tank or cutting the fuel pump access door bigger. I am going to try one more thing tomorrow and if I need the rubber hose, I will get it from the stealership.
And it is a night and day difference! It actually feels like it has 165 hp instead of 65.


Sent from my SPH-M900 using Tapatalk

[nasioc]

Looks good...I have the same color as yours...
Here's mine.

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=21002 (http://www.sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=21002)

[evolegacy]

Yeah it started happening after I replaced the fuel filler pipe. I see the area where it is leaking from, but I can't reach the clamp without either dropping my gas tank or cutting the fuel pump access door bigger. I am going to try one more thing tomorrow and if I need the rubber hose, I will get it from the stealership.
And it is a night and day difference! It actually feels like it has 165 hp instead of 65.


Sent from my SPH-M900 using Tapatalk


ugh i know the one your talking about, luckly the clamp was angled so that I could use a 1ft phillips to get at it.

[DarkPhoenix]

That is good to know that you were able to get in there with a screwdriver. That will make things easier for me when I get a chance to do it.


Looks good...I have the same color as yours...
Here's mine.

http://www.sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=21002

Thanks! Your's is so much cleaner than mine is. And I love the RS goldies on the car.

[Subieee]

How much and where'd you go for your head gaskets?
If ya don't mind me asking