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

[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.

[rkrenicki]

Excuse my turbo noobiness, but is a VF48 a drop-in replacement for the TD04, or do you have to do some modification to make it work?

I guess what I am getting at is, can you get the car back up and going before the AccessPort shows up?

[Yamazaki]

I am going off of the pictures posted here:
http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulle...29-post36.html

Everything bolts/plugs up in the same places....

A few other forums and places say that it should be a direct swap as well, so I am not too concerned.

[chevyman1968]

It depends again what engine is in the car.

This is an ej255.


This is an ej257 style engine bay.


The differences between the turbo mounting between both is big. Nether style with fit on the other manifold setup. Everything would have to be swapped to make one or the other work. So if you have a td-04 that bolts to the tmic then a vf48 won't work.


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[Yamazaki]

It depends again what engine is in the car.

This is an ej255.

This is an ej257 style engine bay.

I understand what you are saying, but the engine layout doesn't change the fact that the Forester (XT and Japanese STI), the Baja (turbo), and the S402 all have EJ255s, despite their layout being similar to the EJ257 my Impreza STI has. Hell, the S402 has an EJ255 with a twinscroll, so I know that turbo won't fit on the other EJ255s.
I figure there are different types of EJ255s, just like there are different EZ30Ds, and even different EJ257s (look up the GVF/GRF STI A-line). The EJ255 in my Forester just happens to be the same layout as the engine in picture #2 you posted.

I'm just arguing the designations because that's all I know. When it comes down to the nitty-gritty of the mechanical applications, the designations are more or less meaningless. Being on this forum has taught me that much. There are so many people here that actually know their way around the engine bay, but get their "alphabet soup" mixed up or confused. I know all the designations and numbers because I have all the books and have taken pictures of the ID plates in person (for the Japanese models too). So believe me if I say what a designation is (as long as I verify it - my memory kind of sucks), because I have the information from Subaru itself. However, I am barely able to point out what most of the major parts of an engine bay are, but not much past that. So I won't ever try to say what does/doesn't work/fit together. That's what I rely on you mechanical guys for!

[chevyman1968]

Haha got ya man. Yeah I am not arguing whether or not it's an ej255 or ej257 at this point just don't want you to buy parts that are not going to work on your setup. I do know the STi Ecu is interchangeable with your car though. 04 FXT is my next car unless a Legacy comes up for a decent price.


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[Yamazaki]

That's cool about the ECU. What years STI ECUs work like that? Will the immobilizer cause any issues? I'd swap the ECU from my Impreza to the Forester to check it out if it weren't so heavily tuned....