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! Damage has been extreme Repairs have been expensive and tiresome 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

Stock in June 2010

Now as of September 2013

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
• 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

 

[Ratbag]

I haven't got any yet. But he did seem genuine.

Great news about the fuel economy, mate ... .

From my Batphone

 

[NachaLuva]

sat on 115-130kmhr and did 400km on 2/3 of the tank. If the trip was longer I'd expect to get 600km before the light comes on going by the current data.
thats 8.3l per 100km which is acceptable. If I sat on the limit at 110kmhr I'd image it'd drop below 8 which I'm more than haooy with.

Mate that's more than acceptable lol.

As you go over 100kmh fuel usage skyrockets. If you drove gently at 100kmh (no hard accelerating, washing speed off up steep hills etc) then anything in the 8s would be very good. Doing 115-130kmh plus I'm sure you did some hard accelerating lol, 8.3 is brilliant! :biggrin:

 

[taza]

Well summers coming here in WA. Had 33 degrees the other day. Cranked up the aiecon in some stop/go traffic on my way home..... holy ****. The aircon now drains half of the engines power! Guess I'll loose the light weight flywheel and thow itin the ej25 going in my brumby. Simce it weights 650kg less I shouldn't notice the drag with load. While the car is life changingly more responive with the LWF as soon as there is a load in the car it makes the car feel like there is a 700kg trailer on the back.
I also found on my down south trip a few weeks ago that once you hit 130-140kmhr it looses all its over taking power in 5th gear. The weight and integra thats spun around with the stock flywheel must produce much more usable torque under load.

 

[taza]

Well I've finally moved on after yet another unexpected issue.
The last photos ever to be taken of my extensively modified, absolutely f****** awesome SF forester.
RIP old girl...

Anyway onto bigger and better things...
I've looked indepth into the best utes out there in my price range and decided on A PK Ford Ranger(All mazda built, design and running gear).
Picked up a 2011 PK XLT with 35,000km. One owner, who worked FIFO so it sat in the garage for weeks/months at a time. Immaculate throughout and never been offroad, not even a gravel track.
Only mod was a ARB Delux bullbar
So let the mods begin, firstly which Subaru's lack.... a front E-Locker which is happening in a months time, ECU remap(50% hp and torque gain), 35mm lift, reshim the rear LSD, 31" Geolander AT-S, winch, snorkel and a few other bits..
Funnily enough it's around 4-5l per 100km better than my forester. Tank is 70l, so 10l more than the SF and I manage 700km when the light comes on. Forester I pushed to get 400km from a tank(55l ish).
All in all, very happy. Suits my needs these days and is a solid long term upgrade.

 

[ALMOSTunseen]

Shame to see the foz go, but it seems some of us are moving on!!!!!
Goodluck with the ranger, looks awesome, great find! What made you go for the 31" tires, just a good balance of economy+acceleration with the stock gearing? Or do they not fit larger tires very well?

 

[NachaLuva]

Shame to see the Foz go but I think the Ranger will suit you better. Lockers, more towing capacity, stronger components.

Couldn't help but notice you snatching off the towBALL though

 

[Kevin]

A good move - we have a couple in the club. Only issue I've heard of is that you cannot put roof rack tracks on the cabin; something to do with roof supports / structure. Can probably use gutter grip type racks but I wouldn't as they will damage the roof (personal experience!)

 

[kiwifoz]

Looks good, I like this model much more than the newer ones.
If I ever get a ute it'll be one of these or a d22 Navara.

 

[pezimm]

Please tell me that snatch is not attached to the tow ball....

:sad:

 

[taza]

Relax guys!!! It was sitting on there so the strap would not get covered in mud while i hooked up a shackle. Ive been doing this game far to long to do something silly like that.

 

[Ratbag]

Very nice looking vehicle, Taza :biggrin:.

May it serve you and your needs very well indeed.

 

[pezimm]

Relax guys!!! It was sitting on there so the strap would not get covered in mud while i hooked up a shackle. Ive been doing this game far to long to do something silly like that.

No worries... I thought it was strange indeed...

Ranger looks great! Jumping on fordforums.com.au??