1996Battlewagon
08-15-2017, 06:15 AM
Hi all! Starting a new "build" thread for my latest purchase: a 1999 Outback 5sp I picked up on 8/14/17. it's stock, has 168k miles on the original EJ25D and 5MT, and one of the cleanest, if not the, BG chassis in upstate New York. The undercarriage looks just as nice as my southern 05 H6, and it appears to have been undercoated - the rear quarter panels are rock solid too!
The previous owner loved this thing and only sold it because he's moving to Scotland for grad school. Lots of maintenance including recent headgasket, timing belt, water pump replacement. The engine runs cool and strong, the trans has no shifter flop (shocking really) and the clutch is newer and mint. It does have an intermittent valve tick and a high-pitched whistle under heavy acceleration, but those will all be addressed in the coming weeks.
Exterior quality isn't this cars strong suit. The paint is pretty bad, the hood doesn't appear to be original, the windshield is cracked, and after examining it in more detail last night, it seems to have been in a small accident. The inner front fender is crinkled. Unibody rails are straight though!
All-in-all, I have a blank canvas with a messed up face and a heart of gold (I think). So, what to do?
Honestly, I had no intention of buying another Outback. I was looking for a fun, summer car. Miata, WRX, something American and old, etc. After finding this, I thought "I could build the car I had in college again but do it right this time!" So, that's essentially what I plan to do - build a capable yet comfortable weekend dirt head out of an old Outback. Plans are really up the air, but my ultimate goal is to rallycross this. i'll start out stock (albeit tuned up with snow tires) as I've never rallycrossed before, but the Finger Lakes region SCCA holds events at Watkins Glen. The next one I can muster is September 23, giving me time to register it, get it inspected, and shake it down and tune it up.
Immediate plans are to get it legal so I can drive it. My girlfriend's E90 BMW needs a lot of work and I don't have the skill to wrench on it (really I don't have the desire to curse modern German engineers for hours only to get no where), so she's going to take my 05 while her car gets fixed. This 99 will be my daily for a bit. Then, brakes, fluid changes, troubleshooting, snow tires, etc.
Stay tuned for more - on to the pics.
Mod list:
Exterior:
Scoopless hood
Engine:
Stock EJ25D
Suspension:
Stock
2449
2450
2451
2452
2453
The previous owner loved this thing and only sold it because he's moving to Scotland for grad school. Lots of maintenance including recent headgasket, timing belt, water pump replacement. The engine runs cool and strong, the trans has no shifter flop (shocking really) and the clutch is newer and mint. It does have an intermittent valve tick and a high-pitched whistle under heavy acceleration, but those will all be addressed in the coming weeks.
Exterior quality isn't this cars strong suit. The paint is pretty bad, the hood doesn't appear to be original, the windshield is cracked, and after examining it in more detail last night, it seems to have been in a small accident. The inner front fender is crinkled. Unibody rails are straight though!
All-in-all, I have a blank canvas with a messed up face and a heart of gold (I think). So, what to do?
Honestly, I had no intention of buying another Outback. I was looking for a fun, summer car. Miata, WRX, something American and old, etc. After finding this, I thought "I could build the car I had in college again but do it right this time!" So, that's essentially what I plan to do - build a capable yet comfortable weekend dirt head out of an old Outback. Plans are really up the air, but my ultimate goal is to rallycross this. i'll start out stock (albeit tuned up with snow tires) as I've never rallycrossed before, but the Finger Lakes region SCCA holds events at Watkins Glen. The next one I can muster is September 23, giving me time to register it, get it inspected, and shake it down and tune it up.
Immediate plans are to get it legal so I can drive it. My girlfriend's E90 BMW needs a lot of work and I don't have the skill to wrench on it (really I don't have the desire to curse modern German engineers for hours only to get no where), so she's going to take my 05 while her car gets fixed. This 99 will be my daily for a bit. Then, brakes, fluid changes, troubleshooting, snow tires, etc.
Stay tuned for more - on to the pics.
Mod list:
Exterior:
Scoopless hood
Engine:
Stock EJ25D
Suspension:
Stock
2449
2450
2451
2452
2453