Subaru Crew - Modifications II

ateixeira · February 2004

Do you save the parts you pull off of it? Never know when someone will need a compressor.

That was a $700 part on my old Escort!

-juice

paisan · February 2004

Some I have chucked. I still have the compressor

-mike

hondafriek · February 2004

Here's the deal, with my back problems and bad knees I am finding it very difficult to get in the passenger seat in the Titan (not that I am a pssenger too often but it happens).

Anyway when the drivers seat is on its highest setting it is 1 and1/4" higher, since I cannot afford a new Outback or Forester with higher ground clearance I propose to find a way to raise the seat in the Titan.Besides I still love this car.

So I have taken a lunacy pill and bought a used seat for experimentation, I propose to grind off the mountings for reuse, bolt or weld at least 1"square tube to the frame and then bolt or weld the mounts to the square tube.

If some of you guys have an easier way to do this any and all suggestions welcomed.One frame rail would be easy to modify the side with reclining mechanism is less easy.

Cheers Pat.

ateixeira · February 2004

On my Miata, I just used a longer bolt and some washers as spacers. But I only got a 3/8" lift, roughly. I have photos if you want to see them.

The Legacy's seat frame should make your mod easy to do, I believe it's a flat, horizontal piece. Take pics please!

-juice

paisan · February 2004

Just put OB struts or, get an OB seat bottom? I wouldn't mess with welding etc for safety reasons.

-mike

hondafriek · February 2004

I think we are at cross purpose here, I am altering the seat mounts to increase the height, and the outback is the same seat. IN a past life I was a certified high pressure welder, as in steam fitting.

Cheers Pat.

ateixeira · February 2004

In that case come down to MD, I have a few things you could help me weld. ;-)

-juice

paisan · February 2004

I agree you could weld probably very well. However, my guess is that they are made to bend/break in a certain manner, that you could not replicate w/o knowing what their intention was. I just don't like messing with seatbelts or seats on my own w/o using some kind of guide. I'd look at raising the car via struts before messing with the seat, or look for a seat with a higher base.

-mike

ateixeira · February 2004

Hmm, what about a 2nd driver's seat? Or a LHD one.

-juice

hondafriek · February 2004

Of a second drivers seat but everything would be [non-permissible content removed] backwards, Subaru uses a distictive mounting pattern for the seats, you just cannot interchange the seats, a right hand drive would work if you could get one but I do not want oddball upholstery.

Cheers Pat.

hondafriek · February 2004

I am not changing the construction of the seat, just the mounting and there is no great science involved there.

Cheers Pat.

paisan · February 2004

Wasn't sure if the mounting was made to break at X impact etc. Being a non-welder I don't know the mechanics behind it and thus wouldn't personally mess with it.

-mike

p0926 · February 2004

mike- For sure there are numerous car parts designed to break or give way under varying amounts of stress but I can't think of a scenario where the seat breaking loose and becoming a projectile would be a desirable outcome ;-)

-Frank P.

p0926 · February 2004

While we're on the subject of mods, oh wait, this is the Mod Topic :-) I'm considering getting the rear spoiler for the Forester. What are your thoughts about the aesthetics etc? Also, I'm assuming that holes will have to be drilled in the hatch so probably not something I'm daring enough to attempt. So, any idea what a dealer/body shop would charge (the spoiler itself is $255)?

-Frank P.

rob_m · February 2004

Frank, had the rear spoiler installed by the dealer when I bought the 03 OBW. They charged 1/2 hour labor. Also had one on the 96 OBW. Definitely adds to the look of the car <wife rolling eyes as I type>. If there is anything on the roof, you have to watch the clearance when you open the tailgate. The spoiler misses the tire on my mountain bike by about 2 inches. I have to put skis tip to the front, because they will hit. I say go for it! Rob M.

blane · February 2004

Has anyone installed an XM radio tuner in a 2002 Legacy already equipped with the stock AM/FM/CD radio and 6-CD changer? I'd like to do so, but am wondering where it could be installed most unobtrusively but with its display still viewable. Looks like it would have to be at the upper right corner of the stack, but on some kind of mounting bracket.

ateixeira · February 2004

Go for it, Frank. That's totally personal preference.

I don't really like them but if you do, who cares? It's yours.

-juice

bkaiser1 · February 2004

I recently put 02 WRX seats in my 04 WRX by unbolting the entire seat (tracks and all) from the floorpan and swapping them. However, I later noticed that I probably could have left the original (04) tracks and seat adjustments in the car and unbolted the 4 bolts at the base of the seat itself that hold it to the seat tracks and swapped the seats that way, too, since the mounting holes in the seats were in the same location.

For your legacy, since you couldn't just put an entire driver's seat (with brackets) on the passenger side, maybe you could keep the passenger side brackets and bolt a driver's side seat to it. You'd have to check to see if the seatbelt bracket attaches to the seat base or the seat tracks, but it could provide you with an alternative to work with.

Brian

hondafriek · February 2004

On the Legacy seat only one track unbolts easily from the frame, on the side nearest the console the track and the seat back hinge assembly are one part, the hinge assembly is riveted to the track assembly.I hope to take some pictures to illustrate what I mean.

Cheers Pat.

locke2c · February 2004

how are the tracks mounted to the floor? is it feasible to raise at that point?

~c

hondafriek · February 2004

The way they are mounted to floor makes it practically impossible to raise them that way, I have figured out how I am going to do it, does invlove a bit of welding but nothing hairaising.

Cheers Pat.

hondafriek · February 2004

This album may help explain the different way that Subaru mounts the tracks on the Legacy seat, the right track just bolts to the bottom of the seat and will be easy to modify, however the left track bolts to the side of the seat and carries the hinge for the backrest.
In order to raise this track a bit will have to be welded to the track as well as removing and relocating the back rest hinge.May have to register to view album but it's free.

Cheers Pat.

ateixeira · February 2004

Looks tougher than I thought. I thought you'd just be able to put in spacers, but I think the back rest hinge would be in the wrong place.

-juice

fibber2 · February 2004

Please do me a great favor, if you have the time and inclination. I have always wanted to reposition the lumbar support on my '02 OBW a little higher, but have not been able to figure out how to remove the hard cover on the back of the seatback. Assuming the seats in your Legacy are the same as the OB, and you will have a 'spare' when you are done, would you mind trying to pry this off and seeing if it can be replaced without a lot of damage?

Thanks....

Steve

amsbear · February 2004

Here's an interesting bit of info on a new type of headlight bulb (9005 Hi Beam). Check out ScoobyMods.com in the Legacy Modifications forum under "Audio, Security, Lighting & Electronics" for details and further links to specs.

Alan
98 OBW Ltd

hondafriek · February 2004

I took some photos for you and they are in this album, it's actually simple when you know how, you could do it in the car but it is easier to see when the seat is upside down. The bottom of the back rest is clipped to the bottom of the hard cover with a plastic clip when you look at it is self explanatory how it comes apart.

When you have this unclipped you just push the hard partup towards the top of the seat, then pull the bottom out from the seat and pull down.

Install is a reverse of above, I too had wondered how this came apart, and it was worth obtaining the old seat for the experience of tearing it down.

Cheers Pat.

hondafriek · February 2004

What the hell is wrong with Imagestation, they are no longer coming up with JPG address to post individual photos, or maybe more likely I am doing something wrong.

Cheers Pat.

fibber2 · February 2004

Beautiful! I will look at it tonight.

Thanks so much....

Steve

hondafriek · February 2004

You're welcome.

Cheers Pat.

locke2c · February 2004

answered you in MTM pat... bad news I'm afraid.

~colin

fibber2 · February 2004

Pat had the advantage of having the seatback off in his shop to play with. It is a tad more difficult to work it in-situ, so I thought I would do a follow-up set of instructions here, referencing Pat's photos and documentation.

I began by climbing into the back seat, and folded the front seatback as far forward as it would go. As Pat mentioned, the material at the bottom of the back cover is clipped to the seat face fabric at the seatback base. I could get my finger in and feel the clip, but I couldn't get it apart. Turns out there is enought materal slack (about a half an inch) to do the panel removal without undoing this first.

The panel is held onto two cross bars in the seatback by 4 slotted clips. The top two are twice as long as the bottom two. As Pat showed, the procedure is to slide the panel 'North' first, disengage the bottom two by pulling the panel towards you, then sliding it 'South' to disengage the top two. Easier said than done, as the bottom fabric only allows you a half inch or so of slack (see above), and the top foam must be depressed to allow the panel to slide North. So if you have 3 to 4 hands, (or simply work it slowly in all directions) you can depress the foam and wiggle the panel up, pull the bottom out, slide it down and disengage.

Now comes the fun part - seeing if I can modify the lumbar support to move it North an inch or two to fit my back better.

Thanks again to Pat for his labor and photos!

Steve

subearu · February 2004

the Katskins site handy? I thought I had something bookmarked, but will try searching the boards here.

-Brian

hondafriek · February 2004

If this works, this is a photo of the left hand altered to raise the seat, I welded on an extension to the track from the used seat that I bought, I am assuming that the mounting points on the seats are all the same, otherwise I will have to do this to the track on own seat, I would rather keep a standard track though in case I ever decide to go back to standard.

Cheers Pat.

locke2c · February 2004

cool! works fine.

~c

hondafriek · February 2004

We have all heard the old adage use it, or lose it, well the above photo shows a good example of that. It is over twenty years since I did any welding and while the integrity of that weld is 100% it is not as pretty as it should be.

I am not too concerned since it will never be seen but it shows I need some practice to get up to speed again.

Cheers Pat.

ateixeira · February 2004

I wouldn't worry about the cosmetics, as long as it's sturdy and level.

-juice

dcm61 · February 2004

I wouldn't worry about the cosmetics

I think is time to re-evaluate juice's OCD membership.

DaveM

ateixeira · February 2004

Um, let me re-phrase that - I wouldn't worry about out-of-sight welds, there are already plenty in the door jambs and engine bay. ;-)

-juice

paisan · February 2004

4-pots are on.
SS Lines are on.

Ran it down at VIR this weekend. All is doing well with it.

-mike

ateixeira · February 2004

Did you notice less brake fade? Better pedal feel?

I guess you'll see incremental improvements since you're doing 1-2 mods at a time.

-juice

jimmyp1atwork · February 2004

for a trip to Texas soon?

Jim

hondafriek · February 2004

Seat is finished and installed, I went ahead and added map pockets since I found out how the hard back came off.

.

First picture shows track installed, second picture shows assembled seat, 3 and 4 show seat installed in car and map pocket.I went ahead and added a map pocket to the drivers seat.

Cheers Pat.

ateixeira · February 2004

Looks good, Pat. Like it should have been there in the first place!

-juice

hondafriek · February 2004

I had no trouble undoing the clip on the seat back on the drivers seat to remove the hard back in situ, also had no trouble hooking it together again, maybe it was just easier being familiar with it.

Oh and be sure that the seat cushion is fully lowered it gives you a little more rood for fingers.

Cheers Pat.

hondafriek · February 2004

I had no trouble undoing the clip on the seat back on the drivers seat to remove the hard back in situ, also had no trouble hooking it together again, maybe it was just easier being familiar with it.

Oh and be sure that the seat cushion is fully lowered it gives you a little more rood for fingers.

Cheers Pat.

hondafriek · February 2004

Yeah I have wanted to do the map pockets for a long time but could never figure out the best way to do it.

Cheers Pat.

paisan · February 2004

Jimmy,
Finally collected all the $ I needed to collect. Now I just have to figure out which saturday morning I want to fly down and get it. I will be sending you a check probably sometime this week.

-mike

hondafriek · February 2004

In those shots of the seat installed in the car the plastic on the floor is plainly visible.

Cheers Pat.

subarusaleshou · February 2004

are all beyond me. I like to see all the mods that I may one day choose from and find someone skilled I can hire to do them for me. Congrats on the talents to do such stuff and thanks for sharing them with the rest of us.

ateixeira · February 2004

Noticed that, Pat.

-juice

Subaru Crew - Modifications II

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