WRX USA

7 minutes ago, 310Z said:

I am scheduled for 2-13-20 to drive a 100 miles drop off my wheels and get a set of Michelin Pilot PS2  225-45-17 installed on my SSR GT7  7.5x17 -50 offset, then I drop off the LGT to have the windows tinted. Think I will go with a 50% tint. Walk across the street to a doctors appointment. Walk back and pick up the car, then the tires and wheels and then a 100 mile return trip home. Then I will post some photos of the results. 

The wheels and tires are not going on the car until springtime in the mountains as the tires are a summer only tire and I don't want to mess up the newly refinished wheels. 

Are you telling us about something that happened almost 4 years ago and if so how did it go? Or, are you talking about next Tuesday?

These gaskets come with an exhaust:

https://www.japanparts.com/parts/detail/?id=20178

You may want to look at a coating like this: https://swaintech.com/race-coatings/race-coating-descriptions/white-lightning-exhaust-coatings/

18 minutes ago, DoctorDaveLGT said:

@shralp Yep that's pretty much it. It's a little tight getting to the bottom screws in the back but not terrible. Two harnesses to disconnect and that's it.

I also didn't do this myself but the S402 exhaust tips got installed on the Q300 mufflers today. Feels a little sacrilegious to chop up those mufflers but I am LOVING the end result.

Looks great! 
 

I’m sure you already know this, but the garnish that comes with those tails maintains the line across the back.

https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/u1079117248

I have the same JDM rear garnish as you but I’m running Valenti’s that don’t have any thing that matches with OEM. I did squirrel away a set of the tails that you have with this other garnish though.

On 1/31/2024 at 10:22 AM, seanyb505 said:

Man that's awful. I don't have any trees near my driveway, but I make certain my household lets our cars sleep in the garage. 

 

What condition is that dash in? 

The dash didn’t make it…

One of my neighbor’s had their house and NA Outback smashed by trees in the storms here a couple weeks ago. Of course, after this newspaper article they also had it burglarized.

https://www.oregonlive.com/weather/2024/01/massive-falling-trees-destroy-portland-couples-house-making-them-feel-like-they-were-in-superhero-movie.html?outputType=amp

24 minutes ago, DoctorDaveLGT said:

@KZJonny Yes, the GS bracing is still compatible with the STI MC. I swapped the STI master cylinder in mine with all the other brake work but I haven't had a chance to test it personally yet since we're doing a bunch of other things at the same time and just consistently crappy weather recently. I personally hated the feel of the LGT brakes the first time driving the car back after purchase. Every car I've owned has had better brake feel short of my '99 Jeep XJ, ymmv.

@SoobyDoobyDoo Things are moving. Dropped off the wing, bumper, skirts, and mirror garnishes for paint this morning and should be done early next week. Picking up a new dashboard from Subaru within the next few hours and running it up to shop later tonight. That was a last minute audible, he had the entire dash apart working on other wiring and I just decided to get the new one since the sticky is creeping in on mine and what better time. I personally wanted to try and tackle this one but I don't foresee any free time between tax season and baby #2 due in May.

Be sure to swap the VIN plate on the dash over. When I got mine swapped under the sticky dash warranty replacement they forgot to remove the VIN plate which luckily I noticed and they were able to save from the trash but they gave it to me in a bag.

15 minutes ago, Enlight said:

I actually just sealed mine with foil backed butyl. When taking off my rear bumper I found the flaps were stuck open and letting exhaust into the cabin. I believe their purpose is to prevent wind buffeting but I just open my rear windows a crack.

https://jalopnik.com/heres-what-those-rubber-flaps-are-hidden-behind-your-re-1828016409#:~:text=One of the reasons that,and make noises as air

Seems like with enough warning prior to the trip you could increase your AAA/CAA membership to include longer towing distances.

@DoctorDaveLGT One other thing I forgot that you’ll want to get with the reclining seats is the tonneau cover that has a flap that extends towards the back of the rear seats and is spring loaded to stay in place and slide back with the seats.

You can probably find a better condition one than this, but here is an example: https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/t1105929991

In addition to Buyee, which is easy to use because the link is at the top of every listing, I've used https://myjapanbrand.com/ which I found on the JapanParts.com page and https://importmonster.com.au/. There are some items that Buyee won't allow you to purchase and the other buying services are helpful for those items.

Yahoo Japan auctions has always been my go to.

1 hour ago, DoctorDaveLGT said:

@WRX USA I did or at least I think I did if we're thinking about the same thing. Part #'s I ordered are below. I found it pretty neat how simple the whole mechanism/operation is. I bet I'll need to do the rivnut as well, we did a quick check of holding it to the spot and it did look like 1 of the spots needed something, other 2 lined up with existing striker mount point.

R - 64375AG100, L - 64375AG110

 

Those are them!

2 minutes ago, DoctorDaveLGT said:

@alex0856, @WRX USA said it well. To add, the rear seat power fold is just a one way function to fold the seats from the cargo area. You'd still have to go to each seat and lift them manually to put them back up. The cargo trim I got also came from a rear seat recline option car and that is actually very simple to retrofit in as you just need the adj striker from Subaru and the rear seat bolster with the button built in to actuate it. If you're going to go this route it would be easiest to buy a JDM rear seat set since the power actuator is located within it. You can tell if it has the actuator in them because you'll see a harness coming out of each side of the seat. But I do have spare actuator pieces if you're interested in trying to retrofit them in your current seats.

I also mostly see the cargo fans in tan but black ones do pop up from time to time on the auctions. There was one that just sold this morning actually. It extracts air from the rear and pushes it out through the pressure vent that's located under the bumper.

The fishing pole accessory he mentioned is pretty slick.

Did you get the brackets for the rear seats that mount to the body and allow the three recline positions? I remember installing a rivnut in the body to install it.

1 hour ago, alex0856 said:

Is that footwell lighting plug and play?

I also have questions about the cargo fan and power folding seats...sounds like more things for me to buy. Where does the rear cargo fan go/what does it do? And the power folding seats, is it just like a button that auto folds the rear seats?

The footwell lighting does require some splicing, although it does have a harness connection on it.

Cargo fan goes in the rear left, opposite side of the subwoofer. I think it was intended for people that go fishing and have stinky fish in the back. Subaru also have an accessory fishing pole rack that goes on the inside along the headliner. I've only ever seen the cargo fan with tan interior plastics.

The power folding rear seats are reclinable and spring loaded, so when you press the button at the back the seat automatically folds flat.

On 1/3/2024 at 7:34 AM, DoctorDaveLGT said:

Getting ready for the JDM bumper. Had to notch out a few places on the mounts that slide into the frame but otherwise fits great. Since I won't need the muffler tip extensions anymore I picked up some S402 mufflers off the auctions to cannibalize and have the tips welded onto the Invidia for those sweet embossed STI logo's.

In other news and in typical fashion for me, I got inspired, or spiraled depending on who you ask, to start & finish up some long-term desired projects so ordered some more parts from Japan. Going to add the rear seat recline option along with the power fold buttons in the rear cargo trim. Also going to install the JDM cargo fan option, Subaru OEM footwell lighting after swapping LED color, get the power folding mirror harness installed, and finally get the steering wheel controls to work from my 11-14 STI wheel swap I did years ago. Going to have a nice long list of items to update my build thread with.

Hope everyone had a great New Years and Happy Year of the Wagon, sorry Dragon!

Are these the OEM footwell lights that you have?

32 minutes ago, ChicagoSam said:

indeed it's a different part. So the Bride cancels the airbag op' while the one I posted keeps the airbag active/operational at all times even if there's no one in the seat( is my understanding?- I may be off of course-its all new to me)

I may be out of my wheelhouse trying to heat the Recaro's with the hem stuff as you did- that's sweet.

The one you posted should make the passenger dash airbag functional only when the sensor “sees” enough weight to set it off, typically 30-40 pounds. The Bride one “tricks” the airbag system into thinking that the side impact air bag in the seat is still connected. It shouldn’t defeat the airbag in the dash. 

12 minutes ago, ChicagoSam said:

Found this guy in Ireland that makes occupancy seat weight sensors for the aftermarket Recaro/Sparco/Konig seats airbag prob. More expensive than the Bride option above(thanks again Sccoby) but thought it was neat there's a few options out there.

 

 

This is a different part. My 2009 OBXT could have used this. I transferred the sensor from my OEM seat, along with the heated seat elements, and installed them in my STi Recaro’s that have side impact air bags.

Great to see that the market is strong on cleanly modded OBXT’s. I consider selling mine from time to time.

1 hour ago, SoobyDoobyDoo said:

Those seats are awesome!!! I’d love a recaro for my drivers seat. 

Found this a while back thought I’d share…also thanks @WRX USA for sharing that thread.

 

Recaro also makes universal resistor kits for side airbags. That’s what I got for my WRX

12 minutes ago, ChicagoSam said:

Decided to not go with the S402 seats-I was never a fan of the grey two-tone and could foresee sliding  around in corners like in my old GT leather seats.

I’ve had some Recaro’s ( bought pre-covid when international shipping prices were sane) that just fit the black interior better(imo) than the OEM S402s. Recaros bolted in without Recaro rails( I have lhd/rhd set if anyone needs some) and kept the cars original belts. Just need to hunt the forums for “turn off the airbag light when switching seats ect) and all should be well again in the dash.

Miss the heat and power options this time of year but I’ll take it. The Recaros are very comfortable and keep me planted in all driving conditions.

Also picked up another turbo for the winter build. My current VF51 is fine but a back-up is always a good thing. 
 

This month the car decided to let it’s power steering pump go, so for now the latest work is replacing it. Costly little buggers. (Subaru  OEM )

Are you going to replace with the tighter ratio STi steering rack?

55 minutes ago, SilentJ20 said:

I test fit my wheels to check clearances before tires.  Discovered something concerning...

My post in the wheel thread.

Learned either my car is different than everyone elses, or something is off.  Everything I've read and seen says they should fit fine.  Not poke out the fender almost an inch.

What wheels did you remove and did they have hub centric spacers? When I installed my first of my new TE37's, I didn't realize that the spacer from the Enkei that I removed was stuck on the hub and I had issues getting five lugs on. I imagine with extended studs you could overlook this. Only 2 of 4 stuck to the hub and not the wheel.

4 minutes ago, KZJonny said:

I like the idea of this for sure. Only driveline failure I've had in a 4th gen to date (aside from normal wear and tear) was a catastophic carrier bearing/bushing failure on the highway.... not my best morning.

Have to do a little reading on this, but I suppose it means you would forever be cutting carrier bearings off of replacement propshafts? Have to take a look at a driveshaft again, and see if the bearing itself can be made removeable. That, combined with replaceable u-joints would be the best solution for long term maintenance. Of course, that all costs...

That's another reason why the one piece carbon fiber driveshaft from Driveshaft Shop Sounds appealing. It eliminates this failure point completely. 

42 minutes ago, BoozeRS05 said:

Anyone else see the driveshaft mod that was going around on FB? It was some sort of housing that attaches to the existing support, and the company was starting a group buy for like $230.

 

https://www.jxbperformance.com/products/subaru-legacy-bl/bp-4th-gen-driveshaft-center-support-bearing-carrier-upgrade

That’s interesting. I’m not sure if it would work on my car since it says it’s not compatible with Outback except I have SpecB bits there. It doesn’t say anything about 6MT compatibility.

23 minutes ago, Ashtone said:

Over the past couple weeks I removed the chrome trim above the license plate along with all the wording on the tailgate. I got a new “2.5 GT” logo and painted it and the trim piece black. 
I never liked the JDM red & clear taillights, and I finally got a set of stock JDM lights that I think look a lot nicer.

…and I made a grille from a stock grille and some plastic mesh.

This JDM rear garnish, looks really good with the red and white JDM tails: https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/h1101047124