Subaru Crew - Modifications II

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Comments

  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    Are anything but cheap here, something like 150bucks for an oil pressure gauge.I have used Autometer for years with never a problem.

      Cheers Pat.
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    the only complaint I have ever heard about autometer is that their boost gauges read a little slow. that is it though, and I too have used them a lot.

    I've also used VDO, Omori and Sun. now you want cheap, that's Sun. :)

    ~Colin
  • rangnerrangner Member Posts: 336
    Does anyone have experience installing an SPT Peformance air intake/filter from the SPT catalog on a MY00 Legacy/OB? It kind of looks like a K&N wet filter.

     

    I was thinking it might allow me more room to check the front diffy when I need to.

     

    Eric
  • SylviaSylvia Member Posts: 1,636
    A reporter would like to talk with anyone fitting the following profile...."I'd love to find some folks who've modified their own rides. I'm particularly interested in people who've done this for the first time and were driven to do it, at least in part, from watching a tv show like Pimp My Ride, Overhaulin' or something similar. I'm looking for average drivers who are just discovering that they can personalize their rides. I'm not as interested in the traditional tuner crowd who've been doing this for years."

     

    If you have a story to share, please send your name, daytime contact info and a line or two about your vehicle to jfallon@edmunds.com by Wednesday, December 29, 2004.
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    how about people who did that before the shows were popular and then realized the folly of their ways? :D

     

    unless MTV is footing the bill, I'm not pimping my ride any further than the few thou I've sunk into car stereo stuff!

     

    ~Colin
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    swaybars is it for me. Even that led to a problem I didn't in a million years anticipate.
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Loosh,

     

    I think I missed the ending to your swaybar mishap. Did the endlink get repaired?

     

    Ken
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Sandy is pretty pimped up. Well, not really, heavily accessorized is more like it. And I did it tastefully, with OE stuff, long before those shows.

     

    The shows are sorta funny, though.

     

    -juice
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Sandy is pretty pimped up. Well, accessorized, really. Plus it's OE stuff. But that was before those shows came along. :-)

     

    -juice
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    I coughed up $500 for 2005 STi Sport aluminum lateral links. They're one piece including the bracket; expensive yes, but the engineering and quality was so far above and beyond the stock bits that it was clearly the correct long term solution. I intend to drive the wheels off this one.
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    good choice!

     

    painful, but good.

     

    ~c
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    yea, they did actually improve the ride, being half the unsprung weight of the stockers. And I still say that what was a denial of warranty now (aftermarket sways) will be a TSB in about 5 years.

     

    Still, after the 2.5GT, which was only mildly modded compared to Colin's RS, I too had a mod hangover and had only planned on the swaybars. Such is the lot of an enthusiast driver who also needs utility (i.e. no EVO!) :)
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    I think you are talking about me here Colin:-)

     

     The Titan is Modded to a point both practical (brakes, rims and tires) and esthetic, too many to list, wonder if I meet the criteria?

     

     But I have to say that the 89 Accord will be my last heavily modified vehicle.
     


     

      Cheers Pat.
  • dcm61dcm61 Member Posts: 1,567
    The only mod I have on my '03 OBW is aftermarket dirt. ;-)

     

    DaveM
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    I believe I have about $4,000 in modifications in the Evo right now, perhaps $700-800 of that being labor (but still on a receipt, so insurable).

     

    They are:

     

    $400 - Rostra (aftermarket) cruise control. kinda crappy, not OEM quality in any way, but I still wouldn't give it up for the world on any trip over an hour. no factory cruise available for Evos of course.

     

    ~$2000 in car audio gear I already owned-- preamp EQ, 200W amplifier, 800W amplifier, mp3 head unit, coincident source co-axials for the rear

     

    ~$800 in new car audio gear-- 1F capacitor, 12" sub, circuit breaker, 6.5" coaxials up front, a lot of wiring

     

    and then the aforementioned labor. a lot of that went into a subwoofer box... fiberglass tub that replaced my spare tire with a ~2" false floor over the whole trunk area.

     

    but the key thing? none of it affects my warranty, especially the CRITICAL powertrain warranty. Pimp My Ride is about spending crazy money on beaters, whereas everyone here has been talking about pouring good money on a perfectly fine automobile. :)

     

    the Evo's fast enough bone stock and yet so much slower than my sportbike that I have absolutely no temptation to mess with it any further. I'm done.

     

    ~Colin

    oh yeah, there's about $800 in snow tires on it too.
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Loosh: Glad to hear you decided to think long term and invest in better engineering. Was $500 including labor (ouch!).

     

    Colin: $2800 in car audio and you think FM quality sound is enough? ;-)

     

    Ken
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    Colin - Please post EVO mods in the off-topic Subaru Crew Cafe Forum. Thank you. ;-p

     

    Ken - The SRP on the lateral link set is $480.

      

    Re: Talk to the press - " I'm not as interested in the traditional tuner crowd who've been doing this for years."

     

    That rules most of us out. :-)

     

    -Dennis
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    Dennis LOL. yep shame on me for posting off-topic here. hehe

     

    that stuff could go into any Subaru!

     

    ~c
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    ROTFL Dennis.

     

    Careful what you say, folks! He never forgets!

     

    -juice
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Colin - Please post EVO mods in the off-topic Subaru Crew Cafe Forum. Thank you. ;-p

     

    Touché! Good one Dennis :-)

     

    -Frank
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    No fair, paisan is the only one allowed to rattle Colin's chain:-)

     

      Cheers Pat. ( Runs and ducks)
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    haaaa, I've backed off, since colin doesn't like my rattling his cage :)

     

    -mike
  • rangnerrangner Member Posts: 336
    Anybody ever thought of installing an extra set of subaru seat heaters in the back seat of an outback wagon?

     

    Eric
  • tsytsy Member Posts: 1,551
    There are plenty of aftermarket people that can do that. I've thought about it in my GT ltd. Just not sure I need it.

     

    tom
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    yea, they did actually improve the ride, being half the unsprung weight of the stockers. And I still say that what was a denial of warranty now (aftermarket sways) will be a TSB in about 5 years.

     

    I still have a sneaking suspicion that STi/SPT parts will get better factory backing in the future...how far off I don't know.

     

    paisan: I should go off-line with you. I spent a good bit of time between Christmas and New Year's behind the wheel of a GMC Yukon. I might be able to give you some input if that vehicle's still on your short list.

     

    Ed
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    The local upholstery shop adds heat to any seats for $300-400, I think they mean a front pair. Rears should cost about the same though.

     

    -juice
  • tsytsy Member Posts: 1,551
    My local add on leather place said they could do it- it's just a little harder.

     

    tom
  • rangnerrangner Member Posts: 336
    yeah, I might go ahead and get it done. I was thinking of buying the front seat heaters and switches from the Subaru dealer with subie bucks and try to install them in the rear seats and wire it up myself. I wonder how much wiring there is involved.

     

    Eric
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Yeah my shortlist is the Armada and Yukon XL :)

     

    -mike
  • rangnerrangner Member Posts: 336
    how 'bout the Jeep Liberty CRD?

     

    It'll tow 5000lbs

    Eric
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    5k is too little really, i'm looking for somethign that tows in the 8-10K range since the trailer is 6k or so.

     

    -mike
  • sdufordsduford Member Posts: 577
    Then you need a truck with a steel frame to tow that kind of weight. You also need a big torqy V8 or diesel engine.

     

    You will not find that kind of towing capacity in any car-based SUV.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    i know that, never said I would.

     

    Although i'm tempted if they B9x comes out with a 3.5 or 3.0turbo and 4500lb towing to buy a light aluminum trailer and tow with that.

     

    -mike
  • celica115celica115 Member Posts: 169
    Hello everyone, I am not sure if I can post a lighting question here. If not, I am sorry for disturbing.

     

    I just installed a set of 9007 HID kit. It works great but creating two problems on my 2002 WRX.

     

    Problem #1:

    The blue high beam indicate light in the dash board is "ON" when it is on the low beam position. I am sure that I connected the wire to the low beam bulb connector because when turning it to the high beam position, it has no head lights. When it is in the low beam position, it has head lights.

     

    Problem #2:

    My fog lights won't turn on after. I know the reason but I don't have the solution. It is causing by problem #1. As all of you know, the fog lights will not turn on when the high beam is on. The fogs only work with low beam. So if problem #1 is solved, I guess my fog lights will back to normal.

     

    I really appreciate your help, thank you!

     

    Luk
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    I can only suggest that you uninstall the kit.

     

    HID conversion kits are more trouble and problematic than they are worth. Furthermore, the headlight reflector/housing is designed for halogen lamps and only annoys oncoming traffic with two glaring white orbs.

     

    Oh, it's not DOT approved or legal in NYS.

     

    -Dave
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Did you try to reach the manufacturer? Surely they've seen issues like this before.

     

    I'll assume you double-checked all the wiring, and made sure there are no shorts.

     

    -juice
  • celica115celica115 Member Posts: 169
    Yea, I know but HID really looks so cool. I just want to love my subie more since I have been driving it for 3 1/2 yrs. I won't give up my fogs. If I really can't fix this problem then I'd rather uninstall the kit than leaving it this way.

     

    Luk
  • celica115celica115 Member Posts: 169
    Thanks. I did, I am waiting for their answer.

     

    Luk
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    Luk-

    if you're on board at nabisco's TriState, look up mulder via PM. I'm sure he can help you trace the problem down.

     

    -Dave
  • celica115celica115 Member Posts: 169
    Thank you. If it can be fixed fortunately, I will post the solution here.
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Yea, I know but HID really looks so cool

     

    Pardon me but the fact that you're blinding on-coming traffic is less important than "looking cool"?

     

    -Frank <banging head on monitor in frustration!>
  • sdufordsduford Member Posts: 577
    What he said ^

     

    They look cool to you, but you happen to be sitting INSIDE the car. Everybody else you're blinding and they don't think they look cool.

     

    Sly
  • celica115celica115 Member Posts: 169
    Acutally, I considered this situation when I installed it. So I adjusted both head lights to point to the lower direction (I can see the reflection is below the tail lights on the car in front of me). I think they are not blinding the on-coming traffic.
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    Where at NY are you by the way?

     

    In all honesty, HID conversion by mere swapping of bulbs isn't the best way to go. Cheap yes, best no.

    As mentioned earlier, the reflectors in your headlamp is not designed for HID lumination.

    The glare I spoke of that the HID will produce in a halogen headlamp unit isn't the intensity of the beam when aimed too high or incorrectly. It is the aura of intense lumination glaring around the headlight itself that no amount of aiming will alleviate.

     

    Here's a pic of [left to right] EDM/JDM; UK500; OEM headlamps, all HIDs

    image

    Notice the aura the OEM produces.

     

    Here's another

    image

     

    and here's an Evo

    image

    As you can see the Evo with lamps designed for HIDs don't have that wide an aura of glare.

     

    For looks and functionality the EDM unit would be your best option, though pricey.

     

    For functionality only, a pair of auxilary HID lamps.

     

    -Dave
  • sdufordsduford Member Posts: 577
    Well done! thanks for that Dave
  • njswamplandsnjswamplands Member Posts: 1,760
    are we assuming straight flat roads? i live in the rolling hills of nj and i curse everytime i see a HID coming my way especially when i am going up hill and they have just crest the hill.

     

    i think these HIDs are highly dangerous. kewl, you can see further. bad, driver in car coming at you may be blinded and may create a headon.

     

    death to the HID.
  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    One of my favorite mods on my Forester was swapping the OEM headlight bulbs to Philips Vision Plus 50 from the UK. They're slightly whiter, light up the road a little farther, and they don't annoy other driver's 98% of the time.

     

    After driving with them for several months, I had forgotten how much better they were than the OEM's. I picked up my car from the dealer one night back in November after driving a loaner for a week, and thought the high beams were on when I was on the backroads of Central West NJ.

     

    -Dennis
  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    Just about 1 year, Dennis, on my Philips Vision Plus bulbs from autolamps-online.com (UK). Excellent (and functional!!!) product without the downside of aftermarket HID's.

     

    BTW, nice job, Dave!!!

     

    Steve
  • celica115celica115 Member Posts: 169
    Thank you for your explanation! I learn something now.

    I live in Queens. You guys must have fun recently by the storm. Nice pictures!!!

    For me, I wouldn't spend thousands to replace a pair of auxilary HID lamps. I enjor the driving more than the anything.

     

    Luk
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