[Bboyknight252]

Hey guys, Just picked a 2005 FXT in red with 150K miles on her.

I'm the 3rd owner as per the carfax, she runs pretty darn good for a 14 year old car with 150k on her i must say.

Timing belt, Head gaskets, and water pump were replaced 20k ago as per previous owner... no receipts though:|

Some clear coat chipping and fading and a scratch on the driver door, and all your normal subie fizzy problems from what i'm reading..

What I plan to do real quick aside from fixing the car up:.. I plan to lift the car with some nice aggressive wheels, maybe methods? not sure yet(If you guys have suggestions for what wheels and tire size fits with methods on my year with no rubbing please post up) thanks

Also going to put front rail guards with led lights not sure if i want to go round or led straight bars, I'm def putting a basket(looking for a nice inexpensive one now) on top with lights. Maybe a aftermarket stereo and head unit.

So some pics:

https://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=500699&thumb=1

Thats her sitting with a stock WRX suspension (which is coming off ASAP) to harsh for my liking..

https://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=500701&thumb=1
https://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/attachment.phpattachmentid=500703&thumb=1
https://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=500709&thumb=1

The clear coat thats going, ^^

I'm in the process of looking for a replacement hood scoop but can't find none. I found a 02-03 STI one on eBay but the seller won't respond back for better pics, nothing on craigslist and nothing for part outs.. worse to worse ill wrap it myself :shrugs:

The splash guards I found Black OEM ones on eBay for 28 bucks? So I'm going to paint it with duplicolor bedliner spray in black

the roof rails I'm either think gin about the bedliner spray OR wrapping it in black not sure yet.

First thing I did was take her to the doc himself

https://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=500707&thumb=1

https://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=500705&thumb=1

Here's a list of mechanical stuff that need to be addressed:

Front CV axle
Rear CV axle
Trans fluid
Trans Line
Turbo oil return line
Valve covers
Upper/Lower Radiator Hose
Ball joints
Sway bar links
Engine oil pan
Brake fluid
Front/Rear struts
*this is personal preference (he put mobil 1 , i'm either going to go with Penzoil to motul)

I already ordered the hoses and front right struts ( I caught a closeout sale at rock auto for KYB struts at $31.00 !! ) STEAL!

I plan to do first

the Front CV axle
Trans fluid/filter
Trans line
Upper/lower rad hose (gates)

Little things i've been reading about that I want to do:

• Window Gussets!
• Changing key to a legacy key fob
• adding the STI red hazard lights
• rally armor mud flaps (eBay version with out the hardware and holes so i need to search the forums for any help with that)
• I have to brighten up the head lights they are VERY HAZY
• bye black trim dye for the trim pieces
• lookup issues with the heated seats
• 5/16th tubing for wind noise
• front emblem overlays
• I think the HIDs Or LEDs are ****ed so I need to replace them
• amber LEDs for fog lights
• research paint for windshield wiper blade arms

For now I think this is all, I'm sure as I continue to read this will update and I will continue to want more things!

Let me know what you guys think!

 

[Inactive_55959]

Congrats!

— if your car has the original plastic radiator you should prioritize replacing it —*they are known to fail after 100k miles so unless yours has been refreshed (or replaced with an aluminum radiator by koyorad or mishimoto) you will want to replace it or risk overheating.

— I'm not sure if the 05's came with a catted up-pipe but I know that the 04's did. You will want to replace this with a non-catted one as the cat is known to disitegrate and get sucked through the turbo and into your shortblock.

Good luck!

 

[Bboyknight252]

Hey some updates....

Changed the AT lines and hosed attached
Changed the Upper/lower Rad hoses (gates)
Changed power steering pump
Changed coolant hoses pretty much everywhere
Rad was changed so thats good
turbo was changed thats good too
Changed the from CV axle

Previous owner did such a ****** half *** job when putting things back together, that I'm paying the piper. ugh!

Like minor things, putting wrong size bolts in, not greasing bolts.. so now bolts are seizing and snapping off. Just a pain in the ***. YOU DONT WANT TO SEE THE VALVE COVER!

Looking at the ball joints, and stabilizer links, and bringing her back to stock height next.

 

[Bboyknight252]

Congrats!

— if your car has the original plastic radiator you should prioritize replacing it —*they are known to fail after 100k miles so unless yours has been refreshed (or replaced with an aluminum radiator by koyorad or mishimoto) you will want to replace it or risk overheating.

— I'm not sure if the 05's came with a catted up-pipe but I know that the 04's did. You will want to replace this with a non-catted one as the cat is known to disitegrate and get sucked through the turbo and into your shortblock.

Good luck!

Thanks!

Yup previous owner changed the radiator already it seems, and changed the up-pipe which i was shocked ::Shrugs::

I'm learning so much about Subarus more and more with this journey.

 

[Fozzy XT]

Cool man, keep us updated!

 

[NinoS]

Good luck! Car looks nice from the fuzzy pics. Sounds like your car is in a similar state to mine when i got it. Previous neglect - i just discovered one of my axle nuts was loose lol...was nice to have an easy fix though since i figured the bearing was shot at first. Im a bit further along overall but still tracking down noises and replacing stuff...its been satisfying though!

 

[Bboyknight252]

Update:

Ordered a hoodscoop from @khail19 should be here Wednesday. Can’t wait.

And finally got this to work after a week of trying!

The problem was the transponder, (I went after market; refurbished) same part number but the CTW Number was different for some reason. I found another one that worked for half the price of OEM!

Glad it worked!

Next up:

painting the grill and roof rack black.

Ordering JDM Cooler and double din top mount.