Dead's 2005 Baja Turbo!

[Dead91silvia]

Looks great. Real turn around from when you got it. What product/processes did you go with? I'm curious about the interior stuff too.

Well, on the body I use Meguiars compound and most of the time give it a wax after, but I havent yet. Ont he inside, I'm cheap, I use Armor All. Family keeps giving it to me for Christmas and such. Be a shame to waste it. haha... But yeah, I do still need to wax it and also find some treatment stuff for the faded black plastic.

[Dead91silvia]

With the help of another member, I'm working on getting H6 digital HVAC in the Baja. Hoping to have it in for WCSS.

-I did get a resistor made (thank @Yamazaki for the resistor) for the sensor delete from installing the STI up pipe.
-Replaced the blown factory sub with one from a WRX. Also replaced the front speakers with some Kenwoods. Much nicer sound.
-Replaced the stereo... Always in the plans...
-Adjusted my driver glass so it didnt catch on the seal anymore.

I have a few other things I need to get done...
-I have a new face for the cluster to install...
-I got a Cusco K-brace and found out they dont fit lifted (Outback style) cars at all. However, I'm going to see about some spacers and longer bolts.
-Need to get some new shifter bushings... They are really bad.
-She's leaking a bit of oil. Not totally sure where from since I changed a butt load of gaskets, but its coming from some where.
-Still have a miss when she is cold. I've been thinking a coil pack might be weak, but not sure.
-Driver seat belt is missing the little dootle bobber to keep the buckle up, so it just goes to the floor. Really annoying.
-Really would like a gauge pod so I can get my Greddy oil press and boost gauges installed from the GT-B.

I'm also wanting to get some more aggressive tires, so I can toss some mud and dirt. As soon as I get the RAYS repainted, I might just use them for daily driving. Also the suspension makes it feel like a marshmallow.

[iampetro]

My foz has the same problem with the missing seatbelt stopper/button
I get around it by hooking the seatbelt into the slot that the belt comes out of between the front and back window.

I hated fishing for the belt on the floor between the seat and the door and this works pretty well

[peugoby]

-Need to get some new shifter bushings... They are really bad.

The term 'stirring soup' is what I told you last night after moving that bad boy around lol

[98legwag]

For the shifter bushings I really like what @Rubie_25GT did. The one time I drove his car the shifter felt great. He got small metal tubing and made solid bushings from that. Hopefully he will see this and post up what he did.

[Dead91silvia]

Updated the mods list... I few things to do, but give it time...

[Reuben]

I'm so not used to seeing those engines in that engine bay... So weird! I'd love to import one of these things. Would so RHD convert it though, thankfully millions of BH's around to pick bits from here.

[Dead91silvia]

I'm so not used to seeing those engines in that engine bay... So weird! I'd love to import one of these things. Would so RHD convert it though, thankfully millions of BH's around to pick bits from here.

Funny thing... If I can source
the RHD parts for the right price, thats what I will be doing with it.

[Reuben]

Hah, nice. I'd buy it if you exported it

[Dead91silvia]

Actually, I've thought about getting a few others just to fix and sell... Are there any import laws about cars having rebuilt/salvage title in NZ? I would totally help you out on getting one if you wanted to. =)

[Dead91silvia]

Well, been driving it for the last 3 months ans she's still doing good! Still has a miss, been meaning to check the coil packs, but keep forgetting. I have put about 3k on it. Just took it for a bit of a road trip last weekend and I got about 25mpg wit the 255.... so not that bad really. Better then the GT-B! LOL

I did get some new wheels and tires, but I havnet installed yet, it will be a couple more weeks before I do. Also going to look into it and see if the FXT struts I picked up are going to lift it or not. They do only have like 30K on them so they would be an upgrade either way.

[foohfooh]

Looking for a tonneau cover? The camper shell is rad and I think pretty rare. Could fetch a good price on on scoobyttruck forum.

[subieadam]

Sweet ride man!

[Dead91silvia]

Looking for a tonneau cover? The camper shell is rad and I think pretty rare. Could fetch a good price on on scoobyttruck forum.

I'm not selling the canopy, just want the cover for when I'm not using it.

[Dead91silvia]

Well there are some updates for the Baja... Not much but some. haha...

I got a new set of tires... BFgoodwrench AT KO's on Forester XT wheels.


Has a pretty beastly stance with them on also! All washed up for WCSS 18...


Going through Tech to go play in the mud pit!

[Dead91silvia]

Mud pit photos taken by random people that posted them on Facebook.

[Dead91silvia]

The aftermath... So I went in the pit 3 times.... about a minute into the 3rd time I broke an axle... sigh... but it was fun and worth it. Also, with all the beating in the mud pit, it accelerated the the failing of my U-joints for the driveline and I will be ordering one here shortly. I did snag 2 front axles with 78K for $82 ech, so it's not horrible. Considering the Baja has 195K on it now, it was expected.

[Dead91silvia]

No photos to update, but there have been a few things...

First, both front axles were toast and I replaced those as well as the driveline. Comical part was, my original driveline was fine, but the new one was bent. Go figure... haha... That was a wasted $160.

Second, I got a set of D-Type Japanese lights installed. They were in such good shape that they still had the OEM UV film on them. A friend/member helped we wire them properly and they are a vast improvement over the USDM lights.

I havent really done anything more to it other then change the oil and drive it for work. I did find out my AC pump took a crap, so I'll need to address that soon.

[duncanm]

No photos to update, but there have been a few things...
Second, I got a set of D-Type Japanese lights installed. They were in such good shape that they still had the OEM UV film on them. A friend/member helped we wire them properly and they are a vast improvement over the USDM lights.

bonnet/light gap bothering you ?

[Dead91silvia]

A little, but not as much as I thought it would. I'm more happen with the HID's then worried about the gap. If I actually find a D-type hood, I'll swap it out some day, but for now I'm living with it.

[Muse]

If you swapped a D-type hood, your bumper won't line up, and you'd have to go full-on Rkrenicki levels of insanity.

[rkrenicki]

you'd have to go full-on Rkrenicki levels of insanity.

I think you just called me insane....

[Muse]

what me? Noooo, never....

[Dead91silvia]

@Muse, you do remember what I've built in the past... lol...

That being said, modding the bumper to fit a D-type grill would not be that hard for me.

[Muse]

Yeah, if anyone could, it's you.

[Dead91silvia]

Just got the Baja back from the Takata airbag recall... They also fixed my seatbelt dootle bober. The 2014 Legacy loaner they gave me was sad. I can say now that I'll never over one of those things to keep.

[Sub-Goon]

Any updates??

Does yours have the cupholders and console in the rear center seat? Im really wondering if the bottom seat from a Baja would swap into my BE, that would be clean!

Edit: Just rescanned this thread for photos of the backseat... seat back is quite different. damnit wheels are turning again!

[duncanm]

For the shifter bushings I really like what @Rubie_25GT did. The one time I drove his car the shifter felt great. He got small metal tubing and made solid bushings from that. Hopefully he will see this and post up what he did.

Here's a typically rooted bush.


carefully grind off the end of the long rivet and pop it out, find a suitable bolt, sleeve the bolt with rubber hose thick enough to fit snugly in the tube (can't see here), put some washers on either end (I think I used some chopping board or similar UHMWPE I had lying around) to pack it out, bolt it all back together snugly. Make sure you use locktite or a nyloc.

Its tuyt like a tyger



Or throw some money at it and buy a new one..

[duncanm]

ps - this solution is still good some three years later.

[Somac]

Nice work on the custom fix! I went the TIC route and got their updated shifter joint, but either way, the shifting is improved 1000 fold, lol.