Cruisemobile2 Posted March 1, 2017 Share Posted March 1, 2017 (edited) It was only a matter of time until I got around to this haha! I've actually owned my 2005 OBXT Limited now for little over 5 years and I think at this point, it’s only necessary start my own build thread If you want to skip this intro, you can check out the "Official Lowered Outback" thread as I have been posting updates on the ride for the last couple years there or you can check out my IG: @tinkeringtolo Received tons of questions throughout the years about my setup and I honestly do appreciate everyone that has showed interest in the build along the way! Really, I do! Amazing how quick the OBXT community has grown in the recent years and as rebourne has mentioned, we really do have a great community here! I have a lot of catching up to do but I'm going to start from the very begging and why I decided to go with an OBXT. So why an OBXT? Well, I previously owned 2 Honda CRX's, Porsche 914, and a 92 tin top Geo Tracker (otherwise known as a Suzuki Sidekick!). The Honda scene had been a rough one. The CRX was my first project car since highschool. I tracked it a few times and was my daily for nearly 10 years. Within those 10 years, the first one was totaled from someone that was DUI and I picked up another which then became impractical to drive on city streets within the following years. Went fully caged out, no interior, no radio, built motor, straight race car status... Then came along the Geo Tracker. When I would get tired of driving the CRX around city streets and always having to worry about someone stealing it everywhere I go....I would opt to take the Tracker. I wheeled/offroaded/rock-crawled it a few times and loved every minute of it! Loved how I never had to put chains on when we took it on snowboarding trips too! 4wd was such a convenience! While I had both CRX and Geo Tracker rolling along, my pops passed me down a mint 1974 Porsche 914. I used this my "courtship" car...used for the ladies. Poor-mans Porsche, classic enough though some girls really didn't know too much about them...the fine leather seats would throw them off and was good enough for dinner dates, night out to the movies, etc. Along the years, a few things came up which had me on the prowl for a new car. I grew out of the Honda scene and didn't track as much anymore so the time to let the CRX go had come. The ECU on the Tracker went out...didn't want to spend money on an ECU that cost more than what I bought it for. The maintenance on the 914 was too much to keep up with and my pops needed some money so we eventually sold it… Then to top it off, I had to move and my new location wouldn’t allow me to keep all 3 so there they go! So I needed a car that had a bit of all 3 into one. Some of those features would be the following: • Decent horsepower • Leather interior with luxury features • Needed to be a hatch or a wagon • Needs to be 4wd • Manual • Can offroad • ABSOLUTELY NEEDED A SUNROOF! • Sport utility • Parts availability The only thing that I really wanted to add which all 3 didn't feature was being 4 door! I also wanted something that was a little more low key and not a lot of people would expect to be modified. The car needed to be able to perform wherever necessary and this is where I caught myself thinking about a crossover vehicle which most at the time looked like a bunch of SUV’s….which is what I didn’t want. All new cars on the market at the time also didn't catch my eye so I began to look a little further back, something that I can potentially build to be a fun car......I then came across the second gen Subaru Outbacks. I was nearly sold on the second gen because it had a DOUBLE SUNROOF! Only problem for me was the lack in power… so I held off from purchasing one for a minute. Did a little more research and I found the third gen Outback’s! Looking at the trims they offered and the HUGE panoramic sunroofs they came with…I was sold! 2005 Subaru Outback 2.5 XT Limited in the two tone silver is what I wanted because it offered everything I mentioned above plus more! ……Only problem was, well....how and where to get one! About 3 months into my hunt, I finally came across a 2005 Subaru Outback 2.5 XT Limited in manual at a mom and pop dealership with a clean title. Had 112k miles which were supposedly highway miles, and had 1 owner. Full leather interior but was missing the rear headrests. There was a semi rebuild on the motor which the dealership it was being sold from had performed. They replaced the right side heads with a used one and also threw in a used vf40 turbo cause the original had blown due to the uppipe cat releasing platinum. She had some leaks around the turbo and some hoses but the list of repairs was huge which kind of reassured me but I still wanted a Subaru dealership to check it out. My vision of what it could be kept my thoughts off the con’s of the car. Eventually I got to drive to a dealership and they checked it out as good and probably one of the cleanest they’ve seen for that many miles! So that was a done deal for me. April 28, 2011... SOLD for 10k! ….holy intro right? Now onto some pics! On the way home from the dealership, filling her up for the first time! http://i63.tinypic.com/33ne1hz.jpg Pulled up at home for the first time....believe it or not, my mom thought it was really ugly when she first saw it! http://i68.tinypic.com/vsl4rk.jpg http://i64.tinypic.com/244zjhf.jpg The following/first weekend, I took the OBXT out for a little adventure to test that warranty http://i66.tinypic.com/2moz7g3.jpg http://i63.tinypic.com/2vbu2z5.jpg She did just fine! Will be posting more as the days go on! Stay tuned! Edited March 2, 2017 by Cruisemobile2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisemobile2 Posted March 2, 2017 Author Share Posted March 2, 2017 (edited) Today's update....the very first and one of the most important mods for a Subaru! THE BOOST GAUGE! Omori 45mm boost gauge. Installed somewhere in 2011 http://i68.tinypic.com/2w73kvm.jpg Edited March 2, 2017 by Cruisemobile2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisemobile2 Posted March 2, 2017 Author Share Posted March 2, 2017 (edited) The next couple of weeks I took her out on a few more adventures http://i63.tinypic.com/2moxw12.jpg http://i66.tinypic.com/2uiww8z.jpg http://i63.tinypic.com/2yv5suv.jpg http://i64.tinypic.com/30mu45l.jpg Clip of the car whipping around El Mirage Edited March 2, 2017 by Cruisemobile2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisemobile2 Posted March 2, 2017 Author Share Posted March 2, 2017 (edited) With only a few months of owning the car, I encountered my first cooling problem....which turned into a MAJOR DRIVETRAIN PROBLEM! Driving to work in the morning and boom! The upper portion of the radiator where the top hose connects cracked open. There was some air in the system and eventually found where it was coming from when i removed the intake duct...didn't see this when i bought the car cause it was hidden underneath it http://i66.tinypic.com/11c6uyb.jpg http://i65.tinypic.com/mm8o05.jpg How did a cooling problem lead to drivetrain problem you ask? Well, I had to rush to work so my brother met up and stayed with the car for it to get towed. I specifically requested for a flatbed tow truck.....service provider sent me the opposite. Can you see where this is going?? My brother told the tow trucker driver that I specifically told them it needed a flatbed...the tow trucker drive said it wasn't necessary and would be fine...and to trust him! ....my brother let him do his thing. 2 blocks with the car hitch up by its front wheels and boom! Drivetrain locks up, blows the center diff and rear diff. Tow truck company tried to deny there was any damage to the car after the tow but there clearly was because after I swapped the radiator, took it for a test drive and boy.....the diffs were clucking an grinding like crazy! The owner of the tow truck company comes out to take a look at it. Said the noise was coming from a heat shield under the car? So he removed it? Still, made all this noise, tried to play me for stupid! Told him no, we're sending this to a Subaru Dealership in Long Beach for inspection and they were going to pay for the tow. Tow truck company wanted me to send it to one of their shops but in now way was that going to happen. In the end, tow truck company got the bill of $5800...they even tried to dodge the dealership by not paying for it because they said they marked the prices up for the parts and the dealership almost took legal action against them but tow truck company eventually sucked it up. Came out with freshly rebuilt transmission, new center diff, all new rear diff and housing. Edited March 2, 2017 by Cruisemobile2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisemobile2 Posted March 2, 2017 Author Share Posted March 2, 2017 Because I love to snowboard, it was a must to add a Thule snowboarding rack. At the time, the car was pretty tall so I added one with the sliding feature for easy loading http://i68.tinypic.com/9vfmrr.jpg http://i63.tinypic.com/20r8ms6.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisemobile2 Posted March 2, 2017 Author Share Posted March 2, 2017 Somewhere within the first year of owning the car, also installed one of these so I can listen to some tunes directly from mp3 player http://i64.tinypic.com/214pmis.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisemobile2 Posted March 2, 2017 Author Share Posted March 2, 2017 More adventures during the course of its build Somewhere in norcal after a Tahoe snowboarding trip.......offroading for miles an miles around a lake just because??? http://i67.tinypic.com/11w65b9.jpg Slept in the trunk of the OBXT in the heart of downtown Sacramento during another snowboarding trip. http://i63.tinypic.com/242tnxe.jpg Climbing Santiago's peak! http://i63.tinypic.com/2u6hb94.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisemobile2 Posted March 2, 2017 Author Share Posted March 2, 2017 After going with Motul, we never turned back! Loved how it was so easy back then without ever having to raise the car during the diff and tranny oil change haha http://i68.tinypic.com/op7f5t.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisemobile2 Posted March 2, 2017 Author Share Posted March 2, 2017 Here we have the all mighty MACH V spoiler when it was new! Before http://i63.tinypic.com/2u781l1.jpg After http://i68.tinypic.com/34rj1aq.jpg Love that flare! http://i65.tinypic.com/imqjr8.jpg This is without a doubt, the piece that I get the most questions about! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisemobile2 Posted March 15, 2017 Author Share Posted March 15, 2017 I didn't get around to it from the beginning but the car came with some nasty warped rotors so a few months owning the car, I went ahead swapped the brakes out to some Duralast rotors and pads! They do a great a job and you'll see why as we continue on with the build! http://i63.tinypic.com/ve9oxg.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nightmaresmk Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 Needed to swap LGT brakes just as cheap but stop so much better and it's a bolt on swap. i love mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCASEYS Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 :yeahthat: I donated to LegacyGT.com which allows me to have this nifty signature. If anything SCASEYS posts ever becomes a sticky i'm gonna light this whole place on fire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhitter Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 He is trolling with his brake pictures...Eventually he will update this thread to where he is currently at. My OBXT build Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nightmaresmk Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 I'm trolling with a broken car. Mine hasn't been on road in 7 months now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisemobile2 Posted March 17, 2017 Author Share Posted March 17, 2017 Needed to swap LGT brakes just as cheap but stop so much better and it's a bolt on swap. i love mine. That was going to be my first route. Heard great results with just the lgt stock brake setup! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisemobile2 Posted March 17, 2017 Author Share Posted March 17, 2017 He is trolling with his brake pictures...Eventually he will update this thread to where he is currently at. guess some folks haven't seen the current goodies yet. If not, stay tuned! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norskie Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 Do the LGT brakes fit under 16 inch steelies? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhitter Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 No. Need 17s My OBXT build Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisemobile2 Posted March 22, 2017 Author Share Posted March 22, 2017 (edited) Here is when I got new shoes for the wagon! XXR 530 18x8.75 +20 Offset http://i68.tinypic.com/apcrc2.jpg First set of tires were Falken FK452 225/40/18 http://i64.tinypic.com/2di3fv5.jpg When they were mounted, I honestly wasn't to sure of fitment....thought the tires looked a little too thin for my taste... http://i67.tinypic.com/2hs2k9f.jpg Also added the S204 front lip http://i64.tinypic.com/33ngcqs.jpg Edited March 22, 2017 by Cruisemobile2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisemobile2 Posted March 22, 2017 Author Share Posted March 22, 2017 Shortly after the rim's, I picked up coilovers! BCRacing BR Outback Specific Coilovers. These have longer shock bodies than the Legacy GT coilovers http://i68.tinypic.com/mm4ig5.jpg http://i67.tinypic.com/wmns0m.jpg http://i64.tinypic.com/f9lg0z.jpg http://i63.tinypic.com/jkuexg.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisemobile2 Posted March 22, 2017 Author Share Posted March 22, 2017 When she came down, the tires didn't look too bad but still, i wanted more meat on them lol. You can see how bad the rear toe was too in this first shot. Smelled like rubber at times when I was driving. Lateral links were definitely needed to correct this http://i64.tinypic.com/21kjal2.jpg http://i63.tinypic.com/2rwx8v9.jpg First trip to vegas with the new setup! http://i64.tinypic.com/2w7jq5v.jpg This is as low as the coilovers would go http://i67.tinypic.com/2i9rxix.jpg As you can see, it's totally maxed out http://i63.tinypic.com/15ochs1.jpg and unfortunately because the lack of lateral links in the rear, I burned through the first set of tires in less than 5k miles http://i66.tinypic.com/2nq8eip.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisemobile2 Posted March 22, 2017 Author Share Posted March 22, 2017 (edited) Went and tried out a set of Megan Racing lateral links. Not too shabby! http://i65.tinypic.com/r8ce29.jpg http://i67.tinypic.com/2mq9im1.jpg http://i66.tinypic.com/2rcmtkn.jpg Also, the tires were also switched out to Toyo Proxes 4 and I took it up a notch to some 235's vs the previous 225's. I gotta say, it looks more filled and beefy with the new tires!http://i64.tinypic.com/25ujhw6.jpg Edited March 22, 2017 by Cruisemobile2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisemobile2 Posted March 22, 2017 Author Share Posted March 22, 2017 Eventually came across one of my FAVORITE mods for the car! This rare and discontinued beauty! An Apexi N1 Evo dual catback exhuast! http://i67.tinypic.com/4t3pzd.jpg http://i68.tinypic.com/34rc97b.jpg http://i63.tinypic.com/xogtiu.jpg http://i66.tinypic.com/szbs43.jpg http://i67.tinypic.com/35kk39j.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisemobile2 Posted March 24, 2017 Author Share Posted March 24, 2017 It's now been 100k since I've owned the car and the time had come when I got to experience ringland failure and a blown turbo! WOO!!!! http://i66.tinypic.com/2wgvgya.jpg Off to Infamous Performance she goes and one the longest tow trips she's ever had to date! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naylor Posted August 15, 2017 Share Posted August 15, 2017 how did the front lip fit and have you driven in the snow yet with your lowered setup? looks perfect Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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