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…

001grille.jpg


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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.

004ecudata.jpg


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

... part two to follow
 
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taza said:
:biggrin:
Aren't you able to tell between your old Foz being AWD 50/50 and the H6 being more FWD bias?
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yeah, I reckon I can, but I won't really know until I get it on a 4 wheel dyno. It does feel like its the auto centre diff though.
 
Such a beaut of a machine! Even your old (but really newer ;) ) was a very nice forester. Been great reading this thread!
 
dirtyRU said:
Such a beaut of a machine! Even your old (but really newer ;) ) was a very nice forester. Been great reading this thread!
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Agreed.
Hey Djulpan are you going to be putting up the trip report of your 10,000km trip in your new Foz sometime? im looking forward to seeing pics and reading it.

Taza
 
taza said:
Agreed.
Hey Djulpan are you going to be putting up the trip report of your 10,000km trip in your new Foz sometime? im looking forward to seeing pics and reading it.

Taza
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yes.

Thank you for reminding me that I have been slack.

Nah, seriously, been pretty busy at work since I got back.

Will get onto it soon though.
 
taza said:
Hey Djulpan are you going to be putting up the trip report of your 10,000km trip in your new Foz sometime? im looking forward to seeing pics and reading it.
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Djulpan said:
yes ...... Will get onto it soon though.
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That will be a great read for sure :)

Regards
Mr Turbo
 
Noticed a bit of squeak in the front end after washing the car on the weekend. Got mechanioc to check it out, and front left wheel bearing is shot. Not surprised really, since front struts were shot. Getting both left and right bearings replaced since these thijngs usually go in pairs.
 
Crappy image, but should give you an idea of how different the Dulagarl is to a standard non-lifted Forester. Taken at the Vic Market yesterday.

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Excellent pic. Too bad its not better quality but anyway.

Someone else probably saw the 2 Forester there and would of had the most shocked look on their faces :lol:

My favorite one is on the right :iconwink:

Taza
 
That's a cool picture! Did the owner of the other one ever come out & see the beast next to the beauty?
 
Great comparison pic Dulagarl :raz:

I'll have the blue one on the right please :discomonkey:

Regards
Mr Turbo
 
Dulagarl said:
Next job is to install the bonnet vents I got from Ebay. They are from a TA 22 Celica, and look like this:

ta22vents.jpg



Should look good polished up and fitted, and will definitely let more heat out of the engine bay. Should pretty much put an end to the cooling issues.
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Panel beater says that these are now fitted, the panel damage from the Cobaw trip is fixed, and that I will have the Dulagarl back tomorrow!:lildevil:

Can't wait to see it.
 
SKT said:
You got these in yet Mate?

Luv to see her with nostrels....
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yes mate. they went in a while back but I wasn't happy with some of the work. Took it back and got it back today. Will post some pics on the weekend. Looks wicked.
 
Finally got the opportunity to take some pics of the bonnet vents.

I was initially a bit nervous about how the chrome would look, but given that the Dulagarl has a bit of chrome on the front end, I reckon they came up OK.

before anyone asks: the vents have drip trays installed underneath them. This means that any water that gets in them, which would only usually happen when the car is standing still in the rain, will drip into the gap between the side of the motor and the side of the engine bay.

Drumroll please.........








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I'm pleased with how they came out actually. Still deciding whether to urethane glue them in, or leave them as removable. They bolt into the backing plates that came with them. Also, wondering if I should make up some rubber or similar gaskets for them. Would be interested in suggestions about that.

The main thing is that they seem to let a fair bit of heat out of the engine bay. When you sit in traffic idling with the thermo fan going on and off, the car gets pretty hot. After this sort of driving I have put mu hand over the vent holes, and can feel the warm air coming out. In fact, it seems warmer to the touch than the bonnet itself. Will be interesting to see how it goes driving in deep sand now.
 
For me they look "alright" - I would prefer colour matching vents. But if they do the job it doesn't really matter - just look at my snorkel, it's a real "contraption" but works just fine!
 
They look great Dulagarl.

I actually like the chrome look myself :) They offset & match up with your front bar nicely :raz:

Regards
Mr Turbo
 
Kevin said:
For me they look "alright" - I would prefer colour matching vents. But if they do the job it doesn't really matter - just look at my snorkel, it's a real "contraption" but works just fine!
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I'd actually prefer to not have vents, but I need them with the H6. I did think about getting em done matt black actually, but it would have cost.

mr turbo said:
They look great Dulagarl.

I actually like the chrome look myself :) They offset & match up with your front bar nicely :raz:

Regards
Mr Turbo
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Yep, if anything I suppose chrome was the go. They cost me $25 on ebay!
 
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