Subaru Crew - Modifications II

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Comments

  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    I believe it takes a hair dryer, some floss and a lot of patience.

    Ken
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    actually it's quite easy. you probably want to clean and wax the area afterwards to remove the adhesive residue, but that's it.

    -Colin
  • barresa62barresa62 Member Posts: 1,379
    Ken & Colin nailed it! Thanks guys... :-)

    It's quite easy but take your time...aka "patience" as Ken said. :-)

    Let us know how it turns out, especially if you prove your wife wrong, LOL. Personally, I like the clean look of the tailgate w/just the WRX in the corner. Plus, it's easier to wash and wax.

    Stephen
  • barresa62barresa62 Member Posts: 1,379
    putting my front strut brace on. I had to relocate the horn/alarm as the arm it's mounted on uses two of the strut screws as its mounting area. There wasn't enough room to reattach in the same loc/same fashion w/the strut brace on. I'll post a pic soon. I have yet to do the test drive. I actually don't expect as much of a noticeable difference as when I did the rear strut brace but open to being surprised. :-)

    Stephen
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    Normally the black wire is a common ground, the coloured wires are positive, the black ground wire is normally the one that is broken through the door switch.

    If you want to test , run the two black wires to neg, and the other wires to positive.

    Cheers Pat.
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    wanna take a guess at what that is parked next to me in the Brullen photo? OT trivia fun.
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    loosh, my vote is 2nd generation RX7.

    -Colin
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    #4- Gen II RX-7. A good call, but not the #1 answer. I can see that though.

    A copy of the home game for Colin then! =))

    next.....
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    I'll let some others guess before I fling out a few more. ;-)

    -Colin
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    >>wanna take a guess at what that is parked next to me in the Brullen photo? OT trivia fun.<<

    It's a Merkur Scorpio, circa 1988-89. I test drove one of those new and had the seat adjustment knob fall off in my hand. Heh.

    Ed
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    1988!!!! Ding ding ding!

    You get a gold star! My Folks had 2 of them, now down to one. This is now basically the work car, hauling fertilizer and such. What a great car, I still love driving it. Lots of room, 5-door, cavernous hatch, power REAR seats, RWD, good grunt and a throaty exhaust. Parts an absolute beeotch to find now. Still no rust, but lots of nigglies after 14 years. Currently dead in the water. Has a flat tire. Needs a jump to get the tire inflated, but the hood release siezed and we can't get in there!!!
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Pocketlogger sounds cool, how much are those? Does it come with a book with the codes so you can look them up?

    Loosh: that's better than average reliability for a Merkur. ;-)

    -juice
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    look, that thing ran like a tank for 10 years. When things finally did go wrong, we discovered Ford had hung us out to dry- no factory parts available from any dealer, no one knew how to work on it. What a shock.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Actually they weren't bad cars, Mercury just had no idea how to sell them.

    -juice
  • heatherbeanheatherbean Member Posts: 82
    Hi, Has anyone installed the performance muffler from Subaru on their Legacy? What does it do? Does it really increase performance?!

    I love my new Michelin Pilot tires I got on yesterday. Today I got the K & N air filter and Plantium Tipped NGK spark plugs for my 2001 Outback and ordered Michelin Pilot's for my 2002 Outbakc as well- they will be on tommorow!

    Plus -I ordered the rear spoiler! It is only $130 painted for the wagon's! I could not believe that price.
    Is it easy to install?

    Got the upgrade fever- despertly trying to turn out Outback's into WRX's, or at least my old 99 OBS! Much nicer feel with those tires!

    Someone mentioned brake pads- what for and which ones? Where can I find them online?

    Any other cheap mods to improve performance?
    Thanks, Heather
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Not sure about the muffler, but I doubt that alone would make a significant difference. I believe they claim the WRX gains 3hp with the SPT exhaust upgrade.

    $130 is dirt cheap. Some dealers charge $400 for spoilers. I imagine two bolts, but drilling through the sheet metal isn't simple.

    Other mods? An underdrive pulley will give you better throttle reponse for about $180. They claim 5hp, but I'm not sure about that.

    You could get a lighter flywheel and an ACT clutch, but it gets pricey when you start looking at those internals.

    You could get an intake, but you'll get more noise, if that's OK. A foam or gauze filter is about $40-60 and a whole kit would be $120-180 or so.

    -juice
  • originalbitmanoriginalbitman Member Posts: 920
    The drilling is the hard part for sure but you also need to install those blind nuts into the holes you drill and I think that requires a special tool. Might be a job for a dealer who has installed then before.

    bit
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    The spoiler I installed required three holes drilled each side, two of them on each side are accessed through holes on the inside.

    One on each side has to drilled through both skins and then opened up to half inch on the inside, there are no blind nuts as Bit suggested, all three mounts are accessed from inside the hatch.

    It is not a job for the faint of heart and if you do not know what you are doing leave it to a professional.

    The spoiler I used came from Subaru Canada.

    Cheers Pat.
  • barresa62barresa62 Member Posts: 1,379
    Check this out. The rumor mill has it that the Stage 1 will cost about $1500 if one already has the Stage 0 pkg. In this case, you are basically paying for a turbo-back exhaust system. I believe that is reasonable.


    BTW, I've been out driving with the new front strut brace on. I definitely notice better turn in, much crisper. The suspension is basically being allowed to do its job now. My feeling is that the strut bars (front/rear) are a great compliment to the swaybar upgrade. I like the fact that I've done the mods one at a time. It's allowed me to really gauge the changes in performance. :-)


    http://www.vishnuperformance.com/stage.htm#one


    Stephen

  • originalbitmanoriginalbitman Member Posts: 920
    Sorry for the bad info on blind nuts. I was told they were needed and that kept me from doing the install myself.

    bit
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    Upgrading from Stock legacy(and so also RS) rotors to 11.4" WRX rotors. Worth it? Looking at a couple hundred bux for the rotors and brackets.

    I guess that puts me in STX if I do it....
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Well, how is fade during autocross now? If fade is not an issue, I'd stay in the easier class. It's more fun to win. ;-)

    -juice
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    I wouldn't do it. Small gain, almost insignificant, and you loose the ability to use most 15" rims. All Subaru OE 15" rims in fact.

    -Colin
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    there it is. I'll go hunt for an '00 LSD instead. =)
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    might knock you out of STS as well.

    -mike
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    but in my region the STX guys are mostly WRX owners with more money than brains at the moment. I'd likely still be competitive.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    True. How do you think I was able to beat the ones in my area last season with only R-compounds and a slush-box on the XT6! :)

    -mike
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    actually... did the Legacy GT ever get a rear LSD?

    might be a legal update.

    -Colin
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    in 00->02

    But not in pre 00 models.

    -mike
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Hmm, wonder if it'll fit the previous generation. Track is wider, not sure if that matters. You'd only swap the diffy itself, right?

    Miata owners do that, so if you find one I can help dig up some tips. It's a kit of work, though, so beware.

    -juice
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    The update-backdate rule actually depends on their listing in the appropriate Street Prepared classes. Honestly though, loosh should just find a cheap LSD and worry later about classing. I autocross for myself first, trophies are a much lower priority. Although if you're a serious competitor, don't make a move without considering classing...

    -Colin
  • dudedude Member Posts: 123
    Is it pretty easy to install new cd player for the 98 GT Wagon? Do I need to get some special kits?
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    from a '00 RS would bolt right up. Colin, I am with you on that. Auto-x is for me alone. Don't have the time to do it seriously, and the LSD could really help at the track school days (assuming I get in this year!). not sure I could handle the install though. I wonder how much such a diffy is on the used market?

    Although in a moment of weakness I agreed to pick up a PS2 with GT3, GTA3, and 4 other games for $325, so there goes my GT money for a while.
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    Not sure what a used rear LSD goes for loosh. Also be prepared to get all the bits that go along with it-- axles and double-offset joints. It seems that some folks doing the swap just plunk in the viscous LSD and everything mates... others need the stuff I mentioned above.

    -Colin
    btw, sounds like a decent deal on the PS2-- especially if you didn't already own a DVD player cos now you do.
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    It is going to take some research to find out what bolt up to which and whatnot. I don't think I am going to have the time to undertake such a thing until the summer anyway. Y'all keep your ears open though for any information about what donor model is likely to yield the best set up (and what peripherals I need to grab along with it).

    PS2- yea what the hey; it's almost $600 worth of stuff. the PS2, a memory card, 6 games, and a copy of "Titanic" (barf). I know I am too old for these games, but I'm a car nut and Ilike playing GT, so sue me. plus it makes a handy portable DVD for the beach and whatnot.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Can good tires compensate for an LSD on a NA car? I'm just going by my experience with the XT6. On the auto-x the only time I was wishing for an LSD was when I was spinning the tires when running the RE92s. When I was running the Kumho V700s there was never a lack of traction.

    -mike
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    Sure can Mike... depending on the conditions and the power you're making.

    And driver, of course.

    -Colin
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Hey - now I got two Soobs I can mod.

    The wife wants to keep it bone-stock, but you guys know I can't resist.

    I think I'll get her the OE leather shift knob, much better than the standard plastic one.

    What about a leather cover for the steering wheel? I got one years ago from a Toyota dealer in Laurel, you know of any high quality aftermarket ones? No Trak Auto cheapies, I want the nice ones.

    Alloys would be sweet, but she does not want to invest in them. Maybe if I can find a cheap set of WRX take-offs. Or maybe when she needs new tires I'll order a Plus One set like I did for Sandy. I dunno if she wants to give up the ride tolerance though.

    Nice thing about paying $10 grand less than you were prepared to pay is that you're not broke. :-)

    -juice
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    congrats Juice! Can't wait to hook up and have a look-see. I'll post the Kumhos on i-Club and look for Azensis.
  • bonk3bonk3 Member Posts: 3
    Hello folks,
    I am planning on putting on a 20mm rear sway bar on my 2002 WRX wagon, that is after I run to the store to up date my tools to metric. The sway bar didn&#146;t come with instructions and I was wondering if there is a specific torque I need to tighten the nuts to, or if they are on tighter then a gnat&#146;s buttocks then I just need to screw them down that tight. Thanks for any help.
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    juice,

    I'd say sneak in an upgraded sway bar first. Low cost, good bang for the buck and she might not even notice!

    Ken
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    I'm pretty sure you just tighten them up. Nice analogy!

    Kens- I don't think that is a great idea. Juice's wife drives very conservatively, and will be carrying the kids to boot. That doesn't make her a prime candidate for increased rotational tendencies in my book.

    then again, if she only drives at 60% all the time, then it is just there for when Juice drives!
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    True, but I wasn't thinking of a very agressive sway bar. Maybe something just a little stiffer than the super conservative stock one but leave a safe margin of understeer. Adjustable sounds good.

    Ken
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    I bet you've already done it Bonk, but if not the swaybar endlinks do not require much torque-- in the realm of 18-25 lb/ft is all.

    -Colin
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    OK, anyone know the stock diameters for the sways in a 2002 Legacy L? I should crawl under and look. If they are pencil thin, I'll yank 'em.

    -juice
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    15mm
  • leo2633leo2633 Member Posts: 589
    Juice,

    Try wheelskins.com for steering wheel covers. I got a Honda leather cover for my wife's Odyssey, which is very nice. I was told that Wheelskins makes them for Honda. Congrats on the new Legacy, and good luck with it.

    Len
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Can you order on-line? Or did you buy yours in a store?

    -juice
  • leo2633leo2633 Member Posts: 589
    juice,

    I guess you have to contact them at the phone number on their website. I bought mine through an on-line Honda accessories place. I paid about $45, if I recall correctly. The wheelskins.com website lists them at $40. I was told that the Honda cover is made by Wheel Skins. As I said, the one we got is very nice. It was made exactly for the steering wheel in the Odyssey, and the stitching holes ended wherever the spokes were located. If all their stuff is this nice, I can recommend them most highly.

    Len
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Wow, they really custom fit that, then. I'll try to find them at local places, and maybe some dealers, too. Usually dealers carry higher quality stuff than Pep Boys and Trak Auto. I don't want that shiny, thin, hard leather.

    -juice
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