bmuzz1's '97 Legacy OBL

[bmuzz1]

Exterior Mods:
De-badged
De-pinstriped
Grill painted semi flat black
tin shield removed from hood
Interior:
Tinted windows
Engine:
Hybrid intake
UEL header
New power steering pump
New A/C compressor
Future engine mods:
Light weight pulley
MSD Coil
?
Suspension:
Raceland coilovers
front/rear strut tower bars
Wheels/Tires:
'06 WRX Enkei 17's
BF Goodrich G-Force Sport 215/45/17
Muffler:
Shepherd Auto Parts

Before:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/
After:
http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/rr134/bmuzz1/IMG_1472.jpg

This is my first Subaru so I am learning as I go here.

I have always liked the look of the late 90's to early 00's Legacy wagons dropped on 17's or 18's so when gas prices reached the $3.70+ mark I knew that my '01 Suburban 4x4 had to go and the search began. It only took me a week to find this beautiful original owner, dealer maintained '97 Legacy Outback Limited with 104k on the odometer. The interior is like new as is the paint seeing how the previous owner was able to keep the car garaged at home and work. :cool:

I am not looking to turn the car into a racer as I'm 41 with a wife and 3 girls but I do appreciate the look, feel and pep that I will get with a few mods and still have room and comfort for the family.

The first thing I did was to get the windows tinted and then remove the old badges as they were pretty faded from the AZ heat, besides it looks much cleaner. I did install a new BAD BADTZ MARU STi badge in place of the Legacy badge however to cover up the holes. next will be to remove or have removed all the gold pin stripes on the sides and roof to clean it up a bit more.

Next I installed an aftermarket exhaust that I found at Shepherdautoparts.com, nothing too obnoxiously loud but it has a nice throaty sound.

Next on the list was to install the rear strut tower bar which was found on ebay and the CAI that I purchased from Cosmo Racing. The intake is a very nice unit which enters the fender well where the OEM unit was.

I have a front strut bar is on the way and then I'll start saving some money for the WRX strut and lowered spring conversion before I start saving for wheels and tires.

I will try to post pics later. I am getting a message that the board attachment quota has been reached.

[xoSubieLegacyxo]

Is your exhaust a catback? Headers?

[bmuzz1]

Exhaust is from cat back but I have been thinking about headers as well, we'll see.

[xoSubieLegacyxo]

just get equal headers. UEL might get unwanted attention! lol

[bmuzz1]

Thanks for the heads up on that. LOL :smt023

[anothernord]

No, equal-length headers will rob the car of its identity. UEL's on a Subaru is just the only way to go.

[xoSubieLegacyxo]

clearly you missed this line:

I am not looking to turn the car into a racer as I'm 41 with a wife and 3 girls.

[mycargoesvroom]

clearly you missed this line:

I am not looking to turn the car into a racer as I'm 41 with a wife and 3 girls.

Nothing about an UEL header makes the car a "racer" in fact it's the other way around. UEL provide less power and more "rumble" in the exhaust note, while EL headers with provide more power and a totally different "racer" type exhaust note.

Just my .02

[bmuzz1]

Thanks for all the input on the headers guys. I do have to admit that I love my legy as much for the looks as I love soobs for the rumble so if UEL headers will achieve that then that's probably the direction I'll go. :grin:

On another note, I have read all over the board how CAI robs the car of low to mid range power and can in fact lower your mpg's but I have noticed just the opposite in my car. Although it is no rocket it has a crap load of pep compared to my Wife's Corolla and entering the freeway at above average speeds 70-80 is sure a nice feeling. :twisted: I also noticed that my 22.25 average mpg's went up to 24.95 on this last tank of gas. :smt017

[Huffer]

Pics pics pics!

[Airgne]

just told him how to upload pics. would have done it sooner but was busy.

also with the header thing its only a 10hp/tq differance.

[Huffer]

10hp for a header? That's a little ambitious...

[bmuzz1]

Thanks Airgne for giving me the skinny on how to attach pics...forgot I even had a photobucket acct. :oops: :lol: Thanks everyone else for your patients. :smt023
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/
http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/rr134/bmuzz1/Subaru1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/
http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/rr134/bmuzz1/subaru4.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/

My Outback front strut bar should be here any day, then I can start looking for a set of struts. I'll need to get rid of the Impreza front strut bar that came with the rear unit since I didn't want to space the hood or hack away the hood supports for a proper fit.

[bmuzz1]

Well I had a bad front drivers wheel bearing that needed replacing so rather then pay someone $572 to replace it I decided to try and tackle the majority of the job myself. First thing this morning I called a local shop who said they could press out the old bearing and then install the new for $40 so I started the tear down. I had read what a bitch it can be to remove the strut bolts and others, but thankfully the fact that my car is an AZ car it had no rust or other issues to contend with and everything came apart without issue.
So my total today with the $40 shop fee came out to $96...not bad!

Since things went smoothly with the bearing replacement I decided to use some of the extra time I had to start removing the god awful gold pin stripes and limited stripes on the roof...I must say I would have rather replace another wheel bearing! :shock: :lol:
Pin stripes are gone but I have one AWD decal on the passenger door that is being a PITA, I'll tackle it again tomorrow. then I'll give the paint a good rub and wax to remove any dull areas I may have left from the stickers.

I'm getting closer to getting my coilovers and I'm thinking of getting the UEL header. I also installed a front strut bar a couple weeks ago.

She's coming along. :smt023

[xoSubieLegacyxo]

I had the exact same Cosmo Racing CAI. Unfortunately, I had a decrease in power and mileage, but I loved the deep sound it gave the car. Now I'm running a "Hybrid" setup. CAI tube + stock airbox, MAF, & snorkus. best setup for N/A subies!!

[Baddog]

UEL would give less HP then stock? I don't see that especially if it has better flow.

I have seen dynos on RS25.com where a header with a high flow cat has gained 14hp and 12ft lbs some more some less. I think a header is a pretty good power adder for N/A engines. It lets it breathe much better. Now a catback is already restricted because of the cats. This is just from what I have read.

[bmuzz1]

Updates!!

I've been slacking on the updates so I figured I better get on track here and let ya all know what's been happening.

I changed up my CAI and made it a hybrid which was a great move and has made a vast improvement in the mid range power department. :smt023

I also installed my Raceland coilovers a few weeks back and my UEL header. I am loving the header and noticed no power loss and despite what some have said it is not too loud at all. The coilovers take a bit of getting used to and really sucked on the stock wheels and tires...rattled your guts! :roll:

Last weekend while surfing on CL I happened upon a set of WRX 17's with tires for $400. I gave the guy a call and ended up picking them up for $300. His brother had only used them for a couple weeks before switching them out for 18's and then totaled the car so he just wanted them gone...SCORE!! :grin: :cool:

So here's how my baby is sitting now....

http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/rr134/bmuzz1/IMG_1475.jpg
http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/rr134/bmuzz1/IMG_1474.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/

[subiman2005]

Looks awesome man! I don't see that blue color very often...Now I kinda wish I had kept my 06 wrx wheels stripped them and repainted them silver....I just didn't like how they looked black

[bmuzz1]

Thanks! :smt023

The paint is 100 times better without the ugly ass gold pin stripes for sure! :lol:

[xoSubieLegacyxo]

looks good!

[bmuzz1]

Not much of an update...had my A/C compressor go out and found out the hard way that Subaru made a change sometime during the production year. I ordered a unit from a wrecking yard in Colorado just to find that the fittings from the car to the unit were too big for the new compressor. Not wanting to take any chances of it happening again I decided to order a new unit from the subaru dealer instead of saving $75 and buying a rebuilt, besides I really wasn't enjoying driving in 110*+ AZ heat with no A/C and leather interior. :smt012 Unfortunately that unit came in wrong also even using my VIN and on a Friday non the less so they couldn't do anything about it until the following Monday! :smt013 Thankfully they figured it out, made the notes on Subarus site so that this doesn't happen to anyone else and had it air freighted to me the next day. :grin: What a PITA though!!

[r3v_v3ng3]

yeah i had the same problem with the a/c condensor. the 98-99 is different than the previous years

[peugoby]

I love that color! Its so rare. Sweet OB.

[MRLancaster]

Wow this is a beautiful outback! Just one suggestion...may want to adjust the muffler so its not pointing down. Aside from that this Outback is a 5/5 in my book! Keep up the work!

[bmuzz1]

Thanks guys. :smt023

[MRLancaster]

Anything new? :)

[TGX4776]

how are you liking the race lands? i am looking at picking a set up myself as after struts and springs it would be cheaper to get the racelands.

[bmuzz1]

Anything new? :)
Lol...not yet but ill let ya know. :smt023

[bmuzz1]

how are you liking the race lands? i am looking at picking a set up myself as after struts and springs it would be cheaper to get the racelands.
I'm liking them. Took a little getting used to the stiffer ride but the control and adjustability is great...now even my Wife loves driving my car. :shock:

[Airgne]

please fix your opening post. read the members rides thread rules.

[bmuzz1]

please fix your opening post. read the members rides thread rules.
Fixed!