Muse's '02 H6 VDC "Blitzen 6" - the un-update!

[Yamazaki]

I still have to verify some things, but the Japanese interior may be up for sale soon. I may be looking at offloading:
8-way power driver seat
6-way power passenger seat
Rear seats
All four door cards
Center armrest cover

...basically all the stuff with the dark purple. But like I said, it's just a thought at the moment.

So this is a "nevermind" kind of thing. I found out that what I was thinking of doing wouldn't work very well, and then the extra money dropped on the "new" Merc kind of dashed any plans to try to make it work.

Once my bike has passed inspection and I have a full riders license, I will put the H6 up on stands and start taking it apart. The fenders will be rolled (wheel well) and pulled (adjoining door), and I will take out the spacers to lower it properly.

[Yamazaki]

So I would like to get the car rolling before winter because I am selling the other car: viewtopic.php?f=57&t=29042

[Yamazaki]

So this project had been on hold due to some serious complications with the car and lack of skill/tools on my part. Rkrenicki came for a few days and solved those issues. We spent nearly three days on a rear subframe bolt that wouldn't give up and some front strut bolts that didn't want to leave either. Finally, with those problems resolved, the project is moving again! With the suspension and drivetrain all sorted out, I only have to focus on the body fitment, interior, engine, and paint. So there is still A LOT to do, but at least progress has been made.

Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures during the process because we were more focused on success than documenting the progress.

Huge, HUGE thanks to rkrenicki for for all his help (even though he didn't just help - he actually did almost everything!)

[rougeben83]

haha, rkrenicki had practice on my car!

[98legwag]

So its on Legacy bits like Rkenicki's car now?

[Yamazaki]

Yup. Everything is fully legacy now. Here 's what we (he) did:
Steering column swapped
Steering knuckle swapped
Removed front spacers
Removed rear spacers (and replaced rusty old subframe)
New drop bolts all around
Swapped rear control arms
New bushings in control arms and lateral links
Swapped rear subframe brackets
Swapped drive shaft
Swapped trailing arm brackets
Installed D type rear subframe brace
Re-installed Bilsteins w/STI springs

What I have left to do:
Put the 215/45/17 tires back on
Get alignment
Install electronic correctional speedometer unit


Then I can focus on one of the other major areas to work on.

[Muse]

PICS!

[Hinyo]

^^^ what he said....

[Yamazaki]

I can take pictures of what it looks like now, but it's not going to look special. All of that stuff is "behind-the-scenes". I'll take a picture of all of the discarded stuff though. That's kind of impressive.

[Muse]

Yeah, but if it's got the bilsteins on again, it's lower than before... right?

[Dead91silvia]

This makes me happy on so many levels!

[rkrenicki]

I snapped a couple of pictures during the process, but not that many.

Old subframe out, with the rear passenger lateral link still firmly stuck..


Diff and trailing arms.


Rear all re-assembled.. I think my phone lens was dirty..


Front re-assembled.. wow, my camera did a real bad job on this one..


Both Yama's car and my car are running essentially identical suspension at this point, except he has the STI Pink springs, and I have the S401 Black springs. This really just means that his car will be a bit lower than mine due to the softer spring-rate of the Pinks.

[98legwag]

I want to see it when its back on the smaller tires. I remember seeing this when it was still a pretty much stock Outback.

[rkrenicki]

Oh, yama.. I forgot the Legacy bumpstops when we were doing that list. Those were the easiest thing all week, hah.

[Yamazaki]

So I have a lot of the H6 all buttoned up so I can drive it in the winter, but now I have a new problem- I can't remove the key from the ignition. I can turn it to all of the positions in the key cylinder except completely off. Any ideas?

[soba noodle]

I had the same with my GTB once - turning the steering wheel a bit helped (to unlock the wheel lock), but you've probably tried that...

PS: I need your help to clarify some info re: JDM facelift Legacies, 4th gen. spec.B vs. non-spec.B. I've got some catalogues in front of me, the only problem - they-re in Japanese Would love to clarify it once and for all, lots of misleading "Google says" info. Cheers

[rkrenicki]

So I have a lot of the H6 all buttoned up so I can drive it in the winter, but now I have a new problem- I can't remove the key from the ignition. I can turn it to all of the positions in the key cylinder except completely off. Any ideas?

Did you reinstall the battery yet? It could be the shift lock.

Otherwise, since we had to re-attach the key cylinder to the column, it is possible that it needs adjustment. I would loosen the two bolts a bit and see if rotating it one way or the other will free up the key movement as the steering lock may be getting bound up a bit.

[Yamazaki]

PS: I need your help to clarify some info re: JDM facelift Legacies, 4th gen. spec.B vs. non-spec.B. I've got some catalogues in front of me, the only problem - they-re in Japanese Would love to clarify it once and for all, lots of misleading "Google says" info. Cheers

No problem, I'll PM you with better contact info.

Did you reinstall the battery yet? It could be the shift lock.

Otherwise, since we had to re-attach the key cylinder to the column, it is possible that it needs adjustment. I would loosen the two bolts a bit and see if rotating it one way or the other will free up the key movement as the steering lock may be getting bound up a bit.

The battery was connected, but I disconnected it again because I couldn't remove the key and the door chime was driving me insane. I am certain it's the shift lock though. dead91silvia contacted me and asked me about the shift lock and I was like "ohhhh, right. that." It's been awhile since I've dealt with a car that was both auto AND I needed the key in the ignition to drive....
(I wish I could retrofit keyless go in the H6...)

[Yamazaki]

So I started it finally! It is still missing some parts before I put the front end back together (like fender liners), and I am still looking for '05~'07 Impreza clockspring, but other than that I'm mostly set. However, white smoke comes out of the back and I hear metal rubbing on metal sounds from the engine area. All the sensors and plugs are in and back together... I went over it a few times to make sure I didn't miss anything. Thoughts about what it might be?

[rougeben83]

why do you need the clockspring? Doing the 3 spoke steering wheel swap?

white smoke? How's the engine temps?

[Yamazaki]

why do you need the clockspring? Doing the 3 spoke steering wheel swap?

white smoke? How's the engine temps?

When I put the Saab steering wheel into my Impreza, I took the Impreza wheel and put it into the H6. The only thing that's been connected is the horn. I'd like the cruise control stuff to work too.

The engine was very cold. I didn't run it very long because of the weird metallic noise. I didn't want to break anything more than I already had.

[98legwag]

Might want to figure it out. Its probably going snow on Wednesday.

[Dead91silvia]

It more then likely just needs to run. It been sitting, not ran for a very long time so it will be a little "rattley" for a little bit. All the oil drained from the top to bottom and had a long time to do so.

[rougeben83]

why do you need the clockspring? Doing the 3 spoke steering wheel swap?

white smoke? How's the engine temps?

When I put the Saab steering wheel into my Impreza, I took the Impreza wheel and put it into the H6. The only thing that's been connected is the horn. I'd like the cruise control stuff to work too.

The engine was very cold. I didn't run it very long because of the weird metallic noise. I didn't want to break anything more than I already had.

Ah I see, you may want to look at some of the NASIOC guys with 02-03 wrx's that adapted their cruise control to fit a an STI steering wheel - I think it may be easier to adapt your current cruise control control onto your sti steering wheel.

[Yamazaki]

Ah I see, you may want to look at some of the NASIOC guys with 02-03 wrx's that adapted their cruise control to fit a an STI steering wheel - I think it may be easier to adapt your current cruise control control onto your sti steering wheel.

Cool, thanks! I'll do that.

[cloproductions]

Glad to see this project is still going. Can't wait to see the pictures

[98legwag]

Any updates on this?

[Yamazaki]

Nope. It only has the rear end put together. I am still missing a fender and have to put the front back together. Then I still need to get new (old) lower profile tires put on, get an alignment and sort out the interior.

[MRLancaster]

What's going on with the interior?

[Yamazaki]

Okay, so mark my words here and now...... I will have this car at the SLi meet on April 4th. It won't take much to get it there, but the temps need to go up before I can continue working on it.