Outback Conversion into JDM SpecB Bumper

I was in LA for 2 weeks and purchased a 2.5i Outback for my daily when I move back in LA in July.

Since, I have a JDM SpecB bumper sitting in my friend's shop in Tokyo. I was thinking why not ship it back to state and install onto the Outback.
I notice Outback has fender flares but wont be any porblem to install the bumper and add it on.

Question is, does the JDM spec B bumper going to fit on USDM Outback?

I see a lot of people have JDM bumper on their LGT and I guess the Outback should be able to fit the bumper.

I don't think it fits - might as well just send it to me




(can't see why you couldn't do the conversion)

Aren't the fender flares on the outback part of the fender? Or can they be separated?

Worst case scenario you can get Legacy fenders to go with that bumper, but you will lose the front flares.

Might need new bumper beams from Japan too, or remove. That'll make the radiator the new bumper beam.

Originally Posted by DrSpeed

Might need new bumper beams from Japan too, or remove. That'll make the radiator the new bumper beam.

wait, so I need a set of new headlight?

Originally Posted by EssTeeAai

Aren't the fender flares on the outback part of the fender? Or can they be separated?

Worst case scenario you can get Legacy fenders to go with that bumper, but you will lose the front flares.

I did some research and the flare are removable also sure can be add onto legacy bumper.

I really like the flare on the outback cause it look like over fender.

The JDM bumper is a different shape than the USDM one (shorter nose), so it needs a different bumper beam (the 3' galvanized steel thing) and absorber (the white styrofoam thing).

The plastic inner fender liners are different too as they have a portion that reaches all the way forward to the bumper. Could the USDM ones be trimmed or bent to fit? Probably. I had a damaged fender liner when I replaced my bumper so I got the JDM fender liners too.

It should fit the shape of the headlights no problem though. However, there is a steel bracket (painted black) that holds the headlights in place that I think the bumper won't fit onto correctly. There are JDM plastic brackets that I replaced the steel ones with.

Also, my JDM bumper does not have a perfect fit on my USDM Legacy. I think the absorber needs to be trimmed just a tiny bit to make it fit a little better, though I haven't done it on mine yet.

Also fyi ... the USDM (Legacy) fog lights do not clip in to the housings in the JDM bumper. The lights physically fit in the housings pretty well so I assume that it can be pretty easily modified to work (haven't put my fogs back in yet), but the plastic tabs and clips are in different places, so they don't lock in automatically without some kind of solution. Looks like that JDM bumper might have JDM fogs to come with it, but I would check to be sure ahead of time.

Finally, the USDM grille will not fit the JDM bumper. At all. They look very similar in shape and styling, but the JDM grille is at least an inch taller. Again, looks like the grille may come with the bumper there above, but check to be sure. Fyi ... that's the best looking JDM grille, imo. It's the same one I have (color matched to ABP though).

It's not a hard swap, by any means, but there are more parts than one would expect. I don't personally know to what degree one can modify the USDM versions of the above parts to fit that bumper and others may have suggestions, but I got a few extra JDM bits (bumper beam, absorber, fender liners, headlight brackets, grille, but not JDM Legacy fog lights) to do the swap with.

Also note, this info all refers to a 2005 USDM LGT wagon, not a 2006 USDM 2.5i Outback, so YMMV (Legacy and Outback fogs are completely different obviously). Fyi ... that lip in the picture is not stock on that bumper. It may be Subaru or aftermarket and it may or may not be designed specifically for that bumper (looks like it is).

Enjoy!

Thanks for the info

Pretty much I have everything attach including the bumper support. Ill just swap everything over onto the outback.