CovertRussian's 05 LGT Build Thread

Interesting. I did not know that.

As for me, my concern is the slight raise in EGTs across all other cylinders, as I mentioned in that thread.

 

I think it's better to have higher, but more consistent EGT's, then having a big disparity between cylinders. One is easy to tune out, one is damn near impossible

Sure.

Last week I uploaded a new tune with a revised timing table to test if 88C thermostat wanted less timing. Well while driving to work and back I noticed the car was going into boost up our hills (typically 0psi is enough throttle). First thought was, jeez my new tune can't suck THAT badly, it's only 2* less timing at 0psi.

 

Well next came the other symptoms, I started smelling burning rubber or clutch material. Had me real worried that it was the timing belt or clutch going out. After sniffing around the engine, couldn't locate the source, left it be for another day. Well the next day the car was really hesitating, I get home and checked the rotors with my infrared to find this...

 

Driver side on the left, passenger on the right:

 

I took it apart that night, one of the pistons was really stuck, couldn't compress it with the channel locks. Had to rotate the piston in place and pump the pedal to knock it loose. The next day the driver side locks up! Over my lunch break, I pulled the caliper to make sure my brake lines weren't swelling internally (I hear that's common).

 

Even with the caliper off I couldn't compress the piston, so reattached it and pumped the brakes until the piston popped out. Rust inside the boot...

 

After spending a good half hour trying to wrap the boot around the piston, I finally got it, and the piston moved around like new, so weird! Anyway kind of sucky for these to start failing at 16k miles and 2.3 years... Original install post.

I'm coming out of the woodwork a little, I'm still pretty busy with my house projects but lately cars have been needing some attention too. With office closures, I'm barely driving now so it's harder to justify spending money on the cars .

 

My rear lip has been getting a bit loose, not too surprising for a $30 eBay lip that's been on for 7 years!

 

With the lip off I saw how nice and rich the paint used to be. I'm told that clay barring the car might being it mostly back. Sadly bumpers are too far gone now.

 

Used some good old 3m double sided tape, had to hand cut it since I didn't have any of the thin stuff around.

 

All done, lets see how long this lasts.

Glad you found time to make a post, you have been kind of quiet lately.

 

I did a full clay bar wash and wax on my civic one time and I was surprised how much difference it made. It wasn't even really in bad shape. It took a lot of time though. I'll be getting some sort of buffer or buffer attachment for my wagon.

 

 

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Glad you found time to make a post, you have been kind of quiet lately.

 

 

It's not that I don't have time to post, all the house projects & physical labor have been stealing all of my dopamine, thus the car's have gotten no love at all. I did have a productive day on the Outback yesterday, and did some more work on the legacy today (more to come).

 

As for house projects, I'm still digging & moving earth, chainsawing old trees and started jackhammering my existing driveway to recycle it as new driveway's baselayer.

 

Here's what it's looking like so far:

 

After my last year's post, I had some major scope creep and decided to add a front parking area. I really didn't have plans for doing this much work, but figured do it right the first time. Unfortunately I hit a ton of rocks, which took me all February to jackhammer then I hand moved them all around. I should have rented a skid loader afterall .

 

On a bright side, while gyms were closed I still had my personal gym outside and my core, back, and arm strength is now awesome, on a bad side with added muscle I gained a lot of fat too.

 

 

I did a full clay bar wash and wax on my civic one time and I was surprised how much difference it made. It wasn't even really in bad shape. It took a lot of time though. I'll be getting some sort of buffer or buffer attachment for my wagon.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I think I have some some place, will need to find some time when my arms are not sore to claybar the car. With all the jackhammering/stump digging that I'm doing arms need plenty of rest.

Oh, yeah, I now remember you were talking about that project. That's a lot of work.

Oh, yeah, I now remember you were talking about that project. That's a lot of work.

 

Yup, it's kept me pretty busy, I've been doing the bare minimum to keep the cars running while I'm busy with this...

 

I did install the 190F thermstat last November and was actively testing MPG with it, unfortunately the stay at home order put it all on a stand still since it takes me now months to get a 100 miles in .

 

On a flip side I did stretch the cars legs on a highway MPG base run, I need to waste a little more gas joy riding before I can do some tune adjustments and see if 190F thermostat helped

My first real mod in a while! One of the cars, my old SR20 Sentra, I recently scrapped (had to stop procrastinating, since I'm tearing up the driveway) had Redline hood struts on it. Figured I could re-purpose them on the Legacy.

 

At first I wanted to use the existing fender mount, would need some custom hood brackets then, this is how my G20 kit does it. But our fenders mounts are really flimsy and I could see it also bending/failing overtime.

 

Since that didn't work out, started to do more permanent modifications, drilled and riveted (after breaking my first rivet gun), but I failed at my geometry and it would bind:

 

At this point I started looking up how proper LGT hood struts are installed and I noticed that the body side mount is much further back. The hood mount was still binding too, so had to move that one forward too.

 

Here's the other side completed, with less screwups

 

Finally done! Sadly they don't open as high as even the hood prop, but it's worth it for me since I freaking hate that prop. Topping off the oil is gonna be so much easier now!

Edited July 13, 2020 by covertrussian

Yeah man! I installed those beauties on my legacy last year and I love them. Sure as hell beats letting the hood sit vertical, gently touching the windshield...like I did..for many embarrassing years..sucked getting a jump on windy/rainy days and someone popping my hood and looking everywhere for the bracing rod! I would just lean it all the way up like a complete idiot. The looks I got were priceless!

 

Anyway, your page seems like the only one I visit anymore. Keep up the great work brutha.

What's going on OP? Been quiet over here

 

 

Question for you: which alignment tool do you use to adjust camber and toe? I recall you've been using some toe plates. Which brand?

I've been working from home, which means the car became a 99% leisurely car, since we normally take the Outback for family outings. I did take the Legacy soft-roading/camping, my exhaust sits a bit too low...

 

I tore up and flattened/regraded my backyard with the skid loader, new grass is in place but that also means I can't get to my garage for the time being. So most of the car projects (even oil changes) are at a bit of a stand still heh.'

 

As for Alignment tools, I do use toe plates, no-name brand ones from ebay. As for camber, I just crank it to 11 on both sides, I do have a digital angler gauge, but since I have no flat spots in my yard, accuracy is suspect. I plan on building a more level garage floor with my house addition.

Are these similar to the connectors you bought for your brake line fix?

Brake Line Adapters

Planning to buy everything and fix it myself, here is what I priced out so far, hoping that it lines up with the items you grabbed:

Brake Lines

Brake Line Unions and Nuts

Brake Line Flaring Tool Kit

Brake Line Bender

My first real mod in a while! One of the cars, my old SR20 Sentra, I recently scrapped (had to stop procrastinating, since I'm tearing up the driveway) had Redline hood struts on it. Figured I could re-purpose them on the Legacy.

 

At first I wanted to use the existing fender mount, would need some custom hood brackets then, this is how my G20 kit does it. But our fenders mounts are really flimsy and I could see it also bending/failing overtime.

 

Since that didn't work out, started to do more permanent modifications, drilled and riveted (after breaking my first rivet gun), but I failed at my geometry and it would bind:

 

At this point I started looking up how proper LGT hood struts are installed and I noticed that the body side mount is much further back. The hood mount was still binding too, so had to move that one forward too.

 

Here's the other side completed, with less screwups [emoji38]

 

Finally done! Sadly they don't open as high as even the hood prop, but it's worth it for me since I freaking hate that prop. Topping off the oil is gonna be so much easier now!

One of the coolest mods , so practical and know you won't burn yourself like I did on the stock rod

 

Not sure wether I'm more jealous of the struts or the fact you have a skid loader

 

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Are these similar to the connectors you bought for your brake line fix?

Brake Line Adapters

Planning to buy everything and fix it myself, here is what I priced out so far, hoping that it lines up with the items you grabbed:

Brake Lines

Brake Line Unions and Nuts

Brake Line Flaring Tool Kit

Brake Line Bender

 

Yup that looks pretty similar, if you want to be more correct go with the Metric sizes

 

One of the coolest mods , so practical and know you won't burn yourself like I did on the stock rod

 

Not sure wether I'm more jealous of the struts or the fact you have a skid loader

 

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It's seriously one of my most favorite mods, too bad I waited for lockdown to do it... nowdays I only top off the oil once every 6 months, because I drive the car once a month .

 

I wish I had a skid steer! I collected enough projects and rented it for a week to get it all done. Sadly I had to dig more for my addition after the fact, I ended up just doing that by foot and wheel barrow. Took only a couple months longer

Yup that looks pretty similar, if you want to be more correct go with the Metric sizes

 

 

 

Cool, thanks for checking it out. Good thing I had all those Credit Card reward points so it really cost my like $15 out of pocket for everything

It's not that I don't have time to post, all the house projects & physical labor have been stealing all of my dopamine, thus the car's have gotten no love at all. I did have a productive day on the Outback yesterday, and did some more work on the legacy today (more to come).

 

As for house projects, I'm still digging & moving earth, chainsawing old trees and started jackhammering my existing driveway to recycle it as new driveway's baselayer.

 

 

 

 

I'm finally getting around to a 2 car garage too. I have a thread in the Garage and Tool forum.

I'm finally getting around to a 2 car garage too. I have a thread in the Garage and Tool forum.

 

Wohoo! Subscribed

How is your project going ?

How is your project going ?

 

Car mostly sits, since I don't have to drive to work anymore. It's a bit of a shame really, poor battery keeps on dying .

 

Driveway wise I'm almost done, building up a clay hill to the garage now and spreading gravel to the lower portion of the driveway .

Car mostly sits, since I don't have to drive to work anymore. It's a bit of a shame really, poor battery keeps on dying .

 

Driveway wise I'm almost done, building up a clay hill to the garage now and spreading gravel to the lower portion of the driveway .

 

I feel your pain, my legacy just sits in the garage also. I take it out 1 day a week and drive it around, I was out for a big car show weekend last week and it was fun. It's just so hot right now I drive my daily .

I have two of my cars on Noco Genius battery tender/chargers. Killed the battery in my 2018 VW, even the repair mode on the Genius couldn't save it. Got to the point where I had to jump to get home from any short trip. And they're all short trips.

Yup pretty much that and if we do go somewhere (which we do all the time), we take the Outback instead since it's far bigger/more comfortable to go places in.

 

Part of me is wondering if it's time to part with my Legacy or G20, or both?

G20 first