Go Mifune's '97 L Wagon

[Go Mifune]

Track day car and you know, going to Costco






With street shoes - BBS RKs


June, 2017 at High Plains Raceway, Colorado - Kosei K5-Rs



Current Mods:

Interior:
Corbeau FX1 Pro seats and brackets
Product Innovations delrin shift knob
Door card fabric matching seats
Sparco Reflex pedal set
Broadway 300mm convex rear view mirror
STi floor mats
Rear seat and seatbelt delete
Center console delete
Floor and firewall insulation removal
Lightweight carpet
Cargo area stuff delete
Radio delete
Scangauge II
Lap timers: Garmin Virb Elite camera with GPS, i-Phone with Trackaddict app.
2- SJ Cam SJ6 Legend cameras
1- DBpower EX5000 camera
1- Akaso EK7000 camera


Exterior:
OEM rear spoiler
Emblem delete
Pinstripe delete
Roof rack delete
Home Depot mesh grill
Rear wiper delete

Suspension:
Feal 441 coilovers with Swift springs 7k/4k
Whiteline KCA313 front roll center/bumpsteer correction kit
Whiteline W51709A front control arm front bushing
Whiteline ALK KCA319M motorsport
22mm Whiteline adjustable rear sway bar
Impreza upgraded SB mount
21mm Subaru front sway bar #20401AE03A
Energy suspension FSB bushings
Whiteline endlinks- front KLC30 & rear KLC26
Ebay rear strut tower bar
Whiteline front strut tower bar
Kartboy rear subframe lockdown bolts
Whiteline KSR200 steering rack bushings
Whiteline KTA108 adjustable rear control arms
Turn in Concepts TIC 1001-02-0018 rear trailing arm bushing - Race
Turn in Concepts TIC 1001-02-0012 front trailing arm bushing - Race
Whiteline KSB751 rear differential support bushings

Transmission
2003 WRX shifter assembly
Kartboy short shifter #KB-002
Kartboy shifter bushings #KB-003
Kartboy rear shifter bushing #KB-003 rear
Subaru shifter knuckle #35047AC030
Kartboy transmission bushings #KB-025
Group N transmission mount - Subaru D1010FE020

Brakes:
2004 Legacy GT front and rear brakes-Rears thanks to Nepbug
GrimmSpeed master cylinder brace Part # 091016
G2 orange caliper paint
EBC Bluestuff pads DP51661NDX (front) and DP51293NDX (rear) replacing EBC Yellowstuff
Stop Tech slotted rotors
Goodridge G Stop brake lines #24212
Redline RL-600 fluid
New EBC Bluestuff front & rear pads - June 2021

Wheels and tires:
Street: BBS RK 17x7 (about 17.5 pounds) with Sumitomo HTR ZIII 215/45/17 (22 pounds)
Track: Kosei K5-R 17x8 +48 (16.3 pounds) with Kumho V700 (50 TW) 215/40/17 (18.5 pounds) shaved R-comp tires


Engine compartment:
Inferno Fabrications EL headers
1996 EJ22 intake
Full synth oil- Rotella T6 5w-40
Fumoto F-105 oil drain valve
Cruise control delete
Deka ETX-12 battery 9.8 lbs on bathroom scale
A/C delete
Torque Solutions solid pitch stop mount - part# TS-SU-011SB

Other
Back up lamp switch 32005AA053
Borla ss cat back-Thanks to Nepbug
Power steering delete- De-powered rack by CVJ Axle, Denver

To be installed:



Thought someone might find this useful. Weights checked on a (decent) bathroom scale so not exact but very close when the car was corner balanced a couple years ago.
Original curb weight 3005

Weight added
17” wheels and tires +8 lbs From 185/70/14 on14x5.5 steel to 215/40/17 on 17x8 alloy
2004 Legacy GT brakes +25 lbs
F. & R. strut braces +7 lbs
F. & R. sway bars +9 lbs Front: 19mm OEM to 21mm Rear: 15mm OEM to 22mm adjustable
OEM rear spoiler +6 lbs
Cameras +1.5 lbs
Grimmspeed MCB +1 lb
Whiteline lateral links +5 lbs
Scooped hood +3.5 lbs.
Total adds +66 lbs

Weight deducted
Spare tire -29 lbs (on track only)
Jack -5 lbs (on track only)
Jack tools -3.5 lbs (on track only)
Racing seats -9 lbs Seats are 19 lbs. each but brackets are heavy.
Radio & cup holder -5 lbs EJs make the best music!
F. & R. Floor mats -6 lbs
Carpet & cargo brackets -28.5 lbs
R. seat, brackets & belts -57.5 lbs
Center console -4.5 lbs
Soundproofing -32 lbs
R. seat heat vents -1.5 lbs
R. brake backing plates -1. lbs
OEM grill -.5 lbs
Roof rack -10 lbs
Rear mud flaps -1.5 lbs
R. wiper -3.5 lbs
Coilovers -38 lbs
1996 intake -4 lbs
Cruise control -3 lbs
Low washer fluid -4 lbs Leaving more than enough for a track day.
Borla catback ? My bad! -5 lbs forgot to weigh but at least 5 pounds
Deka ETX12 battery -21 lbs
Glovebox door and bracket -4.5 lbs (track only)
Power steering delete -7.5 lbs
Alternator cover -.5 lbs
Headers -1 lb
Front brake shield delete -1 lb
A/C delete -24 lbs
Kumho R-comp tires -9 lbs shaved 50 TW tires (track only)
Pass. seat delete -27 lbs weight of seat and brackets (track only)
Pass. seatbelts -3 lbs (track only)
Rear trim delete -23 lbs (track only) all lower cargo plastic panels and trim plus rear door panels and trim incl. rear speakers
Tailgate plastic panel -3 lbs
Front bumper beam delete -10 (track only)
Total deducted - 386.5 lbs

Overall weight reduction -304.5 lbs from stock

January 2021 - car should weigh about 2684.5 with full tank and all reductions above.

[nepbug]

subscribed, I was just wondering about this car the other day. Love the shaved roof rack.

What do those wheels weigh?

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

[kcowles]

Just curious, how did you plug up the roof rack to protect from rain water? Did you put threaded bolts in the holes?
Wagon looks great! I have the same color and year

[Go Mifune]

The center rails I left alone. The side rail delete was from someone here but can't remember who. Basically just filled the threaded holes with silicone and siliconed on white plastic caps, probably from Home Depot. Keeping the rails if they're needed later on. Looks good from a distance but up close, not so much.

Nick, the RKs about 17.5 pounds. The SSRs weighed on a postal scale came to 13 lbs. 2 oz.

I'm having trouble putting up more pics but hopefully more to come.

Also picked up a decent rear spoiler today for $25. Does need paint.

[Go Mifune]

OK. Here are the SSRs which looked horrible when I picked them up but it was only surface corrosion. This one is halfway to fixed


And an interior shot.

This was before I replaced the carpet. Removing the center console leaves holes.

[Strykr]

Im kinda confused, I noticed the SSR say 4x100, 4x114.3, 5x100. Thats the first time I've ever noticed that on those rims before and find it odd because usually only the size used is shown not all available lol

Love the seats though!

[nepbug]

Like the stats on those SSRs if you decide to get rid of them give me a call.

[Go Mifune]

I'd never seen that either on a wheel. The c-list ad said 5x100 but the first thing I noticed in the picture was 4x100 so I got a little sad. Then saw 5x100 and was like what? It's all good. Is it some Japanese law having to put weight rating right on the front of the rim? I don't know.

Mephitic-er....Nepbug, spellcheck changed your handle to mephitic? Anyway, that's tempting but if I ever do get out to High Plains Raceway, I'm going to need every trick in the book to avoid being run over. By July my ego should be completely crushed and I'll call you:-)

[Go Mifune]

Legacy sitting at 2880 pounds with a full tank- according to Cat Scale- although my bathroom scale seems to bear this out. My goal is 2800 even. Maybe 2806 because spoiler.

For suspension, I'm on blown struts right now so probably WRX take offs with Koni inserts and perhaps RCE wagon springs. That's the smart option. On the other hand, this is just a summer car and coilovers are calling to me. Can't push the budget too far so Feal 441s. Have read all the arguments and can't decide.

[nepbug]

By July my ego should be completely crushed and I'll call you:-)

Ha, that made me laugh.

If you end up needing done donor struts, I've got the ones off my 02 Impreza that will be available if I take the springs off. I was keeping them for a potential Koni insert upgrade myself, but I doubt I'll have the cash for that anytime in the next couple years unless I sell off some of my really fun bits.


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[Go Mifune]

Nepbug, maybe we can do business again:-) Looking online, any '94 to 2007 Impreza strut will work for the front; Koni 8610-1351. For the rears they are split over three time periods.
'94 to '01 Koni rear 8610-1352
'02 to '03 Koni rear 8610-1408
'04 to '07 Koni rear 8610-1440
I'm guessing maybe perches and top hats are different but it must be more than that for the 3 Koni variations. I've been keeping watch for '04 to '07 wagon rears to avoid the dreaded saggy butt. Nothing so far.

Also would STi springs such as Swift Spec-Rs or RCE Super Sports be too low for proper handling or mess up something else . More interested in that than just looks.

[Go Mifune]

Corbeau seats and WRX generic strut tower brace. All summer I drove with leaking struts and brakes that couldn't be applied properly till the machining on the new rotors was worn off. Reached that point just in time for snow season. Next year hopefully will be better.

[peugoby]

I really like the build so far! Nice & tidy with a good mix of performance upgrades and aesthetically pleasing mods. I love my SSR's on my BK. They're one of the most attractive wheels for these cars in my opinion. I'd only get rid of them for some TE-37's. How are those seats? Do you use the car daily? I need to get a Whiteline RSB so badly.

[Go Mifune]

Thanks Peugoby! You have great timing as I read your entire thread just yesterday. Kept going between your before and after photos and thinking "can't be the same car."

The seats are fantastic for keeping me in place but they have a bit of flex to them. Online reviews have mentioned this. It feels like a bolt is loose on small fast turns. Still, I love them! I think my wife secretly hates them. My '96 Outback is the DD. With only summer tires, this one will be driven maybe 400 miles over the winter. Since bought it's totaled 7k miles in 19 months but that included a 2400 mile road trip.

[Go Mifune]

Kartboy front and rear shifter stay bushings and Sparco Reflex pedals.
The Sparcos are for more than just bling. It turns out that I have shortish legs which combined with my fixed back driver's seat leaves me too close to the steering wheel. I'm planning on making simple spacers and then attach the pedals to move me and the seat back where they belong. The other benefit is that I've been having to move the seat back one notch every time I get out of the car (due to the racing seat) and this should fix that. I think an inch or less will do it but it's around 10F outside so not today.

The bushings will have to wait till I have the TIC shifter knuckle and some warmer weather, which in Evercold Colorado is mid to late May.

[Tylerhartman]

Sweet build ;-) Can't wait to see how more hardcore this gets

[Go Mifune]

Hardcore you say? A small thing but did the rear wiper delete today. I'm keeping the parts so it's totally reversible in about half an hour. I won't do this on my Outback as that would just be silly but with the Legacy....race car.
Entire assembly weighs 3.5 pounds in case you want to know.
Thanks to Nepbug for the plug to fill the hole. It's Subaru part #86515AC000.
The only tools needed were 10mm and 22mm sockets and a flat blade screwdriver to pop off the interior panel to gain access.



One of these days I'm going to have to address the fact that my "race car" has about 90AWD horsepower.

[Go Mifune]

Sparco pedals are in for now but still working out details. The bolts are meant to go through the center of the Sparco pedals which is right where you can't put them due to the metal arm welded at the back of the factory pedals.



As mentioned before, spacers will help me reach the pedals like a big boy. I'm going to use hard rubber for the spacers although hardwood flooring samples worked great for the mockup. Thanks Home Depot!

[Go Mifune]

Got a Scangauge II for my birthday and installed it today. As suspected, my EJ22 is developing 3.4 horsepower.



The wire runs past the steering column, securely zip tied under the dash and then out just above the hood release. It doesn't interfere with the function of the tilt wheel or the hood release.

[Gavin_XVI]

Nice!
I actually have the same rear strut brace in my Legacy right now and I also recently made a "Home Depot mesh grill" too.

[Muse]

You know, I didn't expect to see a difference when I put that same bar in my car, and I didn't really notice one until I took it back out again. The car felt rather sloppy after removal, even though I hadn't noticed it being particularly improved after initial install.

[Gavin_XVI]

I think that might be because it's really not that rigid of a strut brace, so the improvement probably isn't as good as a really sturdy brace. I actually noticed an improvement right away though, it made the struts much more responsive. I think I noticed quick because my struts are really old and need to be replaced, the brace just made it so they could work with what little energy they have left, haha.

[Go Mifune]

And my struts are flat dead. I finally have enough saved up for suspension. Just need to pull the trigger. Will be doing the rear subframe lockdown bolts at the same time.

[Gavin_XVI]

Sweet! What suspension are you planning to get?
Did something go wrong with the subframe bolts?

[Go Mifune]

The subframe/crossmember lockdown bolt is a mod to keep the rear crossmember from squirming around during cornering. Here's a DIY http://www.scoobymods.com/showthread...lts-13527.html
You can buy the bolts as a kit from Whiteline or Kartboy. They don't show the bolts as fitting our cars-BD,BG,BK- but I've been told that yes they do fit. Whichever way you go, read all of the posts as doing it wrong will give you a very bad day.

For suspension, I've been looking at Feal 441 coilovers. Nasioc has a 44 page thread on them where people at first have problems with them but it almost always turns out to have been an installation problem.
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show....php?t=2296352
They can be bought for $1350 and include swift springs. They will build them so that they have the correct GC Impreza front top hats and brake line brackets but with GD rear top hats. At least that's what I think will work. I'm no mechanic and a question about it to the group went unanswered.

The other possibility would be 2004 to 2007 WRX Wagon takeoff struts modified for Koni strut inserts, Group N top hats and RCE wagon springs. Many people say this is a better solution for ride, handling and reliability. Buying all the pieces for this is actually more expensive than the coil overs. Even with the Koni sale which should start in March, it's about $1800 if I get the struts powder coated.

The third option is just putting on the WRX takeoff struts with maybe STi springs and hope the struts aren't already blown. This is the cheap option as I'm sorta, kinda unemployed due to a medical condition.

The reason I'm leaning towards the Feals is that they can be adjusted for height, they weigh less (I weigh every part that comes off my car; it's a sickness) and I'm mentally 12 years old, so they're cool.

[Gavin_XVI]

Oh, that's a cool little mod! I might just try that out, I bet it makes a noticeable difference in handling. Are these the correct bolts in the link? https://www.rallysportdirect.com/par...-locking-bolts

That's quite a few options, but it does seem like the WRX Wagon struts are the "safest" way to go, but I honestly have no clue. Have you thought about buying some coilovers made for the Legacy or are all of those not very good?

Haha, I wish I had a weigh scale to weigh the parts that came off of my car; I should get one. Weight reduction management system, yo.

[Go Mifune]

Yes, those are the ones or the Kartboy ones here:
http://www.amazon.com/Kartboy-Subfra...PXPTF7R4JDQE19
Again, I haven't done this yet but others have so should be fine.

BC Racing makes a correct coil over for our Legacys and they also offer the Swift Springs. I have no proof that Feals are better. From what I've read, $3k to $6k is the price for top quality coil overs but if I had that kind of bread, I'd probably be driving an Evora:-)

[Gavin_XVI]

Cool, thanks for the info!

I was actually thinking about getting the BC Racing coilovers, they seem pretty good and they aren't too bad of a price either.

[Go Mifune]

Finally finished sanding and polishing my SSR Competitions. Not perfect but I'm pretty happy with them. Now all that's needed are the funds for tires and to decide if I'll have to sell my BBS RKs.

In other news, I'm now leaning back towards Koni inserts rather than coil overs. Next week who knows?

[Muse]

Next week, the debate will be between Konis or air ride! And the week after that, lift or lower? :toothy8: