old roo Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 I just got a 98 Legacy wagon with 72K miles. I need to mount a front license plate, where/how do you mount one? Is this different on a second gen vs newer? Also, I'm going to need wheels and tires. I'm wondering if I should/could move to larger wheels and tires. I'd like to go as big as I can. What should I search for at an auto recycler. Thanks! Todd in VA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnegg Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 welcome to the wonderful world of subaru. i live in VA and have been driving with no front plate for over 6 years. i have been pulled for it once, said i must have lost it. went to the DMV and paid $10 for replacement plates. took the receipt to the clerk of the court and walked. on the other hand my son was driving in richmond / VCU and he was pulled the first week he was there. i think there are dimples on the lego or square holes on the outback bumper and you can get the hardware at the parts store. the legacy stock tire is 185/70/14, or 195/60/15 depending on the wheel. you can go to a 205/55/16 GT size with no problem. the 90s outback stock tire is 205/70/15, this is about 2 inches larger than the stock lego tire. (26.3" vs 24.2"). the outback is too large to run on your car. however, if you are truly motivated, you can bolt on outback struts & springs and run the outback tires. this is an EASY upgrade, but new strut are not cheap.used are not so bad and usually come with springs. http://www.car-part.com 2 item of note, your speedo will be off with larger tires, possibly as much as 8% with outback tires. google tire calculator for more info. and your car will be a little sluggish, perhaps not noticeable. FYI: aside from looks the leagcy and the outback are the same car with a few exceptions such as, struts, wheels / tires, final drive ratio, sway bar diameter, and front brakes. all of these will swap with certain conditions. happy motoring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old roo Posted December 22, 2012 Author Share Posted December 22, 2012 Thanks for the info. I'll check into it. I'm pretty big, so a few inches might make it easier to get in/out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnegg Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 I'm pretty big, so a few inches might make it easier to get in/out. me too. i did not notice in my first 2 legos. but once i owned an outback, i was hooked on the extra height. i'm currently planning on lifting my 00 legacy. i can't wait. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old roo Posted December 24, 2012 Author Share Posted December 24, 2012 Since I'm looking to lift a 98 model, would I need to stay with a 98 Outback strut and springs? Anywhere where I can find instructions on this swap, or is it just unbolt and bolt? Thanks for the responses! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilpoindexter Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 I just dropped my '96 wagon on H&R springs (with the obligatory 1/2" lasered metal saggy butt spacers). Of course I didn't measure the ride height before lowering...I didn't look like anything had changed, but I defintely feel I have to "lift" myself out now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old roo Posted February 9, 2013 Author Share Posted February 9, 2013 Still looking at lifting my legacy. I've learned some about the subtle solutions 1" lift, which would get me to a 27.5 inch tire. I'm also considering the outback spring/strut swap. Anyone got an opinion on which would be better? Do I gain anything from doing both? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpecBamf41 Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 you cant run larger tires by just getting the 1 inch spacers. the tire size is limited by the struts you have and after that by the body of the car. to tall or wide and they rub on the strut, my 215/60/16 winter tires were just a hair away from clearing so i added 2mm washers to the rear lugs. BNR18g on 93oct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spooln30 Posted February 10, 2013 Share Posted February 10, 2013 the outback is too large to run on your car. I will disagree, I have 205/70/15 Outback wheels with brand new snow tires on my 99 LGT and they fit without changing anything or clearancing the struts. Plus I compared the speedo verses my GPS and below 60 mph its dead on, then after 60 I'm only slower 2-3 mph up to 75mph. I haven't been faster then that. LOL. The biggest fault is my MPG's, I'm down 40 miles per full tank. It might not be that much because of the "winter blend" gas but I know it's down at least 30-35 mpgs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnegg Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 i suggest you measure the outer circumference or your tires. how many inches, 84+, 86+ ?? you may find the number to be less than an actual 205/70/15 all season tire. or maybe not. i do not know. but i do know that there is very little, if any, space in between the tire and the rear spring perch/ lower seat, on the 96 legacy and a 205/70/15 street tire. but i have been wrong before, some maybe again. the ''quoted'' size and dimension of tires can be different from the actual size of different brands, treads, and of course, wear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spooln30 Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 I did a side by side comparison to my Hankook V12's 205/55/16 which I installed mid summer, my Firestone snow tires are 1.5" larger overall. My snows are also new with still 13/32" thread. The guy I bought the Outback wheels with snows even gave me the rear strut assemblies because I thought I would have to swap them for the snows to work. They cleared but barely, 3/16" with the car on the ground and closer to 1/8" with the car in the air. It weirded me out for sure and I thought someone down the line had installed Outback struts for some dumb reason but nope their the stock GT struts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnegg Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 good to know. no rubbing in the front in tight , full lock , turns? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spooln30 Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 The front have more clearance than the rears but not by much. They do rub a little on the wheel liner if I pull to fast up a driveway approach, nothing full lock to lock while driving. I can't say that everyone's will work the same, I have a very late production 99. It's a 8/99 so I'm not sure if some parts are different. I know for sure that in 99 the front struts are different then 98 and earlier. Mid to year end changes can be funny. On most cars a 8/99 would be a MY2000. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old roo Posted February 13, 2013 Author Share Posted February 13, 2013 thanks for all the feedback. I'm honing in on doing the outback strut swap. One more question, because I've found a viable outback donor for my straight legacy wagon, will the seats from an outback bolt right in on my legacy wagon? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnegg Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 will the seats from an outback bolt right in on my legacy wagon? yes. everything on an outback will bolt on to a legacy. there are some limitations, like the the tires (with wheels) will swap but only if you swap the struts for more room. or the front bumper will swap but you will also need the grille and maybe the support beam ..... do a search, there is lots of info....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jp71ss Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 Where in VA are you? I have a 98 outback wrecked that I would love to swap the struts for regular struts for my 97. I also have heated leather seats in it that I would love to swap for some good gray cloth ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnegg Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 i'm in roanoke, not too far. so you are looking to get rid of some gray leather seats and want some cloth? i have seats out of a 98 outback wagon, not heated, good condition. does this interest you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jp71ss Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 Very possible. My 2 wagons came from Vinton! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jp71ss Posted February 16, 2013 Share Posted February 16, 2013 I would like to look at the seats you have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old roo Posted February 19, 2013 Author Share Posted February 19, 2013 Roanoke, too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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