SelfishBlue's '98 Outback Ltd -Super Crazy Summer Update! - 8/31

[SelfishBlue]

Alright, I've been lurking for nearly a year now, so I figured it's about time to make myself a member's ride.
This outback is my first car and I got it in May 2013 with about 142k miles.
It is Mica Ruby Red with 30th anniversary sandstone cladding and has just over 159k miles now and it's given me no problems.
EDIT: Ahem, headgaskets went+ warped heads winter 2014/2015. But other than that, no issues
Unfortunately, I'm a full time student and have a pretty limited budget, so I do things as I can afford them...

1998 Outback Limited Wagon

Mod List

Exterior
Genuine Subaru Cargo Basket (expensive version of Yakima LoadWarrior)
Plasti-Dipped Rear Emblems and Grill
Illuminated Hella Supertones Fluorescent Yellow
JDM Projector Headlights w/ 5000k HID kit
Rain Guards/ Vent Shades
Hella Optilux Yellow Fogs
Hella 500 Black Magic Driving Lights
Rallyarmor UR Flaps
GT Spoiler

Engine/Exhaust
K&N Air Filter
Vibrant Streetpower 1046
SpeedyRacer Borla Replica UEL Headers Wrapped
Tsudo Resonated Test Pipe with O2 sensor spacer

Suspension/Brakes/Wheels
Stock Brakes
2007 Forester XT Front and Rear Struts
1" Subtle Solutions Saggy Butt Spacers
Forester Trailing Arm Brackets
'87-'93 Jeep Cherokee 5 spokes painted black
215/75/r15 Kumho Road Venture AT51 All Terrains w/ Full Size Spare

Drivetrain
Stock 4EAT
Power Mode Mod


Interior
'03 WRX Momo Steering Wheel
Kenwood KDC-BT758HD Head Unit
4 Kenwood Speakers


Future Plans
JDM Center Garnish
JDM L7 Grille
Snorkusectomy
Tint
Clean passenger fender, but Mica ruby & sandstone fenders are a bit tough to come by
Swap the 4.11 5MT+LSD in


My apologies for potato quality phone pics:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/07/IMG_20131215_123625_zps30cfecaa-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/IMG_20131215_123625_zps30cfecaa.jpg.html)
Only halfway decent stock picture I have.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/07/IMG_20140102_190031_zps013d5b1d-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/IMG_20140102_190031_zps013d5b1d.jpg.html)
After screwing around in the snow for my first winter with a license.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/07/IMG_20140203_121104_zpsa3344207-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/IMG_20140203_121104_zpsa3344207.jpg.html)
Looking at a nice chevy for sale.(Shows how high the truck is!)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/07/IMG_20140301_174803_zps5c4ad23d-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/IMG_20140301_174803_zps5c4ad23d.jpg.html)
First picture after I got the cargo basket.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/07/IMG_20140328_141601_zpsd6e67aef-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/IMG_20140328_141601_zpsd6e67aef.jpg.html)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/07/IMG_20140328_141606_zps14bd2f81-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/IMG_20140328_141606_zps14bd2f81.jpg.html)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/07/IMG_20140328_141608_zps2d39c0dd-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/IMG_20140328_141608_zps2d39c0dd.jpg.html)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/07/IMG_20140408_224904_zps7a29a635-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/IMG_20140408_224904_zps7a29a635.jpg.html)
Obligatory Parking Garage Picture

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/07/IMG954955_zpsea8d50db-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/IMG954955_zpsea8d50db.jpg.html)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/07/IMG_20140408_225038_1_zpsfdf826d7-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/IMG_20140408_225038_1_zpsfdf826d7.jpg.html)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/07/IMG_20140409_123332_zpsf430658f-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/IMG_20140409_123332_zpsf430658f.jpg.html)
This one shows all the nice nicks in my bumper and the passenger headlight bringing in water.

And a few from the MD meet in Centennial Park
Courtesy of Dead91silvia (I hope he doesn't mind):
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/03/IMG_4574_zps70fa5fea-1.jpg (http://s1155.photobucket.com/user/dead91silvia/media/SLI%20meet%202014/IMG_4574_zps70fa5fea.jpg.html)

And this one thanks to chrish8r(I hope he doesn't mind either):
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/03/IMG_4944_zpse1b53e3d-1.jpg (http://s1234.photobucket.com/user/chrish8r/media/IMG_4944_zpse1b53e3d.jpg.html)

I'll upload some more pics later when I've got some more time showing the hellas and the dipped rear emblems.

[98legwag]

I swear I saw you on the road one day and you waved to me. I just have no idea where. A few other members live close to you. I am about 45-60 mins away.

[SelfishBlue]

Haha. I remember that! I went for a cruise just trying to look for old dirt/gravel backroads and ended up in olney somehow( ended up getting a speeding camera ticket) and was headed back up north on 32 I think. I saw a legacy with projectors and knew that wasn't too common. Sweet ride btw!

[peugoby]

Nice-looking outback! Ruby Mica is one of my favorite colors. How do you like the sound of that exhaust? I'm thinking about getting one myself.

[SelfishBlue]

Thanks for the compliment! The exhaust has a really nice deep tone to it(especially after it warms up). There's almost no noticeable drone in the cabin at highway speed and sounds stock when idling. But the thing is, I have no idea how loud/noticable it is when outside of the car while driving. I'd say its a great exhaust if its your daily and you want to hear a nice noise, but not get any unwanted attention from cops. I just wish it were a bit louder to hide my loud sewing machine noise.

[98legwag]

Haha. I remember that! I went for a cruise just trying to look for old dirt/gravel backroads and ended up in olney somehow( ended up getting a speeding camera ticket) and was headed back up north on 32 I think. I saw a legacy with projectors and knew that wasn't too common. Sweet ride btw!
Thanks. I was headed home from Rubie_25GT's house. I saw your roof basket and thought the same, that's not common. Especially on older Subarus.

[dplacencia]

Finally you have a members ride.. lol

[86bratman]

Nice looking outback man. Looking forward to your progress.

[Lancaster6]

Welcome! I thought that your car looked familiar...then I saw the pics from the SLi meet. It's looking good man!

[Wagonista]

Nice wagon! I dig the roof basket.

[Muse]

Welcome! I thought that your car looked familiar...then I saw the pics from the SLi meet. It's looking good man!
I did the same thing, haha!

[SelfishBlue]

Thanks for the compliments guys!

Here are some pictures from when I dipped the rear emblems a while back.
Before:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/07/IMG_20140526_140319_zps580d0404-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/IMG_20140526_140319_zps580d0404.jpg.html)

After:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/07/IMG_20140526_1711291_zps81c63445-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/IMG_20140526_1711291_zps81c63445.jpg.html)

I'm still not sure if I like it stock better or not, but I'll leave it on for now...

So, yesterday I put on the momo steering wheel:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/07/IMG_20140712_184541_zps9a67dfd9-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/IMG_20140712_184541_zps9a67dfd9.jpg.html)

It was quick and painless except for one part.
I'm trying to figure out why there is such a large gap between the airbag and the wheel on the right side and why the wheel is touching the airbag on the left side.

I tried putting some washers on the brackets with the springs that are behind the airbag. - No luck
I tried bending the brackets a bit with some pliers. - No luck
Any ideas on how to fix it?

[Muse]

Mine is like that, too. I have a third-gen JDM Legacy one.

[SelfishBlue]

Well, I've got a bit of updating to do...

So, stupid 19 year old me had an idea, and here it is:
My hellas hid behind my grill and they never seemed to be something that really stood out to anyone that didn't really know what they were looking for, so I made them stand out. I painted them fluorescent yellow, like safety vest yellow. But I figured if I was going to go that far, I might as well go all out. I had an idea that I had never really heard of, so I went to walmart and bought two little white led light strips to place on the bumper behind the grill to light up the horns because I figured the horns would catch more light that way. So I tied the led lights in with the parking lights instead of doing a toggle switch for ease (I wasn't sure if it would turn out well so I did it the quick way in case it didn't). Well, I ended up catching quite a few eyes with it at night. And stupid 19 year old me thinks it came out better than I ever could have hoped. Here it is:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/08/IMG_20140804_203327_zps8ab9e786-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/IMG_20140804_203327_zps8ab9e786.jpg.html)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/08/IMG_20140804_203208_1_zpsa5a95e14-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/IMG_20140804_203208_1_zpsa5a95e14.jpg.html)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/08/IMG_20140804_203358_zps261ff9a1-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/IMG_20140804_203358_zps261ff9a1.jpg.html)

Like I said, it's a lot more noticeable when it's dark out. And I'll probably end up trying other flourescent colors by the end(because yellow and red don't really look great together imo)

In addition to the list of stuff I've done so far this summer:

New goodies from crutchfield - A Kenwood KDC-BT758HD is in, and I've 2 pair of cheap Kenwood KFC-1665S speakers that still need to go in.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/08/IMG_20140804_203102_zps6bd0fb4d-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/IMG_20140804_203102_zps6bd0fb4d.jpg.html)

SpeedyRacer UEL Borla replica header - My dad took the car and headers to his shop to put on, and the fitment was so bad, he asked me if I even ordered the right ones. He had to stretch where the headers bolt on to the heads almost an inch, the header was rubbing the oil pan, so he had to torch the header and beat it in to clear it. And now its rubbing on my swaybar when I turn and accelerate too hard at the same time. Maybe I should've just gone with the real borlas... But, I can't complain with the sound I'm getting. I love the rumble, and once the spt muffler warms up, it has a really deep tone(minus the singer sewing machine noise I've had from the start). I'm pretty pleased with it. Since I still have the stock muffler, I'll probably end up having my dad cut the muffler part off and weld on a magnaflow or vibrant muffler or a cherrybomb(I haven't really decided or put too much though into this part yet).

I plastidipped the grill and painted the three wiper arms.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/08/IMG_20140721_193257_zpsa70a57fb-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/IMG_20140721_193257_zpsa70a57fb.jpg.html)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/08/IMG_20140726_100511_zps0c62c4fd-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/IMG_20140726_100511_zps0c62c4fd.jpg.html)

I'm a poser so I picked up some cobb plate frames from dplacencia.

I want to do rallyarmor by the end of the summer.

And since my passenger side headlight is taking in water, I ordered projector headlights that should be here by the end of the week. I'd like to put 5000K HIDs in for the low beams too.

All in all, a summer with a handful of mods.

[98legwag]

I have heard those headers are hit or miss on the fit.

[chrish8r]

I bought my uel headers from dna motoring and they needed a bit of "persuading" to fit right.

One of the members on here had put the authentic Borla headers on his impreza 2.5rs and had to repair them alot because they are somewhat prone to cracking. Like 98legwag said, headers for our cars are a real hit or miss unfortunately.

[Muse]

I got lucky, and got my headers from someone who'd already 'persuaded' them. Then, Grimmrican gave me the UELs from his old BK (I couldn't let them go to the junk yard,) and he actually had an extra section welded in on them, to make them fit.

Also, the 19-year-old you is absolutely correct in the illumination of your Hellas. that's bitchin'.

[SelfishBlue]

Well, I guess it's time to post some updates on progress.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/08/IMG_20140817_141812_zps6fe14a4d-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/IMG_20140817_141812_zps6fe14a4d.jpg.html)

JDM Projectors are in with a 5000k HID kit from ddmtuning.
And, I happened to get a little more rumble thanks to my dad.

I ordered a 1046 Vibrant Streetpower muffler, I wanted chrome and a 4" tip, so I figured this would be the best option.
I had my stock muffler pipe since I upgraded to the SPT, so my dad said he would cut the stock muffler off and use that to attach the Vibrant to. So I found a guy that custom makes 1.75" to 2.5" exhaust adapters on ebay and got an extension pipe and the rest is history.
Well, stupid me didn't realize my exhaust piping diameter is 1.75" before getting the Vibrant and I thought that I wouldn't have enough airflow for it to even make a noise. Thank goodness I was wrong. It sounds incredible, and was exactly what I was looking for! Hopefully I'll get some pictures and a video soon.

Also, I ordered some 2000-2004 outback wagon vent shades since the curve is the same, so hopefully I'll get those on soon.

[Muse]

Can I get a link to that adapter? I'm trying to get my Apex'i muffler on, but need that adapter.

[SelfishBlue]

Sure, here it is: http://m.ebay.com/itm/121410620050?nav=SEARCH

Its $10.99 and the free shipping is pretty quick, mine came in 3 days. Lmk if there's an issue with the link, I'm on mobile atm

[98legwag]

Hey man, are you going to the Agile Open House this Saturday? A few of us are meeting in Marriottsville and going from there.

[SelfishBlue]

Well, I guess it's about time to update my dead thread.
I haven't had any recent updates due to two major things, one being I bought a motorcycle (a 2000 Honda Shadow VT750 bobber for those curious, I'll have to make a SLi motorcycle thread for it), and the other being an issue with the dreaded leaking head gaskets...
One day around Thanksgiving on my way to school, I was just about to the parking lot when I noticed my oil temp was a bit high, like above the H high. Then the smell of burning coolant followed. I couldn't believe I hadn't even noticed, but by the time I did, it was too late. When my parents purchased the car for me (my first car), they were told the head gaskets had already been done before, which I believe was true since the gaskets were the nice steel shim gaskets, but the guys at the shop are telling me that the heads were probably warped and new gaskets were tossed on last time. Bummer... I decided to keep the car and have the work done. So now, she's getting 2 new heads, head gaskets, new timing belt, new water pump, new hoses and the whole nine yards. I just wish I was rich enough to have cams done while the engine was torn apart and all, but at least this way the car's gonna last a long while. She's close to being done and I'm excited to have her back soon since I've had to use whichever car the rest of my family doesn't feel like using that day for the past few months.

Here's the motor with shiny new heads on:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/01/Snapchat3468437267671195932_zps4c6b0c82-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/Snapchat--3468437267671195932_zps4c6b0c82.jpg.html)


As luck would have it, the night prior to that fateful day, I had ordered a Tsudo test pipe with resonator that's been mocking me since it came in. That'll go on and a set of rallyarmor ur just arrived yesterday that I ordered, which will go on soon too. I'll have pics for when they go on and hopefully I'll update sometime in the near future...

I did have a quick question about yellow fogs though. Do you guys do yellow bulbs, or yellow film? Or does it really not matter?

[98legwag]

I have just done yellow bulbs in the past. I have used Nokya Hyper Yellow bulbs. They are pretty good in my opinion. Friends of mine have used Optlix (Hella) XY bulbs. Also pretty good.

[98legwag]

Well, I just read about a lot issues with Nokya bulbs. I would now say stay away from those. I will probably take them out of my 09.

This is just one thread about them:
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2398850

[SelfishBlue]

Alright, thanks for the info 98legwag

[SelfishBlue]

Well, it's been a while and I think it's time for another update.
Headgaskets, timing belt, water pump, various hoses and all that jazz complete. I got the car back and could immediately notice a large increase power all across the board, but especially in the low end. Really not sure why, maybe I was losing compression before, or it could just be the new clean valves, whatever the case, I was a happy camper. I've slowly amassed a decent number of things to go onto the car that were piling up: Honda rear wiper, tsudo test pipe, rallyarmor, yellow fogs, oem spoiler, header wrap, new front rotors, and I'm sure I'm missing others. So last night, my dad's lift was clear, so off we went. We pulled the headers, wrapped them up(sewing machine noise was driving my up the wall):
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/03/20150312_204147_zps1aihhihz-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/20150312_204147_zps1aihhihz.jpg.html)

Then it was test pipe time. The pipe itself was nicely made, but where it came to mate with the midpipe, it was sitting about and inch too low and the flange was a bit rotated to line up right. After some manhandling it went on:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/03/20150312_204155_zpsclow3xil-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/20150312_204155_zpsclow3xil.jpg.html)

After copious amounts of rtv on the gaskets, I'm exhaust leak free(this week)!

Then we popped in the yellow fog light bulbs (Hella optilux), put fresh front rotors on, and started mounting the rallyarmor. The fronts went on well, but when we realized the backs would be an issue, we called it a night (yeah it looks pretty weird with only front rallyarmor on). There seems to be 2 issues with mounting the rear flaps - 1. The flaps would hit the inside of the wheel well and look bent if we mounted them where the stock flaps are mounted(unless we only used 2 screws on the very outside but they don't seem secured that way). 2. If they aren't mounted with the stock flaps, there's not really a good place to mount them to the body it seems. We'll figure something out, but it was too much thinking for 1am so we called it quits.

And two weeks ago a girl on campus pulled out in front of me and I got some nice sized scrapes all along the front of my bumper, we talked the day of the accident, then she never responded again. So her insurance got a call... hopefully I'll get enough to cover the damage.

I'm doing my best to have all the goodies on before the SL-i meet in April and I can't wait to see how she looks with the spoiler on.

EDIT: Oops, forgot to mention: She sounds incredible!! And no CELs yet(fingers staying crossed)!

[CaleDeRoo]

What header are you running?

[SelfishBlue]

Dual port unequal length borla replica headers from speedyracer.com. The fitment was horrendous, holes for the flange were like half an inch from the studs, needed to heat it up and stretch it to mount. Then it wouldn't clear the oil pan, heated it up and bashed it in a bit to clear that. Then it was hitting the swaybars and making terrible noises any time the engine was over about 2000 rpm, heated it up and smashed that part in enough to clear. But now that they've been persuaded and have been on there a while, everything lines up just fine. But other people have gotten their headers and the fitment was perfect, I guess it's just luck of the draw

[SelfishBlue]

I made some videos of the sound of my exhaust from inside the car. Make sure you've either got headphones on or a nice speaker system because it's pretty deep.

Slow acceleration:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/03/th_20150314_235731_zpstyaxk4lemp4-1.jpg (http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a498/SelfishBlue/20150314_235731_zpstyaxk4le.mp4)

Quicker accel with windows up:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/03/th_20150314_235855_zpsfzuyjpndmp4-1.jpg (http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a498/SelfishBlue/20150314_235855_zpsfzuyjpnd.mp4)

Quick accel with windows down:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/03/th_20150315_000306_zpsf0ugdhqymp4-1.jpg (http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a498/SelfishBlue/20150315_000306_zpsf0ugdhqy.mp4)

And I hit up the car meet over at Greene Turtle in Owings Mills this afternoon, there were more subies than anything else.
One of these things is not like the others
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/03/20150314_182238_zpsy33gbxcw-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/20150314_182238_zpsy33gbxcw.jpg.html)

[kcowles]

I knew I should have gone to that meet!

Have you put the spoiler on yet? I can't wait to put mine on, had to paint it first though. You got a color matched one?

[SelfishBlue]

No spoiler or rear rallyarmor on yet :(
But thankfully I found a spoiler that is the same shade of faded red as the outback so I'll just clean it up with some compound and wax before it goes on.
It'll all be ready for the sl-i meet though!

[SelfishBlue]

So, I'm here procrastinating 3 hours before my last final of the semester so I figured I give you all an idea on what I was up to.
It seems as though I forgot to update the fact that I got my rear rallyarmor and spoiler on a while back. I really want to convert this thing to a rallywagon/battlewagon and I found some new inspiration of an outback from a guy on facebook sl-i:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/05/11208674_871743016224375_307824948027023-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/11208674_871743016224375_3078249480270237777_n_zpsrwychqsu.jpg.html)


Plans in the works/Hopefully by the end of summer:
-Lift
-Manual Swap
-Hella Black Magic Fogs
-Black out jdm projectors

I've been curious to see what some darker colors on my car would look like, so I went to town with a few cans of plastidip: first I got the front of the bumper to hide the scratches from a small incident on campus, then I saw (i guess you'd call it) crowning on the bumpers, like this:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/05/Crowning_zps9lyx2gce-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/Crowning_zps9lyx2gce.jpg.html)

So, I dipped them:
(used the nearest potato to snap this pic)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/05/Outback_zpsvct5w2qm-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/Outback_zpsvct5w2qm.jpg.html)

And thanks to @Hinyo (https://sl-i.net/FORUM/member.php?3034-Hinyo) for these pics from Boxerfest

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/05/19723_10203934906032736_4222848587458890-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/19723_10203934906032736_4222848587458890460_n_zpsp2jfme7q.jpg.html)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/05/11100346_10203934911192865_5140648678136-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/11100346_10203934911192865_5140648678136613910_n_zps3qs2bhxx.jpg.html)

As you can see in that close up, I need to get the edges a bit nicer. It's a nice little darker touch that I've gotten a few compliments on (plus when its darker, it looks like it sits a bit higher, lol)
I think it'd look awesome on @kcowles (https://sl-i.net/FORUM/member.php?4058-kcowles) stormtrooper, and from the looks of what @CaleDeRoo (https://sl-i.net/FORUM/member.php?4096-CaleDeRoo) is going for, maybe that too.
Anyway, I like where this dark theme is going, so I'll swap my fogs for Hella black magics and paint my projectors by the end of the summer hopefully.

Now, for the lift. I acquired '07 FXT struts/springs so all thats left is

trailing arms- no biggie

tires- 215/75/15 is my safe bet, but my dad has a 225/70/15 that I want to test fit (maybe even 225/75/15) but that really
depends on height+wheel well+strut clearance

rims- I cant stand my stock rims, but i want to stay 15" since I like the beefy tire look, but I'll need lower offset+ possibly spacers -
I like 15" rota grids, but theyre only civic lug pattern , been eyeing rally style rims like team dynamics stuff and sparco terras.
I know for sure I'd rather stay away from plain steelies.

Strut spacers- Thinking ~1.5" Front & ~2.5"2.75" Back
(I like the slight rake, plus forester suspension gives the outbacks an extra saggy butt)
Subtle wants $224 for 1" and I think thats a bit crazy, plus its not as high as I wanted. So I'll look around
on forums for people that make them, else I'll see if there are any local machine shops willing to do something like that.
If all else fails, I'll make them myself out of HDPE as some have done before

PS- not really sure how to tag members properly in posts, if I screwed it up, my apologies

So that's the plan this summer with the Outback/wannaberallywagon

[98legwag]

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/pts/5033340659.html

BAM! They have been for sale for awhile now.

[SelfishBlue]

If they were 15"/16" I'd be alllll over them. Hmm... maybe I should start doing dedicated winter/summer wheels. I like them on anothernord (https://sl-i.net/FORUM/member.php?1206-anothernord)'s outback. Now you've really got me thinking. I could totally do these with summer tires, or I could make these all weathers like nord

I'd probably have to run spacers though, since its +48 offset and 7.5" wide

[SelfishBlue]

If I went with the terras, I'd have to do them all weather since I'm a broke college student, but that shouldn't be too pricey, then I'd save my stock rims for in case I wan't to use them for winters later on down the road

[SelfishBlue]

Damn! I can get them from tire rack (http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/WheelCloseUpServlet?target=runWheelSearch&initialPartNumber=W29047001LG&wheelMake=Sparco&wheelModel=Terra&wheelFinish=Light+Grey+Painted&autoMake=Chevrolet&autoModel=Sonic+Hatchback&autoYear=2012&autoModClar=LTZ) for $99 a piece!
Edit: Wow, looks like the sale is over already

[CaleDeRoo]

I've also considered doing my bumpers like that!

I think it would accentuate whatever lip I end up going with.

[SelfishBlue]

I'm thinking it would look awesome with a lip on your car! If you do go that route, one small issue i've run into is the dip on the side skirt where I sometimes step on when getting in/out of the car has started to come off from my shoe wearing it off. But that shouldn't be an issue if you just put legacy gt side skirts on since they're already black.

[CaleDeRoo]

I also like how it visually lifts your car up.

[SelfishBlue]

So somehow a 2000 2.5rs 5MT + lsd popped up in the trunk today with some extra goodies I'll need
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/05/20150529_212727_zps5p4pchgsjpeg-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/20150529_212727_zps5p4pchgs.jpeg.html)

[98legwag]

I think the kind people here at SLI need an update on your car.

[SelfishBlue]

UPDATE TIME

Here's what I've been up to this summer:

First of all - early this summer this '92 Loyale came into work and I got to putt it about for a little while!
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/08/20150629_161923_zps3gl9msxw-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/20150629_161923_zps3gl9msxw.jpg.html)

Then, I finally got around to using that suspension I picked up a while back.
Step 1: rear struts from '07 Forester XT with Subtle Solution 1" spacers. I loved how much it perked the rear up! Drove around like this for a while and the stiffness was a HUGE difference, I absolutely loved it. It felt so strange with softer front suspension with a stiff rear. Here's how it sat until I could get around to the fronts:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/08/20150810_131932_zps2ynnd0mf-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/20150810_131932_zps2ynnd0mf.jpg.html)

Then while the front struts were out, I replaced both axles since both boots had split, then installed the final two struts. It sat WAY higher than I expected in the front and produced a ton more wheel gap than I was used to:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/08/1439346428125_zpsqh9kibvt-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/1439346428125_zpsqh9kibvt.jpg.html)

The wagon would've looked super weird without rear strut top spacers since the front went up so much. I was hoping it would sit with a little rake, but unfortunately it lifted the whole car evenly once everything was done. I had hoped to cram more spacers in the back but it seemed the trailing arm was about maxed out :/
Here's a bit blurry picture when it was all done:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/08/20150811_224514_zpslgelqgfn-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/20150811_224514_zpslgelqgfn.jpg.html)

After that was in place, I knew what I had to do.

I bought ISC 25mm 5x100 to 5x114.3/5x4.5 adapters for $275. (ouch)
Then bought a set of 5 Jeep rims(bear with me here) for $100 (less ouch)
Then I was on the hunt for tires. I really wanted raised white letters and was looking at BF Goodrichs, but once I learned they were $130/tire vs. General Grabbers that were $100/tire, I ruled them out. But there was a promotion with Kumho going on at the time where I could get their all terrains and have $120 rebate even though it didnt have raised white letters, so I did that.
I bought a set of 5 Kumho Road Venture AT51s size 215/75/r15. $580 -$120 rebate (mega ouch)
I mounted a pair of Hella 500 Black Magic driving lights that I purchased earlier this summer to angle iron held in by the license screws but it seems like it needs more support to not jiggle, so I'll figure something out.
Then used some truck bed liner on the "side skirts" since the plastidip kept ripping up and looking terrible.


A little while later, there was a night when my rims were painted and the tires were ready to be mounted.
Well after an angle grinder to parts of the front bumper, removing front mudflaps, chopping about a foot of fender liner in the front, and a hefty sledgehammer, it doesn't rub in the front!
The rears needed the forester trailing arm brackets in order to center the wheel in the center of the wheel well.

I put some jdm taillights on that I got thanks to @Red85Celica (https://sl-i.net/FORUM/member.php?2989-Red85Celica)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/08/20150826_105256_zpsofkfvjnx-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/20150826_105256_zpsofkfvjnx.jpg.html)

But the amber center garnish was a bit ugly, so I ordered laminex red tint. It looks a bit strange, but its better than amber
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/08/20150828_114359_zps7zg4lhde-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/20150828_114359_zps7zg4lhde.jpg.html)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/08/20150828_123258_zps9nx9vqhp-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/20150828_123258_zps9nx9vqhp.jpg.html)

My local subaru club had a little meet, so I gave her a good compounding and a little wax.
@Hinyo (https://sl-i.net/FORUM/member.php?3034-Hinyo) took some cool pictures at the meet:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/08/11752438_10204639416525058_4556869756443-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/11752438_10204639416525058_4556869756443081329_n_zps77jfkoub.jpg.html)

And he even caught his car in the background of this picture!
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/08/FB_IMG_1440978707778_zps3hclznpy-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/FB_IMG_1440978707778_zps3hclznpy.jpg.html)

And someone else from the club snapped this one!
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/08/11921792_967739770055_471685093835652415-1.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/SelfishBlue/media/11921792_967739770055_4716850938356524156_n_zpsvrfvdhfj.jpg.html)

There she sits as of today!

So, how bad does it rub?
The fronts have been perfect , but I haven't beaten on the car yet.
The rears, well that's another story. If there are no passengers in the vehicle, the wheel with push up and back and scrape on my rear mudflap/bolts on big bumps. With passengers, oh god... the noises haunt me over every medium bump or fast cornering.

I need either stiffer suspension or more ground clearance in the back(or a bit of both!) The struts I put in had about 100k miles on them, but I dont know if new ones would be stiffer than what I already have. I've been eyeing coil spring boosters that you twist in between the coil of the spring so that the amount of compression in the rear is reduced. The only reason I haven't done more spacers on top the rear struts because i feel like the rear trailing arm is maxed. And the heavy duty springs are quite pricey. Anyone have any ideas? Or has anyone used coil spring boosters before?

[foohfooh]

Wow man. That looks really clean and i love your mods. Solid outback build!

[SelfishBlue]

thanks foohfooh!

[98legwag]

Still wish I had been at the unveiling. Well done sir.

[SelfishBlue]

Lol, thanks 98legwag.

Little update: I went out and bought those coil spring spacers and I haven't had any rubbing in the back since. Will update with how it does when I drive with a loaded car.

[kcowles]

Well, I guess it's time to post some updates on progress.


JDM Projectors are in with a 5000k HID kit from ddmtuning.
And, I happened to get a little more rumble thanks to my dad.

I ordered a 1046 Vibrant Streetpower muffler, I wanted chrome and a 4" tip, so I figured this would be the best option.
I had my stock muffler pipe since I upgraded to the SPT, so my dad said he would cut the stock muffler off and use that to attach the Vibrant to. So I found a guy that custom makes 1.75" to 2.5" exhaust adapters on ebay and got an extension pipe and the rest is history.
Well, stupid me didn't realize my exhaust piping diameter is 1.75" before getting the Vibrant and I thought that I wouldn't have enough airflow for it to even make a noise. Thank goodness I was wrong. It sounds incredible, and was exactly what I was looking for! Hopefully I'll get some pictures and a video soon.

Also, I ordered some 2000-2004 outback wagon vent shades since the curve is the same, so hopefully I'll get those on soon.



After searching the internet for a good bit, I couldn't find the stock size of the muffler piping...yet here it is! Thanks for the info SelfishBlue! Going a similar route next weekend to get a louder sound. Unfortunately, I threw away my stock muffler to the dump months ago, so we will head to Crazy Ray's to saw off some piping. I believe sedan and wagon are the same? About how much extension piping did you need for the muffler? Thanks!

[SelfishBlue]

From the adapter, because of where the muffler pipe was chopped, I've got about 8" extension. But my muffler is about 22" long with the tip sticking out about 2"