mmtasty

I came from an '05 STi that I raced STU very successfully in the ARSCCA Solo II and a little in Solo I. Blah blah blah, I wanted more room for camping and biking so I got a Forester and had big plans! I'm dead set on building up a Forester STi all the way from full STi interior to a 5x114.3 swap. Think Angry Toaster built as an '07 Sport...

It started in June '08 when I bought this: FS: 2007 FSXT 5 Speed(STI Replica) in Florida

The PO had some nice parts on it...
• IHI VF39
• STI TMIC
• Brembo STI Front Big Brake Kit with Brembo slotted rotors
• STi Rear Sway Bar
• Swift Springs
• APS Turbo Back (needed to be reworked to fit)
• HID Conversion
• STI Rear tail lamp swap
• STI WRB Hood Scoop
• Rear factory wing


because I knew I wanted a Sport. There weren't may around so I didn't have much choice. I wish I could have found a WHITE one... those are so incredible. All I knew is that I didn't want blue on gold. :unamused: But the blue is growing on me.


Here it is as I bought it. A few parts I could use, and a few things I knew I'd have to change. I autoXed it like this ONCE and only once. Wow... it was like driving a motor home. The brakes were terrible, the power wasn't smooth, it rolled all over, tires wouldn't hold at all...

I'm not a fan of putting STi stickers on something that isn't (yet), so those came off. I also didn't like having glittery gold calipers so I painted them black. I also added the H6 kit, SS lines, and an STi master cylinder. Mucho big improvement!!! I also pulled off the 5% window tint because it's illegal and I couldn't see past sunset.


Now that the brakes were better, I ripped out the super crappy Delta system and went with an AP V2. I also bumped up the front sway to a 27-29, added some rear subframe lockout bolts, the WL rear control arm/swaybar helper thingys, and WL rear spherical endlinks.

Then I painted the headlights with black ceramic paint. It was a PITA to do, but worth it. I also bought the original Forester Sport grill badge.



WORK EMOTIONS!!!


Some camping shots enjoying the utility of the Forester...

mmtasty

So I tracked down a set of '07 WRX struts, springs, and tophats. I swapped those over and like the improvements, but wanted to to go lower eventually. These photos are before/after compared to stock struts and Swift springs vs. WRX stock everything and Paranoid Android 3/8" spacers in the rear:



Now that I'm on WRX struts I can use lower lowering springs without bottoming out the struts. Also, it does seem to ride a little firmer and have less lift/sag at a WOT start. Overall I guess it's a good thing to do with minimal money and an hour of time.

Then I got tuned...




And now my clutch is slipping in 5th at boost... It would go higher with HP, but the fuel pump is maxed, and could go bigger with torque, but the clutch will slip (note the lower graph with wheel speed vs. engine speed). So I'm saving for the 6 speed, but that doesn't keep me from doing a little more handling improvements as budget allows.

I added an '04 STi steering rack, WL rack bushings, WRX Eibach springs, WL camber plates, and 235/45 Direzza Star Specs.

mmtasty

More to come...

Surftaco

Dope forester! Much Props!

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2007 XT 4EAT

Duderotomy

Nice fozzie.
I want blacked out headlights like that, but I don't want to rip open my HID's to paint them myself...

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MY07 FSXT MT VF43'd
'90 Nissan Skyline GTS-t

Vinnyd

how does the sti rack compare to the stock one? love the works too!!!!

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My 500hp Journal
next mod: DSS axels/r180 swap
hellaflush wheels ordered

mmtasty

Thanks everyone!

It's soooo easy if you're patient. If you start it, I guarantee you'll keep going until it looks perfect. Just go slow and do light and thin coats of flat black. I've done 5-6 sets of lights and never screwed up once. It's not that bad.


Not even close! Incredible! A HUGE PITA, but it was worth it to me. I got my rack shipped for $210 FYI. And also note, if you autoX, you'll find that the stock power steering pump can't keep up on massive Left/Right/Left wheel maneuvers. You'll need an STi pump if so, but that's no biggie.

Tuned200

Nice FXT. I like the dark wheels

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VF48 4EAT MONSTER

Justforfun

What length exposure?? Thats an awesome shot, I'm gonna try something like it some time!

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"To be great is to be misunderstood..." - Emerson

mmtasty

That was probably a 30 second with remote on a tripod... I think...

Vinnyd

where my powerband is isnt really the best or auto-x, but I am gonna try it out once this year. but enough about me SWEET FOZ!!!!

__________________
My 500hp Journal
next mod: DSS axels/r180 swap
hellaflush wheels ordered

ScoobyDoobie

Very nice! I also like the darker wheels on the blue.

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05' LGT-99' SF (sold)

Legacy

Looks great ! Since you auto-x and have done the mods I have a few q's for you

1) 27-29mm front sway bar: Is that a Whiteline ? And why so large , while I'm a bigger is better fan I as aiming at getting the 24mm bar. Yes it does plow somewhat at the auto-x, not so bad at track days. What are you running for sways in the rear ?

2) STi steering rack & power steering pump : I agree our rack sucks. I drove my friends 06 STi and it feels like 2x more sensitive. I have an 06 STi rack to install this spring so the power steering pump comment is interesting. Exactly what parts do I need , just the pump , or parts like the resevoir.... parts list (or pics even better) please

3) Bike rack: Looks like a Thule folding rack you've got there. I have an OEM hitch to put on and want a rack like yours. What's teh model number and do you recommend it ? Pics of it with pics on the back ?

Shame you're not local, would be fun to have two WRB Foresters battle it out at the auto-x.

mmtasty

1) Oh boy, here I go... Yes, Whiteline (27/29 running in the 29 spot) and an STi rear bar. I totally disagree with the large rear bar trend going around. All of my testing in the past three years of autoX and track have shown hands down that any properly aligned (-1.75F,-1R,0F toe, +.02R toe, max caster) Subaru will rotate better with a big front and small rear. This setup will plant the front tires flat, level, and controlled and allow the rear to swing/lift/sway around perfectly balanced and easily controlled. If you want more rotation let off the gas, if you want less add gas (which is opposite of the big-rear setup procedure). Some people in A-Stock with slicks would even run the 32mm front and NO rear bar at all. The larger-bar-in-the-rear setup will basically keep the back level to the point where it overloads the rear tires and slides. This causes an oversteer that's MUCH harder to control (because it's basically a loss of control). It's more of a drifting slide than a rotation. People think this is a good thing for some reason. The larger-bar-in-the-rear setup also causes unpredictable high-speed oversteer (like on the track, in the mountains, or the freeway when someone cuts you off). The only way to stop this type of slide is to steer into it and wait. We're AWD so adding more gas may or may not help. Booooooo....

I've tested all different configurations and settings with these bars at autoX and track events: stock, full Cobb/Hotchkis F/R bars, 32mm Strano bar, 24/26 WL front, 27/29 WL front (perfect), STi rear (perfect), Wagon rear, and a 24 rear that I forget the brand...Perrin maybe? And a large variety of endlinks. Test vehicles were my old '03 WRX, '05 STi, and now my Fozzie. PLUS, I've helped wrench and setup several other friend's cars. The only friend that wasn't happy with their rotation insisted on a 26 front and 24 rear...

2) You'll need the subframe to put that '06 rack. The '04 is a bolt in, but the '05+ changed. Shouldn't be any more difficult. Maybe even easier... I haven't swapped the pump out yet, but it should be a bolt-in. I think all you need is the pump.

3) it's a Thule. That's the only decent upright one that has a lever to fold the rack down for access. That's why I got it. I love it. Other racks you have to fool with pulling a pin and clippy thing which is a PITA when you have 6 bags of groceries or a hyper dog that wants in.

Too bad you don't live closer so we can battle! The SUV does get a lot of attention out on course...

mmtasty

Oh, I must clarify, the rack pictured is a Yakima, which sucked so I bought the Thule. 2005 Thule Transport T2 Hitch-mount Bike Rack - FeedTheHabit.com