Rougeben's 2005 Outback XT - New Interior, Drivetrain, Exhaust

[rougeben83]

Got this one back in May after I crashed my old BEhttps://sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?t=7464. I originally drove up to MA to see a Spec B (guy wanted $18k!), and a nice 08 OBXT 5 spd (dealer wanted $16000) but while I was at panera bread for lunch, I found this one on CL for $10000. 05 XT premium...with a 5 spd. It had 100k miles on it and completely stock. Was being sold by some small gas station/repair shop that buys subaru's at auction and resells them. Called the guy and was test driving it 2 hours later. I told him I knew the timing belt service would be due soon, so we agreed on $9400 as-is, since I was planning to do a lot of maintenance/upgrades to it anyway.

A down payment and another 3 hour drive later, I was driving back to NYC with my new-to-me OBXT!

The fun part is seeing how many parts off my old car will fit! Been tweaking it since then (mainly the suspension and brakes). I think it was left stock for a total of 4 weeks? I may be eating these words, but I won't go crazy with this one, unlike my old car. D'oh.

Engine:
-KN panel filter!
-Timing belt service with Gates kit by AZP!
-PW knockoff TMIC
-Perrin LW crank pulley
-Group N pitch mount (from my old BE)
-Zerosport Intake tube
-CNT catted DP
-GTspec UP (from my old BE)
-PnP exhaust manifold w/ CNT crossover pipe (from my old BE)
-Cobb AP Stage 2
-OBXT 3" midpipe to stock mufflers

Drivetrain: (from my old BE)
-STI 6 speed (05)
-KB short shifter, poly shifter bushings front and rear
-matching 3.9 rear diff with VLSD
-Stock Exedy clutch
-STi stock flywheel (19lbs vs. 26lb dualmass stocker)
-Group N transmission mount
-WL rear diff bushing inserts

Suspension:
-Spec B struts, Spec B front tophats
-Spec B front springs, LGT wagon rear springs with 1/4" rear spacers
-Whiteline ALK front LCA's
-LGT rear upper links with Whiteline adjustable camber bushings, rear LGT bumpstops
-Whiteline/Megan adjustable rear lateral arms
-Whiteline front rear-arm bushing
-Whiteline front 22mm FSB, with KB endlinks (from my old BE)
-Whiteline 20mm RSB
-AVO rear swaybar reinforcement plates
-Moog HD rear endlinks.

Brakes:
-Nissan 300zx Turbo iron front calipers, KNS Nissan brake caliper brackets, LGT front rotors, Stoptech street pads
-LGT rear calipers, LGT rear rotors, Stoptech street pads
-SS brake lines
-GS Master Brake cylinder brace.

Interior:
-Pioneer USB/CD/radio single DIN HU with Novero TrustyOne Bluetooth
-JDM 2 DIN setup
-Wood trim repainted
-Pioneer 3 way speakers all around
-OEM WRX sub
-06 WRX steering wheel (from my old BE, stock one had cracked leather)
-Momo OEM knob
-WRX pedals (from my old BE)
-VDO mechanical boost gauge (from my old BE)

Exterior:
-5k HID kit Low beams (spares from my old BE)
-HIR bulbs High beams
-30% tint in the rears
-trimmed/rolled fenders front and rear
-JDM rear tail lights
-JDM tilt front license plate!
-CREE LED 25w reverse bulbs.
-Stebel Nautilus airhorn

Wheels
-Prodrive GC-06D 17x7.5 forged wheels w/ 235/50/17 Continental Extremecontact DWS
-Millia miglia 5 spokes 16x7 wheels w/ 205/60/16 winterforce snow tires

Parts pending:
-Tomioka 18g turbo
-DW 740cc injectors
-DW 65 fuel pump


First time seeing the car:


Currently:
Summer


Previously:



Winter


Interior:

[rougeben83]

First major work (after maintenance stuff like fluids and timing belt and a GOOD cleaning)...addressing the suspension and brakes. Over 100k on stock struts - the rears were already blown, and a lowered OB was my original goal anyway...


OBXT's also came with pathetic 11.4" front rotors and non-vented rear rotors...so I put in stock LGT brakes front and rear, as well as some SS (goodrich I think?) brake lines.

Right after I lowered it (initially with front LGT springs and Spec B tophats, hence the higher front ride height)


Stock vs. LGT height Outback

[rougeben83]

Then the wheel whoring began!! 2011 WRX wheels. Unfortunately, 4th gen wagons have WAY less wheel clearance than the 3rd gen...I had to use a 3mm spacer in the rear to clear the inner wheel well around the struts.


Then scored a good deal on some forged Prodrives...about 5lbs lighter than the WRX wheels, but not as light as my old, wider RPF1's...You can also see how changing to shorter spec B front springs evened out the ride height.

[rougeben83]

Then went back to the tried and true Nissan front calipers to go with my LGT rotors! (maybe I shouldn't have sold my old set hmmm) Mainly to fit 16inch wheels with LGT brakes - it was cheaper to upgrade the brakes than to buy new winter tires hah!

[98legwag]

Are the front Nissan calipers a straight bolt on?

[Dead91silvia]

LOL... I was wondering if you were gonna regret sells the brake to me. They haave a good home though.

Car looks great!

Are the front Nissan calipers a straight bolt on?

They need adapters... Ben sold them and the calipers to me months ago.

[98legwag]

I thought the rears need the adapters. I was just looking a thread on Nasioc about using Evo 8 Brembos on the front. And it took a little modification to use the Brembos. Oh and the Evo Brembos can use 4th gen LGT and Spec B rotors.

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthr ... ?t=2179101

[rougeben83]

I thought the rears need the adapters. I was just looking a thread on Nasioc about using Evo 8 Brembos on the front. And it took a little modification to use the Brembos. Oh and the Evo Brembos can use 4th gen LGT and Spec B rotors.

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthr ... ?t=2179101

yes, the fronts use adapters, originally a japanese company called global Z made them (Dead's set has them), but looks like KNS got a hold of a set and started making copies out of billet aluminum. My new set uses the KNS version (the spacers are integrated into the bracket, unlike the global z ones, but don't seem to be as robust).

You can use the nissan rear calipers instead of FHI 2 pot calipers with whatever adapter those work with - they have a 5mm pad overhand though.

Snows are on:

[rougeben83]

LOL... I was wondering if you were gonna regret sells the brake to me. They haave a good home though.

Car looks great!

Are the front Nissan calipers a straight bolt on?

They need adapters... Ben sold them and the calipers to me months ago.

haha, yeah but its ok, I didn't really know I was going to get another subaru...oh well

[Yamazaki]

The fun part is seeing how many parts off my old car will fit! Been tweaking it since then (mainly the suspension and brakes). I think it was left stock for a total of 4 weeks? I may be eating these words, but I won't go crazy with this one, unlike my old car.

Quoted for posterity. :smt002

I can't wait to see what you "don't" do... ...so I can copy it again in some way!

[98legwag]

Thanks for the info guys. I like the direction you are going with the Outback.

[dodik]

finally you made a new thread. Like the wheel whoring theme you've got going here

[nikolaus.conrad]

Whoa, I've been out of the loop for too long, so sorry to read about your old car I'm glad you're okay! I can't wait to see what you'll do with this one!

[rougeben83]

Haven't been active on the site, doesn't mean I haven't been active on the car.

Got a Cobb AP and went to a Stage 1 map. Car def has extra "poke" in the midrange.

More carryover parts from the old BE: Cobalt SS turbo badge


and VDO boost gauge.
day:


night (changed backlight to LED to match the cluster):

[rougeben83]

Installed JDM (Rev A I think) tails.





USDM vs. JDM

[rougeben83]

Switched to 235/50/17 Continental Extremecontact DWS from 225/55/17. A little lower sidewall height adds to the wagon look.



Sidewall height comparison:





Very subtle change in perspective- makes the suspension drop look lower with the 50 series

[rougeben83]

Detailed the car after a long winter... wash, cleaner, claybar, zymol cleaning wax, and finally Klase All in One.

[rougeben83]

Finally, took a chance on a cheap Stebel Nautilus Air horn on ebay. Louder than Supertones! And more discrete

[foohfooh]

very clean. bravo on the detail. loving the prodrives. they mesh well with the color of nisssan brakes. and the two-tone paint also!

never thought about adding badges to my car though...

[rougeben83]

Thanks, I'm not a big fan of the two-tone, but it is growing on me. I'd prefer the single-tone that later OBXT's came with (all pearl white or obsidian black...)

[rougeben83]

Gold Rota SDR's...

[rougeben83]

And a cheap $27 short shifter from Ebay... It works. 'Nuff said lol.

Also, you can see the full CREE LED lighting treatment. No flash in this pic.

[geckoboy86]

So much win in this car...

[soba noodle]

Dammit they even copied Prodrives... :\

[meepers]

My second favorite Body style after my 98 Outback. I LOVE The way Subie did the 2 tones.... I should see if the You pull it yard has any outbacks and see if I can mod the flares to fit my wagon. Looks great, Prodrives FTW.

[rougeben83]

Went Stage 2 over the weekend... CNT DP, GT spec UP, and PnP manifold w/ crossover pipe (the last two were from my old car, yet again! ). Nothing like finishing the job at 2am ughhhh. Need to flash the AP, put in a new rear O2 sensor, and resistor the EGT sensor though.

Can't wait to see how badly this will end. hahaha

[rougeben83]

Rear suspension's finally sorted. WL/Megan adjustable rear control arms, WL front rear-arm bushing. So neutral in sweepers now.

Pics to follow.

[rougeben83]

Finally got pics - my rear suspension's finally complete!

Whiteline front bushing for the main swingarm:


Adjustable rear control arms, bigger RSB, HD endlinks, RSB mount plates.


LGT upper link w/ adjustable outer bushings, Bilstein shocks, LGT wagon springs w/ 1/4" spacer

[Yamazaki]

I notice that you're hitting the bump stops.... Does the BL/BP Outback have body spacers like the previous Outbacks? If so, do you plan on removing them at some point?

[rougeben83]

Still using outback rear bumpstops...been thinking of switching them to the LGT ones but I gave my old ones to Robin

But yes these have spacers. And no, I don't have enough invested into the car to de-outback the whole thing.