[DFBrews]

Time to start a journal. Picked her up end of december with 147k on the motor extremely clean inside and out only oil leaks are one half moon on the valve cover and the oil pan. My goals for this are a streetable stage 3 including eventually going to E85.
Everything besides machine work will be done by me one borrowed garage at a time
Installed upgrades so far.

accessport v3 installed running on stage 1
turboxs forester specific axleback
Primitive solutions engine skidplate
02-03 hood scoop factory painted
general grabber at/2 tires on OEM 2003 outback wheels ( I swapped rims from my other subie to this)
DIY mesh grill
Switched over to Rotella T6
thule roof rack

Parts ready to be installed when it warms up

cobb catted down pipe
sti intercooler and all the fixings
subtle solutions splitter
sti take off catless uppipe
perrin silicon

Planned parts

Engine
VF39 or tdo4-19 turbo
255 lph fuel pump
wideband A/F
side to top feed conversion with 1000cc injectors.
Before I go to E85 a full engine rebuild will happen forged pistons will be the main upgrade on the short block.

Suspension/brakes

upgrade the swaybar in the rear
lower it a couple inches don't know the plan on this yet
4 pot upgrade
steering rack bushings.

Interior
sea scooby style sub install
7" tablet in place of the factory radio
3 gauge pillar pod
ashtray gauge pod
potentially integrate the accessport into the dash somehow.

Exterior
tint job
17 or 18 gold rims for the summer.
new headlights they are heat cracked


Items needing addressed
lots of shifter play while in gear bushings are shot
When I was looking at my shifter bushings i noticed a oil leak at the back of the trans where the shift lever goes in I don't know enough about these trannys to know what this entails.
I know the timing belt was done but cant find what all was replaced so i might do the belt and tensioners as a precaution.

 

[DFBrews]

AP v3


Untitled by post_james86, on Flickr

56 dollars of oil our dealership only sells gallons


Untitled by post_james86, on Flickr

skid plate

Untitled by post_james86, on Flickr

turbo xs axle had to cut the bolts off


Untitled by post_james86, on Flickr

hood scoop installed


Untitled by post_james86, on Flickr

grill before i plasti dipped it


Untitled by post_james86, on Flickr

as she sits now fresh from detail before the drive home in the snow ruined it


Untitled by post_james86, on Flickr

 

[CinderBlock]

Seeing the size difference of the 2 scoops makes me wanna upgrade. You get the real deal or a replica?

 

[nepbug]

Looking good fellow Denverite!

FYI, you can get Rotella T6 gallons at Walmart for around $21.

The list of planned mods look pretty good, personally I don't think I could make the jump to E85 here. Pain in the cold and limited filling stations. I did recently ride in a corn-fed LGT that had ~400 awhp, that was incredibly fun!

I've got an extra 20mm STi rear sway bar if you're interested in picking something up local.

 

[DFBrews]

Seeing the size difference of the 2 scoops makes me wanna upgrade. You get the real deal or a replica?

It is real looks huge from the driver seat

 

[DillChill_36]

love the title of the thread! great start!

 

[DFBrews]

Fun with plastidip today did the wheels and followed the grill line down onto the bumper

the wheels


Untitled by post_james86, on Flickr

front clip


Untitled by post_james86, on Flickr

glamour shot black wheels make the grabber at/2s look pretty mean


Untitled by post_james86, on Flickr

 

[CinderBlock]

Very clean and aggressive. I like it.

 

[FlyerCBH]

Like it. Did some of the same things here in C. Springs! Plasti-dip rally stripes, and grill area. Hows the ride on/off road with the Grabbers? And what size?? 215/65R16? Looking to do the same.

 

[alextmullis]

Another Denver forester, yes!

 

[DFBrews]

Like it. Did some of the same things here in C. Springs! Plasti-dip rally stripes, and grill area. Hows the ride on/off road with the Grabbers? And what size?? 215/65R16? Looking to do the same. View attachment 141290

Ohh I like the lines on that
yup that is the size I have not off roaded in the fozz yet but I had them on my outback and had some fun one thing I did notice is I have to run a fairly high pressure compared to the outback to keep it from feeling squishy while driving right around 40 psi

 

[jgrote]

I've got the same tires and love them. They handled the San Juan mountains with no problems. Looks really nice. If you ever need a place to turn a wrench let me know. I have a garage and love spending other people's money.:biggrin:

 

[DFBrews]

I've got the same tires and love them. They handled the San Juan mountains with no problems. Looks really nice. If you ever need a place to turn a wrench let me know. I have a garage and love spending other people's money.:biggrin:

Hmm might take you up on that I do most minor stuff at work ( diesel mechanic) but when I yank the motor out in the near future a garage will bad nice apartment living sucks.

 

[awebb]

Where did you get the scoop from? And did you have to paint it or was it an oem part that just happened to match?

 

[DFBrews]

Where did you get the scoop from? And did you have to paint it or was it an oem part that just happened to match?

Bought it from a member here it is Oem and was already painted. Matches my hood perfectly

 

[onelostsoldier]

Nice start. Looking good!