AWDriven's 2009 Forester 2.5x Project

awdriven · 09-08-2010, 04:16 PM

Stay tuned...

May 2010

June 2010

August 2010

September 2010...off to RalliSpec

jinmik · 09-08-2010, 07:09 PM

did you swap everything in forester x with sti stuff??? I need more info!

awdriven · 09-08-2010, 07:41 PM

I wish I had a cool picture to show you of the STi parts all sitting on a pallet, but I was focused in on a couple last minute needed parts on the day I was last there.

Van1sh · 09-09-2010, 01:54 AM

Subscribed!

frito · 09-09-2010, 04:10 AM

I got it -you bought a turbo hood! Poser

Looks like you have a great project in the works.

awdriven · 09-09-2010, 04:52 AM

I was rice for about three days

Maybe I could have looked into FMICs some more, but I'm looking to keep this pretty factory and suspect that a VF48 on FMIC setup probably would sacrifice some responsiveness.

Tuned200 · 09-09-2010, 05:15 AM

Very nice, have the shop take lots of photos if the swap isnt completed yet.

awdriven · 09-09-2010, 12:50 PM

I'll do my best, but I live about an hour away and have no car at the moment ;)

awdriven · 09-10-2010, 10:10 AM

Build is progressing - We came across one of the issues of using an NA base Forester instead of an XT. The NA PZEV Foresters don't have a fuel return line. We're going to need to pick up some XT fuel system components, and probably to use the STi fuel tank.

awdriven · 09-11-2010, 01:00 PM

The NA radiator isn't adequate and I don't have the Sti radiator. Have to find an oem takeoff or go with an supermarket upgrade.

awdriven · 09-13-2010, 10:01 AM

Pondering the ride height and rake today. Thanks Subtle and RAPTR for your suggestions!

RAPTR's Foz sat nicely with no spacers - front and rear ride heights looked even.

SOA's XTI uses a shorter front spring to drop the front end, so front and rear ride height look even.

PIA when they built their swap, used a 1/2 inch 'saggy butt' spacer to bring the rear ride height up to look good with the front.

I just want to make sure I've got enough ground clearance for driveways and snow!

phill · 09-13-2010, 04:05 PM

keeping post and pics please!

awdriven · 09-14-2010, 08:58 AM

Motor and trans are in, interior is half-assembled. We had one seat with a deployed airbag. That's been stitched back up. We replaced the airbags in both STi driver seats with the airbags from the Forester.

Add to the list of parts not usable from the 2.5X Forester - Radiator fans and shroud are not compatible without getting into modifying things pretty extensively and still having questions about the ratings of the parts. We're just going to grab some XT or STi parts.

The radiator dimensions (other than thickness), mount points and plumbing locations are the same between STi and Forester, but the NA Forester radiator is under-sized for our needs.

awdriven · 09-14-2010, 09:35 AM

You will also want to make sure you get the heater box from your donor STi. The manual heater box on a 2.5x is lacking some of the mechanisms needed for the automatic climate control system in the STi. There may be a way to make it continue to work as a manual system, but we had the STi heater box, so we're using it.

Tuned200 · 09-14-2010, 09:41 AM

Damn man, you foz is going to be sick! Ask the shop to snag a photo or two when they can. It is good for buisness if you post their build on here and give them credit.

09-08-2010, 04:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
awdriven Forum Member Contributing Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 141 Location: NJ Car Year: 2009 Car Model: Forester 2.5x Transmission: 6mt Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 3 reviews	AWDriven's 2009 Forester 2.5x Project Stay tuned... May 2010 June 2010 August 2010 September 2010...off to RalliSpec

09-09-2010, 04:10 AM	#5 (permalink)
frito Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,262 Location: Spokane, WA Car Year: 2010 Car Model: XT Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 11 reviews	I got it -you bought a turbo hood! Poser Looks like you have a great project in the works. __________________ 2010 XT Limited, 2004 XT, 1999 X All Sold Last edited by frito; 09-09-2010 at 07:30 AM.

09-09-2010, 05:15 AM	#7 (permalink)
Tuned200 Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 20,393 Location: Florence, KY Car Year: 2006 Car Model: Forester XT Transmission: 5 Speed Gallery: 2 Feedback Score: 55 reviews	Very nice, have the shop take lots of photos if the swap isnt completed yet. __________________ 2007 Forester XT - The Gray Goose 2006 Forester XT - Blu-Blur 2010 Forester X - SOLD-The Green Goblin

09-14-2010, 09:41 AM	#15 (permalink)
Tuned200 Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 20,393 Location: Florence, KY Car Year: 2006 Car Model: Forester XT Transmission: 5 Speed Gallery: 2 Feedback Score: 55 reviews	Damn man, you foz is going to be sick! Ask the shop to snag a photo or two when they can. It is good for buisness if you post their build on here and give them credit. __________________ 2007 Forester XT - The Gray Goose 2006 Forester XT - Blu-Blur 2010 Forester X - SOLD-The Green Goblin

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09-08-2010, 07:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
jinmik Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 110 Location: Southern California Car Year: 09 Car Model: WRX 5dr Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	did you swap everything in forester x with sti stuff??? I need more info!

09-08-2010, 07:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
awdriven Forum Member Contributing Member Thread Starter Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 141 Location: NJ Car Year: 2009 Car Model: Forester 2.5x Transmission: 6mt Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 3 reviews	I wish I had a cool picture to show you of the STi parts all sitting on a pallet, but I was focused in on a couple last minute needed parts on the day I was last there.

09-09-2010, 01:54 AM	#4 (permalink)
Van1sh Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 20 Location: Kazakhstan, Almaty Car Year: 2007 Car Model: Forester Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Subscribed!

09-09-2010, 04:52 AM	#6 (permalink)
awdriven Forum Member Contributing Member Thread Starter Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 141 Location: NJ Car Year: 2009 Car Model: Forester 2.5x Transmission: 6mt Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 3 reviews	I was rice for about three days Maybe I could have looked into FMICs some more, but I'm looking to keep this pretty factory and suspect that a VF48 on FMIC setup probably would sacrifice some responsiveness.

09-09-2010, 12:50 PM	#8 (permalink)
awdriven Forum Member Contributing Member Thread Starter Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 141 Location: NJ Car Year: 2009 Car Model: Forester 2.5x Transmission: 6mt Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 3 reviews	I'll do my best, but I live about an hour away and have no car at the moment ;)

09-10-2010, 10:10 AM	#9 (permalink)
awdriven Forum Member Contributing Member Thread Starter Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 141 Location: NJ Car Year: 2009 Car Model: Forester 2.5x Transmission: 6mt Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 3 reviews	Build is progressing - We came across one of the issues of using an NA base Forester instead of an XT. The NA PZEV Foresters don't have a fuel return line. We're going to need to pick up some XT fuel system components, and probably to use the STi fuel tank.

09-11-2010, 01:00 PM	#10 (permalink)
awdriven Forum Member Contributing Member Thread Starter Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 141 Location: NJ Car Year: 2009 Car Model: Forester 2.5x Transmission: 6mt Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 3 reviews	The NA radiator isn't adequate and I don't have the Sti radiator. Have to find an oem takeoff or go with an supermarket upgrade.

09-13-2010, 10:01 AM	#11 (permalink)
awdriven Forum Member Contributing Member Thread Starter Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 141 Location: NJ Car Year: 2009 Car Model: Forester 2.5x Transmission: 6mt Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 3 reviews	Pondering the ride height and rake today. Thanks Subtle and RAPTR for your suggestions! RAPTR's Foz sat nicely with no spacers - front and rear ride heights looked even. SOA's XTI uses a shorter front spring to drop the front end, so front and rear ride height look even. PIA when they built their swap, used a 1/2 inch 'saggy butt' spacer to bring the rear ride height up to look good with the front. I just want to make sure I've got enough ground clearance for driveways and snow!

09-13-2010, 04:05 PM	#12 (permalink)
phill Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 57 Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	keeping post and pics please!

09-14-2010, 08:58 AM	#13 (permalink)
awdriven Forum Member Contributing Member Thread Starter Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 141 Location: NJ Car Year: 2009 Car Model: Forester 2.5x Transmission: 6mt Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 3 reviews	Motor and trans are in, interior is half-assembled. We had one seat with a deployed airbag. That's been stitched back up. We replaced the airbags in both STi driver seats with the airbags from the Forester. Add to the list of parts not usable from the 2.5X Forester - Radiator fans and shroud are not compatible without getting into modifying things pretty extensively and still having questions about the ratings of the parts. We're just going to grab some XT or STi parts. The radiator dimensions (other than thickness), mount points and plumbing locations are the same between STi and Forester, but the NA Forester radiator is under-sized for our needs.

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09-14-2010, 09:35 AM	#14 (permalink)
awdriven Forum Member Contributing Member Thread Starter Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 141 Location: NJ Car Year: 2009 Car Model: Forester 2.5x Transmission: 6mt Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 3 reviews	You will also want to make sure you get the heater box from your donor STi. The manual heater box on a 2.5x is lacking some of the mechanisms needed for the automatic climate control system in the STi. There may be a way to make it continue to work as a manual system, but we had the STi heater box, so we're using it.