Subaru51390 budget wagon build

[subaru51390]

Hey guys I was a member of this forum awhile back when I had a white 97 Legacy gt sedan
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/01/veronica_zps6376a6d8-1.jpg

The car had a version 4 sti swap in it and she was my baby. Not long after the swap a truck ran a stop sign and I was not able to stop in time and I t-boned him, very sad day. Luckily he had USAA so they paid for the whole car plus all the parts. From there I rebuilt the engine and bought a bone stock 97 impreza to put it in and turned it into what you see below.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/01/blackcar_zps98109ce8-1.jpg

That car was fun and super impractical so ended up selling it. Now a year later I am working as a subaru tech and was able to buy a customers 98 legacy gt wagon for 400 bucks.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/01/leggt_zpsf3d08005-1.jpg

It needs an engine which for now I am just replacing with a low miles jdm ej25, which will be done within the next week.

Current mod list:
bc racing br coilovers
vled 5k hids
kenwood head unit
str 520 18x8.5 et 35 with federal ss595 in 225/40r18
momo race steering wheel with momo hub
outback limited full leather interior

Future mod list:
front and rear sway bars plus endlinks
strut braces
I have a 10 inch sub but have been waiting to put it in
tint
Repaint on both bumpers, hood and wing
Repaint roof racks
new carpet
rfrb gril
jdm projectors
jdm fogs with a 3k yellow hid setup

Had the time to finally get some good photos of the car and it was not rainy for once so here they are.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/01/photo_12_zps395d0f3b-1.jpg (http://s1340.photobucket.com/user/mbunzel51390/media/photo_12_zps395d0f3b.jpg.html)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/01/photo_22_zpsb1d68bec-1.jpg (http://s1340.photobucket.com/user/mbunzel51390/media/photo_22_zpsb1d68bec.jpg.html)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/01/photo_31_zps1756924e-1.jpg (http://s1340.photobucket.com/user/mbunzel51390/media/photo_31_zps1756924e.jpg.html)

[subaru51390]

fixed

[Yamazaki]

I helped you out with the pictures... I recommend you use these posts as a template for future picture posting.

Now please update the thread title to comply with the MR1 thread rules. Thanks!

[subaru51390]

Hey I am not quite sure what you meant by "use these posts as a template for future picture posting" as you changed them to the way I mean t to post them but did not mention how. Also I am not sure how to update the thread title.

[98legwag]

Just read this: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5808 (https://sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5808)

It should help you out. Nice car. Love the Rio Red. All three cars are sweet.

[subaru51390]

Hey thanks for that and I am not to big on the red my self the bumper is badly faded and the hoodscoop. I am on the fence about painting as of right now

[98legwag]

Its a rare color. You should at least look into respraying it the same color.

[subaru51390]

Put the new engine together today, pressure washed the engine bay and what i could at underneath, cleaned the intake manifold, and put the engine in the car. Now that its running I have a few parts from my old legacy to go in. I have a clean stain free carpet, h&r lowering springs and kyb gr2 struts, nicer stock headlights, possibly jdm sti gauge cluster if the plugs work, and yakima roof rack.

[Hinyo]

Love the RIO RED!!! Welcome back. Hope you do more great things with this wagon =)

[subaru51390]

Spent all sunday working on the car detailing it. First wash then clay barred, then waxed I was surprised at how nice it shined up. The bumper was super faded pink and I was able to bring it back to red and somewhat shiny. Also the carpet I had wasnt a perfect fit so I decided to not use it, thinking I might just try and bring back the old one and dye it black. Ordered v led hids in 5k white through my work account today, should have those in tomorrow. Only good picture i took of it after all the work but ill get some more up soon.


https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/01/photo_zpsf983e90c-2.jpg (http://s1340.photobucket.com/user/mbunzel51390/media/photo_zpsf983e90c.jpg.html)

[subaru51390]

Finally got around to installing my single piece headlights and some vled 5k white Hids, I can finally see while driving. I have now also developed a serious water leak into the cabin that allows about a one inch pool of water to form in the passenger footwell behind the drivers seat after sitting overnight while raining. Ill most likely pool the headliner down this weekend and try to chase it down, also ill be installing the lowering springs and struts I have if the whether permits. And sorry still no new pictures the weather as been poor the past week.

[Hinyo]

Are you putting HID's in the USDM 1 piece housing?

[subaru51390]

yeah the car came with the 2 piecers and I had a set of nice usdm one piecers from my old legacy because when the car was in the accident it had the jdm projectors in it.

[98legwag]

Not sure if it will make a difference but the USDM one piece and two piece headlights use different bulbs.

[subaru51390]

yes I am aware of that as I already installed the new lights and hid the other day. Stock 2 piece are i believe a 9007 or something like that and the one piece are an h4. It was super easy to change over to h4's because the V-led Hid system only uses one of the headlight plugs so all I had to do was wire and h4 adapter plug to one side of the harness making sure the highs and lows were correct. Fortunately I work as a technician at subaru specific performance shop and have had a few subarus so I know them like the back of my hand.

[98legwag]

Sounds good. Keep posting pics. I am sure you will do great things with this car.

[subaru51390]

Pretty productive day today got up early installed h&r lowering springs and kyb gr2 struts https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/02/DSC_8751_zpsbd5c65ea-2.jpg (http://s1340.photobucket.com/user/mbunzel51390/media/DSC_8751_zpsbd5c65ea.jpg.html)
and h&r 5mm wheel spacers for the time being and also fixed the sunroof leak I was having. I knew the wagon was going to have some saggy but so ended up fabing up some 10mm spaces for the back, she still has a little sag but its not as bad as it would have been. The sun roof leak ended up being super simple, all it was was that the drain line was not connected to the drain on the sunroof so I blew the line out with some shop air and popped it back on there. kinda bad picture but you can kind of see the drain there
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/02/DSC_8756_zpscfd6de89-2.jpg (http://s1340.photobucket.com/user/mbunzel51390/media/DSC_8756_zpscfd6de89.jpg.html)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/02/DSC_8763_zps80c97681-2.jpg (http://s1340.photobucket.com/user/mbunzel51390/media/DSC_8763_zps80c97681.jpg.html)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/02/DSC_8758_zpsb5e4fff5-1.jpg (http://s1340.photobucket.com/user/mbunzel51390/media/DSC_8758_zpsb5e4fff5.jpg.html)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/02/DSC_8760_zps80358b94-2.jpg (http://s1340.photobucket.com/user/mbunzel51390/media/DSC_8760_zps80358b94.jpg.html)

[subaru51390]

I have a solid parts list for the car that I will slowly be purchasing as soon as a get some more money.
-whiteline sway bars front and rear, was think 22 front and 20 rear
-front and rear endlinks with polyurethane bushings
-exhaust
-wheels and tires, these are what im leaning towards
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/02/strwheels_zpsfd65da78-2.jpg (http://s1340.photobucket.com/user/mbunzel51390/media/strwheels_zpsfd65da78.jpg.html)
-new head unit
-Jdm projectors headlights and Fogs
-Jdm side markers
probably more as the build goes along. Im basically looking to take the best attributes of the two previous subarus Ive built and put them all into this car.

[98legwag]

Its looking really good.

[couchfuzzy]

love the progress, where are you located at?

[86bratman]

Love the wagon, the polishing and drop make it look like a completely different car.

[subaru51390]

love the progress, where are you located at?
I am up in bellingham

[subaru51390]

Oh and I ended up ordering the str 520's pictured above in 18x8.5 et 35 with some federal ss595 in 225/40r18. I know that i will need to roll the fenders but I am no stranger to some roll and pull.

[Sub-Goon]

Sub'd! Looking good!

I grew up in Bellingham!

[subaru51390]

Sub'd! Looking good!

I grew up in Bellingham!
I grew up in San jose California, pretty close to where you are now...

[Sub-Goon]

Sub'd! Looking good!

I grew up in Bellingham!
I grew up in San jose California, pretty close to where you are now...
Thats funny! Small world!

[Muse]

Heh, one of my best friends lives in Bellingham.

[Lancaster6]

Your car looks great! Especially with the new ride height. I think those wheels would look nice as well.

[subaru51390]

Helped a customer from work today at his house maneuver an engine and trans out of a donor car and while helping noticed this older momo steering wheel with hub inside the car. Upon asking about it he said I could have it for helping him. Its not in the best shape but hey it was free ha ha. I was thinking about maybe polishing the center, what do you guys think?
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/02/steeringwheel_zpsf4705743-2.jpg (http://s1340.photobucket.com/user/mbunzel51390/media/steeringwheel_zpsf4705743.jpg.html)

[subaru51390]

Finally my tires came in for the the new wheels and I was able to get them mounted up. I ended up rolling the fenders flat in the back with no pull and I rolled the fronts as well although it was not needed I thought I would do it anyways. Because of the mixture of saggy butt and not stiff enough suspension they rub in the back under hard cornering and light loads in the back. I kind of expected that but now the options are to 1. throw some camber bolts in there and pull a couple degrees to pull the tires away from the fenders. 2. get more agressive with the fender pull which I dont really want to do. 3. Pull the trigger and get some proper coilovers. I am currently leaning towards option three.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/02/photo_11_zpsfd963776-1.jpg (http://s1340.photobucket.com/user/mbunzel51390/media/photo_11_zpsfd963776.jpg.html)


https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/02/photo_21_zps55f741a2-1.jpg (http://s1340.photobucket.com/user/mbunzel51390/media/photo_21_zps55f741a2.jpg.html)

[thenines']

Helped a customer from work today at his house maneuver an engine and trans out of a donor car and while helping noticed this older momo steering wheel with hub inside the car. Upon asking about it he said I could have it for helping him. Its not in the best shape but hey it was free ha ha. I was thinking about maybe polishing the center, what do you guys think?
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/02/steeringwheel_zpsf4705743-1.jpg (http://s1340.photobucket.com/user/mbunzel51390/media/steeringwheel_zpsf4705743.jpg.html)
That wheel would look super sweet in my '91 wagon-no air bag to deal with :grin:

[subaru51390]

it actually came off of a 92 legacy ss

[subaru51390]

Coilovers finally came in the other day and Saturday I finally had some time to install them. Out of the box the Bc's were pretty much setup to where I wanted to be for winter mode except I had to raise the back a bit and accomodate for the fuel tank side. Ideally once it gets warmer and the chance of getting snow grows less I will lower it more and roll the fender a bit more so there will be zero issues with rubbing. Currently it only rubs in the back on the fuel tank side ever so slightly under hard cornering. Also at work we have corner balance scales and ill probably corner balance it just for the hell of it. In case anybody missed wheel and tire specs the 18x8.5 et 35 with federal 595 225/40/r18. I only have the one pic of the car currently but will get more up as soon as the snow melts away.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/03/photo1_zpsa095ad27-1.jpg (http://s1340.photobucket.com/user/mbunzel51390/media/photo1_zpsa095ad27.jpg.html)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/03/photo2_zpse8a1a275-1.jpg (http://s1340.photobucket.com/user/mbunzel51390/media/photo2_zpse8a1a275.jpg.html)

[subaru51390]

Went to the junkyard yesterday and scored a full outback limited leather interior including the door cards. The seats are in really good condition even the drivers seat is not as worn as they typically get, unfortunately some one had already snagged the center console with the heated seats switches so ill have to source those from somewhere else. I will post pics as soon as i get them cleaned up and installed.

[ags18]

Help us out a bit...can you get some good fitment and tire clearance pics or info posted!?

Car is coming along really well. Keep it up!

[subaru51390]

Help us out a bit...can you get some good fitment and tire clearance pics or info posted!?

Car is coming along really well. Keep it up!

What kind of info are you looking for? And as far as pics go I havent had time to take any more pictures of the car plus the weather has not been cooperating for pictures. I can just get a finger between the fender and tire in the back and front, but keep in mind this is in winter mode the height is NOT FINAL.

[ags18]

I was just thinking some at full steering wheel lock left and right. Maybe the clearance between coilover and tire?

My setup is going to be very close to the #'s yours is. I hear ya on the weather....we're just getting pissed on with rain here in the Seattle area and its a motivation killer too. :(

Also, share them in here too when you can: https://sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=14172

[subaru51390]

Yeah the weather has been either snowing or raining the last few weekends up in bellingham. With that wheel spec setup tire to strut clearance is a none issue there is plenty of room and for fenders they are rolled flat in the back and front but under hard cornering it rubs ever so slightly in the back right (because of the added weight of the gas tank) and rubs in the front while turning hard both ways. As soon as the weather gets better on a day off Im going to pull the fronts about a 1/4inch and the backs just a touch so that I can go lower and not rub. Ill also have to modify my front fender liners as well. The ultimate goal is to not be able to see the top sidewall.

[subaru51390]

I was just thinking some at full steering wheel lock left and right. Maybe the clearance between coilover and tire?

My setup is going to be very close to the #'s yours is. I hear ya on the weather....we're just getting pissed on with rain here in the Seattle area and its a motivation killer too. :(

Also, share them in here too when you can: https://sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=14172


Got some new pictures up that show some of the fitment you were asking about. All four corners are 24inches from ground to center of fender directly up from center cap. In the front i could maybe fit a key between the tire and fender but def not any fingers. and the backs i can get finger tips in but thats about it. As far as rubbing goes I prob should have gone with 215's because i do rub in the back still on the passenger side and in the front during full lock and compression it rubs both sides.