Phiz's 99 Outback

Alright, it just occurred to me I haven't posted anything about my Outback on this forum!
Well, here is the little story.
Bought from Pickles Storm Damage Auctions I picked up this 99 Outback full of dents for $2250. Flew down to Melbourne and drove it home under a permit. Due to living in SA I needed to fix the damage to get it registered. So I started work on patching the dents and repairing the broken windows.

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The rear right shocker was leaking oil, so I bought some KYB Excel G's (which are the same as GR2's).

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Here is what the paint turned out like.. Well it looks a fair bit better in the photos, actually can still see dips and sanding scratches under the paint but it is good enough for me and it was my very first attempt at body work and painting.

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It had an exhaust leak, which turned out to be a 180 degree crack around the header pipe! Welded up and now using factory style 5 layer stainless steel gaskets which apparently are much better then cheap aftermarket jobbies. So far so good!

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The interior was very dirty, smoker and dog owners car! So I pulled the seats and scrubbed it top to bottom. Took 5 hours to completely clean the inside of the car!

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And that is the repairs!
 
With the repairs done I started work on the camping side of things. Now that I've finished my storage system I can share it with the lot of you! I decided not to go with drawers because they are heavier and take up more space which I am quite short on anyhow! I can reach in as far as I need to so it works very well and maximises space.

I'd post up pictures and stuff here but it is easier to just lead you to the page on my site about it.
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https://offroadingsubarus.com/store_sleep.html
 
Nice work on the bodywork....that stuff ain't easy.

Converting it into a camper is the main thing that interested me though. I'm a mad keen camper with a poptop Toyota Hiace (by John Terry) - full kitchen, fridge, goddamn wardrobe! and pantry, stacks of storage, dual battery etc etc...however it is quite cumbersome. Only for trips where I have plenty of time to get there. Not safe over 120km/h!

So I also have a removable setup for the Foz...ie: 40litres collapasible water containers, mini 3kg gas cylinder, primus two burner stove, Delkor 70ah Deep Cycle SLA battery & inverter, Waeco CF18 mini fridge (Danfos compressor - very cold & economical), 4 man tent, two top line thermarests (we have camped on rocky desert and not felt it).

Would love to make a Subie Camper conversion some day.....keep us posted on your progress. I love this sort of stuff!
 
Thank you.

I've not removed the power window relay and replaced it with a jumper lead so the power windows now work with the ignition off. This is a bit of a theft issue, as its easy to press the power window buttons if you pull the glass back, but I need it for when I'm sleeping in the back.

I've got some LED lighting coming for the back, so I'll post up that when its all wired up.
 
I made a couple of small modifications to the electrical stuff.

First up the power windows. I found the relay (unmaked so I traced the wires from the fuse box knowing the colour from the manual I have). I then made a jumper wire to bypass the relay as I just wanted the windows to work without the key in. If you however just wanted to change it to work on ACC power instead of IGN power then you just need to find the small green with black strip wire in the back of the relay, cut it and attach it to a ACC power wire from the key.

Secondly I stopped the wipers wiping when you press the sprayer washer button. This way I can wet the windscreen then wipe it. And you can just do single wipes with a full of the stalk anywho. I just traced back the wire form the button into the circuit board and found where it went to the wiper circuit then cut off this small resistor to stop it. I can always solder it back on if I ever want it back.
 
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Hey Phiz,

I like the one about not having the wipers going straight away when you want to wash the windscreen...

Can you give more details? Where is the circuit located? Which resistor in particular did you cut off? Alternatively, you can show me when we get to Robe!!

Cheers!
Pedro.
 
The circuit board is on the base of the wiper stalk control (attached to the steering column). The green wire coming from the white plug shown in the picture (that white plug is for the end button and rear wiper controls) goes onto the board on the second to most right pin. You can see on the board the wire in the board goes around to the other plug which then outputs to a large Light Green with Red strip wire (which goes to the washer motor). The only other part to come off this connection on the circuit board that goes anywhere is the little resistor which I have placed on the board just out of its position to show which one I removed.

Not sure if the Forester would be the same, but if you want me to have a look at it down at Robe I'm more then happy too.
 
It has been quite a while. A a bit has happened.

I'll start with the camping mods. I've made up a shade and fly screen for the side window so I can open a window while camping. This is just fly net with magnet strip sewn into it. Only good for while I am stopped. But works well on the hot nights.

The other part is a rear fly net so I can leave the rear door up. Being from Australia, our summer nights can get quite warm.

I've put two strips of LED lights, 222 LEDs all up, in the rear door. Works a treat for lighting the camp site. I also have LEDs under the bed so I can see in my plastic "drawers".

And finally, more mechanical based, I've converted my 4.11 EJ D/R gearbox from the 1.19:1 low range to a EA82 1.59:1 low range. So I have excellent gearing now (until I put over sized tyres on obviously). And while doing that mod I replaced the factory DM flywheel and badly worn slipping clutch with a kit I got from the US which had a F1 Racing branded flywheel and Exedy clutch.

https://offroadingsubarus.com/outbacklowrange_part1.html
 

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Great job on the fly net on the rear door :)

I know what you mean by it being fairly warm on some of our nights in summer :cool:

Actually, you have just given me an idea for something (different but similar) I might try for the rear door on mine, for when I go camping in the warmer months :iconwink:

Regards
Mr Turbo
 
taza said:
Nice job. How did you do the fly net for the back door? Im keen to do that for my Foz.
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Have a read of post #56 here https://offroadingsubarus.com/forum/index.php?topic=969.50 I think.

dirtyRU said:
Look's awesome. Really like the LEDs you put in there. I can imagine those come in handy!
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Only issue I have found with these LEDs placed here is it does bring the bugs in around the car. But if I stick the fly net up first it is ok. And at least I don't have wires over the ground or batteries that go flat.
 
Pulled a 89 Liberty towbar off my wreck and modified it for my 99 Outback.
Here is the process and results.
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I'll do a write up on my site at some point. Too much homework to do, and also going racing this weekend so not much time.

Next step is a tyre carrier that fits in the receiver...
 
Looks good Phiz but isn't that illegal to modify a tow bar with gettign it certified? Im pretty sure you car would get yellow stickered if a cop looked at it although if pulled over they propably wouldn't climb underneath to check it out :ebiggrin: Is it a 50x50mm reciever?
just thought you might not know.

Taza
 
Yeah, it would be illegal. I am not fussed about that.
It was a Hayman Reece before I done some chopping. I have made it stronger then the ones you can buy for Outback's.

Yes it is a 50mm receiver.
 
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