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No compromise Legacy 3.0R spec.B tune up


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Three years ago I decided it was a high time to replace my beloved 2008 Subaru Legacy 3.0r Spec.B with a new car. But I couldn’t get my self to sell the Legacy, for some reason I got unusually attached to it. So I decided to do what I was always contemplating on doing, to build it into what a full blown Legacy STI would have looked like, had they ever made it. In my mind, at least 😊

 

This is what happened

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Only real option to meaningfully upgrade the engine power was to add a supercharger to the 3.0R. I was a bit warry that this could ruin the perfect torque delivery and high revving feel of this engine, but I decided to take a chance, and ordered a Raptor Supercharger from QLD Australia.
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While waiting for the supercharger package to arrive, my mechanic and I started prepping the car to facilitate additional power.

 

First the OEM exhaust had to go. The rusty ol thing was surprisingly heavy. Even though car got a larger aftermarket exhaust, we are sure we actually saved some weight by this swap.

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Next it was a time to change the clutch. Very nice Exedy Stage 1 organic clutch went in, coupled with the Exedy lighweight flywheel. I was considering going for a more extreme racing-hyper-triple-carbon clutches, but I opted out for this one, as it is a nice compromise between durability and not having my ego bruised by sporadic stalls at traffic lights.

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Edited by BojanR
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STI bushings – this upgrade was suggested by my mechanic, who had to replace the OEM bushings couple of times before, and did not like the quality of them.

 

Cusco lower arm bar, connected to new STI bushings

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Edited by BojanR
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Front Cusco sway bar, albeit a wrong one. This sway bar suits the 4 cylinder models, but 3.0R engine has two headers, so the exhaust cannot pass it by. I should have read the small print. Oh well… Correct one was ordered, this one went to ebay.

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After quite a bit of research I opted for high-flow HJS WRC cats, connected by custom made 3 in stainless steel piping. My intention was all along to make a discreet street car, so I decided to add a Vibrant Ultra-Quiet resonator, to tone things down a bit

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Front suspension: Whiteline steering rack bushings and endlinks. I decided not to change the Spec.B Bilsteins, as I was more than happy with the balance of comfort and sportiness they provided.

 

Hard to see here, but new, sharper steering rack from 2015 STI installed

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Hmmmm, blocking the already overburdened engine radiator with two intercooler radiators? It seemed a stretch, but guys from Raptor reassured me it worked, so we followed along. It turned out they were right, no problems whatsoever with engine overheating. Our piping though could have looked more professional.

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New engine air filter. Location of the filter, underneath the supercharger, just in front of the right wheel, makes it susceptible to splashing water. This is the only major drawback of the Raptor SC system I have come across so far.

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These are gorgeous Recaro seats from limited edition WRX STI S208, car sold only in Japan. I had to buy the new Recaro Sportster CS seats and send them for reupholstering to a great shop in Poland, which does this work for big automakers. They did a wonderful job, these seats are a thing of beauty.

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New STI gear shift knob and a new wheel from 2015 STI, both plucked from ebay. Shipping the OEM airbag for this wheel though proved to be a nightmare. Apparently shipping companies do not like having explosive charges in the bellies of their airplanes. Luckily, I’ve managed to get one by without causing a major aviation disaster.

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Edited by BojanR
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