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2003 Legacy GT Wagon Build


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so how are you doing a turbo setup? Looks like this is going to be an epic build when it's done!

 

I've got an 04 forester xt power train I'm going to throw in it with a vf48 sti turbo. Only problem is that my grimmspeed and Perrin exhaust parts are on back order. I just waiting till everything comes in before I start to rip it apart for the swap.

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  • 1 month later...
When are the S401 bilsteins going on? I just put mine on this weekend and I am very happy with them.

 

oh, i put them on a while ago. Just forgot to take pics when I installed them. The rear of the car sits fine but since the suspension was made for the vehicle when it came with the twin turbo the front is riding a bit higher. Soon as I add the extra weight of the turbo/dp/tmic it should bring the nose down a little.

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Out of curiosity, What are you using as a reference for what it "should be"?

The front and back heights will be different, that much I know.

 

 

I understand that not every car is going to sit level. But I am using common sense and sight in judging what it should be. The front suspension is desiged for a car with two turbos, an intercooler, two downpipes, and a turbo manifold amount of weight that my car does not current my have. Also, after I rechecked the height diff, it's actually close to an inch higher than the rear. When my car looks like it's accelerating when it's sitting still, it probably does not have the adequate weight in the front.

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Oh wait, you have a Wagon. The issue is that the back of your car is heavier than those struts were designed for.

 

Sure, the turbo stuff adds weight, but your EJ25 block will be heavier than the EJ20 block in Japan. The front end weight difference is very slight between the two.. not enough to give you 1/2" lift in the front.

 

I know that the "aftermarket" JDM Bilsteins have two settings for the rear, one for BE and one for BH. I am not sure if the OE ones do as well. I can take a peek at mine next time I have the wheel off. If it does have the two settings, then you need to move the lower spring seat in the rear to the BH position. If you do not have two settings, then you will likely just need top-hat spacers to compensate for the weight difference.

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  • 4 weeks later...

So I finally got around to putting on my JDM BH5 rear bumper and crash beam. Shortened the car by about three inches and now my STI Genome exhaust fits correctly and no more burning bumper! You can see the difference of how much it shortens it up. Also removing the extra weight of the US crash beam lightened the car up a little bit so the back end is not sagging as much now.

 

Before:

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b550/seishowtime/Legacy/082_zpsfd3880b8.jpg

After : http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b550/seishowtime/Legacy/092_zps488b6cf4.jpg

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b550/seishowtime/Legacy/090_zpsca6eaa47.jpg

 

I did run into a little oversight tho. I didn't realize it till the bumper was put on, but the japanese rear quarters are different than the USDM ones. Not too noticeable from afar but it just one of those things you run into with swapping parts i guess.

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b550/seishowtime/Legacy/091_zpsdddbfaee.jpg

Edited by seishowtime
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And a few more parts showed up in the mail.

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b550/seishowtime/Legacy%20Parts/055_zps898a73c6.png

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b550/seishowtime/Legacy%20Parts/088_zps25956f41.jpg

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b550/seishowtime/Legacy%20Parts/086_zps2dfda5cf.jpg

Swap should be FINALLY getting under way here in the next month. Body work is getting scheduled in to have my JDM hood and side skirts painted to match the car. In the mean time the engine is getting broken down and resealed.

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  • 2 weeks later...
Progress? Or did the JDM addiction bankrupt you?? (Me too)

 

Hahaha almost! The shop (SubaPerformance) is breaking down the block and doing a re-seal right now. Valve covers and TGVs are getting powdercoated. Basically i'm getting my engine looking like its brand spanking new.

Body shop should have my hood and skirts done early next week.

 

In other news, these came in!

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b550/seishowtime/Legacy%20Parts/065_zpsd57b279e.jpg

I will probably leave them off until winter is done and I have my front bumper to go along with it.

Edited by seishowtime
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So another hiccup in the build process. Some how my JDM aluminum hood got switched for steel baja hood at the body shop. Currently dealing with them calling me a liar and that my hood was steel to begin with and that noone switched it out. I am providing them with receipts of my hood purchase and that my D-type headlights do not even line up with the USDM baja hood. Hopefully I can get this resolved soon and get this shit done.
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Are you sure you bought a D-type hood? The JDM A-C type hoods are essentially identical to the Baja one. Most of them are steel as well.

 

Is the hood on the car the same color? I find it extremely unlikely that the shop just happened to have a turbo Baja hood in the same color, considering how rare the turbo Baja is..

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I've had the hood for a year. I've moved it many times and knew how light it was and it was obviously aluminum. About a half dozen people knew it was aluminum. So i know i am not losing my mind or made a mistake. Also my D-type headlights no longer fit the hood they gave me in return.

When I put the hood in my car to take it to the body shop it was not a struggle. Now its a significantly heavier item that is difficult to manage and move.

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