Subaru Crew - Modifications II

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Comments

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    The stock exhaust is a bit restrictive, there are a couple of kinks in it with smaller diameter than the rest of the pipe. So there is definitely room for improvement.

    -juice
  • dudedude Member Posts: 123
    So are there pipes that specifically design for legacys or pretty much any kind of high performance exhaust would work?
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I'd go custom, for sure. And SS too, you don't want it rusting out on you.

    Loosh did a lot of research so hopefully he'll chime in soon.

    -juice
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    which is a 2.25" stainless steel cat-back with a 4" polished tip.. It is available in quiet, medium, and loud. I ordered the quiet, although I suspect I ended up with medium. Ok, though, since I really like it. I spend 90% of the time driving alone. It does drone a bit inside, but.....feh, it's usually just me.

    Performance- this is as big as you can go on a NA engine without losing bottom end torque. Others with the system report dyno improvements between 10-12 hp ABOVE 5000 rpm. I want to stress this- I get a performance boost out of it under hard acceleration and redline situations like autocross and track time. it does NOT make a huge difference in the day-to-day driveability of the engine. Better throttle response is about it down around 2500 or so. I personally am happy with it. I am willing to trade the raised interior volume for the extra pull up top. And that awesome boxer burble around town. There would be a more significant gain if I had a hi-test cat, but MD has tough emissions inspectors so I am staying away from that. I haven't found a set of headers I am confident in, longevity wise. And also real cold air intake would add some more oomph to the advantage of a cat-back system, but this is a MAF and torque chamber-equipped ej25 Phase I and I think the CAI issues here are well documented.
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    I can vouch for the "medium" exhaust on Lucien's GT. He demonstrated the sound to some of us Crew members when I was out in Baltimore this past fall.

    The exhaust note isn't obtrusive at all. The characteristic boxer burble is nice and deep.

    Ken
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    Welp the front right S-03 has a medium leak, call it 1lb a day. I'm down to the penultimate wear bar, so I figure they have about 3K or so left on them, maybe a little more. So I am thinking it may be time to get new tires.

    Option 1) Get a great set of all-seasons, like the SP5000, because I have a spare set of rims for auto-x and track. IF I EVER GET THE TIME to do either of those things again.

    Option 2) Just get awesome summer tires again. They were pretty squirelly in the 7" of snow 2 weeks ago, and I thought I would be stuck once, but I got around in the end. Plus I can mount snows on the 15" OB rims we now have in the garage.
  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    Up here in NY, I run winter snows and all seasons for the remainder. Reasons: Snow and ice is unpredictable, and although I do drive hard, I don't drive THAT hard.

    For you - true summer tires and snows. Reasons: Baltimore is less likely to surprise you with terrible weather out of season, and from your own and others description, you would enjoy and benefit from a set of great high grip dry road tires.

    Steve
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I also heard it, at that M-B E-motion event. It was deep, but not loud, not like the cheap fart pipes you see on Civics.

    I say go with summer tires. You always can get around in the OB if you really need to. We rarely get snow, this year being an exception.

    -juice
  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Okay, I'm going to take a different stance and vote for option (1). Why? It's still a few months away until you can leave on the summer tires and you won't enjoy driving on 15" snows in the meantime. I think the SP5000 will serve at least 80% of your main driving needs best.

    Also, if and when you'll get back into Auto-X, I'm sure you'll find a way to get some tires just for that. But since you don't know when that'll happen, I'd say spend the money where you need it.

    Ken
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    I know several guys running them year round and even @ auto-x. They are probably 90% as good as the best summer tires out there. For auto-x and track you'll want dedicated ones anyway.

    -mike
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    as soon as you autocross a set of all-seasons they are utterly worthless on ice & hardpack...
    the edges they'd need to do anything on those surfaces are worn down by the hard dry tarmac use.

    the tread itself would be pliable though and more useable than a summer tire.

    my vote: inexpensive summer tires. leaves room in the budget for autocross compounds and/or snow tires on the 15" rims.

    -Colin
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Does Tire Rack still have those AVS-i tires? Do they come in that size?

    -juice
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    not sure, I'll go look. remembered recently that I can't rotate tires (front rims are different offset from rear) and for reason that COMPLETELY escapes me, the rear tires seem to be wearing faster than the front!

    not sure I'd recommend them after having a set again. I last owned this tire in 1995, and it was great. since then I've driven far better and more modern tires... the wet traction is particularly sub-par.

    -Colin
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Hmm, maybe that throttle happens to obey your foot?

    I don't drive the Miata in the rain. I just take the Soob.

    -juice
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    They are all gone. I just sold 3 out of 4 of mine cause I blew the 4th one.

    -mike
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Oh well, too late for me then.

    -juice
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    juice, they still have the 185/60-14:

    http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Sizes.jsp?make=Yokohama&model=AVS+Intermediate


    They also have the 235/40-17. Hmm... Nah. I'll just wear these out and replace with something I like better. I bet I could go through two sets of rears to one set of fronts though. I think I'd rather just throw away the half-used fronts.


    Even when driving prudently, the M3 can get into some serious yaw angles really fast with these tires in the rain.


    -Colin

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Is it like the Miata if you lift mid-corner? Mine will just snap around.

    I gotta decide if I'm gonna keep it much longer, or trade up for a '99.

    -juice
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    not really, it doesn't bite hard if you lift. the yaw in my case is being induced by abrupt and severe wheelspin. we're talking quarter- to half-throttle in 2nd and 3rd gear. S C A R Y.

    I imagine passengers are far more scared than I am. ;-)

    -Colin
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    How much is it worth Juice? After renting the convertible Stang I might be interested in yours :)

    -mike
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Nah, I couldn't sell it to a friend because I tend to sell used cars for relatively high prices. I can prolly get about $6-8 grand for it (just 39k miles, it's still cherry).

    You can drive it any time, tho.

    Colin: no way could I do that. Not nearly enough torque. I have something like 3 foot pounds at 9000 rpm.

    If I employ a method I learned from paisan, that is flooring the throttle just before the apex, then maybe, just maybe, I can get the tail a little loose. But the engine has to be above 4000rpm.

    -juice
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    I just got a set of SP5000s in 215/60-16 for the Forester. 17"s will go off until spring.

    Ed
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Should have gotten em in Nazareth at ILP. I've had very good luck with em so far.

    -mike
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    the problem I see with SP5000 is i drive pretty hard anyway, so the all-season aspect will be diminished fairly rapidly. Maybe, like Colin says, a set of Ecstas for summer and some 15"s for winter.....

    I'm gonna miss my dear old S-03s....
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    Yep, but it's nice to have driven some of the best so you can compare.

    Still, I can't justify the expensive of top-flight summer tires.

    -Colin
  • kate5000kate5000 Member Posts: 1,271
    Apologies in advance if it has been discussed in length before! I has not been reading this topic lately, and the Search returns some strange results.

    Anyway, I'm thinking of maybe lifting my Forester a bit... It's not a matter of ground clearance (generally, it has plenty for my limited off-roading needs), but rather a matter of aesthetics. It always looked too low for my taste. I had hoped 2003 will be higher but alas. I saw some pix of lifted (4" ?) Foresters in the past, and they looked better than original.

    If someone can please point me to the place where I can find more about Forester-lifting experience?

    Thanks!
    --kate
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    Check iSR Performance:


    http://www.isrperformance.com/offroad.html


    http://www.isrperformance.com/suspension.html


    Be careful with the lifted Forester, it goes without saying that body roll will change dramatically.


    Ed

  • kate5000kate5000 Member Posts: 1,271
    I have accumulated a big collection of CDs with *.mp3 files. Can you recommend in-dash CD-changer that can plays such CDs?
  • kajkokajko Member Posts: 70
    Kate,

    same thing for me about the Forester, although the biggest thing i am trying to accomplish is to get rid of the rear sag when going camping, etc for the weekends (we take lots of toys: bikes, water, hammocks...). I am in the process of getting springs from iSR and they lifted the front about 1.5", the back ones were wrong so i am waiting for them and will post pics once i get the whole thing done. As juice suggested, i will shy away from changing the tires (tranny problems) or body lift (ton of work, warranty?) but the springs are OK. the ride is stiffer (not much) and you do gain some clearance. Pam (at iSR) is nice and says she is selling a lot of these springs. They are yellow, so they also make your Forester have that custom look (i like it).
  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
    Crutchfield is a good place to start.


    This one is a single disc, but also plays WMA's:

    http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S-y19lmUybf3g/ProdView.asp?s=0&c=3&g=62700&I=570CDCMA01&o=v&a=1


    Here's an add on 10 disc CD/MP3 changer to your OEM radio:

    http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S-y19lmUybf3g/ProdView.asp?s=0&c=3&g=610&I=158CDX565M&o=n&a=0


    I only did a quick search, but didn't see any in-dash multi-disc MP3 players. And I used a 2000 Forester as the vehicle for the first selection.


    -Brian

  • kate5000kate5000 Member Posts: 1,271
    I thought getting a bit bigger tires should not be a problem... I was thinking to switching to 225/70-16 tires -- are those too big? I did not check this deeply, just wanted a bit beefier tires on my Forester, that's all. I thought the main problem was that bigger tires may rub off wheel wells, but will be happy to hear what experts have to say about this.
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Kate,

    For .mp3 players, I'd go to Circuit City or a similar electronics store where you can actually test out the players. Some criteria that you can't find based on an on-line catalog is the indexing and cache speed of the player. When you insert a CD with .mp3 files, the unit first needs to go through all the directories and index the songs. Also, when you advance to a different file, some players will read in the file into a cache for skip-free playing. All these little things add up to the total "usability" of the unit.

    Aside from rubbing, keep in mind the effect of gearing of bigger tires. You'll probably loose some acceleration but get lower RPMs on freeways.

    Ken
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    Kumho 712
    or
    Azenis
    or
    Something I don't know about yet?

    I'll prolly put Hakkas or Blizzaks on the 15"s.
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    might also try the new low-cost Yokohama, I think it's the ES100?

    -Colin
  • kajkokajko Member Posts: 70
    i am thinking not only transmission/gearing but also the space: wheel wells are one thing, but what about the struts/spring seats? there's not a whole lot of room there... and with those tires you are talking over an inch of sidewall gain (and also clearance!). perhaps someone from Australia would know more, the folks at subaclub.com have highly modified Subbies.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    The Kumho 712s suck. I wouldn't take em for free.

    Azenis are the best around at a very good price.

    -mike
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Kate, Bigger tires will effect gearing. Check with Lark about how large a diameter you can go with w/o rubbing. I think he knows the limits. As for lifting, i don't suggest lifting it much at all w/o spending significant cash on items such as:

    Longer axles
    Ball Joint flip/spacers
    Beefier CVs

    When lifting an independent suspension vehicle your downward travel is severely diminished, that is what the ball joint flip + spacers helps to eliminate. Longer axles and beefier CVs are because the angle from the differential to the drive wheel is greater than before.

    -mike
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    the only problem there is that it is noisy and very short-lived. it is nearly an autocross-spec tire.

    -Colin
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    I've got a half done set of Azenis already for auto-x. Those yokos look interesting...
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    I only wish they came in my size. Next summers tires will by Toyo Proxie RA1s I think.

    -mike
  • kate5000kate5000 Member Posts: 1,271
    Paisan: It almost sounds like I better leave it alone? No way I'm going to spend that much $$$ on a lift.

    Ed (lark6) or anyone: what is the max size tires I can fit in the Forester? From some discussions in the past, I thought the maximum-still-fitting size was 225/70-16, but I may be mistaken.
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    looks intriguing; just checked it out on tirerack. No user history yet, maybe I should be the guinea pig.
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    Kate: I have 225/50-17 at the moment on a wheel with a +48mm offset. Do not use a +53mm offset wheel (as you would on an Impreza or Legacy) with the same tires or else you'll have rubbing issues. I tired both the 225/50-17 and a 225/55-17 with +53 wheels and had that problem; took the wheels and tires off the car almost immediately. If you lift the car I imagine you are looking at 60- or 70-series tires so I can't answer that with certainty.

    Ed (pretty certain I was the guinea pig for that setup)
  • kate5000kate5000 Member Posts: 1,271
    Ed: If I want to put a new tires on the existing rims (16"), which size will you recommend for my Forester?
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Through http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html


    Looks like ed is right.


    215-60-16 is a good fit for the forester.


    -mike

  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    paisan: 215/60-16 is the OEM size for the '98-02 Forester S and the '03 XS (maybe X as well?).

    I didn't get mine on before yesterday so I slogged around with those big 17"s in the snow and icy slush. The Pilot Sport A/S were excellent in those conditions. A very expensive tire, maybe not worth the "Michelin surcharge", but no doubt the best performance characteristics of any all-season I've ever bought.

    Ed
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    The four pot wilwood kit arrived on Christmas eve, since The Gt rotors are the same size as the Wrx I saved the cost of rotors,still waiting on the master cylinder bracket and the rear stainless lines, of course being a Legacy the lines would be different.

    Lachute also has 12.5 inch rotors but these will not work with the 6.5 GT rims, as I use these rims for winter I did not want to have to buy nor could I afford new rims to accomodate the larger rotors, maybe in the future.

    I am also going with KVR. carbon fibre pads on the rear.

    Cheers Pat.
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Ed,

    I think you're right. The 98-02 S and all the 2003 Foresters have 215/60R16 standard.

    Ken
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