1996 Subaru Legacy L Wagon AWD 4" Lift

[swcolegacyl]

You may have noticed we have a lot of snow up here in the mountains. The Telluride ski Area says we've received 95 inches so far this season. And hopefully lots more come. So i've started to swapping of parts: all the gauge cluster lights and today the snow tires. I'm working with a local shop to swap over all 4 strut towers and half shafts, and the front bumper within the next couple weeks.

 

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/SnowTires.jpg

Edited December 17, 2015 by swcolegacyl

[swcolegacyl]

Hi All, finally getting the new car together. The 1999 Outback had a blown head gaskets and kept overheating. So, i needed to either rebuild an engine with 200,000+ miles or buy a replacement engine. I went with a JDM engine with 60,000 miles.

 

The new engine is in and running great. Also, the new engine got new head gaskets, timing belt kit and new water pump. And i've pulled all the suspension, brakes, wheel spacers, bumper and lots of other stuff from the 1996. lots more to do, but the car looks great and drives amazing. The extra power of the 2.5 DOHC perfect for that car. the 1996 with the 2.2 SOHC was a bit under powered.

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/SubaruM2.jpg

 

New JDM engine: 2.5l DOHC 90,521 km or 56,247 miles on it!

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/JDMEngine.jpg

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/JDMEnginec.jpg

 

JDM solid aluminium lower control arms:

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/JDMCR.jpg

 

A work in progress: Finally getting warm enough to work outside here.

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/SubaruM2a.jpg

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/SubaruM2b.jpg

Edited April 24, 2016 by swcolegacyl

[swcolegacyl]

I've painted the lower part of the car with black Herculiner bed liner. Nasty stuff! But it should protect the car and it looks pretty good. What do you think?

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/Herculiner.jpg

 

New Whiteline front sway bar links:

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/FrontLinks.jpg

 

Installed:

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/FrontLinks2.jpg

 

And new Whiteline steering rack bushings, yet to be installed.

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/rackmounts.jpg

[derp]

Ot looks like you live ib the set of Longmire, and it makes me jealous

[swcolegacyl]

Had to have my rear spoiler back. I pulled it off the '96 and just installed it on the '99

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/RearSpoiler1.jpg

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/RearSpoiler2.jpg

 

Measure 500 times and drill once:

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/RearSpoiler3.jpg

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/RearSpoiler4.jpg

 

It came out perfect and looks great!

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/RearSpoiler5.jpg

[jamesfickackerly]

Awesome ! Great effort !

[swcolegacyl]

I love this f***ing car!

 

Spent the day at 2 shops working on the car. 1st the muffler shop getting a new exhaust system built. the car had 3 cats. I got rid of 2, left the front cat witch has the two o2 sensors. Left in the resonator and installed the Megaflow muffler from the '96. The car has a really nice rumble now it sounds great.

 

And the 2nd shop, the off-road guys. the '96 skid plate would not fit under the 2.5 DOHC engine so it had to be modified a little. Cut off the tow points on the front. And weld on brackets for the LED lights.

 

The car is running and driving amazing!

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/Subaru2_0.jpg

[poompoom500]

 

Kool.

[swcolegacyl]

Spent the morning in the snow wiring the winch and CB radio. I had pulled the wiring harness for the winch from the '96. Still a lot of work installing and testing.

 

Went out for a drive this afternoon. Lizard Head Pass - Highway 145:

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/S2Front.jpg

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/S2RightFront.jpg

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/S2Right.jpg

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/S2LeftRear.jpg

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/S2LeftFront.jpg

[sondorsk]

Wow, I love it!! I have a 95 outback wagon and I can decide to keep it the stock/lower height or raise. How's the ride quality compared to stock?

 

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

[swcolegacyl]

Hi sondorsk, Thank you! The ride is amazing! the car drives more like a BMW then a Subaru, in my opinion. The car feels very proud, stout maybe. The cornering and traction are surprisingly good. (And i have tested it) Before moving the suspension from the '96, the car felt sloppy and kinda boaty. also the brakes sucked! The previous owner had bought a new car and stopped maintaining the Outback.

 

Alter moving the suspension, hubs, brakes, half shafts, lift blocks and wheels its a different car. I replaced the stock steel lower control arms with stronger solid aluminum control arms. And replaced the stock sway bar links Whiteline links. I love the way it drives on and off road. The steering is tight and responsive. No over or under steer. And the 2.5 DOHC moves the car really nicely. I'm pretty happy the results so far.

Edited May 12, 2016 by swcolegacyl

[swcolegacyl]

Still working on wiring and lighting. I installed new 4x20w LEDs connected to a toggle switch. The switch is a SPDT one side connects the LEDs to the high beams and the other side to ON with a center OFF. Still deciding weather or not to install the light bar to the roof rack.

 

Low Beams with lower LEDs:

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/LowBeams.jpg

 

High Beams with upper LEDs:

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/HighBeams.jpg

 

Inside wiring:

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/CenterWiring.jpg

 

CB Mounted and switches:

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/CBMounted.jpg

 

Engine Bay: the winch relay box is mounted right behind the drivers side head light.

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/EngineBay.jpg

[swcolegacyl]

First real off-road test and first camping trip of the season to one of my favorite spots in Paradox, co. The Outback performed perfectly.

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/OffRoadTest1.jpg

 

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/OffRoadTest2.jpg

[swcolegacyl]

Still have a checklist of little fixes/tweaks for the car. Today i fixed a few of them.

 

The side marker lights where installed but not working yet. Today i finished the wiring for the lights. The markers are On with the lights and blink with the blinkers.

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/Marker.jpg

 

Next was the 'Outback' logo on the back was broken. it's was holding on kind of but the C was half broken. So i scraped the old one off and cleaned the area real well and epoxied the new one on:

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/Outback1.jpg

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/Outback2.jpg

 

The OEM power antenna had been replaced with an after market antenna. 'They,' never connected to the cars wiring so it was stuck in the up position. today i finished the wiring and now it works correctly on/up off/down with the stereo.

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/Antenna.jpg

 

And i made a costume CB Mic mount:

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/MicMount1.jpg

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/MicMount2.jpg

Edited May 22, 2016 by swcolegacyl

[swcolegacyl]

I had to get out and play in the mud this afternoon. Up on the Uncompahgre Plateau, It's about 30 miles from Telluride. This car is so much fun off-road, i love it!

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/SubaruMud.jpg

[swcolegacyl]

A few more little fixes:

 

The mic cable was flopping around, so i simply moved the CB radio over about 1/4 inch and the cable now fits between the mic button and the thumb screw for the CB. I use the CB so rarely that it's nice to have it neat and ready to use if i need it.

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/CBadjust.jpg

 

 

Wipers: I needed to replace the blades, so of course i have to paint the arms also. 17 years of wind and sun damage, repaired in a few minutes with paint.

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/Wipers1.jpg

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/Wipers2.jpg

 

Installed new Bosch Icon wiper blades and painted arms:

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/Wipers3.jpg

[swcolegacyl]

Headed off to go camping this weekend and had a little problem with the Subaru. Friday I took the car to a local shop get a few items on my checklist done. I had the oil changed with Amsoil 20w50 synthetic and an Amsoil filter. The transmission fluid and filter needed to be changed and the bottom transmission pan seal was leaking and needed to be fixed. I also had the differential fluid changed. Lastly, Bosch fine wire iridium spark plugs and the Whiteline steering rack bushings installed.

 

So, the problem, the car was loosing power and running very ruff. With all that work I just had done, I would have expected the car to be running really well. I was getting a flashing check-engine light, an indicator that there was a misfire. After hours going over everything on that engine and changing the fuel filter i finally found the cause of the problem:

 

F**k'n plug wires, the cylinder #1 plug wire failled. To be fair the wires were probably original and about 17 years old. They should have been replaced anyway. Luckily the CarQuest in Moab, Ut is open Sundays and had a set of wires in stock for about $50.00. The car is running great again.

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/Cyl1.jpg

 

Also this weekend i hooked up my friend with the blue 1998 lifted Subaru Outback:

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/Subarus1.jpg

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/Subarus3.jpg

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/Subarus2.jpg

Edited September 30, 2016 by swcolegacyl

[swcolegacyl]

Went out for a little drive today. Almost a 200 miles and about 150 of that on dirt! I noticed that Subaru has changed something from '96 to '99: On dry, dusty dirt roads, the 1996 Legacy could get a little squirrely and sometime a little scary at higher speeds. With the 1999 Legacy Outback the traction control system is way better. I was running these roads pretty fast today and this car GRIPS. The car never lost traction or control, on some very windy, dry mountain roads. With General Grabber AT2's and the 2.5L the car is awesome!

 

The car now has 206,100 miles on it. Just a little over 1,600 miles with the new JDM engine, and it's running great.

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/SundayDrive.jpg

Edited June 18, 2016 by swcolegacyl

[swcolegacyl]

They finally got the road to Alta Lakes open. For June 11th we still have a lot of snow.

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/AltaLakes1June.jpg

 

If you look closely, you can see recent ski tracks in the patch of snow in the chute above the car. This is near the back of Telluride Ski Area at about 11,000 feet.

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/AltaLakes2June.jpg

[swcolegacyl]

I've been having a problem with the wipers. I'd adjust them and they'd seem to work fine for awhile and then they would start slapping against the lower windshield trim. It turned out that the cap holding the wiper transmission arms to the motor was broken. I bought a complete wiper transmission assembly from a junk yard for $35.00. It took about an hour to install, and the wipers are now working perfectly.

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/WiperTrans1.jpg

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/WiperTrans2.jpg

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/WiperTrans3.jpg

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/WiperTrans4.jpg

 

Got my new NGK FX50 plug wires:

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/NewNGKWires.jpg

 

And a new CB antenna. The 3' wipe antenna kept hitting things. So buy a 2' and fix the problem, right? The 2' antenna had a 9' cable, ha, not long enough. So, i had to disassemble both antenna's and un-solder the cables and swap them. The other antenna had a 12' cable. Not so easy after all. But it's working, and i like the shorter antenna.

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/NewCBAntenna.jpg

Edited June 19, 2016 by swcolegacyl

[swcolegacyl]

Longest road trip so far with the new car and JDM engine. 900 miles round trip from Telluride, Co to Laramie, WY and back. The Subaru ran perfectly!

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/Wyoming.jpg

 

I finally got around to giving her a good wax'n.

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/Waxjob1.jpg

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/Waxjob2.jpg

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/Waxjob3.jpg

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/Waxjob4.jpg

Edited July 3, 2016 by swcolegacyl

[swcolegacyl]

I realized on the trip to Wyoming that night driving is better with more light. So i installed the 12" light bar on the bumper and wired it up inside to a lighted switch.

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/12inchled1.jpg

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/12inchled2.jpg

 

My dog keeps turning on the seat heaters by stepping on the switches, so i added a master switch to kill power to both switches.

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/Switches.jpg

[k2lou]

Wow, this is great. Love what you've done. I have a '96 L wagon with 212k that just. runs. great. (got it in '97 with 14k on it). I'd like to do a project like this and am scoping pick'n'pulls for donor parts. I've searched the forums, but can't come up with specific compatibility models/years for struts to go onto the Gen 2 legacy. Sounds like G2/96-99/BG Outbacks are bolt-on. Unfortunately the picknpulls seem to only have '00 (BH) onwards right now. Would those fit? I also hear about people using Forester struts. Does anyone know which years are compatible? Thanks! -Louie

[swcolegacyl]

Hi All, haven't done much on the car this summer. But, i just finished installing a Garmin BC 30 Backup Camera. I've wired the cam sending unit power, to the backup lights. The backup image comes on when the car is in reverse. And the picture is crystal clear, it works great! It should be very helpful off-road.

 

I've had a GPS in my cars' for years. I bought this Garmin Nuvi 2589 about a year ago. And i knew a backup cam could be added to it.

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/GarminNuvi2589.jpg

 

Drilling holes again...

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/GarminBC30-1.jpg

 

Test fit:

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/GarminBC30-2.jpg

 

I removed the inside panel of the hatch to get to the wiring and mounting. The sending unit itself, i mounted just left of the 3rd (top) brake light (inside the trim) to get the best reception from the cam to the GPS receiver. And I ran the power and data lines up the trim housing on the left side, with the rear window squirter hose in it.

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/GarminBC30-3.jpg

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/InsideHatch.jpg

 

I used blue Loctite on the bolt and black silicone caulk around the wire.

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/GarminBC30-4.jpg

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/GarminBC30-5.jpg

Edited September 11, 2016 by swcolegacyl

[swcolegacyl]

This is that happens when you (I) go off road without a skid-plate under the engine:

 

There is an oil leak, but luckily too bad.

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/OilPanDent.jpg

 

I had to have the skid-plate modified to fit the 2.5L DOHC engine. The heads of the 2.5L push the headers down further then the 2.2L. I had to drop the skid-plate down about an 1", it's not quite enough. the Skid-plate has been rubbing on the headers, So i pulled off to be modded again.

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/SkidPlateModB.jpg

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/SkidPlateModA.jpg

 

New (used) oil pan: ebay $48.00 free shipping:

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/OilPanNew.jpg

Edited September 24, 2016 by swcolegacyl