The Subaru thread!

[patrikman]

Hey guys, some nice subarus here!

I just bought me a daily 01 forester.

so far got VW BBS Montreal II's w/ 215/65/16 Geolander A/T's, sway bar quick disconnects, a skid plate and some other minor goodies. My goal is to take it to GreenRidge State Forest with some 4x4 buddies to see what it can do. I have a 2" lift im working on but it already has over 8" of clearance with just these tires.

I saw your skidplate thread over at SF.org

How do the VW wheels fit? Do you know what offset they are?



Page 4 is mine.

[Fuze911]

They fit perfect!

Just have to tighten them im the air to get them on nice and even because the center hole is slightly larger. Hub centric rings should fix that though.

There 16x6.5 42 offset.

[jswank]

She may not be an offroader, but she's still my baby. First non-german car I've ever owned too!

2005 Legacy GT Limited Wagon

[Blown05GLI]

wife has a 2009 legacy non turbo. Nice car, but kinda cramped when I sit in it. Plus no turbo kinda sucks. Trying to see if we can get out of our lease early and jump into something turbo from subaru.

[fighters_of_foo]

I just picked up a ridiculously clean 02 Forester S (with a 5 speed!) and I can't wait for a little off roading or at least some bad weather this winter

[patrikman]

She may not be an offroader, but she's still my baby. First non-german car I've ever owned too!

The car looks gorgeous and I love the wheel color choice.

[22AudiQ]

Let me throw this out here real quick:

Considering a trip, perhaps next summer after beefing up/doing lots of maintenance, to the Arctic Circle or perhaps as far North in Alaska as possible.

Car in question is a 2002 WRX with, currently, 106k. Is this insane? Just wanted to bounce it off some likeminded people.

[patrikman]

Do you remeber the TCL thread about the guy that was in the military? He was staioned in FL or something souteast and they transferred him to Alaska? He drove his GC Impreza coupe and documented the whole trip, very cool.

I say make sure all of your manitenance items are taken care of, grab some cds and go for it.

[22AudiQ]

I do remember that thread! This'll be a bit more extreme. Do a quick google search of the Dempster Highway. Goes all the way into Inuvik and well into the Arctic Circle. I have three buddies who are interested in coming (a Ranger and an FJ as possible support vehicles) and we're hoping for next July perhaps. Any earlier or later and you're almost sure to encounter snow, from what I've read.

So far I'm planning for:
New timing belt/water pump (Being done tomorrow)
New struts and strut tower mounts (Sitting in my basement, waiting for $)
New rear wheel bearings (needed badly right now)
New rear rotors and pads (needed due to wheel bearings...)
All new fluids (just before we leave)
Skidplates (Can someone tell me what I need to look for if I'll be doing some major dirt and gravel driving? Have a few options to have them made/bought.)
Gravel catcher in lower bumper opening to prevent radiator punctures (a DIY creation using expanded metal sheets... may post results/process.)
Roof rack for spare tire/gas? (Will this screw up my roof at all? Are these made for 02 WRXs?)


My concern is that the Dempster Highway is known to shred tires, roadside repairs can take "weeks" and gas stations are rare, so I'm trying for every precaution necessary. I've read that this can be done in RV's and someone reported doing this in a CRX, so I suppose it's not TOO extreme. Still, 4000 miles of remote driving will be interesting.

Has anyone done anything close to this or have any advice? Any recommended service for the car/upgrades?

[Numbersix]

I would definitely do skidplates and the diff guard. I'd also try to protect your head/fog lights as well as doing what you can to protect the radiator and AC condenser.

Given Subaru's notoriously bad paint, I'd also consider getting StonGuard applied all over the front bumper/hood/a-pillars/mirror/leading edge of rear fender as well as installing the rally mud flaps to keep the chips down.

For a trip like that, I'd also think about going to a -1 wheel setup to allow for a 215/60/16 tire--something with more sidewall and perhaps some more reinforcement that is less likely to suffer punctures than a UHP 17" tire.

I've also heard of people damaging rubber brake lines, but having had a braided stainless line fail on me in a panic stop recently I wouldn't go with them.

I'd also bring a couple of OEM air filters as replacements. Cheaper/easier to replace than cleaning/oiling a K&N or similar.

[22AudiQ]

Skidplates are for sure. Thinking I'm going to do the 3/16" plates for ultra protection.

Also, going to probably purchase the mesh foglight covers (the cheapy "JDM" ones from ebay... why not?).

The paint is already a bit rough. I work at a marketing firm that also does production work... and so I have access to lots of vinyl. May do graphics up the side or on the hood for decoration/promotion/protection.

I may be throwing the BBS's on Craigslist to help fund the trip (heck, I'm a poor college student...) and go to my stock 16" wheels. Even considering some 15" Team Dynamics Rally wheels or something smaller for more sidewall (and more ease of replacement if something happens).

Stainless steel lines are already on the car. Will look into it further!

Good thinking on the air filters.

Thanks for the advice. Anyone else? I may turn this into a thread of its own in TCL.

[patrikman]

I also recommend a skid plate and diff cover. As soon as I get some coin and I am getting those items for my Forester because I have a nice big dent in my oil filter right now.

[22AudiQ]

Starting to price some things out for the potential trip.

Does anyone have any advice for obtaining sponsorships? Would like to talk to Rally Armour and some various Subaru brands to see if they'd be interested in putting their name on the car/giving me some free stuff. Might be a good PR stunt. I dunno! Just attempting to stretch a college budget.

[pwn4life]

They fit perfect!

Just have to tighten them im the air to get them on nice and even because the center hole is slightly larger. Hub centric rings should fix that though.

There 16x6.5 42 offset.

That looks great. I was looking for some longbeaches for my SF but could never nail a set down.

[Harpoon]

Love this thread.

[petermatusek]

Subaru's cannot be killed off road.

[patrikman]

Starting to price some things out for the potential trip.

Does anyone have any advice for obtaining sponsorships? Would like to talk to Rally Armour and some various Subaru brands to see if they'd be interested in putting their name on the car/giving me some free stuff. Might be a good PR stunt. I dunno! Just attempting to stretch a college budget.

Are you on DirtyImpreza? That would be a good place to ask.

[jaystone]

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/1809286739.html

saw this on Craigslist...pretty sweet

[big k]

sounds like a sweet trip

my three brothers .my dad and I took a trip from oregon to guatemala
we bought an 85 diesel suburban for $600, I did a tune up, put in a stereo, new tires. a roof rack and we took off the transmission wasnt the best but we babied it.
my younger brother and I stayed for six months teaching english and drove the suburban all over guatemala then all the way back with out any problems.
the only things we did were regular maintenance in guatemala, mostly brakes and filter changes.
the biggest problem we had was a stuck thermostat so we took it out. fun trip that ill never forget.

[Beanboy]

All I have so far for off-road:

[patrikman]

^ nice looking wagon

I don't think I have ever seen any Legacy in that color.

I really wish we had the JDM/Aussie market rear bumper in the US.

[MT-Getto]

Update to mine.
EJ22 Swapped
4" Lift
6 Lug Conversion
25" Tires on 14" Mazda Wheels

[unimogken]

She may not be an offroader, but she's still my baby.

Did you ever fix your burnt out tail light? I used to see you every morning on 520 to N405.

[dcris]

Subscribed!

Just came out of a B5 Passat wagon w/V6 and 4Motion, now in Leggie GT (LTD) like Beanboy's. (but silver)

Got it to replace the money hungry VW. The only offroading I plan on doing is the unpaved lane and driveway to my house.

I second that about the Aussie rear bumper, as my hitch bottoms out on me more than I care for, and if anyone has seen the Aussie hitch setup, you'll see why.

Hidden Hitch my a55.

[patrikman]

Update to mine.
EJ22 Swapped
4" Lift
6 Lug Conversion
25" Tires on 14" Mazda Wheels

Very very awesome! Are you running Mazda B series axles then?

Subscribed!

Just came out of a B5 Passat wagon w/V6 and 4Motion, now in Leggie GT (LTD) like Beanboy's. (but silver)

Got it to replace the money hungry VW. The only offroading I plan on doing is the unpaved lane and driveway to my house.

I second that about the Aussie rear bumper, as my hitch bottoms out on me more than I care for, and if anyone has seen the Aussie hitch setup, you'll see why.

Hidden Hitch my a55.

Wow, that hitch really does sit low. I would not be very pleased with that. Part of the problem with the modern Subies off road wise is the long front and rear overhang.

[22AudiQ]

I'm curious: how many of you have underbody protection in the form of a skidpad or other protection?

I'm a little leery of taking my WRX offroad again... last time I did $600 worth of damage to my power steering...

Just trying to get my confidence back!

[96accord]

2007 WRB (World Rally Blue) Subaru WRX Limited



-Jeff

[88Subi4x4]

[IMG][/IMG]

[88Subi4x4]

[IMG][/IMG]

EJ2.2 Swap
9 Inch BJ Lift
31 inch tires
Pugs.
Locked rear

Gets around pretty good

[patrikman]

[Heffernan]

Ill probably have more luck posting this in here.

I found a 2007 Outback 2.5i manual w/ 51k on the clock.

I'm going to take a look at it this weekend. Anything I should look for; red flags?

This will be my DD so it will be to be dead-nuts reliable. Input?

Oh - one last thing. What would be a respectable price that you would offer? Dealership is asking $17,981

[Fuze911]

Finished my lift project.

[patrikman]

^ details about the lift kit?

[patrikman]

[roccostud]

a little bit a rallycross action.