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The Gray Goose - 6 Speeds of Fun

('06-'08) 
861K views 3K replies 251 participants last post by  2.5x_sleeper 
#1 · (Edited)
The Gray Goose - 513WHP / 6 Speed / Rotated Twin Scroll

December 31, 2007, started out as a typical day. We stopped in our local Subaru dealership and took a look around. We spotted a 2007, urban gray metallic, Forester XT. It was a dealer demo with 5,800 miles on it. We hopped in, took it for a spin and just had to have it. The plan was for this to be our new family hauler and to remain stock. However, the mod bug started to itch and of course we scratched. As of 2011, we have reached the point of no return to stock ever with our FXT. Is anyone really ever "finished"?

Here is how the Goose sits currently.

Pam's STI forester by dkfx photography, on Flickr


And a huge thanks to David Higgins for checking out the build at the 2013 Subaru Challenge!

IMG_4311new by Pam_Cakes_KY, on Flickr


SponsorsWe would like to thank the following companies for helping sponsor the build.

Subtle-Solutions For the hard to find Forester specific accessories.
Moore Performance Parts Our vendor for custom parts as well as friendly customer service.
Carbotron Composities Quality carbon fiber at a great price!
Grimmspeed The source for quality Subaru parts at a reasonable price with top notch quality.
KS Tech Manufacturer of some of the best intakes on the market.
Anarchy Motive The shift knob supplier of the Gray Goose!
Please take a minute and check out the sponsors above for awesome deals on Forester product!



Accomplishments
SubaruForester.org newsletter feature.
Forester of the month winner.
Forester of the year 2012
Top Scoob 025 trophy and Rally Armor flaps.
Modified Magazine Feature August 2013


Exhaust Systems and Upgrades
OEM Catback, STI OEM Catback and Extended Hangers
Traded a 20 oz Dew for this…
HKS Hi power turbo back
Turbo XS Turbo back.
Exhaust hanger rewelded for extension
Exhaust reinstalled with extension
STI header
Lightly porting the STI header
STI header VS FXT header and heat shield mod
No Name axle back system.
Video clip of the no name exhaust
P and L Motorsports Race Cat Back Exhaust
Moore Performance Catted Divorced Downpipe - Current
Grimmspeed Exhaust Gaskets - Current
P and L Motorsports Forester Specific Cat Back - Current

Suspension
WRX take off suspension
Swift springs
Moar swiftness
Sti Rear sway bar and stock endlink failure
Whiteline 27MM Front sway bar – Current
Whiteline 24MM Rear sway bar - Current
Rear subframe locking bolts - Current
Rear endlinks and Kartboy hangers - Current
Front Kartboy Endlinks - Current
STI alunimum control arms - Current
JDM STI pink spring install
Adding Zerk fitting to the suspension for lubrication. - Current
Primitive Racing rear diff protector. - Current
Subaru STI/SPT Pink Adjustable Struts with Pink Springs and Group N Top Hats. - Current



Engine Mods / Engine
Brand new VF48 and slightly used 08 TMIC - Current
2008 STI passenger side mounting bracket extension
Stylin Hose Kit
Gimmick turbo inlet
http://www.subaruforester.org/vbull...xt-build-thread-91796/index20.html#post882532 Samco inlet
P&L Intake
Dyno Sheet
SPT Oil Cap and Battery Tie Down
Intake manifold powder coated wrinkle red and APS turbo inlet. - Current
Intake manifold reinstalled with Perrin turbo inlet. - Current
Trying Subaru Synthetic motor oil.
Subtle-Solutions Alt cover / Rad shroud. - Current
Bending the Moore Performance Parts TMIC sprayer bar - Current
Dropping off more parts for custom powder coating - Current
Subtle-Solutions Radiator Shroud and Alternator cover.
GRIMMSPEED! - Current
Grimmspeed Crank Pulley
Grimmspeed 160 degree Theromstat
Grimmspeed 3 port EBCS with manual controller
Hyperflow TMIC
KS Tech 73MM Cold Air Intake
Metal coolant take powder coated.


Transmission Mods
B&M Tranny Cooler
Tranny Cooler Relocated here.
Trans cooler blew a hose.

6 Speed Swap photos
6 Speed Swap journey discussion thread – Current
R180 Rear Diff with STI Driveshaft and STI axles.
Exidy STI Replacement Clutch – Current
Group N Trans mount
Turn in Concepts shifter linkage bushings
Turn in Concepts rear end bushings
Kartboy shifter bushings and stay


Wheels and Tires
Stock Wheels
Stock Wheels V.2-2.5x_Sleeper style
Repainting the stock wheels
Stock wheels and BBK painted and installed
Adding a red lip to the stock wheels
BBS RK
STI Wheels
Rota Tarmac III
Winter Wheels
WRX wheels
Borrowed time wheels
Custom center caps
245/40/18 Hankook RS-3 Tires
Rota MXR 18x9.5 with RS-3 Tires.
Teaser of the MXR's
Video of the MXR's
2011 STI Enkei Wheels


Brakes
Painting the stock brakes red.
Big Brake Sleeper Kit Installed AKA Legacy GT brakes.
Repainted the Sleeper big brake kit.
Brake pad upgrade time for the Big Brake Sleeper kit. Akebono
P and L stainless brake lines.
More brake line photos.
[URL="http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/1261310-post1168.html"]Turn in Concepts master cylinder braces
Modifying the TiC master cylinder brace to fit the 07-08 XT Sports Auto brake lines.[/URL]
TIC modded MCB installed/ Custom license plate delete
Grimmspeed Master Cylinder Brace - Photos coming soon
2005 STI Brembos


Exterior Appearance Upgrades
OEM headlights and Canadian spec HID headlights
CDM HID manual level switch wiring
CDM level test video
CDM headlight wiring part 2
CDM headlight wiring part 3.
Blacking out the CDM housing and adding LED eyebrows.
RavSpec Carbon Fiber lip
GarageXTi Hood struts
Lightbar for behind the grille.
Hella off road lamps with custom aluminum lightbar
Hella install photos
JDM/Australia OEM headlight sprayers.
Headlight sprayer video with Pam_Cakes!
Headlight sprayers installed.
Tinkering with Audi headlight sprayer covers.
STI Diffuser
JDM STI Hood Scoop
Installing the rear diffuser
Rally Armor mud flaps.
Flat Black vinyl wrapped roof.

Interior Appearance Mods
2005 WRX seats
Adding seat heaters to the 2005 WRX seats
Seats installed in the FXT.
STI shift boot and shifter bezel surround
Modding the oem console for the STI boot/surround
OEM coin tray
Homelink Mirror with compass
Tint for the moonroof.
Clarion VX400 Touch screen DVD unit.
Back up camera
Navigation add on for Clarion VX400
Navigation and ipod install.
Radio relocation and back up camera install
Defi 60mm gauge install
Defi gauge controller and sending units
Building the Defi gauge mount.
Moar mount photos
And moar mount pics
Finish work on the mounting system
Drawing the gauge location on the mount
Version 1 lexan cover-Hinged
Dash and steering wheel taken apart
Boost gauge sending unit mounted under the hood
Carbon Fiber wrap
Shifter console wrap
Upper dash console wrapped
Gauges and Dash nearly complete
A better photo of the dash nearly complete.
My custom made ash tray bezel Version 1.
My custom made ash tray bezel Version 2.
STI petals
Radar Detector
Re-wrapping the console in 3M Carbon wrap.
Replacing the black WRX seats with Blue STI seats
Both STI seats installed
Teaser of the rear STI seats
TMIC sprayer switch installed.
Rear STI Seats installed


Custom Made Parts
Custom 2008 STI TMIC Splitter & Airbox
Custom air scoop for bumper (still in the works)
Part 1 - 2008 STI TMIC Splitter Prototype
Part 2 - Custom Airbox Prototype
Part 3 - Finished 2008 STI TMIC Splitter
3D model of Splitter
Part 4 - Installed Photos of 2008 STI TMIC Splitter & Test Fit Airbox Photos
Part 5 - Finished Airbox Install Photos
Powder Coating the custom parts
Final fitment of the custom parts
Exhaust extension
Mike's Custom block off plates for removal of secondary air system
Nasty OEM Cabin Filters
Handmade reusable cabin filters


Racing Events
Drag Racing
Whats quicker, 4EAT or 5 Speed?
VF48-4EAT runs 12’s!
AutoX
Road Course
RallyX
Subaru Challenge 2011.
Subaru Challenge 2011 v2.0
Subaru Challenge 2011 V3.0
Subaru Challenge 2011 V4.0
2012 Subaru Challenge
Aftermath of the autoX. Look at the tires!


Random Photos
Engine bay photo
Breaking 36,000 miles.
Compression check and injector swap
Freshly washed
The Goose getting detail love at Turn in Concepts.
Driveway photos of the 18x9.5 wheels
Lifting a tire pulling into the driveway.
Broken down.
Flawless Reflections cleaning up for a full detail.
Featured on Killboy.com blog for the Subaru Forester Deal's Gap Meet 2012
2012 Wicked Big Meet
150,001 journal views and counting
2012 Subaru Forester calendar entries
2011 Cincinnati Cavalcade of Customs indoor car show.
More photos from the 2011 Cavalcade of Customs

Photoshoots
Night Pics - LGT and FXT 01/2009
Niagara Falls, Canada – 10/2009
Triple Trouble – Subaru Forester XT Photo Shoot in Canada – 10/2009
1840s Ammo Factory – 10/2009
River Photos
We made the 2010 Calendar
Scooby Snow Day - 01/2010
US129-Tail of the Dragon-3-2010
Mid Ohio Grand Am race photos
Airport Hanger photoshoot.
Airport Hanger photoshoot part 2.
Airport Hanger photoshoot part 3
Cemetery photos
Bigwoofers Cemetery photos
Turn in Concepts detail day 3-2011
Driveway photos after the detail day
Tail of the Dragon v2.0 photos
Tail of the Dragon V2.0 Videos
Tail of the Dragon Killboy photos.
Flawless Reflections blog on his amazing work detailing The Gray Goose
Flawless Reflections cleaning up the Goose.

How to:
How to remove the rear bumper cover

Pam_Cakes 2010X premium
Adding our 2nd Forester to the family.
Both Foresters in the garage

Updated to page 73
 
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2
#400 ·
Im actually hoping to fit 2 or 3 60mm Defi gauges in there with the controller. I have a piece of 1/2 inch plastic from work with the framing to make it "shadowboarded" and plan to install a clear yet lightly tinted piece of plexi over the opening on a trick hinge....that was a mouthfull!
 
#406 ·
Since the photo above sucks, here are a couple slightly better.



Notice how I set the panel back into the opening.





I then took the oem radio mounting brackets and bent them like below for a mounting surface.



Next up is to drill the holes and then cover the part with ??? Im open to suggestions on on. After that I need to figure out a way to secure the Plexiglas cover I made to cover the entire opening.
 
#407 ·
#408 ·
Today was an exciting day so far. I set out with the goal of building the gauge rack. My plan was to make it Removable so I can remove it if I need to. I used the oem radio brackets and bent them inward for mounting points. They were bent outwards earlier but that proved to be the wrong direction for the materials I had on hand.

I must also note that I am using Gorilla glue for now to hold the plastic together and 4 small screws to mount the plastic to the radio brackets. Note to self, Gorilla glue will bond skin.....yikes.

Onto the photos.

Here you can see how its attached.





Note the screws slightly sticking thru the plastic. This will be covered by some sort of wrap so its no big deal.



A couple random shots of the mount so far.








Stay TUNED for further updates. Next up is to drill the gauge holes, cut the controller hole and work on the cover.
 
#413 ·
Another update, its been a busy day. I took Bobby's advice and grabbed a pencil and paper and drew up what I wanted to do.





Then I drilled out the holes and finished fitting the holder in place behind the dash cover. I chose not to angle it since the view from the drivers seat is really good.





And my view



Im off to work on the stealth cover. Photos of it will be up tomorrow.
 
#416 ·
Since I have been teasing everyone who follows my journal here is yet another teaser. I mounted the Lexan and kinda threw it all together for a couple photos. My 1st impression is that it looks badass. The lightly smoked glass makes the opening look less out of place compared to nothing, and I will bet the gauges can still be seen.

I still have to mount the magnetic catches and cover the pod with something as well as wire up the gauges and install everything. Here are a couple photos showing how it looks. I will say it looks 100x better in person.

Flash



No flash



Door shut



Door open

 
#427 ·
You are most likely correct, but Im worried about taking too much material off. I will continue this project over the weekend. Good news is that Im on nights and we can share Pam's forester.

My Defi Boost gauge arrived today so hopefully I will beable to get the gauge install finished by the weekend.
 
#428 ·
You're running 225/50/17 on those wrx wheels correct?
Did you use spacers?
Did the rears rub?

Sorry if its been posted already, I'm on a work computer and don't seem to see that info.

They look great, and I picked up a set and need to decide on what tires to get and what will fit.

Thanx
 
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