Subaru Crew - Modifications II

hondafriek · February 2003

Thanks, when I am going this far does not make sense to skimp on brake fluid, so I went with the dot 5.1.

Mike DOT 5.1 should be available at Pep boys, if not definitly should get it at any performance store.

Cheers Pat.

lucien2 · February 2003

I'm getting a WRX double DIN for the Outback. Any advice for install? I'm a wiz at getting the console/radio surround apart, but is there anything about actually mounting the thing that was a problem?

hypov · February 2003

Loosh-
A few things.
The receptors for the plugs for the Outback unit would be on the right; the WRX unit is on the left.
You may not have the slack to reach the other side and might need to cut a tie or two to get the needed slack.
Can't remember if it was the antenna wire or the other that I'd trouble with.
Anyway, when I did the WRX swap on Al Gator, I did not have the slack needed and had to remove the the top air-vent and its console to plug the wires in.

-Dave

mrk610 · February 2003

Had a write up in the last end wrench mag from subaru. It says not to use synthetic brake fluid due to the fact that it repels not absorbs moisture in the fluid . Meaning that the moisture will adhere to the metal parts of the system and cause rust.

mike k

locke2c · February 2003

mike,

that's a standard caveat of 5.1. you have to be religious about much higher maintenance intervals with it, say bleeding the brakes every time the season changes. if you were doing track days with the car, you'd want to bleed them every other week or so!

-Colin

mrk610 · February 2003

The article also said that dot 5 is not combatible with dot 3-4 . meaning that you have to get the system totally cleaned out before converting.

Mike k

locke2c · February 2003

mike-- check that article again.

true for DOT5; not true for 5.1.

-Colin

paisan · February 2003

Couldn't find any Dot 5 or Dot 5.1 @ Pep Boys, so I picked up Valvoline Synthetic Brake Fluid that "exceeds Dot 3 and Dot 4 Stds, compatible with non-synthetic fluids" This is the same stuff I flushed and used before I did the track day @ LRP in Nov. Will be flushing before doing VIR in a few weeks.

-mike

paisan · February 2003

Once again the SP5000s worked quite well in the snow.

Friday Hypov and I drove down to Baltimore through a nice snow storm in the SVX on the NJTP and I95. The tires did great, even at speeds of 75-80mph in the snow they held very well. On Saturday I was at an SQC meet in Queens and a few of the WRXs with snow tires drove into plowed up piles of snow and stopped. Then tried to drive off it and couldn't get un-stuck. I did the same with the SVX and after stopping in the pile I hammered the gas and the SP5000s dug down and gripped and the SVX just drove right out of it!

I love these tires!

-mike

lucien2 · February 2003

I'm confused....wouldn't the wiring harness just plug 'n play? If so, why would you need to go fishing around for individual leads?

hypov · February 2003

It's plug and play. The problem I had was that I couldn't get the unit clear out to put a hand behind to unplug it. My only option was removing the air vent and its console to get to the rear of the unit. The harness on my OB were tied down with only ~ 2 inches of slack. Even after snipping the ties, I still didn't have the slack needed to plug the unit before remounting it.
Hope your OB is more generous with the harness.

-Dave

lucien2 · February 2003

but probably not. Should be a fun install in the muck outside.

hypov · February 2003

and enjoy the fun install outside ;-)

Let us know how things went.

-Dave

ateixeira · February 2003

Loosh: since we have the new generation Legacy, the install is probably different. The trim on the Legacy was actually the hard part, so if you have that down, and use hypov's advice, you should be fine.

For both the Forester and Legacy I had enough slack, so maybe you'll get lucky.

Doesn't look like 2/17 will be warm enough for our mini-installfest, else we could add that and my plood swap too.

What'd you pay? I paid $250 way back when, but prices are down lately.

-juice

lucien2 · February 2003

hondafriek · February 2003

Loosh you should be the official buyer for the crew, you got your suspension for givaway prices now you got a hell of a deal on the 6 CD unit.

Good for you lots of luck on the install it should work okay.

Cheers Pat.

ateixeira · February 2003

That's great, someone else just bought one for $188 and I thought that was a deal.

-juice

jimmyp1 · February 2003

ateixeira · February 2003

That's just absurd man! You'll triple your money back in terms of resale even if your car is 10 years old! :-)

-juice

paisan · February 2003

for $50.

-mike

ateixeira · February 2003

OK, I'm gonna sub-contract you folks to buy stuff for me. What do you charge? 10% finder's fee? ;-)

-juice

jimmyp1 · February 2003

but you bring up a good point. Is anybody looking for any OEM stuff right now? There are quite a few youngsters in the Texas region of a certain other board who are parting out their cars due to wrecks or "back to stock for trade-in" reasons. There are some nice pieces (and complete cars) available right now.

Jim

ateixeira · February 2003

Wish I did need something, but nope.

-juice

lucien2 · February 2003

Well I knew about jimmy and mike's deals, but this was also time sensitive as it was for Q's b-day today. The guy wanted more, but I guess I am starting to learn something in this sales job after all! ;'D

Pat- I just have to be patient. I don't have the disposable income to build this car quickly, so I must wait for people with more money than me to let go of stuff.

Install went ok mostly, but the wiring harness was indeed a little short. No prob at first, but it prevented the unit from sliding back in all the way. Snipped a tie off, and got it in, put lost the cigarette lighter leads in the process. No biggie. Funny thing is I was trying to get it done before she left for annapolis tonight. I had to have dinner on the table too, so I had 20 minutes to do the install. With the harness problem, I did it in 30. Dinner was 10 minutes late. ...had to be the fastest Legacy interior breakdown ever. I could do it in my sleep now any way.

So surprise was complete. Got it in, queued up the mix tape I made for her 19th birthday, and left the car in the same spot she parked it. Heh heh heh.....I knew she wouldn't notice anything different until the music started and she reached to turn it down.... I got her pretty good.

lucien2 · February 2003

heh heh....erm....so apparently there was a CD in the player I took out. Anyone know how to power up a car stereo for 10 seconds without re-installing it?

:O

hypov · February 2003

I did that too to the unit I took out.

You could power it up with a 12v if you knew which conductor to use...
I didn't, and I still don't.
I literally removed the new unit I put in to plug the old unit to get the CD out.

-Dave

ateixeira · February 2003

Oops. Anyone else doing a radio install any time soon?

-juice

lucien2 · February 2003

maybe a stereo install place might have a power unit...you know for bench testing equipment....?

paisan · February 2003

A radio install in the next few months in my dad's legacy.

-mike

ateixeira · February 2003

Try a Circuit City or something.

Randy (v6scoobie) has a shop now but I don't think he does stereos.

-juice

hypov · February 2003

Stereo install/retail place should have them. That's a good thought.

Why didn't I think of that then.

-Dave

hondafriek · February 2003

There is no shortage of people with money to burn over on the I-club that is for sure.

Sometimes I think it is criminal what is for sale over there, for instance you would be hard pushed to find a better seat in the aftermarket than the WRX, but there are Wrx seats for sale over there at least once a week.

BTW there were WRX seats over there last week at I think $250 for the pair.

Cheers Pat.

lucien2 · February 2003

Not quite as good as the WRX seat, but much better than the GT seats are the RS seats. I got mine for $75 each, Pat. Local, too, so no shipping. $250 for WRX seats is great too, but I don't need the airbagsa in a '99 GT.

locke2c · February 2003

you don't *need* the seat-mounted airbags in any year of car. ;-)

-Colin
(hey Bob can have his pet cruise light, I can have my pet anti-airbag-everywhere, right?)

ateixeira · February 2003

You don't have nearly as many pet-peeves as some of us, myself included.

Where's the moonroof on the STi? ;-)

-juice

hondafriek · February 2003

Agree with Colin that they are overkill,mixed feelings about the front airbags though, I think I would rather have them as not.

That was a good price on RS seats Loosh, a nice daily driver built on a very conservative budget

Cheers Pat.

lucien2 · February 2003

getting there...no, actually, I think I am pretty much done. That is unless the body is still in good shape at 130,000 miles and people start throwing 2.5t Foresters into ditches and such.
mwaaa ha ha ha ha...

hondafriek · February 2003

You can bet on more than one in the ditch,although not as many as there were WRXs in the beginning, the people I think who will buy the forester turbo will not be inclined to drive boot to the tin everwhere.

Cheers Pat.

paisan · February 2003

Ok so now I have my tierods in, and my replacement end-links for the SVX in. Alignment is done, with a hair negative camber from stock. The tie rods fixed the slightly floaty feel it had in the steering

What's next?

o Exhaust, the heat shields have been rattling, and there is yet another exhaust leak, so this looks like it will be the next area to tackle. Any suggestions?

o Suspension, Doing auto-x and track days I'm thinking that I want to do the Koni+GC Coil over kit for this. I'd get adjustable height and adjustable shocks as well.

o Other suggestions welcomed.

-mike

ateixeira · February 2003

Are custom exhausts even available any more? It's such a rare car.

You might consider having one custom made, just specify the pipe diameter and provide a good muffler.

What's the stock pipe diameter?

-juice

paisan · February 2003

Yes it will be a custom job.

Not sure what diamter, my guess is that it's 2.25 or 2.5

Nice part is that I'll probably elimnate the 1st cats and put in a single hi-flow to replace the 2nd cat, and take out the resonator.

I have been looking for mufflers and it doesn't look promising for replacements as the inlet is F-R and the dual outlets are L-R.

I might actually just do new piping up to the muffler itself since it's not rusted.

-mike

samlemay · February 2003

Just bought a 97 Outback Wagon and love it. Wondering if there are any tire racks for it roof mounted or on the top. You guys seen anything about this mod?

bluesubie · February 2003

I don't know of a tire rack per se, but Yakima's "Basket Case" might do the trick.
edit: Just checked their web site and they offer a spare tire carrier to go with their other baskets(Mega Warrior, Load Warrior). I'm sure you could hook something up between the choices there. :-)

http://www.yakima.com/products/dynamic/8007076_6.html
"

"1997 SUBARU Outback Wagon - On the Top
Warriors install directly to factory rack "

-Dennis

outback_97 · February 2003

Just as another option, a full size spare will fit in place of the donut that comes with the car. You just have to take out the plastic tray to make it fit. This is how I have my '97 OB set up. Enjoy your wagon!

-utahsteve

samlemay · February 2003

Just bought a 97 Outback Wagon and love it. Wondering if there are any tire racks for it roof mounted or on the top. You guys seen anything about this mod?

samlemay · February 2003

Outback_97 -where did you find the wheel for the full spare? Where is the best place to buy one?

fibber2 · February 2003

Would your Legacy rims work? See a post from SAMLEMAY above....

Steve

jimmyp1 · February 2003

said I would keep my eyes open...somebody in the Texas Region of nasioc.com has a OEM wrx 6 disc changer for sale for $115.00 and says he'll entertain offers. He is in Houston. Says he wants to do it locally, so I could pick it up if he really refuses to ship.

Jim

stevek · February 2003

They work great on my Legacy but constantly slides off the plugs on my Forester. Same engine, same plugs, wondering if they are defective?

jfl · February 2003

Steve, do they secure to the plug out of the car? I recall tha Magnacor has a pretty good warranty, I'd call and talk to them. I've got them on my Legacy w/ no problems.

Jim

Subaru Crew - Modifications II

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