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.

004ecudata.jpg


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

... part two to follow
 
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Depending on the damage paintless dent removal costs a lot less- so hopefully this means it won't be written off.
 
Such a bummer.... Being in Tornado Alley we get our fair share of hail too, although with the lack of storms in the past year, we've been spared. Back in '07 when i first moved out to central Texas, we had a real bad one with baseball & softball sized hail. A few people actually died from being hit by them. My car at the time was nearly totaled with the sunroom busted out, hood and trunk were smashed & actually had a hole in the drivers side quarter panel froma large piece. It was def. the most exciting storm i'd ever been in! Stucco sided businesses had huge chunks of cement missing, almost like bullet holes. Was pretty crazy to say the least.
 
dirtyRU said:
Such a bummer.... Being in Tornado Alley we get our fair share of hail too, although with the lack of storms in the past year, we've been spared. Back in '07 when i first moved out to central Texas, we had a real bad one with baseball & softball sized hail. A few people actually died from being hit by them. My car at the time was nearly totaled with the sunroom busted out, hood and trunk were smashed & actually had a hole in the drivers side quarter panel froma large piece. It was def. the most exciting storm i'd ever been in! Stucco sided businesses had huge chunks of cement missing, almost like bullet holes. Was pretty crazy to say the least.
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Fortunately we're spared that extreme kinda hail although they sometimes get it up north.

Not sure if some of the victims would call it exciting haha, at least not for a while lol. Maybe in a few years...
 
Arrived at Windscreens O'Brien Braybrook at 10 am. Windscreen joint pulled my car apart at about 11 am, then realised that they don't have a feckin screen for my car.

They say they'll have one this afternoon. The computer told them they had one, but they couldn't find it. Will be sending letter of complaint. So, I walked from Brooklyn to West Footscray station, got a train to North Melbourne, walked home. Have to go back later today to collect it.
 
Dulagarl said:
Arrived at Windscreens O'Brien Braybrook at 10 am. Windscreen joint pulled my car apart at about 11 am, then realised that they don't have a feckin screen for my car.

They say they'll have one this afternoon. The computer told them they had one, but they couldn't find it. Will be sending letter of complaint. So, I walked from Brooklyn to West Footscray station, got a train to North Melbourne, walked home. Have to go back later today to collect it.
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Not very professional of em! :shake:
 
Make sure thy repair any damage to the paint before installing new screen. Ask them to re-imburse you the cost of transport. Idiots.
 
Nachaluva said:
Have you picked it up yet? How did it go? Hope all's well
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yep, picked it up at five that day. Now waiting until Jan 9th for the panel beater to come back from leave.
 
Dulagarl said:
Windscreen joint pulled my car apart at about 11 am, then realised that they don't have a feckin screen for my car.

They say they'll have one this afternoon. The computer told them they had one, but they couldn't find it. Will be sending letter of complaint.
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What a P.I.T.A :yell:
I'd be sending a letter of complaint too :furious:
The least they could do is to re-imburse you for the cost of transport to & from home, since it was their stuff up.

You would also think, as they are a big company, they would've at least offered you a ride home & back again :bcool:

Regards
Mr Turbo
 
Today it's off to the assessment centre to battle with the assessors. I am already aremd with quotes, and am preparing a schedule of modifications I have made since I bought the car which would add to its value.

It's going to be a tough fight to save it from being written off, but I am up for it.
 
Dulagarl said:
Today it's off to the assessment centre to battle with the assessors. I am already aremd with quotes, and am preparing a schedule of modifications I have made since I bought the car which would add to its value.

It's going to be a tough fight to save it from being written off, but I am up for it.
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Good luck. Hope it goes well, let us know what happens too.

Taza
 
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