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…

imgp1367a.jpg


Took a detour via the outer solar system…

001solarsystem.jpg


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…

002dish1.jpg


003dish2.jpg


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.

004southofforbes.jpg



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

005southofforbes.jpg


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…

001grille.jpg


002front.jpg


Gotta love the grille mesh from supacheap auto!

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

003gps.jpg


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

004ecudata.jpg


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

... part two to follow
 
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^Very nice :)
I wonder if it would also fit on a MY05 :shrug:

I might just have to look in to this a little further :)

Regards
Mr Turbo
 
Sourced some alloy wheels of an Audi A3. Should have them fitted in the next week or so. Managed to get a set of 5.

here's a couple of pics of one I tried on to make sure the stud pattern matched:

wheel1a.jpg


This one shows that the wheel sits a bit wider than the OEM, but still just inside the guard.

wheel2q.jpg


More info on the wheels in this thread:

https://www.offroadsubarus.com/showthread.php?t=4411
 
Audi A3 rims being fitted today. Pics later...
 
Wheels fitted.

For details of how and what, please see this thread:

https://www.offroadsubarus.com/showthread.php?t=4411

Now that they are fitted, by Bridgestone in Carlton (Note: very good blokes who did this at a fantastic price!), they look like this:

side view:

carsidez.jpg


Front:

frontdkus.jpg



Rear:

rearat.jpg



and finally, a close up of how the rim protector sits on a BFG 215/75 r 15 alloy. This is impressive imo. It converts me back to the BFG's: what I had previously not liked about them was how the rim protector sat poorly on the oem steelie. Not any more.

rimprotector.jpg



IMO the offset is near perfect at +35. they fill the wheel arch nicely. I could probably go to 225/70 15 now, but that will be at least 10000km off.

For now, I'm off to enjoy them in the sand on the weekend. Tomorrow we get alignment rechecked and adjusted if necessary at Trutrack.
 
I like the offset but I'm sorry to say I personally think the wheels look absolutely disgusting. I think they have wrecked the looks of the amazing H6 Foz, but that's me. Nothing wrong with being different!
Do you have any rubbing of the wheels in the wheel arches on full lock? I know I have a slight amount with my 225/70R15, a little more now I have changed to Impreza wheels with a slightly worse offset.
I'm guessing your still running the standard SF brakes since you have 15" rims? Have you found the braking ability of the vehicle to be better since changing to a lighter rim? I know I did when going from the standard steelies to the alloys..
 
Looking good :biggrin:

My offset sucks (+52, alloys from an early Outback), I would love +35.

Taza, i think you would like em in person. they are very attractive wheels & the photos dont do them justice
 
taza said:
I like the offset but I'm sorry to say I personally think the wheels look absolutely disgusting. I think they have wrecked the looks of the amazing H6 Foz, but that's me. Nothing wrong with being different!
Do you have any rubbing of the wheels in the wheel arches on full lock? I know I have a slight amount with my 225/70R15, a little more now I have changed to Impreza wheels with a slightly worse offset.
I'm guessing your still running the standard SF brakes since you have 15" rims? Have you found the braking ability of the vehicle to be better since changing to a lighter rim? I know I did when going from the standard steelies to the alloys..
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I didnt buy them for looks. Function is my priority. Find another 15 inch +35 offset for less than 80 per wheel!
I didn't have rubbing before, so not sure how I would have it with a smaller offset and hence a wider stance.
Can't yet answer about braking: car has only been driven 15 kms in traffic since wheels were fitted.
Yes still running standard brakes, but if you read venoms thread on these wheels you'll see that the point is that you can run 4 pot calipers with these.
 
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Personally I like the look, and when compared to a forester steel rim I know what I would prefer. The extra offset makes the whole car look tougher too.

I'm glad you're happy with how the wheels turned out :cool:
 
Dulagarl said:
Wheels fitted.
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Sweet mate. It's not a normal car.
Did someone say it doesn't suit the look of the H6 Forester? Not sure if you've worked it out but it's quite possibly the only one in the country and most certainly built for offload/touring. Therefor.... It is the H6 Forester so it looks exactly as it should.

Lovin it Greg.
 
^Me either :( I can see the thumbnail, but thats it.

However, after a little playing around I did manage to find & open it :ebiggrin:
At least I'm hoping this is it anyway :)

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlQeNdpiqmA"]H6 Forester, big desert June 2013. - YouTube[/ame]

Regards
Mr Turbo
 
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