Taza's Foz 2.0

Well I thought I better start again as it's like a new car since the last journal (here: https://www.offroadsubarus.com/showthread.php?t=2887 - RB).
Modifications have been severe! :lildevil: Damage has been extreme :surprised: Repairs have been expensive and tiresome :cry: After all she and I have been through over the past 3 years and 100+k km. You could say it's really been an adventure :lol: With many more to come :cool:

Stock in June 2010
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Now as of September 2013
8o5w.jpg


Mods

Suspension
  • KYB front SF shocks/struts
  • KYB rear SG(04 Forester N/A) shocks/struts
  • Heavy duty raised dobinson springs all round
  • GC8 WRX STIheavy duty rear swaybar(19mm)
  • Whiteline rear swaybar endlinks
  • Audi A3 light weight 15" cast alloy wheels(+38 offset, 5kg each)
  • Impreza 15" alloy wheels
  • 65mm rear strut top lift blocks(made by Stilson)
  • 50mm front strut top lift blocks
  • 50mm rear trailing arm spacers

Engine/Drivetrain
  • Fully reconditioned SF Forester gearbox(170,000km on foz from All Drive Subaroo in eastern states)
  • Fully reconditioned EJ25 N/A SOHC block from 2003 Outback
  • Custom made front CV shafts with lifted Toyota Hilux CV boots, heavy duty inner joints(cup, balls, grease, etc...)
  • 2004 Forester VLSD rear diff
  • Grimmspeed lightweight crank pulley
  • Grimmspeed Phenolic manifold spacer
  • Haltech Platinum Interceptor Piggyback ECU(wired in by myself - apprentice auto sparky) - Manages fuel and ignition timing for the new engine.

Interior
  • 2000watt worth of Stereo - Sony headdeck(wth bluetooth, USB, Auxilary), 2x amplifers, Pioneer 12" Sub, Alpine S-Type 6 1/2" speakers
  • Dynamat sounder deadener
  • Clarkrubber 10mm sound proofing(boot, tailgate, under passenger seat, rear doors
  • Repco plain black seat covers
  • Supercheap bucket heavy duty rubber mats, front and rear
  • Led interior light conversion
  • Tint-A-Car Octane 35% on front two windows(drivers and passengers), 20% from B-Pillar back - Darkest legal all round
  • Momo WRX steering wheel
  • Genuine Dash mat
  • 12v auxilary sockets in glovebox
  • Uniden UHF radio 80channel(mounted where ash tray goes)
  • Hard wired android Samsung phone charger on drivers side A-Pillar

Exterior
  • TJM bullbar(to Suit SF Forester - airbag compliant)
  • Subaru genuine reece-hitch towbar 40x40mm - rated at 1300kg
  • Rhino sportz roof racks
  • Lightforce 170's
  • Dual battery setup in boot with Redarc smart solenoid under bonnet(100amp alternator)
  • Subaxtreme sumpguard
  • Resprayed bonnet(faded)
  • 225/70R15 Dunlop Grandtrek AT3's(soon to change to Toyo Open Countrys's)
  • Uniden 7db aerial
  • ARB 2m side awning(stolen one night :()

Future Mods
  • Gearbox done - L-Series 1.59 low range, front STI 5 speed helical LSD, DCCD centre, taller 5th gear, shorter 1st gear, oil drip feed
  • Dyno tune for piggyback computer running EJ25
  • Subaxtreme rear bar
  • HID kit for Lightforce 170's
  • GCD(2004) WRX dash swap(SF dash looks very old fashion and makes car feel old and sad) - This is a major!
  • Safari Snorkel (NK Pajero)
  • Rear mounted winch
  • LED lightbar
  • 2 1/4" exhuast from catback with high flow cat and UEL headers for that awesome boxer rummble :cool:
  • OBDII Computer conversion/upgrade to replace stock ECU and piggyback computer

Damage
  • Ripping front end of chassis off(tow point LHS)
  • Blown gearbox(chattered first gear)
  • Blown rear diff(stripped teeth off spider gears)
  • Snapped CV axle shafts
  • Dented drivers door due to a sand dune
  • Oil rings gone in Engine 1 (EJ20 N/A)
  • Oil rings gone in Engine 2(EJ20 N/A)
  • Snapped timing belt in Engine 2
  • Bent steel rim(15" stock LHF)
  • Bent rear struts
  • Snapped Dobinson heavy duty coil spring(2x on different occasions 6 months apart)
  • Broken spot lights(due to ramming a fence down)
  • Stereo amplifer catching fire(evening peak hour traffic)
  • CV boot ripping
  • Split radiator (while offroad, had to get towed home)
  • Clutch burnt out x2
  • Bent towbar
  • Ripped off front and rear bumpers
  • Ripped off trailer plug
  • Ripped off passenger side skirting
 
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Click to expand...
Great Taza

How did she scrub up? Does she look brand new again?
Well, I hope.

:ttiwop
 
Yep sure does Ratbag! $500 later and I have a repainted bonnet (dents repaired too), partially repainted roof, rust cut out around the windscreen, whole car buffed/polished and all the windows buffed to remove the water marks.
She looks bloody amazing! Like new :P pics to come
I don't wanna scratch her now haha.
Going offroad tomorrow so should have some fun.

Sure helps when you know a panel beater ;) Anyone in Perth needing work done I know a good, cheap guy.
 
Oh got my Audi wheels fitted too. I hate the look of them but love the benefits. Undecided if they will stay on the car as of yet.
Subaxtreme rear bar with carriers is next on the list. . Since it'll be new I better start saving my pennies.
 
Fantastic Taza :raz:
Looking forward to seeing the pics :ebiggrin:
taza said:
Subaxtreme rear bar with carriers is next on the list. Since it'll be new I better start saving my pennies.
Click to expand...
Yes they cost a pretty penny alright :rolleyessarcastic:

Regards
Mr Turbo
 
taza said:
She looks bloody amazing! Like new :P pics to come
I don't wanna scratch her now haha.
Going offroad tomorrow so should have some fun.
Click to expand...

Great to hear Taza, now watch out for those overhanging branches & swooping birds :iconwink:
 
Just got a new oxygen sensor.

Organising to get some EJ251 cams sent to delta cam for a 1000 torque grind.
In the process of doing a rear bar as Nachaluva and Stilson already know ;)
Trying to fit EJ253 manifold to the 251 block for better flow. Along with some other goodies when the cams go in.
Will change to EJ25 injectors from the ej20 ones as there is a 40cc rating increase and I believe this might be part of my fuel economy problem. The injectors may be reaching their limits. However I have more investigation to do on this matter.


Since the last update my starter motor got a little tied so I sourced a fww spares and dueing aome quiet time at work refurbished them. That should keep me going for awhile now.
I managed to source and upgraded alternator. While the standard SF forester one is 75amp I got one off a 03 Outback that is rated at 90amp. A good jump there which is handy for running the air compressor ad accessories.


Hopefully in the next few weeks I'll receive my full body lift kit from Nachaluva which is very exciting. ...
 
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Fixed the few issues with my custom manifold...
Now running fairly well except for a dodgy idle air control valve. Had an alarming head gasket scare as I overheated the engine a few times because of a faulty thermostat and coolant temp sensor.

Should see around 500-530km to a tank around town which has gone up from 440km to the tank previously.

Fitted my new bullbar too :P
 
Thats not good about the engine overheating, hope no damage on your nice new engine :(

Any pics of the bullbar on? Should have asked before to see pics of these HD mounts you have :poke:
 
Well turns ouy ive done the head gaskets!
Coolant is leaking into the cylinders and coming out the exhaust. Np oil in the coolant or vise versa so that's good.
My own fault for driving the car for a week with a water leak. I'd image I'd be one of very few people who has done headgaskets in a brand new motor with less than 20, 000km on it.
 
^ That's a real bugger, Taza ... :( :cry:.

Some "lessons" can be very painful!!

Even with modern cars, and their hugely more reliable systems than they had in my youth, it pays to check all the essentials on a regular basis.

I must confess to being more than just slack about this myself, so I'm not preaching from the pulpit!
 
Yes it's a real PITA but thats how you learn from your mistakes.
Its pretty minor for me really, will have it sorted by the end of the week. I will go grnuine gaskets this time.
Atleast no damange was done to the block and water and oil havent mixed. When they mix anf go through both systems it can be hard to clean it out, so I don't have that to worry about.
 
Bad luck about the gasket Taza
I use this https://enginewatchdog.com/ i have one in all of my 4 cars I did a head gasket in my old l-series from overheating
I blew a small hose above the water pump it dumped the water that fast the gauge didn't move, there was no water for the sensor to read.
When the engine decided not to work anymore that's when i new something was wrong, i looked at the gauge it was normal
It is the best thing when 4wding you don't have to look at your gauge at all, you set the alarm to go off about 9° above normal
To fit it you only need to find a bolt on the block or head undo it place the sensor on and bolt it back up easy
When i got the new Forester it doesn't come with a temp gauge so it took me 1 day to get a Engine Watch Dog and install it.
I don't have anything to do with the company i just think it's a great product

Jan
 
Might have to look at one of those. Thanks Yarney!
You cant always trust the temp gauge. .

Got the car towed to work yesterday. While it was cold I ran her upto the mechanics for a secpnd opinion. Turns out I have a coolant leak on the top hose... I dont have a coolant pressure tester at home but from what I saw that cpuld possibly be the issue. Looksing largr amounts of coolant and causing the system to go into a vacuum under pressure.
However we will have to see how it goes. The car has a slight miss at idle and is running a little lumpy so I may have done the gasket as well.

Got 2x new gaskets on hold at the dealer until I find out what's going on.
While we are quiet at work my boss said I can do the job for the next few days so that's a bonus.
 
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