Go Mifune's '97 L Wagon

[Go Mifune]

May I ask what you paid for the JDM control arms? You sparked another question for me. The SuperPro alloy arms advertise increased castor but they also come with ALKs so I suspect that's where they're getting the increased castor.

We have a place in Denver that sells used Subaru parts and while in there this week, I saw a set of aluminum control arms.. I think I'll ask about them tomorrow. I'm enjoying the conversation!

[ctbrighton]

you don't want JDM control arms, you want ~05-07 STi control arms that add caster

[Go Mifune]

you don't want JDM control arms, you want ~05-07 STi control arms that add caster

Thanks! Pat Olsen told me the same thing. He tracks a Legacy and has the caster adding arms. Do you think I would need the GD type (longer) front sway bar or get by keeping mine?

[ctbrighton]

my front bar and endlinks are still stock, but i would atleast get some solid adjustable links. i bought the whiteline universal (ie cut your own) links but never got around to actually cutting them to length.

[Reuben]

The JDM ‘short’ control arms are great, I’ve Installed many, and you get a greatly increased turn in feel with them, and they’re a direct bolt in, no messing with stuff like your wheel base to make them work. They sell anywhere from $100/arm to $300/arm here in NZ. They were optional as a catalogue item from as far back as 1990, were standard on some versions of the GC WRX, and I think all GC STi’s. They then became standard on the BH/BE GT/RS’s, and GT30/RS30’s.

Another great mod to go with the alloy arms is a Cusco K-brace. Have a look on croooober, I seen k-braces up for like $20 (poor condition, but totally functional).

I’ve installed alloy arms on the beast, my BC sedan, my partners GC8, and my mates 91 BC5 GT had them optioned from factory along with some optional 19mm sway bars and STi stickers (it’s not an STi model) (I found all those parts in the 92 STi catalogue)

[Tylerhartman]

What he said ^^ I bought a set of BE5 Alloy arms for around $120 Shipped from Russia. He charges a little more than that now, but I'll pass his contact info to you if you'd like

The K-Brace is on my list along with swaybars

[Go Mifune]

Is this the K-brace and is it a direct bolt-on for the BK?

https://www.jspecauto.com/engine_det..._sti_1993-2001

[Go Mifune]

[Sub-Goon]

Those new parts should help!

[Reuben]

Is this the K-brace and is it a direct bolt-on for the BK?

https://www.jspecauto.com/engine_det..._sti_1993-2001

Yes, geometry wise, bolts straight in, no fitting kit needed. Non turbos have clearance issues with the exhaust though. You’ll have to chop a section out of the exhaust and go over the brace. Turbs don’t have that issue, the down pipe clears behind the brace nicely.

[Go Mifune]

Bought more Whiteline stuff: motorsport version ALK and front bushings for the front lower control arms.

I'm backing off on the alloy arms for now, since I can't seem to pull the trigger.. Instead, I'm looking at getting racing harnesses. My old body is cramping up since I've gotten to 1g on the track. It was comfy at .9g but 1.0 is giving me terrible cramps. Since harnesses are a no-no without a roll bar, today I took the Legacy to 3R Racing to get an estimate started for one. I want something basic but there was a BRZ getting a full cage and it was like, "Oh, that would be nice!" and "Yes, I would like that." Their fabrication guy was out of town so they took pictures and will get back to me. Now just hoping I can afford it. Also got honked at (in a friendly way) by a guy in a blob eye WRX. Either he liked my car or I need a haircut;-)

[Go Mifune]

Today I did part one of seven... or something. Installed the Whiteline steering rack bushings and it was an absolutely miserable experience. Getting the bolts off was cake but everything after, not so much. I did disconnect the steering column and took others advice to remove the right side bushing and leave everything loose, then concentrate on the left side. I was able, using pry bars, to move the left bracket towards the center of the car. Half way through, I was worried I couldn't do it, but once it was done, started planning part two, which should be the shifter assembly. How do the new bushings feel? Don't know. I've developed some inner ear thing where laying on my back and looking straight up makes me extremely nauseated, so I'm too ill to drive. This started last year and hasn't gone away so the shifter assembly should be fun.

Here's the driver's side bracket, forced over towards the center.

And most of the tools used.

[Go Mifune]

Now with 2003 WRX shifter assembly and Kartboy short shifter.
Wow, this was one mod that didn't disappoint. The shift throw feels like 1/3rd of what it was and no more side to side wobble. Lots of work and was only able to get it done thanks to the forum and watching loads of Youtube DIY videos.



Many have done this but how many have cleaned and waxed their transmission crossmember while they were down there?



Also installed the Kartboy transmission mount bushings. I'm waiting on the transmission and engine mounts until I decide how hard core it should be. The only negative today is that I gave up trying to loosen the downstream O2 sensor. Even using the MAPP gas torch failed.

Update- Went medieval with that torch and finally got the O2 sensor loose. Now to wait for the "not ready" to go off. Also measured the change in shift throw. The OEM setup was 4" from 3rd to 4th. The Kartboy short shifter reduced that to 2".

[Go Mifune]

The Whiteline adjustable lateral links and Turn-in-Concepts race-hardness trailing arm bushings are installed. Went well except for one bolt which is stripped. I'm anxious to drive it but the bolt from Subaru won't arrive till tomorrow. While down there, the differential cover was polished. If all goes well, I'll start the front suspension next week.

[Go Mifune]

Spring cleaning prior to installing new parts.

[Go Mifune]

Front suspension is done and the car is on the ground for the first time in five weeks!

-Whiteline front control arm bushings W51709A
-Whiteline anti-lift kit, motorsport version KCA319M
-Whiteline bump steer correction kit KCA313
And while down there, the Inferno Fabrication header was installed.



In a controversial move, I also went ahead with a power steering delete. The rack conversion was done by CVJ Axles in Denver. They also supplied a needed rebuilt subaru axle. I've read negative things about the aftermarket axles so was happy to find them.



I drove it for the first time today with the new front and rear parts. Since I've only done a string alignment and I think I torqued everything, the drive was slow. All I can say for now is that it hasn't ruined the ride. The only negative is that I bought a new OEM style front cat but it wouldn't quite line up. Next thing is an alignment and probably a corner weighted alignment. Then I'm thinking of getting that cat to fit by having a new catted mid-pipe fabricated. Our Colorado emissions are pretty tough.

[Huffer]

Love the car. Reminds me of my old BK. Miss that thing, so chuckable into corners and happy to rotate the tail on the way out.

[Go Mifune]

Thanks Huffer. Didn't know you had one. What did you do for an engine?

I kept telling my wife that the new mods were going to make it almost undriveable. Now I'm disappointed that it didn't live up to the hype.

[Huffer]

Thanks Huffer. Didn't know you had one. What did you do for an engine?

I kept telling my wife that the new mods were going to make it almost undriveable. Now I'm disappointed that it didn't live up to the hype.

I just had a stock EJ25D, DOHC all that jazz. Never got to do my SOHC + Delta Cam conversion before I was rear-ended and the car was written off.

[Go Mifune]

Not good but at least it's short.

[Go Mifune]

Long time since last update. Haven't been to High Plains Raceway since my disastrous track day June 1st. My next goal is to pass emissions so new cats, 02 sensors, plugs, air filter and spark plug wires. The old mid pipe looked pretty rough and had who knows how many miles on it. Colorado has very strict laws and in some ways, tougher than California, so I'm going all out. Tomorrow I'm driving down to Denver w/o catback to have it adjusted and reattached. Wish me luck as noise ordinances seem to be big right now. The new header and cats w/o catback are much louder than the OEM sans catback. Maybe I'll pick up a horsepower! In other news, Trackaddict has been added to be able to see lap times as they happen. My old timer has digits too small to read. Hoping to be back on track in October.

[peugoby]

That was an entertaining watch around the track. I' surprised you deleted the power steering. How does it feel at speed? I can imagine it must be a bit to hustle at parking lot speeds. I never personally felt like it was overly assisted. I'd love to get out and do track days like you're doing. My current car would need a lot more to it just to feel safe at speed like you're doing.

[Go Mifune]

That was an entertaining watch around the track. I' surprised you deleted the power steering. How does it feel at speed? I can imagine it must be a bit to hustle at parking lot speeds. I never personally felt like it was overly assisted. I'd love to get out and do track days like you're doing. My current car would need a lot more to it just to feel safe at speed like you're doing.

I went back and forth over the PS delete but it can always be reversed. It was done properly with a modified rack. It's a 2760 pound car with fairly narrow tires (215/40/17) and low horsepower (0?). I wouldn't recommend it on a full weight Sti. As mentioned in the video, I used to get just horrible cramps towards the middle of a track day. I decided I needed harnesses and a roll bar and was quoted roughly $2300 by a Denver race shop. Happily, I had zero cramps the last time out and I'm pretty sure it was because of the PS delete. I don't have to tighten up my body to hold onto the steering wheel like before. If you ask anyone else at the track, I've never been "at speed" but thanks for saying that! It is awful below 5 mph but above that, it's perfect. I actually enjoy driving it more than before; even on the street.

After another track day, I may have a better feel for why my laps were slower. Probably just the five months between with no practice. Could be worse.

I'm sure your BMW could handle it. The only downsides are: your hood will get sandblasted and your back seat will fill up with chunks of other people's tires, you may crash, break down or roll, and friends will avoid you because they just know you're going to talk about track days.

[Go Mifune]

Drove down to Denver to get my catback extended to fit up to the new cats. The shop's credit card machine was down so they loaned me a white 1980s Bronco to go to my bank to get cash. One block from the shop, I noticed the gas gauge was on absolute zero. Thought to myself that the gauge was most likely broken. Thirty seconds later, the Bronco began to shudder. Having worked at a dealership for thirteen years, my training kicked in and had it parked before its final gasp. An employee had borrowed it the night before and brought it back empty (another dealership skill). The manager drove me to the bank, gave me a discount on the work and I drove towards home. Twenty five miles from the muffler shop, I discovered a remote control and strange keys in my pocket; for the Bronco. Another drive to Denver. On the positive side, the check engine light is off for the first time in two years, the Magnaflow cats are louder than stock and my butt dyno says I may have picked up one horsepower. Of course, butt dynos are liars.

DMV hack: Went into the DMV and noticed a sign saying that those dressed in uniform will be served first. I asked the woman at the counter if that included Starfleet uniforms. She said she didn't know what that was, but yes if it's a branch of the military. I know what I'm wearing to the DMV from now on!

[Go Mifune]

Another track day. Better result this time.

[2002jm]

Really enjoyed reading your thread; go some great ideas too
jm

[Go Mifune]

Thanks! Do you have a build thread?

[2002jm]

Suppose to be picking up a 99 legacy gt limited this next week; will post a build thread as soon as possible
thanks,
jm

[Go Mifune]

Episode 9: Free track day in Colorado

[Go Mifune]

Torque Solutions solid pitch-stop mount. Because you can never have enough NVH. I can finally hear my starter motor like I'm wearing it.