[Evandx]

Welcome to the build thread for my 1999 Subaru Forester L 5MT!


Current look as of April, 2019:

Before Photobucket went down, I had many more photos in this thread. Sorry about that. :/ but new updates are always coming!


Let me start off with the basics:
1999 Forester L
5-Speed
56,000 miles (when purchased)
One Owner
Pristine Interior
Stack of Maintenance Papers
NO RUST!

Current Mods as of June 2019:

2" Anderson Design Fabrication lift kit w/ 2" trailing arm spacers
Yellow Fogs
Blox 490 black chrome shift knob
215/75/15 BFGoodrich All-Terrain KO2's
Smittybilt D-Rings
15x7" Method MR502 Rally Wheels
3mm hub centric wheel spacers
Rare accessory fender trim painted to match bumpers
Curt Safari Roof Basket w/ Extension
Yakima Roof Top Tire Mount w/ full-size spare
Rally Armor UR Flaps
Upgraded Pioneer Head Unit
Hella 500FF Fog Lights w/ black covers (tinted yellow) - Wired to factory switch
Hella vintage rally style light covers
JDM Grille
Magnaflow Muffler
Kartboy Stiff Exhaust Hangers
LED exterior bulbs (headlights, license plate, and reverse)

Future Mods:
Custom Pre-Runner Bumpers
Projector Retrofitted Headlights
Shifter Bushings


I've been a WRX owner for about 5 years now. I owned a world rally blue sedan for 4 of those years, and owned a platinum silver metallic wagon for 2 years. As I continued to modify my WRX's over the years, the need for a comfortable daily driver had grown and grown. After I graduated from college, I began hunting for a clean, older Subaru that could be used easily for commuting and road trips, and boy did I find one!

This car literally fell into my lap, as it was traded into the dealership that I had been working at on and off throughout college. This was a 1 owner car, owned and meticulously maintained by an older woman who had originally purchased it in Seattle.

The car needed a little TLC, as both front fenders were banged up pretty badly, and the interior was dirty, but those were things I was easily able to fix!

Aside from the aesthetic flaws, this was exactly what I wanted: Manual transmission, low mileage, full maintenance history, and it was a Forester!

Here is a pic of the damage on the driver side front fender the day I bought it:

Passenger side:

I quickly started tearing into the body repairs. I took the fenders off, and beat the dents out crudely with a rubber mallet. Body filler was a necessity at this point:

A few days later it was time for paint!

And back out into the sunlight for the first time after the repair. The paint is a little orange-peeled, but it doesn't really bother me. Also had to add some mad tyte jdm quick releases, as the bumper tabs on both sides were broken.

Also, just in case you didn't believe me:

How did you attach the d-rings?

 

[Tampa_Wagonman]

While binge watching Subaru's Launch Control (6th & 7th season) on Amazon Prime) and browsing this site, I came across this thread. Read the entire post from the 1st word thru page 19....awesome documentation and picture-work my friend 👍.

I bought an 01 Forester S last month and have a list of its various systems and how much upgrading will be required. I too would love to come across a set of door arches, rare like certain Spoon Sports parts for my previously sold 99 EM1. Or the even rarer stock, Canadian spec RED Integra Type R from seats, of which there were less than 250 sets in the entire world..... and Canada was the only country to receive them....and only for 2001!!!

So far I'm loving this wagon; I've been wanting one for over 20 years, and finally got lucky. Although not in the greatest of shape, the previous owner did a fine job of keeping up with maintenance. She has all I really wanted...no rust and a 3rd pedal!!! As a bonus she is an S model, so I have a decent set of stock wheels that will become a backup set. Any day now I will have to get all bushings and the linkage for the shifter...at 280K+ mileage, there is more slop than in a high school cafeteria lol. I attempting to finish shooting and post up some pics / video in the new members forum.

Keep up the great work WRDrew and all the other posters; the guys and gals on this site seem so genuine and decent!! I only hope to add to the knowledge base.

Ken aka Tampa_Wagonman

 

[WRDrew]

It's been a while.

Well, I sold the Forester last May. After 6 years of ownership, and 2020 being filled with thousands in repairs (head gaskets, wheel bearing, constant clutch issues after replacement) I decided to let the car go. One of my best friends bought it and is loving having the car as a weekend toy/jobsite rig.

I replaced it with a brand new 2021 Crosstrek Premium, which I've been having a fun time modifying slowly!

Last time they were together, but the wheels and tires live on:

As of last week, my wife and I added a Forester back into our stable after finding this pristine 2010 that was recently traded into a local Subaru dealer in Chicago. Up until a few weeks ago, it was a Florida car since new with a full carfax history of dealer maintenance! This thing is spotless and 100% rust free! Depending on what the wife allows, it may or may not stay stock. Really liking the SH chassis so far!

 

[WRDrew]

How did you attach the d-rings?

They bolt onto the factory tow hooks. I have a couple of pics one page back.

 

[WRDrew]

While binge watching Subaru's Launch Control (6th & 7th season) on Amazon Prime) and browsing this site, I came across this thread. Read the entire post from the 1st word thru page 19....awesome documentation and picture-work my friend 👍.

I bought an 01 Forester S last month and have a list of its various systems and how much upgrading will be required. I too would love to come across a set of door arches, rare like certain Spoon Sports parts for my previously sold 99 EM1. Or the even rarer stock, Canadian spec RED Integra Type R from seats, of which there were less than 250 sets in the entire world..... and Canada was the only country to receive them....and only for 2001!!!

So far I'm loving this wagon; I've been wanting one for over 20 years, and finally got lucky. Although not in the greatest of shape, the previous owner did a fine job of keeping up with maintenance. She has all I really wanted...no rust and a 3rd pedal!!! As a bonus she is an S model, so I have a decent set of stock wheels that will become a backup set. Any day now I will have to get all bushings and the linkage for the shifter...at 280K+ mileage, there is more slop than in a high school cafeteria lol. I attempting to finish shooting and post up some pics / video in the new members forum.

Keep up the great work WRDrew and all the other posters; the guys and gals on this site seem so genuine and decent!! I only hope to add to the knowledge base.

Ken aka Tampa_Wagonman

Thank you for the kind words! I wish you the best with your 01. They really are a very fun chassis to modify and drive. I definitely miss mine!

 

[WRDrew]

Moved to SH Thread

 

[WRDrew]

Moved to SH Thread

 

[WRDrew]

Throwback update as I'll be moving the SH content to a new thread in the near future:

Came across these photos of my old SF the other day. They're pre-BFG's and flares, but great pictures nevertheless!

 

[bobk25]

Throwback update as I'll be moving the SH content to a new thread in the near future:

Came across these photos of my old SF the other day. They're pre-BFG's and flares, but great pictures nevertheless!


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Wow! Just when i could finally afford to surf the web ..... sooo many changes.
Congs! on the new family, the new cars and sending the Pope mobile to a caring new home.
Luv what you did there with the wheels and the clean slate on maintenance stuff 💪

I still have my SF5 - going thru those pesky things to replace - wheel bearings, propeller shaft knuckles, steering control arms; one by one.

Looking forward to your SH thread.
I see the meaty tire fetish is still an issue ......

Happy New Year Drew 🤓

 

[WRDrew]

SH thread is live! This thread will be pretty rarely updated from here on out, but I do see the old Sf occasionally, so I will post pics when I get a chance to take them!

SH Thread

 

[WRDrew]

Wow! Just when i could finally afford to surf the web ..... sooo many changes.
Congs! on the new family, the new cars and sending the Pope mobile to a caring new home.
Luv what you did there with the wheels and the clean slate on maintenance stuff 💪

I still have my SF5 - going thru those pesky things to replace - wheel bearings, propeller shaft knuckles, steering control arms; one by one.

Looking forward to your SH thread.
I see the meaty tire fetish is still an issue ......

Happy New Year Drew 🤓

Hey Bob! I'm glad you still have your SF, and that you were able to get back on here! Thanks for the wishes of a happy new year, and I hope yours is off to a great start as well! Cheers!

 

[bobk25]

Low hanging fruit .......

TEN Crosstrek Modifications in 10 Minutes

😉

 

[WRDrew]

Low hanging fruit .......

TEN Crosstrek Modifications in 10 Minutes

😉

Oh man, as tempting as some of those mods are..

I won't be touching the suspension on the Crosstrek! I paid for the extended warranty, plus this is my first warranty I've ever had and I don't want to mess that up! haha.

Otherwise I have the methods, bfg's and rally armor urethane flaps on it already, so it's pretty much set up how I like it now.

 

[WRDrew]

I suppose I do have one final update for this build thread. It dawned on me that I had never posted pictures of the SF after my friend bought the car.

When he first told me he wanted to buy the car, I informed him that I planned on keeping the Methods and BFG's for my new (at the time) Crosstrek. He loved that setup, but he wanted to start his ownership off with a setup more his style.

So before he even came up to buy the car, he had these gold 15x7 Sparco wheels and General Grabber tires shipped to my house. It was pretty cool to see the car set up so differently as I was still getting used to my Crosstrek at the time.

Anyways, enjoy! I now regret never going gold on that car when I owned it!

 

[Ian.ian.ian]

I suppose I do have one final update for this build thread. It dawned on me that I had never posted pictures of the SF after my friend bought the car.

When he first told me he wanted to buy the car, I informed him that I planned on keeping the Methods and BFG's for my new (at the time) Crosstrek. He loved that setup, but he wanted to start his ownership off with a setup more his style.

So before he even came up to buy the car, he had these gold 15x7 Sparco wheels and General Grabber tires shipped to my house. It was pretty cool to see the car set up so differently as I was still getting used to my Crosstrek at the time.

Anyways, enjoy! I now regret never going gold on that car when I owned it!

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Hey Drew I know this an old thread but I'm hoping you see this I had a question. I'm about to start my build on an 01 SF and I was curious what your mpg was after the lift and tires mod? Hope you see this! Thanks brotha!

 

[WRDrew]

Hey Drew I know this an old thread but I'm hoping you see this I had a question. I'm about to start my build on an 01 SF and I was curious what your mpg was after the lift and tires mod? Hope you see this! Thanks brotha!

Hi Ian! Sorry for the response being a few months late. I don't get on here as much anymore.. I would say I lost probably at least 5mpg with the lift/tires/and rack. I have the same commute I've always had, and I now fill up about every week and a half in my Crosstrek, whereas in the Forester it was every 5-6 days. However, I also drove it pretty spiritedly given the fun of the 5-speed so that didn't help. If i was to guess, I'd say I averaged about 15mpg's.

The smiles per gallon were worth it though! It is still to this day the most complimented vehicle I've ever owned, even more often than my beautiful little 68 bug!

Make sure you post up some pics of your build! I'd love to follow your progress with it.

 

[WRDrew]

Also, just for fun here's a pic of my NEW Crosstrek that I picked up in December thanks to a texting driver totaling my white '21. Luckily my Methods survived and are now residing on the 3rd car haha.

Finally finished up my Bug this past winter too. Pretty stoked on it. Major labor of love between my dad and I to fully restore this thing. All running gear is brand new at this point, and I love the way it sits on the custom offset staggered smoothies. Cheers!

 

[Crdtk8]

Hey Drew I know this an old thread but I'm hoping you see this I had a question. I'm about to start my build on an 01 SF and I was curious what your mpg was after the lift and tires mod? Hope you see this! Thanks brotha!

For what its worth Ian, I have a 5-speed 07 with a 2" lift and a roof rack and average around 23 mpg. Planning on tires and a fair bit more mods, but I bought the ScanGuage II and use it to monitor my MPG and plan to quantify what each mod does to my miles per tank.

 

[WRDrew]

I wanted to post a little update to this thread, because I know a lot of people enjoyed following me build this lovely little car.

I wanted to let you all know that my best friend STILL owns it, and I see it and get to drive it frequently! This car is still very much loved! He added a leather hood bra last year, and I dig the hell out of it! Can't believe I never did that! I also made him a clear lexan fairing for the roof rack. I have the stickered-up one hanging in my garage on the wall now!

A few recent pics I've snapped of it from the last year:

Next to my (now slammed) Bug back in the summer!

In his driveway back in the fall:

Best,
Drew

P.S. if you are bored, check out my thread for my wife's Fozzy below! Not nearly as cool as my old SF, but I've enjoyed lightly modding and improving it!