The "Table of Contents" for our Member Journal can be found on Post #2, or on the next post. The Table of Contents makes it easier to navigate our Member Journal (skip over the chitchat).
March 17, 2010
Thank you for taking the time to look over our Member Journal, or MODding Journal, as we call it (literary license). Your comments, questions, or suggestion are always welcome. Post them here or send us a PM.
I should have started a Member Journal for the '03 X Forester a long time ago. It will be a PITA trying to remember & document the MODding, but as the old saying goes, "better late than never!"
The Beginning!
The '03 X Forester was my first Subaru & not by choice. Let me explain. My vehicle brand was GMC, specifically an S15 4X4 Jimmy. I inherited the Forester when my dad passed away. It had around 4K miles on it. My first thought was to get rid of it, but I decided to keep it for a while for sentimental reasons. I didn't think it would happen, but the Forester grew on me & I sold the GMC Jimmy!
The craziness starts!
I have to admit after the power of the Vortec 4.3L V6 in the GMC S15 Jimmy; the Forester felt a bit wimpy. It had good acceleration around town but seemed to run out of poop on the open road & it was tricky trying to pass on the upside of a hill! While doing some research on how to boost the engine power & in a moment of craziness, I decided to install an AVO Turbo Kit! What a difference it made! Where the NA (naturally aspirated) engine would start running out of power, with the turbo, it would continue on & on! I was hooked & the MODding bug had me!
Moving on...
I've enjoyed MODding the '03 X, but I've always wanted a Forester XT to do major power MODding. After I retired (June/08), I started searching for my next project, Forester. After what seemed like forever... I really wanted an '04 XT, I found my new to me '07 FSXT last year (June/09) & I passed the '03 X to my son. If my dad was still around, I'm sure he'd approve!
My son loves the Forester, but he's not into this aspect of modifying, so dad gets to do the deed...
Bobby...
August 21, 2003
The actual dealership window sticker.
This is how the 2003 2.5X Forester looked like stock.
'03 X engine as it looks stock.
The actual dealership window sticker.
This is how the 2003 2.5X Forester looked like stock.
'03 X engine as it looks stock.
The left picture is Alex's lightly modified '95 Neon Sport, now our spare car. He had a car before he learned how to drive! It was my mother's car before she passed away. I offered to buy the Neon, but dad wanted to keep the Neon for sentimental reasons. After a couple of years, dad traded in his Ford truck for the Forester & the Neon was given to me to give to Alex when he learned to drive.
The right picture is Alex at age 15 (much older now!) with his future Forester... I never saw that coming!
Alex's '03 X Forester, as it looks today!
'03 X engine with the AVO Turbo Kit installed.
The Table of Contents for Alex's Member Journal can be found ► here. (post #2) or below on the next post.
['07 FSXT Member Journal] ['03 X Member Journal]