Dulagarl: the Lifted H6 Forester

Well, I bought it, and I have to say that what SKT has done is truly inspired.

It’s a freaking rocket on the bitumen, and it has an enormous amount of grunt offroad.

Engine transplant thread is here:

https://www.ausubaru.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16564

Here’s a little log of bring it home, and it’s first offroad trip once home.

Jan 29th I flew to Coolangatta. Scott picked me up at the airport and we went for a drive. It didn’t take long for me to be convinced that I should buy this. Sure, it had a couple of issues, for example some worn out bushes in the front end, and a cooling issue, but I could tell that this was a VERY serious vehicle.

Brought it home via Lismore and Casino and then to Tamworth for the night. Next day was Tamworth to Narrandera. Narrandera to Melbourne on the Minday was relatively easy after all of that.

Saw some amazing country in the process. Didn’t have time for many snaps, but here are a few…

Some of the country just into NSW after casino…

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Took a detour via the outer solar system…

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Actually, that virtual solar system drive from siding spring observatory is a good idea. That pic was taken in Gilgandra.

While on the space bent, couldn’t resist a couple of pics with the Parkes Radio Telescope…

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It was 38 degrees Celsius when those shots were taken, and it didn’t get cooler for hours. Unsurprisingly, the vehicle got a bit hot just south of Forbes.

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A bit further south past West Wyalong, and there was still water around from December. Ridiculously flat country with paddocks turned to lakes…

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So, when I got home, I went straight to the mechanic and got an aircon service. I also consulted about improving airflow to the radiator. I looked at pics of offroad bars on Outbacks on the Subaxtreme site, and also the bar on the latest Forester. Armed with that info I decided to cut some holes in the bulbar, and this is the result…

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Gotta love the grille mesh from supacheap auto!

So, I then set up the GPS on the dash with some adhesive Velcro…

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and connected the ECU to the laptop to monitor engine performance and temperatures.

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(BTW: I think I might have resolved the “cooling issues”!)

... part two to follow
 
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Lookin good! Must be a great feeling to drive your car again mate. Still waiting to pick up mine...
 
Dulagarl said:
Shiny and no dents!

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Oh Om God!
I swear it looks like it just came out off the show room floor, it looks brand new.

Wow it just looks awesome :cool:

Im guessing all the hail damage was removed from the roof? Did the whole car get repainted or just the new panels, doors, bonnet and boot?
 
Well, I guess you made a good wish last year! That was a quick turn around too - about 9 months right?

So will an investment in a carport be on the cards??

Cheers

Bennie
 
Looks fabulous Greg.
Really magnificent :) :ebiggrin: :biggrin:.

Terrific that you could re-insure as well.

I'm with Bennie on the carport! When we get our car park "pergola" properly repaired, it will be getting about 3 layers of heavy shade mesh over it.
 
taza said:
Im guessing all the hail damage was removed from the roof? Did the whole car get repainted or just the new panels, doors, bonnet and boot?
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Right hand rear door was replaced and right hand front door repaired. Roof repaired and painted, entire right hand side painted, bonnet replaced and painted. The rest was cut and polish.
 
the Dulagarl is now at the mechanics.

When I picked it up from the panel beater, the thermo fans didn't work: both of the fuses were blown. No problem: replace fuses.

then I noticed that the water in the radiator overflow bottle was very full, and paler than usual. No problem I thought: they have probably just overfilled it.

Put the car in for a service, and the mechanic wanted to pressure test the cooling system. No problem: I'll let him do it.

Dropped in to see the vehicle today: radiator core is leaking, and some of the hoses are leaking at the fittings. Given that I had all new hoses fitted before the Nullarbor trip last year, this was a problem.

Source of problem? me thinks that after the fuses blew, the Dulagarl was driven to the detailers and back, and got too hot: pressure increased, water found weak spots at hose mounts and blew a hole in radiator core.

So, radiator needs replacement, and some hoses need re-fitting. Will be off the road for a couple of days. I had better have it back by the end of the week or I am gonna be ****ty: was planning a trip from next Tuesday until the Sunday, becuase Wednesday is a public holiday. If this doesn't happen, it will be the third such time I have had to put off a trip becuase of the repair fiasco: I was off the road for Labour Day and Easter.

Will be talking to the panel beater about this when he calls me about his bill.
 
^ **** I could imagine you are really pissed!!

Atleast it didn't kill the engine.

This is just isn't the week for blue SF Subaru's. My gearbox blew up this afternoon :(
 
taza said:
^ **** I could imagine you are really pissed!!

Atleast it didn't kill the engine.

This is just isn't the week for blue SF Subaru's. My gearbox blew up this afternoon :(
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eff eff ess
 
Dulagarl said:
So, radiator needs replacement, and some hoses need re-fitting. Will be off the road for a couple of days. I had better have it back by the end of the week or I am gonna be ****ty: was planning a trip from next Tuesday until the Sunday, becuase Wednesday is a public holiday. If this doesn't happen, it will be the third such time I have had to put off a trip becuase of the repair fiasco: I was off the road for Labour Day and Easter.

Will be talking to the panel beater about this when he calls me about his bill.
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SERIOUSLY!!! I know we shouldn't bring religion into here, but I reckon it's time to have a chat to a witch and order some sort of protection spell!!

Good vibes to you and the Dulagarl!
Pedro.
 
The question is: why did the fuse blow?

This makes me think it a good idea to run each fan on an individual fuse. Didn't your engine watch dog pick it up?

And did the mechanic's pressure test come back to say it wasn't a head gasket?

I hope nothing like this happens with Ruby Scoo once I get her back on the road.

Cheers

Bennie
 
El_Freddo said:
The question is: why did the fuse blow?

This makes me think it a good idea to run each fan on an individual fuse. Didn't your engine watch dog pick it up?

And did the mechanic's pressure test come back to say it wasn't a head gasket?

I hope nothing like this happens with Ruby Scoo once I get her back on the road.

Cheers

Bennie
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I do run a separate fuse for each fan: Both fuses blew Bennie: one for each fan.

Watch dog only picks it up at 105 degrees (which equals about 110 degrees ECT). It didn't get that hot when I was driving it because I saw it get to 90, and knew that there was a problem. 86 or 87 on the watchdog usually equals 97 ECT. I stopped and checked it out and realised that the fuses were blown.

Who knows if the watchdog alarm went off when the panel beaters had it? If it did, and they said nothing, I'll be freaking annoyed. But I doubt that they would admit that it went off.

I can only guess as to why the fuses blew: maybe a short when reassembling. Dunno about head gasket but will ask.
 
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