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Bobby's WRB '07 FSXT

('06-'08)
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1.8M views 1.8K replies 154 participants last post by  2.5x_sleeper  
#1 ·
Notice - with the recent site upgrade, my Member Journals have been seriously messed up! The "Table of Contents" links are "hit or miss," but the posts can still be located by the "Post #" shown on the link.
Click to expand...
The Table of Contents for my Member Journal can be found on ► Post #124. This thread keeps growing, so to make it easier to navigate (skip over the chitchat), I added a Table of Contents with links to the main posts.

July 2, 2009​

Thank you for taking the time to look over my Member Journal, or MODding Journal, as I call it (literary license). Your comments, questions, or suggestions are always welcome. Post them here or send me a PM.

June 29, 2009 - The beginning!​

First, thanks to Ian, @Arthrogrian19, for helping me find my next project, Forester. I'd been looking for over a year for my next project, Forester. It's way newer than I wanted; I had my heart set on a low-mile '04 XT. Of course, I spent more than my budgeted amount, but who could pass on a low-mileage '07 Forester Sports XT in WRB!

After contacting the seller for details, with check in hand, my son & I drove up to Shoreline, WA (North of Seattle, WA) to look over the Forester. The Forester was parked in my driveway before dark!

The '07 FSXT is not perfect, being preowned, but with just a bit over 21K miles, it still smells like new (detail spray?) & runs perfectly. It's 100% stock, with the exception of a set of Kumho tires the dealership just installed.

I wanted to get more pictures, but the camera batteries died & the backup set let us down. :frown:

Okay, on to the pictures, with me thinking... what to do first! Perhaps that should be what to do second since I just ordered a set of floor mats!

Bobby...
Below are the first pictures of the Forester taken at the dealership.

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Here's how my retirement project looks now! You'll have to look over my Member Journal for all the details.

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The Table of Contents for my Member Journal can be found ► here. (post #124)

['07 FSXT Member Journal] ['03 X Member Journal]
 

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#1,159 ·
Nice looking parts Bobby! I really like the look of the limited grille after it's been painted black. The Sports grille is a pain the clean.

Aren't your current headlights pitted or scratched or something? I like the OEM black headlights, but I preferred the appearance of my black painted housings on my 07 X. I painted the entire housing, whereas the OEM black housings still have some chrome.
 
#1,161 ·
Bobby's WRB '07 FSXT Member Journal - 1 year anniversary!

To mark the 1 year milestone of my Member Journal, I decided a screen snapshot was in order! :cool:

To all the forum members & guests that took the time to look over my Member Journal, "Thank You"! :biggrin:

Bobby...

July 2, 2009 - July 2, 2010
(11:35 AM)

65,209 Views!
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The Table of Contents for my Member Journal can be found :icon_arrow: here. (post #124)
 
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#1,163 ·
Thanks! :biggrin:

I still have lots of MODding to do, so the Journal will continue to grow! :cool:

Bobby...

The Table of Contents for my Member Journal can be found :icon_arrow: here. (post #124)
 
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#1,164 · (Edited)
Fuel tank door area - RUSTING!

I found this last year & I thought I'd fixed it. Over the winter it came back! I have a low tolerance for any rusting on my vehicles, so it was time to tackle this problem again. The last time I just scraped, cleaned (degreased) & hit it with touch-up paint. This time I scraped, cleaned (degreased) & primed the rusted area with Rust-Oleum rusty metal primer (7769). After letting the primer dry for several days, I painted over it with touch-up paint. Time will tell if I was successful this time. :icon_eek:

Bobby...

Here's what the rusting looks like. Not too bad, but you know how rust can spread if it's not addressed!
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► Update! ◄​
If I have it to do again, I wouldn't buy the Rust-Oleum Rusty Metal primer in a pint can, as it's drys out in the sealed can! :mad:
I'll buy this paint in a "rattle can" & use the Q-tip method to apply the paint.

The upper picture shows the Rust-Oleum rusty metal primer. It comes in a spray can, which I always have a couple cans on hand, but for some applications, a 1/2 pint can is the way to go. I used an art paintbrush to apply it. The lower picture shows the area masked off. The masking isn't needed, but I figured if I got sloppy, I'd be covered. :wink:
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Here's a picture after the Rust-Oleum rusty metal primer is applied. The area was scraped & degreased (cleaned) before the primer was applied.
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Here’s the finished job with 2 coats of touch-up paint over the primer.
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The Table of Contents for my Member Journal can be found :icon_arrow: here. (post #124)
 

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#1,166 ·
Thanks! :biggrin:

I'll be happy if that's the end of the "creeping crud"! :icon_eek:

Bobby...

The Table of Contents for my Member Journal can be found :icon_arrow: here. (post #124)
 
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#1,167 ·
Reading this journal from start to finish has literally taken me 5 days to complete!:icon_eek: Amazing work Bobby, and the details will certainly help me in a few years when the mods begin on my '11! Can't wait to see what else you do. Your journal like a color Haynes(or Chilton) manual for modders!:biggrin:

Keep up the awesome work my friend! :Banane35:

Marc
 
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#1,168 ·
Thanks for the feedback! As I always say, sharing the MODding experience is as much fun as doing the actual MOD. :biggrin:

I have a stack of MODding parts for the '07, but right now my son & I are redoing the AVO Turbo Kit in the '03 X, so the '07 is on the "back burner". :frown:

Bobby...

The Table of Contents for my Member Journal can be found :icon_arrow: here. (post #124)
 
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#1,170 ·
Got to watch those drinks! Anything can start looking good after a few drinks... especially the ladies. :icon_eek:

Bobby...

The Table of Contents for my Member Journal can be found :icon_arrow: here. (post #124)
 
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#1,172 ·
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#1,173 ·
70,000 Views!

I found my Member Journal on 70,000 Views this morning, so I saved a screen snapshot! :cool:

Bobby...
July 27,2010
70,000 Views!
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The Table of Contents for my Member Journal can be found :icon_arrow: here. (post #124)
 
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#1,176 ·
Thanks! :biggrin:

As I always say, half the fun in MODding is to share the experience. :cool:

Bobby...

The Table of Contents for my Member Journal can be found :icon_arrow: here. (post #124)
 
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#1,179 ·
Hmmm... perhaps if it leaned forward, but doesn't leaning backwards subtract hp? :wink:

Bobby...
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The Table of Contents for my Member Journal can be found :icon_arrow: here. (post #124)
 
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#1,183 ·
Sports grille to Limited grille swap!

This may seem odd to you, but I've never liked the Sports grille from the first day I saw it. I disliked it even more when the pollen started to fall & it settled into all those crevices! :mad:

I purchased the Limited grille from Jackie, SubaruPartsGirl, a supporting vendor here on the forum. I live on the West coast & I buy my Subaru parts from her!
Subaru calls it a GRILLE ASSY
  • Forester Sports - GRILLE ASSY FSG - 91121SA140 ($225)
  • Forester Limited - GRILLE ASSY A - 91121SA082 ($225)
I'm not going to do a step-by-step write up on the removal & installation. It's very easy & requires no special tool. Having a set of plastic trim removal tool makes the job easier, but it's not required. 😉

► Update! ◄​
After nearly a year, I decided to reinstall the Sports grille. First I decided to give it a through cleaning. The Sports grille is a PITA to clean, compared to the Limited (standard) grille! It took me, what seemed like forever, to clean the crap out of all the nooks & crannies. I used an old tooth brush & Q-Tips... way too much trouble! :icon_eek:
Click to expand...
Bobby...
Here's a comparison of the Sports & the Limited grille.
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The upper picture shows the Sports grille on the Forester & the lower picture shows the Limited grille installed.
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Here's a last picture for an overall view. IMO the Limited grille brightens up the front of the Forester & the cleaning the grille is so much easier! :cool:
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The Table of Contents for my Member Journal can be found :icon_arrow: here. (post #124)

['07 FSXT Member Journal] ['03 X Member Journal]
 

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#1,187 ·
That's the fun of MODding, making the Forester the way we want it. :wink:

You must not get much pollen where you live. Here, it gets "BAD"! I had to use a bottle brush & toothbrush to clean the pollen out of the Sports grille crevices! :icon_eek:

Wessneroo said:
Everything looks great!

Question though... What are you doing with that Sports grille?
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Tuned200 said:
Knowing Bobby, he will Hoard it....LOL. I kid I kid.
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I'm trying to cut back on my Hoarding... still... :icon_eek:

I have to admit I still have the tail lights off the '03 X, but I kinda of like them. I did sell the chrome ones off this Forester. :wink:

As to the Sports grille, I'm going to hold on to it for awhile. :wink:

Bobby...

The Table of Contents for my Member Journal can be found :icon_arrow: here. (post #124)
 
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#1,188 · (Edited)
Detailed & waxed! - Summer 2010

Here's my retirement project freshly waxed with Mother's California Gold Carnauba wax. The plastic & rubber parts have been treated with Mother's Back-to-Black. :biggrin:

Bobby...

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The Table of Contents for my Member Journal can be found :icon_arrow: here. (post #124)
 
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