Subaru Forester Owners Forum banner

The BattleWagon -- Mud's Outback

154449 Views 761 Replies 62 Participants Last post by  abacall
12
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:
See less See more
  • Like
Reactions: 1
421 - 440 of 762 Posts
Looking good! Glad to hear everything appears to be in order. :cool:

I know what you mean about dealership kinda sorta detail jobs... they usually let it air dry & leave a ton of water spots. :frown:

I think you were wise to go with 225 tire. I've heard that 235 tires could cost you miles per gallon :wink:

Bobby...

['07 FSXT MODding Journal] ['03 X MODding Journal]
These guys actually hand washed and towel-dried it... even did the wheels and used tire shine. It looked pretty decent... I just wiped over it with some of the new NuFinish Cling quick wax before I took the pics (it's due for a wax job soon).

Glad the wagon is back on the road again Zach. Remember you can come down to GA to help break it in some more and while you're at it sort of do a nice and easy detail on Scooby for me. :biggrin:
I've got a little less than two weeks left here! :frown: Trying to get up to Raleigh to do a detail day with Patrick before we go, but these last two weeks are going to be busy.

increased gas mileage is always a win
True, but these are the most narrow-running 225's I've ever seen. They almost look like a 215. I generally like more meat on my tires for cornering and offroading and such, but these will do well on the long trips from Tennessee to Kansas back to Tennessee and to North Carolina every year for college.
Oh, and in case anyone remembers the story behind this car....

This car, over the past year and a half has accrued over $9,000 in repair bills. /facepalm.
I'm really lucky to get 21 mpg in the forester lol
^Well... I've seen mine hit 16mpg before. lol That was a fast tank.
They way I drive, 16mpg is average! Smiles per gallon I guess.

Glad everything is back to normal, or better than normal now with the new engine and all that other work. Your Outback is looking real good.
I stopped checking my gas mileage when I got a turbo & had to use premium fuel! :icon_eek:

Bobby...

['07 FSXT MODding Journal] ['03 X MODding Journal]
They way I drive, 16mpg is average! Smiles per gallon I guess.

Glad everything is back to normal, or better than normal now with the new engine and all that other work. Your Outback is looking real good.
Haha, there is nothing wrong with 16mpg if you're having fun and are willing to pay for it. :biggrin: I enjoy driving like that sometimes, but I also like to keep track of MPG since my car has (or had :woohoo: ) a lot of miles on it, and MPG trends can show potential issues ahead of time.

I stopped checking my gas mileage when I got a turbo & had to use premium fuel! :icon_eek:

Bobby...

['07 FSXT MODding Journal] ['03 X MODding Journal]
I would too. After all... the point of the turbo is to make it more fun, not more efficient. :biggrin:
2
Anyone care...

Anyone care to guess why dad's car is sitting in the driveway getting pelted with rain as I type this, and mine is in the garage? :lol:

(lol... it has multiple lil' wubbies to keep it safe from that toxic stuff called water)




I did a full detail on it today! 8 hours... and my paint is still shot (the clearcoat is just beyond repair from waterspots and UV rays after sitting outside for 7 of 10 years). It hasn't failed, but it is etched more than I could correct with a buffer and some heavy compound. Wetsanding could work, but I don't want to mess with that. Also refinished the headlights with a different kit... results look better.



See less See more
Now that's what a detail job should look like! Great job! :cool:

BTW, is that a Griot's Garage bag I see there? :confused:

Bobby...

['07 FSXT MODding Journal] ['03 X MODding Journal]
^ That it is... the 6" Random Orbital Bag, with the 3" as well. :smile:
2
Just because I'm bored...



See less See more
^ That it is... the 6" Random Orbital Bag, with the 3" as well. :smile:
I had to get a second bag when I bought the redesigned 3" orbital. They don't offer an upgrade trade in, but they did give me 10% off! Now the 6" orbital has it's own bag. :wink:

Bobby...

['07 FSXT MODding Journal] ['03 X MODding Journal]
Looks very good. I did my wife's Legacy today as it was in dire need. Clayed, a very light compound, and a coat of wax, but damned if it didnt make a heck of a difference.
4
^Even just clay and wax can make a huge difference. :smile: My car stays outside all the time, usually in the sun, so keeping the paint protected is a pet peeve of mine.

Some pics by the pier at the end of our road...







See less See more
Damn dude nice pics! I need to hire you to detail my subie sometime, lol
Love the pictures! :cool:

When you claybar, do use the the attachment (claybar pad) for the orbital? What do you use to to wet down the area? :confused:

Bobby...

['07 FSXT MODding Journal] ['03 X MODding Journal]
I don't have the little pad attachment for the clay, but my uncle does. I don't like it very much... you can't feel the resistance as it slides across the paint to judge if it's clean, and if you lift up the buffer slightly on accident.... you will have flying clay! :eek: I use whatever the cheapest quick detailer I can find is for a lubricant.

Damn dude nice pics! I need to hire you to detail my subie sometime, lol
Thanks Scooby! :smile: Only if I get to drive it. :biggrin:
I don't have the little pad attachment for the clay, but my uncle does. I don't like it very much... you can't feel the resistance as it slides across the paint to judge if it's clean, and if you lift up the buffer slightly on accident.... you will have flying clay! I use whatever the cheapest quick detailer I can find is for a lubricant.
Thanks for the info! I have a Griot's Garage claybar, but I have to admit I've never used it. Like your OB, our vehicles are always outside, so they need some TLC. :wink:

Bobby...

['07 FSXT MODding Journal] ['03 X MODding Journal]
^ the Griot's claybar is a very nice product. :smile: Give it a try!
Peeerrrrrrty!
421 - 440 of 762 Posts
Top