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· Registered
2006 V50 T5 6spd Manual
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3,061 Posts
Discussion Starter · #1 · (Edited)
On the road again... lifted, loud, and angrier than ever.

Car: MY'00 Outback (Base) 4EAT w/premium sound + Rear limited-slip differential (oddball option on the car)
Purchase Date: 8/14/2000
Purchase Location: Bremerton, WA
Mileage: 176,000, and counting (updated 1/5/12)

Mods: Updated 1/5/12

**Engine and Trans**
-Full 3" intake setup w/torque box mod, snorkel coming soon
-Borla replica UEL header, ported/polished
-Gutted stock catpipe
-Custom stainless 2.25" catback tucked into trans tunnel, glasspack muffler
-Painted stock intake mani wrinkle black
-Valve covers and injector guards shot in gloss black
-Ported/Gasket matched intake manifold
-Gasket matched and shaved heads (higher C/R)
-Gates Racing Timing Belt
-FelPro PermaTorque MLS head gaskets
-NGK Iridium Plugs
-Injectors cleaned, tested to new condition
-STI GroupN engine mounts
-Fully rebuilt 4EAT w/mods
-Centre diff lock switch
-Radiator fan shutoff switch (coming w/snorkel)
-Prosport Oil Pressure Gauge
-Prosport Oil Temperature Gauge
-Prosport Water Temperature Gauge
-Scangauge II displaying TPS, Water Temp, IAT, and Bat. Voltage
-Air conditioning delete (including condenser, etc)
-Shell Rotella T6 5W-40 engine oil
-Wix 51365 Oil Filter
-Subaru ATF-HP auto trans fluid
-Subaru OEM 4EAT filter

**Suspension and Rolling Stock**
-KYB GR-2 Struts
-Subaru OEM Subaru Baja front springs and Subtle Solutions spacers (+2" lift)
-RalliTEK Heavy Duty Rear Springs (+2" lift)
-Custom Alignment
-Axxis Ultimate Ceramic brake pads
-225-60-16 General Alitmax HP's on stock 10-spoke alloys
-Full size spare, roof mounted

**Interior/Exterior and lighting**
-MY'04 FXT 4EAT leather shift knob
-Pioneer DEH-P6000UB Head Unit
-Custom single DIN toggle switch panel
-RoadBlockR sound deadening in the hatch
-All weather front floor mats
-Subaru A/W rear floor mats
-Custom aluminum front skid plate
-Thule crossbars
-cheap Swagman bike rack
-DRL delete + GE Tungsram Selective Yellow H1 lowbeams
-Trailer hitch + various balls/hooks for towing/offroading
-Front tow hook cover removed, hook painted red


TABLE OF CONTENTS:


-The story, and the first detail job (You are HERE *big red dot*)

-Hawkeye WRX rim's (just a photoshop...)

-'04 FXT 4EAT Leather Shift Knob

-Comparison with '09 Outback, and Foglight rockguards removed

-Mystery box arrives, and what's inside

-HomeDepot hybrid CAI (for MAP Subbies)

-First pic with the new suspension setup, I say good-bye to the car for a few months

-Adding some more parts to the MOD box!

-I'm not a parts-whore... I swear...

-It's BACK!

-Permatex Headlight Restoration

-Custom Lightbar installed

-'07 FSXT 6CD Changer

-Borla Replica header installed

-Link to my Hella wiring mess, and Bbottomley's helpful expertise

-Just some more pics!

-Magnaflow muffler painted, ready for catback install!

-Soundclip of new stainless catback

-Got some SNOW!

-RoadBlockR Sound Deadening

- Protection for the dangly bits...

-Bad news :(

-Axxis Ultimate Ceramic brake pads

-eBay Swagman Bike Rack installed

-Trip to Paris Landing State Park, BattleWagon turns 150k miles young

-Spring Cleaning, and undercoating! :smile:

-Finished up the Pioneer install, painted my shifter surround

-Got tint!

-Subtle Solutions front lift installed

-Couple pics from the alignment shop

-Ordered the new engine

-Scangauge II installed

-Starting the engine replacement!

-Finished pics!

-Murphy's law... I get torque bind and a failed transmission clutch pack, as well as a new throttle position sensor.

-The TuRD... my transportation while the Scooby is in the shop!

-All fixed up, showing off the new shoes!

-A loose wire leads to another trip to a different dealer, and a tow truck along the way.

-GE Tungsram Gold (Selective-Yellow) Low Beam Bulbs

- DIY Intake V2... 3 inch, modded airbox!

- Painted my 'new' spare set of wheels.








[story snipped to save space... shoot me PM for details... lol)



First mod... resonator deletes! Eventually I will get a different tube to replace the piece between the scoop and the airbox, but for now, it adds a little more growl. I neatly sealed off the holes with electrical tape. Ghetto-tastic.

Before:



After:




Next, I removed the silly piece of plastic that Subaru put in front of the intake scoop to deflect air away from it.





Now, for my first appearance mod. This may not seem like a mod, but it certainly made a difference in the way the car looks. The paint's clearcoat was contaminated with all sorts of stuff, from old wax buildup to waterspots to ground in road grime, you name it. It gave the car an odd grey-ish tint. :huh:

Today I was determined to remove the aforementioned 'tint', and make her shine again.

First step was removing the bug deflector, and doing a two-bucket wash. Here's what it looked like after that:


Then, I claybarred the entire car. The clay took out most of the surface stuff that was left behind, but the paint still felt rough to the touch. So I broke out the Griot's/Porter Cable buffer and Meguiar's Swirl X for a test spot. Here's a pic of the spot:


After verifying that the method worked, I started working my way across the hood. Here you can see that the right edge of the hood is whiter than the rest. :icon_razz: I love seeing progress being made.


After that, I added a coat of Meguiars Gold Class wax for protection. I'll follow up with another coat of NXT 2.0 Tech Wax once I get some at the store later. Then I moved on to the interior... sorry, no before pics, just an after:


I <3 big gauges...


After pics of the exterior (total time invested: 12 hours):










More to come, I have some fun stuff in mind. :biggrin:
 

· Super Moderator
2004 Forester XT Premium 4EAT
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27,731 Posts
Wow, killer detailing job!

Can you come to CA and do my cars too? :biggrin: They're so neglected...
 

· Registered
2003 XS MT
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5,633 Posts
Fantastic!

I love a good detail job, altho I have to say I despise doing interiors, so mine is always dirty on the inside.

Don't ya just love the Tech Wax? I'm a huge fan.
 

· Registered
Ah crap.. I'm back with my 05 XS
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7,923 Posts
OOooohh soo pretty...

I never understood why Subaru didn't stick with that style airbox for the Forester and instead had us take air from the engine bay...
 

· Registered
2006 V50 T5 6spd Manual
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3,061 Posts
Discussion Starter · #7 · (Edited)
Fantastic!

I love a good detail job, altho I have to say I despise doing interiors, so mine is always dirty on the inside.

Don't ya just love the Tech Wax? I'm a huge fan.
I loooove TechWax! I put it on my car, run through a mud puddle at 30mph, drive home, hose off the car, and it looks spotless. :lol:


Yeah, this style airbox makes more sense to me as far as intake temps go, I'm going to put some foil tape on the underside where it rests against the radiator to help keep it cool. One of the guys on So_Org said that the little flap was to keep water out, but it only covered a small section of the intake, so I don't think it will be too much of a problem (there are lots of little drain holes in the bottom of it anyways).

Next on my list: RalliTek heavy duty rear springs, and new front struts. I'm gonna have to detail a few more cars for some neighbors before that happens.
 

· Registered
2018 XT & 2010 X
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2,123 Posts
Congrats! Great looking car, and we've always liked Outbacks too!

I agree on replacing all 4 struts at once.
 

· Registered
2006 V50 T5 6spd Manual
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3,061 Posts
Discussion Starter · #10 ·
Thanks guys. :)


I may just do all of them... we'll see. It's more a $$$ issue than anything, I'm having to acquire things one at a time. Lucky I'm very mechanically inclined, so I can do all of the work myself.
 

· Registered
2006 Forester XT Limited 4EAT
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1,705 Posts
I think you could seriously pay your way around North America with the way you detail. Make sure to stop in SoCal.
You will have one lucky Foz if you ever make the switch!
BTW, if you are just out of high school and starting college, you are very well written to boot.
 

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2018 XT & 2010 X
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2,123 Posts
True dat. Similar intro story:

Our first Subaru was a 95 Legacy Outback. You know, the first year of the Outback when it really was just a legacy with a sticker kit (to look like body molding, lol!). My wife loved that car, and we drove through some crazy snow in it (in Boone/Mountain City).

When our daughter came along, my 2-door pickup wasn't going to cut it, so Subie shopping we went. I almost walked away with a 98 (I think) Legacy GT wagon. Black, 5-speed, sunroof, and those snowflake wheels I loved so much. The only reason I chose the 99 Forester was it was cheaper and looked like it had really been taken care of.

The rest is history, here I am in my second Forester now! Would have never known about the secret that is the XT if I had ended up with that Legacy GT.

Again, glad for you. Where you going to college?
 

· Registered
Ah crap.. I'm back with my 05 XS
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7,923 Posts
Kansas State. The Wildcats. NICE Aviation program (says an Aviation major :> .. take advantage of those rental rates you get. $94 for a C172 is pretty killer. It was $125 for us 2 years ago. Lowest is about $80 ish but you might have a flying club like we did that offers even lower rates.).
 

· Registered
2006 V50 T5 6spd Manual
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3,061 Posts
Discussion Starter · #15 ·
I think you could seriously pay your way around North America with the way you detail. Make sure to stop in SoCal.
You will have one lucky Foz if you ever make the switch!
BTW, if you are just out of high school and starting college, you are very well written to boot.
Thanks! Trust me, the thought has crossed my mind. I could do a Forester Detailing Tour.

Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia. ~E.L. Doctorow

:icon_wink:


True dat. Similar intro story:

Our first Subaru was a 95 Legacy Outback. You know, the first year of the Outback when it really was just a legacy with a sticker kit (to look like body molding, lol!). My wife loved that car, and we drove through some crazy snow in it (in Boone/Mountain City).

When our daughter came along, my 2-door pickup wasn't going to cut it, so Subie shopping we went. I almost walked away with a 98 (I think) Legacy GT wagon. Black, 5-speed, sunroof, and those snowflake wheels I loved so much. The only reason I chose the 99 Forester was it was cheaper and looked like it had really been taken care of.

The rest is history, here I am in my second Forester now! Would have never known about the secret that is the XT if I had ended up with that Legacy GT.

Again, glad for you. Where you going to college?
I'm just glad I happened upon this forum; I've learned so much in so little time, it's amazing!

v -What he said.- v

Kansas State. The Wildcats. NICE Aviation program (says an Aviation major :> .. take advantage of those rental rates you get. $94 for a C172 is pretty killer. It was $125 for us 2 years ago. Lowest is about $80 ish but you might have a flying club like we did that offers even lower rates.).
Yeah, I'm really excited. My cousin is doing a flight program at OU (albeit not an aviation major) and when he saw the K-State rental rates, he said, "I'm changing schools! :huh: "


If any of you were to choose a particular strut replacement, what would you go with? $OEM, Monroe, KYB? I think Sachs makes them too. I want to keep the stock ride height, but would like to make the car feel a bit more neutral. I know the stiffer rear springs and a stiffer RSB will help, but I don't know how a new set of shocks will affect it. :icon_confused:
 

· Registered
2006 V50 T5 6spd Manual
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3,061 Posts
Discussion Starter · #17 ·
KYB's for all four corners $315.33 shipped from Rockauto. :biggrin: Gosh I love them.

Will be detailing a modded LGT on Monday, then I should have the moolah.

Anything else I should do while I'm in there? I'm gonna toss on the HD springs while everything's apart.
 

· Registered
2006 V50 T5 6spd Manual
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3,061 Posts
Discussion Starter · #19 · (Edited)
Retarded question: The JDM HID's for the Legacy/OB are aimed differently than the USDM non HID ones, correct? So I can't use them? :(

I wonder how hard it is to 'clear' the USDM headlights... hrmmm. Mine are pitted pretty badly from rocks on the freeway. I saw a set of these on a Baja in Germany a few weeks ago, and they were awesome!

 

· Administrator
2007 Forester Sports XT 4EAT
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43,974 Posts
Great detailing job & I enjoyed reading your journal! :cool:

Bobby...
 
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