Blinky the 97 SF forester

Been a little while since I've had to time (or extra $$) to do more work outfitting my forester. But theres some mods and extras in the near future so I've started my thread to keep track of it all.

heres blinky

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Rear wheel carrier is in the works atm, and repainting the roof in white plastidip. other than that I'm looking at making a rear storage system and strut lift.
 
Click to expand...
^ I did realise that ... :iconwink:.

I know what you mean about going down hill. I have found that the bigger engine also provides more engine braking, even with the 1.196:1 LR. Just idles down steep stuff in 1st/LR, then hit it in the guts in 2nd/LR up the other side. On the down hill run, it's sort of like having high "negative" torque ... :lol: :lol: :lol:.

I'm hoping to do the Flinders Ranges after I get back from Brissy. Parachilna, the Pound, the Ediacaran Hills. Probably in Spring - September/October. Keep going up the Oodnadatta Track > Coober Pedy > Adelaide then back to Melbourne.
 
Back from japan, was an awesome trip. Talked to a Subaru modding place in Sapporo. Though my Japanese isn't as good as it used to be (so it took a little time haha), after talking about my needs and looking at a rally forester in the shop, I got some great advise on lifting and modding the suspention.

So back to the drawing board on a 2" strut lift and a couple of spacers to align some of the other linking components( he thought those bits shouldn't be quite 2" but to test with plate to work out the right spacings). I'll write up a bit when I've had the time to digest everything. They also love the 2lt turbo ej over there probably because a good used motor costs 18,000yen

but short of it is, raised springs out and 2" blocks in with factory camber bolt conversion in the rear, new bump stops as well since mine are kinda shagged.

Also gotta post some photos of a subaru 360 i found in Hirosaki
 
^ Glad that you had a great time, Id :biggrin:.

How much is 18,000 Yen in Pounds, shillings and pence? Or Oz dollars, if you prefer :lol: :iconwink:
 
About $190
 
Yeah it was some interesting stuff, but it was hard to get around the differences in parts costs and laws. The general consensus up there is "do what ever if it breaks buy another one" and modification laws are pretty relaxed.The other general opinion was much like over here, don't bother and go buy a landcruiser.

The main point i took out was to maintaining alignment of the whole suspension setup so it runs in the correct arcs and way it's designed to. Second that raised springs should be avoided without the correct stroke length shock to suit, which i kinda found out the hard way already with the raised kings and kyb shocks.

And to pack the crap out of cv joints with grease and double boot them with rubber inner and leather outer :lol: , but I think that was more motorsport related than touring and 4wding. Lets face it i don't own a rally car, and japan doesn't do much offroad work that isn't farming or rally, and their perfect farming car is a daihatsu hijet, not a 4x4. The head mechanic was joking about split cv boots "if you can still smell burning grease it means there's still grease down there to spit out, the problems when it's all gone and you can't smell the burning".
 
Sounds like you had a great time :monkeydance:

The advantage of raised springs is you can really load the car up. I agree about matching the springs to longer stroke struts though. May have to research Sachs struts or just wait till Venom does his custom struts
 
So out of nececity it looks like be keping blinky a little longer at least, but theres an ever increasing list of things that need fixing before addressing suspention again. at 270,000km he's had a hard life so far, picked him up at 160,000ks less than 2 years ago, and blinky's had really very little in the need of maintance besides regular servicing and ruined cv's

-reverse light switch on gearbox
-roof paint
-front cv's need new clamps factory ones loose
-rear cv's need new boots the 3" lift for even the short time it was in has made them leak.
-brake pads are simple enough
-dash wiring needs cleaning up where cb used to be
-good wash and colour infused polish
-p/s diff seal
-new bushings for sway bar links front and back. Posibly just make my own adjustable links, looks like its about the same price wise.
-New radiator! and thermostate while im down there
-Complete rear wiring and install dual bat solenoid

Then hopefully blinky will see his life out in the family with someone. In the mean time I'm happy shooting around in the new 2014 suzuki alto buzz box we picked up last year at 4lt to 100k's and 4th up hills on the freeway trying desperatley to stay above 90km/h. What else can you ask from 1ltr and 3 cyl of power!
 
I use utilux style hose clamps for boot clamps. Use two at 180 apart to keep it all in balance and even stress while tightening.
Works just fine.
Easier and cheaper.
Used large cable ties on my MY80 but as you could easily remove complete half shaft it was a very easy job.
 
idw said:
-reverse light switch on gearbox - Might not be the switch, thinking of replacing wiring first.
-roof paint
-front cv's need new clamps factory ones loose - DONE
-rear cv's need new boots the 3" lift for even the short time it was in has made them leak.
-brake pads are simple enough
-dash wiring needs cleaning up where cb used to be DONE
-good wash and colour infused polish
-p/s diff seal
-new bushings for sway bar links front and back. Posibly just make my own adjustable links, looks like its about the same price wise.
-New radiator! and thermostate while im down there
-Complete rear wiring and install dual bat solenoid
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New coolant is in, permaweld radiator repair actually worked on the top take to my surprise so i'll be watching this to see how long it lasts, its a 2 part epoxy that doesn't soften when touching coolant like every other epoxy does.

1 clamp replace with a hose clamp on the front boot, other actually has a hole, so a new boots to go on.

Rear camber bolts on their way, Parts for my custom sway bar links are coming as well.
 
So this rolled into the yard a few weeks ago now
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Which will kindly be donating it's engine to Blinky! Along with some HDPE spacers from Nachaluva to come soon as well.

As most people would already know I have a bigger lift kit in the car before which didn't really work for me, was pretty good off road wise but didn't help with the limiting factors of the forester ie: Gearing, Power, Lack of articulation in the suspension. The lift made it a pig of a thing to drive on road and with a 1:30hour commute each way to work it wasn't going to last long. Did look good though I have to admit.

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With a blown radiator before all this happened, there was some reliability issues to get sorted out, and It gave me the chance to try something I've always wanted to, putting a hot water system into the radiator loop. I was also surprised how much mud and gunk gets caught behing the rad fans, word of advice clean behind your radiator!
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Using the automatic cooler loop does work, once the engine is up to temp the water out of the shower is about 40degrees, which is a nice luxury in the bush on cold winter days. The problem mainly is getting a decent run time out of a 9lt bucket of water, I'll work that out somehow by slowing the motor in the 12v pump, and making the shower line smaller to up the pressure and reduce the flow rate.

A winch is probably on the table as well! just need to work out which way to go on that one. With the recent move to a much smaller place, I've lost the barn I used to use as a workshop and space is at a premium atm, so all the toys have had to be packed a way, maybe when the weather heats up in the next couple months I can get back to the rear wheel carrier, custom roof rack and 1:59 low range which is all on the books.
 
Thats a very clean looking Lib, after the swap give your ECU some time to learn, it's a little dissappointing at first.

A hot shower in the bush! You'll have everyone lining up haha :biggrin:
 
Well its more warmish than hot
 
Hey mate,

thread bump lol

Hows your SF going?
How did the swap go ?

Cheers

1WD
 
[MENTION=3233]idw[/MENTION] [MENTION=15735]1WD Foz[/MENTION]

He visited early August
 
Hope he comes back 🤭

1WD
 
1WD Foz said:
Hows your SF going?
How did the swap go ?
Click to expand...

Never ended up doing the swap, gave the liberty to a friend who needed a it.

As for the SF, its 50,000km overturn for a timing belt, and the only thing it doesn't leak is fuel.


Looking at replacing it with something bigger.
 
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