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Where to begin with modifications to your Legacy GT


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I thought that a number of new members, and even several established members, could use a nicely consolidated thread to help with finding all the "first mods" typically associated with the Legacy GT. There are so many threads that pop up asking these questions, so I'll try to hit on the most common subjects and most popular mods. Because several of these topics can be QUITE extensive, I'll frequently give a brief description of what can be done and link to another thread which contains good information or possibly even further links within. I know there are areas I'll miss, and some areas I don't know too much about ... so please do help out with this, and I'll try to add stuff to this original post to try to keep it as well organized as possible.

 

*********************

Note: I'm not trying to hit every mod or adjustment, just the

most common ones to give people an idea where to begin when

they first ask themselves "What to do?"

********************

 

Without further ado:

 

Power:

 

There are a few routes to go if you're looking to bump the power in your LGT.

 

The most popular seems to be the AccessPORT from Cobb Tuning, but other options are available from ECUTek and possibly other suppliers. These extract power from the car by simply reprogramming the ECU to optimize fuel, air, boost, timing and other factors. Plenty of information can be found in this thread from the Turbo Powertrains forum: http://www.legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8084

 

Numerous Up Pipe, Down Pipe, and Exhaust systems exist also, which, in conjunction with the aforementioned ECU programs, can add to greater increases. Most of this is covered in the link above also.

 

Pricing for AccssPORT is about $650

Pricing for ECUTek - ???

Pricing for UP/DP/Exhaust - How fast do you want to spend?

 

 

Shifters: (Primarily Manual Transmission)

 

Lots of short throw shifters exist for the Legacy. The most popular models for this are the OEM STI Short Throw shifter, Kartboy, and Cobb Tuning's double adjustable shifter. Pricing tends to range from about $100 - 250.

 

New shifter bushings will help with shifter feel also and are a good thing to add with your short shifter. Kartboy and Cobb are common suppliers for these parts. Pricing is usually around $30-60

 

Shift knobs are also popular additions to the car, but are far too numerous to try to list. I suggest reading through the Interior/Audio forum to see examples of various knobs. MOMO and Prodrive both make shift knobs designed to work with the OEM shifter boot on manual transmission models. There are also some knobs available for the automatic transmission out there if you're looking for some extra style.

 

Pricing is usually around $60-90, but I've personally seen some knobs as high as $150.

 

 

Audio:

 

My oh my ... where to begin with Audio?!

 

I'm going to start off by pointing you to this thread here: http://www.legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12608 This thread highlights a few of the major FAQs associated with the sound system in our cars and should cover how to get better sound from the car.

 

Something that has disappeared from the Audio FAQ is direct connecting an auxillary input. I'm guessing this is because a couple new options have recently emerged, but neither is really fully developed, so to speak (as of 9/18 when I write this). But currently, there appears to be two solutions to adding an Auxillary input. The first option is here: http://www.legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18504 , the second option found here: http://www.legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18870 . Both solutions require removing and disassembling of the radio to use this option.

 

 

Interior:

 

Aluminum Pedals dress up the interior a bit. There is the STI pedal set issued in the Legacy Accessories catalog which has STI Pink rubber nubs. Some members have also used the WRX Aluminum Pedal set and some have found a matching Dead Pedal with black rubber nubs. WRX Pedal set goes for around $50, the matching Dead Pedal goes for $40-50, and you can purchase a complete set at Mastro for about $100 - http://mastrowrx.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=293

 

Gauges are also too numerous to try to touch on here, but just type in "gauges" in a search in the Interior/Audio forum and you'll find TONS of info on gauges.

 

Disable Seatbelt Warning Chime -

1) Sit in Driver Seat - Probably best to close the door in case it's needed.

2) Put the key in the ignition, but do not turn it

3) Grab your seatbelt and get it ready to clip it in

4) Now turn the ignition to "On" (don't start it!)

5) Within 30 seconds of turning the ignition to "On", completely buckle and unbuckle the seat belt 20 times. When done with this step, immediately turn the car off.

6) Turn the car back on, and it should be set.

To turn the Warning Chime back on, repeat steps 1-6.

 

 

Exterior:

 

Lots of different things to do to the exterior of the car. In no particular order.

 

Grille/Grill - There are two options to purchase, the JDM grill and the RBS JDM replica grill. They are both body colored around the surround of the grill, with a black mesh behind them. The JDM grill has the emblem in the center, the RBS requires you to supply your own emblem if you so desire. You can purchase both at http://www.pltek.net Pricing ranges from about $280 - 400.

 

Front Lip - There is an STi front lip spoiler (and various replicas out there) which hangs just below the bottom of the front bumper. I've only seen them in black. Pricing ranges from about $300 - 600 on these depending on if you get the OEM part or a Replica. This is the most common part for the front lip, though there seem to be a few others floating about. Great thread on the OEM Legacy STi Lip: http://www.legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3971

 

Headlights - Two popular mods on the headlights are one in the same, but the second just adds a few steps. Clearing the headlights involves removing the Orange Reflector from the signals, and Blacking Out the headlights does the same but also involves painting the housing in the lights black. There are two walk through threads for these mods. If you want to black them out, first follow the directions for clearing the headlights, then follow the directions for blacking them out. http://www.legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3737 (Clearing) & http://www.legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17817 (Black Out)

Price - ummm ... Cheap - Free (Free to clear, cost of minimal supplies to black out - maybe 6 bucks tops)

 

Headlights/HID conversion: There are two methods to be considered on this subject. The first method is to buy a kit (typically in the $300 range) which will replace the bulbs in the stock light housing using the stock halogen projector lens to disperse light (more on this to come). Look around the exterior section for more posts on where to find them. This thread covers the kits pretty well: http://www.legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2821 The second method, and the supposed "better" solution (read, more difficult, but better quality) is to retro-fit an actual D2S (Real HID) lens and bulb with original donor OEM parts to make a true HID conversion. VXCL did a nice write-up here: http://www.legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14544

 

Disabling Daytime Running Lamps - Just follow this link. Piece of cake. http://www.legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2117

 

Debadging - Or removing the badges from the rear of the car. Pretty well explained in this thread here: http://www.legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1175

Note: The rear "Stars" emblem has pins that sit in holes in the trunk, so almost no one has actually removed this badge since it leaves holes behind in the trunk.

 

 

Suspension:

 

Please help me out ... I'm not too knowledgable in this area, and would prefer someone's aid in adding to this.

 

 

Brakes:

 

Ditto above

 

 

Wheels:

 

These two threads should be a good place to start: http://www.legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11208 & http://www.legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4426

 

 

Tires:

 

I'm not going to spit fire on the RE92's, but there are other options out there.

 

All Season: The two most popular options on this site seem to be the Pirelli PZero Neros and the Toyo Proxes 4s. Certainly there are others, but these seem to be popular for their particular wide range of duty and performance.

 

Winter: This thread is too good for me to say anything else http://www.legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3043

 

Summer: Coming

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Suspension:

F/R swaybars (Cusco, Whiteline, Perrin, JDM, etc).

Springs or Coilovers (Ions, STi Pinks, Bilsteins, Swift, K-Sport, GPmoto, etc).

Lower Arm Bars (F/R - Cusco).

Endlinks for F/R Swaybars (not needed initially, but can be sourced -- Cusco, whiteline?, AVO, etc.).

 

Brakes:

F/R Lines (Cobb (rebadged stoptech), Stoptech, Goodridge, Techna-fit, etc.).

Pads - Carbotech Bobcats, Panthers, etc.

Calipers - Stoptech, STi brembos, Etc.

Fluids - Motul, Valvoline, etc.

 

Tires: Pirelli, Toyo, Dunlop, Nokian, etc. (can look up at Tirerack, treadepot, STS tire, discounttiredirect, etc.).

 

Gauges: Omori, Defi, Greddy, HKS, Autometer, etc.

 

Hope that helps.

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why are people so obsessed with horsepower? Around here, there are few places where I can safely get the car past 100mph in traffic. Suspension is always the most underrated mod, IMHO.

 

And you missed my very first mod - cross bars with thule disk brake mount ready bike carrier!

 

Albert

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why are people so obsessed with horsepower? Around here, there are few places where I can safely get the car past 100mph in traffic. Suspension is always the most underrated mod, IMHO.

 

And you missed my very first mod - cross bars with thule disk brake mount ready bike carrier!

 

Albert

 

I'm with ya there. That's why most of the suggestions that I posted above relate to suspension/brakes/tires/monitors. Speed comes fierce...slowing down, well, that's the cause of most accidents.

 

Later.

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I'll get back to updating tomorrow or Friday. I WANT to do more suspension, I want to learn more about suspension, but let's be honest - Suspensions are more of a mystery than power. It's never been as popular to change suspension bits. That's changing a bit with cars coming standard with more power. Also, on the LGT, it's much easier to upgrade power. You have to have ZERO knowledge to get a bunch of power with a tune (AP, ECUTek, whatever) and you don't have to know a whole lot unless you're looking to make mad power. But suspension work, it's hard to know where to start since no one ever says "Dude, I totally increased my skidpad by .15 G's, My slalom speed is up 1.8 mph, and last weekend ... you won't believe me ... I corner balanced the car to perfect distribution." Well, unless it's Keefe. ;)

 

Furthermore, this is america where people only care about how fast they can go in a straight line. Suspension is a total afterthought. But I'm learning slowly, and then I'll be able to add more to the section.

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Yes, the faster you can go from 0-60 the better... and even better from 60-100 if you need to pass on those 2 lane roads... :) So, the infatuation with HP and speed before being safe, I see it... I am one of those complete radical fools, but hey... someday I will grow out of it, maybe...
If I pass you on the right, I'm flipping you off.
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A little confused ... Why Turbo powertrains?

 

Shifters, Audio, Interior, Exterior, Suspension (in progress), Brakes (in progress), Wheels?

 

One small section really exclusive to the Turbo. :confused:

 

Word of Advice:

Marriage and MODS don't go together...................usually.:D

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Brady, thanks a lot....I wish this was around a few weeks ago when I searched for hours on end finding all this stuff. But yeah, great thread, another vote for sticky.

 

 

 

Word of Advice:

Marriage and MODS don't go together...................usually.:D

 

^^^I know that's right (I'm not married, but have a live-in 3 year gf).....I just have to hide my mods usually.....it took her like a month to notice I dropped my accord project....but boy did I get the look....

If you can read this, you're following too close.

 

 

Click Me

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Ok, after having this moved to "Turbo Powertrains" I was a little dicouraged and ignored this for a while. But I remembered some topics that I knew were in need of adding and still feel this can and will be a good reference for the n00b "What should I get?" threads.
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why are people so obsessed with horsepower? Around here, there are few places where I can safely get the car past 100mph in traffic. Suspension is always the most underrated mod, IMHO.

 

And you missed my very first mod - cross bars with thule disk brake mount ready bike carrier!

 

Albert

 

I admit I am obsessed with horsepower, but it is not really for when I am in traffic. Afterall, I ALWAYS race LEGALLY at the track :lol: . Anyway, I am aobsessed because I just like to see how fast I can make my car. I also love the feeling of going down the track, it is a great rush. Usually I go the first time with the car bone stock. Then with each subsequent visit, I have some sort of new mod(s) done so I can see how each mod is affecting quarter mile. Like I said, I just want to see how fast I can make the car.....it is an obsession, but also a fun hobby. That is just me though, I am only concerned with straight line time. However, I can also appreciate the road-race and slalom cars, it is just not for me personally.

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Wonder if we could add in links to threads about the mods in each of the modification areas?

 

I know there has been a fair number of threads on coilovers for example... Might be a nice way to help folks coming in asking questions about a particular product to get to the in-depth opinions from folks linked all from one spot. And by choosing what threads are linked, it will improve what people find over just doing a search and maybe pulling a post here or a post there.

 

-B

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