Subaru Crew - Modifications II

kens · February 2002

juice,

Took a look at the photos -- nice job on the liner! I've used Home Depot for auto stuff, but Michael's is a first. So do they have any in black to match my exterior? :-)

Ken

ateixeira · February 2002

Well, I only saw red and green. The green is actually darker than it appears in the photo, but I still would have preferred black. It's made by Rubber Maid, go figure!

-juice

hondafriek · February 2002

I have never seen that felt liner in black, but you could get one of those spray dye,s that they use for upholstery and spray your own.

Looks good juice, but why not do on the sides of the glove box as well?

Cheers Pat.

ateixeira · February 2002

I dunno, I guess I didn't think about that. I lined the surfaces where objects rest, to prevent rattles and such.

This OCD club member is going to pretend he didn't read that. Huh, what? Side of what? ;-)

-juice

c_hunter · February 2002

If you have any info or thoughts, please chime in!

1) I am thinking about putting the Subaru subwoofer in my LL Bean. Anybody installed one fo these in any Subaru recently? How does it sound, and is it worth the trouble?

2) It would be very cool if I could hook an iPod MP3 player directly into the Subaru stereo system. The thought of carrying around my entire music collection is very appealing, as is the benefit of not fumbling around with CDs (and scratching them up) as I drive. Since the Subaru radio has a connector to hook up a CD changer, it ought to be possible to hijack the connection to get at the L/R audio inputs and the input selector wire (which would tell the stereo to switch to the CD changer input).

I could use an FM RF adapter or a cassette adapter to hook an iPod up, but these are not the best quality in my experience, nor are they very elegant to work with. A direct connection would be awesome.

If you have any ideas how this would work, info or pinout diagrams of the CD changer connection, or even experience with using the Subaru CD changer in the Outback, please let me know. It should be technically simple to hook up an iPod (or any other audio device) via the CD changer input, it just requires a lot of info!

thanks,
Craig

stevek · February 2002

I would like to install a front fender turn signal on my Legacy GT. Does anyone know of a site when I can find out more about this?

gendron · February 2002

I'm looking for a rear sway bar for my 2002 forester. Anyone got suggestions for size and place to buy. I just want to remove the under steer but most bars i've seen look like more performance, modification and price then i want.

bigfrank3 · February 2002

I just put the factory 18mm bar on my '01, as others here have. Piece of cake. Nice addition. I paid $86 delivered from subaruwrx.com.

Main link:

http://www.subaruwrxparts.com/index.html

direct to bar:

http://www.subaruwrxparts.com/per_gc8.html

Regards,

Frank

lucien2 · February 2002

http://www.i-club.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=138527

hondafriek · February 2002

I have the subaru subwoofer in the GT which I installed myself.

It is an easy install, it mounts under the passenger seat.with a bracket that picks up a rear seat mounting bolt.

It also comes with the wire harness to hook up, you just unplug the harness from the radio, then plug it into the new harness and then into the radio, could not be more simple.

As far as how it sounds I am happy, but if you are looking for boom boom sound look elsewhere, it separates the bass nicely, it is also pricey but it takes up little or no room in the car which is a plus.

As far as hooking up a player using the CD changer controls, it would be more difficult than you imagine it to be, you would have to find the audio inputs and outputs as well as the control wiring for the changer.

It is also a problem when you are trying to use equipment that is not really compatible with the factory equipment, I would imagine the output signal voltage would have to match perfectly what you are trying to graft into the factory setup,I myself love a challenge but I would not touch this one.

I wanted to install Subarus 6 disc changer with my JVC aftermarket head unit, now I have good friend who intalls audio and alarm systems for a living and he would not attempt this for me.

I daresay anything is possible given the committment but the end result may not be worth the hassle.

All this is just my 2 cents.

Cheers Pat.

locke2c · February 2002

After the good lead-in from Pat I'll chip in a bit.

There are aftermarket receivers that have a front input that you could plug your mp3 player into. But if you're going to buy one of those IMO why not just by a cd receiver that plays mp3s and be done with it?

I also agree that tapping into the changer input would be difficult... so it's tape adapter or aftermarket receiver I'm afraid.

-Colin

c_hunter · February 2002

The benefit of an MP3 player like the iPod is that I can store and carry around about 1000 songs -- basically my entire music collection -- in my pocket, with no external disks or anything. You'd think some enterprising company would come up with a car stereo with this sort of capability (it would have to contain a 5GB hard drive), but the iPod and one or two other hard drive based MP3 players are the only game in town.

The Subaru radios have a connector on the back that accepts the harness from the CD changer. It has about 8-10 pins, if I recall correctly. Four of them would have to be for the Left/Right +/- stereo inputs, and the others would be for power and logic control I guess. Way back when I had a 6 disc changer in another car, it had standard line level outputs, Most components have line level outputs, and the iPod does too. I would bet that the Left/Right inputs on the Subaru radio and the corresponding outputs on the Subaru CD changer are also line level.

So, being optimistic, it would be a matter of determining which pins on the Subaru radio's CD changer connector would accept the L/R output from the iPod, and also, which pin(s) pass the control signals back and forth from the changer to the radio (to tell it to switch to CD changer).

Not difficult, just requires more info than I have!

Craig

ateixeira · February 2002

I have the 18mm rear sway and it's cake to install. In fact it's just four bolts. Make sure you get new bushings, too. The stock bar is 13mm and those bushings will not fit.

Also, Subaru sells an 18mm and a 20mm bar, make sure you get the right bar and the right bushings.

-juice

fibber2 · February 2002

I have the single disk unit installed below the AM/FM/WB/Cass unit in my OB. While I cannot help you with the backside wiring (it was dealer installed), you asked about experience with use & operation. Let me know what sequence or button pushing you want me to do and I will give you a report on the outcome.

Steve

kens · February 2002

I've been reading about this ProECM chip over at i-club. It sounds like it's like a JC Sports TCII chip but with easier installation:

http://www.i-club.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=149134

I'm not thinking of installing one but just curious to hear what the Edumnds gang has to say about it.

Ken

ateixeira · February 2002

12 lb-ft sounds nice for $250, but are the claims optimistic?

-juice

c_hunter · February 2002

Thanks for the offer. I had that setup on my old Outback (now my Dad's), and am more interested in how the 6 disc CD changer functions.

On the radio in my Bean, which has the single CD player integrated, there is no separate button for "CD changer", so something on the CD changer must trigger the radio to switch input and control to the changer. Maybe when you push one of the 6 buttons to choose a CD.

Craig

jackleung · February 2002

In case U guys want the pin info for the OEM 6 disc CD changer, here is the pin diagram for a male connecter to the changer:

123 - - 456
789 A B CDE

1 - 12v+ constant
2 - LR +
3 - RR +
4 - LF +
5 - RF +
6 - illumination / dimmer
7 - power antenna
8 - LR -
9 - RR -
A - GROUND
B - 12V +(ignition)
C - LF -
D - RF -
E - don't know

locke2c · February 2002

Looks like speaker-level inputs.

That's weird.

-Colin

leo2633 · February 2002

Pat,

I have an aftermarket Clarion underseat subwoofer hooked up to a Pioneer AM/FM/CD headunit in my '01 Forester S. I'm curious about the Subaru subwoofer. Is there any way to control the sub from the headunit, independent of the volume and bass settings? The Pioneer has a sub controller that allows you to choose one of 3 different ranges (50-80-125 db), as well as a gain control that allows plus or minus 6 in each. Also, when you did your install, did you happen to notice the manufacturer of the sub? Thanks in advance.

Len

hondafriek · February 2002

The Subaru sub is pretty basic in that there are no independant controls, in answer to your second question I did not pay any attention as to who was the manufacturer.

Cheers Pat.

c_hunter · February 2002

Thanks for the info. I think those pinouts are for the main connector going into the radio (especially since it has antenna power and both front/rear channels). There is a smaller jack (with fewer pins) for the CD changer.

Can you check on pinouts for any other connectors on the radio?

thanks,
Craig

jackleung · February 2002

Yes, those are for the main connector and this is all info I got.

Rgds,
Jack

paisan · February 2002

I'm debating tires for auto-x for the XT6. Here is my quandry:

205-55-14 Kumho VictorRacer V700s Heat Cycled

or

225-50-14 Kumho Ecsta V700

stock size:
205-60-14 on 14x5.5" rim.

Would the 225s be mountable on the 5.5" rim? Thanks in advance for the help.

-mike

lark6 · February 2002

Mike, I'm definitely NOT the guy to be answering tire size Qs today (check your e-mail) but I'd go with the 205/55R14 V700s. Slightly shorter for quicker acceleration, plus the benefits of heat cycling.

Ed

locke2c · February 2002

mike,

the 225/50-14 could probably be coaxed onto the 5.5" rim but you'd loose sidewall stability and the treadface would be curved anyway. I agree with Ed -- 205/55-14.

-Colin

ateixeira · February 2002

Will it fit? Probably. But the tires will be bulging out. I have 225s on a 7" wide rim, and that's the rim width I'd recommend.

205/55 ought to be fine since it's light enough. How is you gearing for autocross? Do you keep it in 2nd for most of the run?

I'm asking because if you're bouncing off the rev limiter now, it'll happen sooner with the 205/55s, and might reduce your top speed (assuming you're locked in 2nd).

If that isn't an issue, it should be a little quicker with the shorter effective gearing.

-juice

paisan · February 2002

well last season I ran the V700 Victors on 205-55-14s never hit the rev limiter with the AWD AT in 2nd gear, even on the fast NASA events. The 225-50-14s are .1% smaller than the 205-55-14s so the diameter isn't an issue.

Now last year I had problems with the edges wearing out due to rollover a bit pre-maturely. Would the wider tires using the newer compound rubber be better or worse for this? That is the real question I think.

-mike

ateixeira · February 2002

I had 205s on a 6" wide rim. You have them with you so you can see how the outer edges wore quicker, same problem you have at autocross.

Now with 225s on a 7" wide rim, the problem has gone away. Wider contact patch may mean more stability, I guess.

The catch is, does the bulging offset this gain? It might. I picture the tires and it will round it off on the sidewall.

-juice

paisan · February 2002

They do offer the Ecsta v700 in 195-55-14s that might work too. Decision decisions.

-mike

paisan · February 2002

another question, what is the SCCA National Tour? It seems that Kumho gives contingency for events you run in the National Tour, which means I could win some $ in H-stock!

But I'm not sure what National Tour means.

-mike

lark6 · February 2002

Particularly when you're the first person to be trying out a particular setup. I guess if I had money to burn it wouldn't be such a hard decision.

Ed

locke2c · February 2002

Mike,

National Tour events are listed on www.scca.org under Solo2-> National Tour.

basically, they cost more to enter than your average weekend competition and offer a large, fast course with runs in one direction Saturday and the opposite direction Sunday. Courses are usually 60-80 seconds.

Hoosier pays big contingency at these events, if you're on Hoosier and win in a class of at least (so many, can't remember the number. 6?) you win 4 free tires. Not sure about Kumho.

-Colin

paisan · February 2002

Kumho is $150/$75/$50 1st/2nd/3rd for classes with at least 5 qualified finishers, $100/$50 1st/2nd for 4 finishers and $50 1st for 3 finishers.

But if it costs more to enter probably not worth it. Oh well.

-mike

paisan · February 2002

So what do you think 205-55-14 or 195-55-14?

-mike

locke2c · February 2002

whichever is cheaper. :-D

-Colin

paisan · February 2002

I guess I'll go with the 195-55-14s for this year.

-mike

ateixeira · February 2002

That's $44, then. Plus the shorter gearing and a slightly lower center of gravity. That ought to be enough reasons.

-juice

lucien2 · February 2002

I'm stuck because I uprated my sway bar which makes me STS. So nothing but street tires allowed. I guess that means I don't have to worry about another set of rims, but the thought of Rcompounds is mighty appealing.

locke2c · February 2002

but at least you know that if you ever went that route, even for just track days / schools, you have someone to buy a cheap set of wheels and R compounds from. ;-)

-Colin

lucien2 · February 2002

true. I dunno how 14s on the GT would work at the track tho.

paisan · February 2002

Were the single biggest performance mod I did on the XT6. I can't say it will help as much on other cars but for me they really made a difference, the car just handled like it was on rails with them, it just needed more go.

-mike

paisan · February 2002

My guess is that you'd need to remove the brake rotors. But who needs brakes anyway?

-mike

lucien2 · February 2002

Isn't it bedtime? *shrug* I'm stuck here burning CDs for a music test Kirsten is proctoring tomorrow. Should be done around 2am

paisan · February 2002

getting ready for bed soon.

-mike

locke2c · February 2002

14s... hah. probably wouldn't clear your brakes.

actually I was referring to the 98RS wheels and 225/50-16 kumho victoracers I've got. ...and haven't tried too hard to sell.

-Colin

paisan · February 2002

RS wheels...

I might actually be interested in those for the track. Since track events are a bit more liberal on tire sizes

E-mail me and let me know how much.

-mike

lucien2 · February 2002

email ME and let me know how much :-))

paisan · February 2002

I'll offer 10K!

-mike

locke2c · February 2002

Guys,

I'd sell 'em to either of you for $500 plus shipping. That's a set of '98 RS gold wheels in great shape-- no damage except a few marks on the flange of each where the stock wheel weights were moved around-- and a set of 66-75% kumho victoracer V700 225/50-16. (tread can still be seen) RS wheels in this condition obviously usually fetch about $400-500 with no tires. I can provide pics later, don't have any good ones on hand.

the wheels now have stick-on weights and I'd advise they are used in the future as well.

you guys get first crack, I'll start higher when opening up the market if you're not interested. it's OK if you're not!

-Colin

Subaru Crew - Modifications II

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