Yamazaki's '04 FXT / 28Mar16 upgrade!

[Yamazaki]

So I finally took pictures of the Forester. I only have one picture from before the installation of the "tech package" I did:


Here are all the pics taken today:


Upgrades I did - Rearview camera, integrated handsfree phone, GPS navigation, Nissan Maxima rearview mirror w/Homelink:


Some problems areas remain:


Modifications:

Exterior
Removed roof rack

Interior
COBB shift knob (previous owner installed)
Kartboy front/rear shifter bushings
Gentex 313 rearview mirror w/Homelink from Nissan Maxima
Forester STi HVAC surround w/cupholder and Celsius temp controls
LED cabin lights
Husky floor liners

Audio/Video
Kenwood DNX571HD
Clarion CC510 rear camera
Clarion CAU001 License plate frame camera mount

Engine
Generic grounding kit
VF48
Grimmspeed catless uppipe w/egt delete
GD STI TMIC
Stainless steel braided clutch line

Suspension
Forester STI rear aluminum lateral links
Forester STI aluminum front control arms

Brakes
Factory

Exhaust
Factory

Parts have but not installed (yet):
SBC iD electronic boost controller
tint

[amgarrety]

Beautiful! Any plans to do exterior mods to it? I know there are some nice bumpers out there for this model forester.

[thenines']

How I hate to waste my time removing those cameras!

[Yamazaki]

How I hate to waste my time removing those cameras!

Why would you remove them?

Beautiful! Any plans to do exterior mods to it? I know there are some nice bumpers out there for this model forester.

No. I owe too much money to do anything other than basic maintenance at this point. However, I did change the window gussets today. It was so bad that it would whistle even when the car was parked and there was a breeze. Here's a side-by-side of the old and new:

[amgarrety]

[Dead91silvia]

Damn! Those things are worn out!

[thenines']

How I hate to waste my time removing those cameras!

Why would you remove them?

Can't cover up anything on your plate in MA.-that's what I do for a living-state inspections

[Yamazaki]

I was looking at a twin scroll setup for the Forester (manifold, uppipe, turbo, wastegate, downpipe).... only the complete lack of funds kept me from making the purchase. Keeping the Forester stock is going to be extremely difficult once the Impreza and S401 are gone...

For now, though, I think the sparkplugs need changing.

[xoSubieLegacyxo]

Sweet! Another turbo'ed Subaru at Yamazakis house.

[Yamazaki]

So what should I be checking if I smell fuel in the cabin on cold days? The fuel smell is getting pretty strong....

[98legwag]

From what I have read on this it could be the hose clamps on the fuel lines, o-rings on the injectors, or a fuel line under the intake manifold that is leaking.

[Yamazaki]

Wouldn't the smell be all the time then? The smell is only when the engine is cold.

[rkrenicki]

I had that problem only when cold on my 98 Forester too.. it was the rubber fuel line from the filter to the rails.

I found this site about the issue. It is for the Outback, but they are all pretty much the same place. http://www.bazoomer.com/fuelline/fuelline.html

[Yamazaki]

So the check engine light came on..... P0011. Uh oh. I measured the oil level and it didn't have any! Fortunately I had a bunch of oil around (because the Impreza likes to drink it like cheap liquor) and I filled the Forester back up. It seems fine now, but I'm keeping an eye on it....

[rkrenicki]

There is a tech tip for that. It points to either the banjo bolt filter screen, or the turbo oil seals.

http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulle...l-pipe-104738/

[Yamazaki]

So I'm pretty sure the turbo is done. It threw the P0011 code again and now the turbo has a very loud, weird sounding whine if I try to accelerate even a little bit. The car moves, but has very little power. I need to replace both banjo bolt and turbo if my assessment is correct.

Maybe now I can consider that twin-scroll setup I was looking at before...

[98legwag]

I take it the stock turbo from the Impreza STI is long gone?

[Yamazaki]

Yeah, that was gone almost 9 years ago.
I found that I can get VF36/7/8 for VERY cheap through family connection, but the associated piping I would also need is prohibitively expensive. I even found a VF41 from a Forester STI, but I may just settle for a VF48. I think I'll need upgraded injectors and a tune (i.e: COBB AP), but what else will I need to be aware of? Is it a direct fit? Are there better options? I'm not trying to copy my Impreza. Nobody needs that much power, least of all my wife, who is the primary driver.
Ideas anybody?

[86bratman]

As far as everything I've read says you can get by with just a tune to run the vf39/43/48 on the fxt, it has the same yellow injectors as the 04-06 sti. It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to get a bigger tmic to go with it though.

[Yamazaki]

Hmm, looking at the cost of an accessport as well as a tune, I think I'll just get another VF40 for now. After I finally sell the Impreza, I can give the Forester some "enhancements", but for now I have to just get it running.

[86bratman]

You could always go open source, I'm sure there are some tunes available on openecu.org for your application.

I thought the FXT came with a td04?

[Dead91silvia]

If that turbo is making noise, I hope you have stopped driving it... right? I'm dealing with a blown turbo on a customers 05 XT OB right now and that SOB damn near exploded.

[Yamazaki]

You could always go open source, I'm sure there are some tunes available on openecu.org for your application. I thought the FXT came with a td04?

What I read was the EJ205 came with TD04 and EJ255 came with VF40. I have an EJ255. Of course, it's info from Nasioc, so the information may be suspect. I'll definitely find out tomorrow when I remove the turbo.

If that turbo is making noise, I hope you have stopped driving it... right? I'm dealing with a blown turbo on a customers 05 XT OB right now and that SOB damn near exploded.

I'm only moving it from one parking spot to another during my usual "musical cars" routine in the garage/driveway. I know better than to take it out on the road.

[Yamazaki]

I've decided on a VF48, Walbro pump, and 04-07 STI TMIC. The COBB AP and tune will come out of my personal funds, and not the funds allocated for maintenance, because I still need to spend $2K for service on the Merc.

[98legwag]

That should make a nice little upgrade.

[chevyman1968]

Since it's an 04 you have a ej257 with a catted up pipe, td-04 turbo and a Forester Ecu. It's exactly the same as an 04 STi ej257 except for the differences I just mentioned. Same wiring harness and what not. From what I know you can swap the turbo and the Ecu is plug and play for the Ecu for the STi one and then you are running your 300chp. It's cheaper than tuning it. At PMP you can get an STi Ecu for 150 bucks and an STi turbo for about the same. Then just run an aftermarket uppipe and your good to go.


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[Yamazaki]

Since it's an 04 you have a ej257 with a catted up pipe, td-04 turbo and a Forester Ecu. It's exactly the same as an 04 STi ej257 except for the differences I just mentioned.

You're half right. I already knew it isn't an EJ257. It says EJ255BWTBB on the ID plate. But after personally checking the turbo, it is a TD04.
So now I have to figure out how different the connections are to a TD04 and a VF-series turbo. I won't make a move until I have visual verification on how easily swappable they are.

[EDIT: nevermind. I just found what I was looking for. Looks like I'm getting a VF48.]

[chevyman1968]

Can you post a pic of your engine bay?


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[Yamazaki]

Can you post a pic of your engine bay?

I will do this tomorrow if I have time. It is too dark now to take any pictures of worth.

[Yamazaki]

I have been SUPER busy (friends/family visiting, as well as remodeling our guest bathroom before the MD SL-i meet), so I haven't taken any pictures of the engine bay.

However, I did order a Grimmspeed ceramic coated uppipe, a VF48, and a Deascheworks DW200 fuel pump. COBB AP is next.