Matdaymon's DeForester MKII: The Ghost

Finally got my hands on another Forester!

It's an automatic 1997 SF5A T/TB (JDM) in two tone Green on Silver just like the first one. Sand/brown interior, just like the first one. And full of dog hair, just like the first one :lol:

Only differences between MkI and MkII is lack of rear spoiler, this one has factory Foz wheels and it doesn't have a passenger airbag.

Picked it up for $2k off TradeMe this morning.

Needs a hell of a cut and polish and a mega service to flush out whatever gunk the previous owner was scammed with (he was an admitted non-mechanically minded person). The coolant system will take a lot of effort and is #1 on the to do list.

So tomorrow I'm off to SCA to pick up some new spark plugs, oil, coolant, air filter, oil filter, roof basket and anything else that takes my fancy with the money I saved when I got it for less than asking price.

Will take some photos tomorrow of the process and how it looks at the start of the process.

The plan *currently* is to chuck in some KING springs to raise it up (if anyone has the part number for Forester SF springs I'd appreciate it), just them on SG struts front and rear and hopefully chuck on a set of all terrain tyres.

Hopefully it'll make a great beach basher for fishing trips and get me through my parents often flooded road in the coromandel.
 
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Well done! Can't go far wrong for just $2K!
 
Thanks Kevin, I thought that!
It's that same one I posted up about earlier. The body is a little bit tired with a couple of dents and a lot of fine scratches, but only rust I've found is on the bottom lip of the tailgate so nothing structural.

Steering doesn't feel quite right so I'll be looking at the power steering pump and steering rack tomorrow when I service it.

Does anyone know off the top of their heads how much engine oil and ATF (its got the 4EAT auto) the SF5 takes? Will be servicing it thoroughly tomorrow but don't have a service manual for it with little details like that.
 
Good buying, Mat :poke: :biggrin:.

Looking forward to some piccies ...

:ttiwop

:lol:
 
Ratbag said:
Good buying, Mat :poke: :biggrin:.

Looking forward to some piccies ...

:ttiwop

:lol:
Click to expand...

Coming up with my list of servicing materials to buy from SCA then will load the rubbish ones I have.
It photographs much better than it actually looks. Lots of small scratches all over it and the odd dent from kayaks on the roof. Anyone know if you can get new keys for Thule roof racks by the way?
 
^ locksmith ... he will make new keys, or re-barrel the locks ...

The dealer had that done for the Thule bars on RonnyRoo when we bought it.

There is a thread here about how to remove them too, when you can unlock them ...
 
Nice. :biggrin:

And to think I paid $200 for one bare alloy rim for mine at a wrecker's ...
 
Yeah, it does only have a space saver in the rear which I'll need to rectify at some point.
The cooling system is pure filth. Going to need to be stupidly careful when I flush it all out tomorrow. Blocked cores SUCK.

Overall pretty happy with the new DeForester :) I like it, the mrs likes it winning.

Will need some work to bring it up to spec but at least it'll get me doing something productive with my time
 
Interesting front grille, is that factory? Never have seen that in the US.
 
It's just a normal early SF5 grille 97/98. I'm not sure when the US first got them but could be you guys go the face lift to start with?

Yo be honest the chrome isn't me so I'll probably plastidip it or something.
 
Started servicing her today.
Changed the oil, air, and fuel filters. Oil to 10w 40 Magnatec and did a semi flush of the sewer (coolant) system and filled it up with new coolant. Will need to fill it up with citric acid or something to really give it a good clean out but seems to be fine for now.

Next on the list is changing the atf and different oils which I'll do on a friends hoist, and getting a wheel alignment which it seems to badly need.

Then will save up for the AT tyres ($1000 it seems) and roof basket so I can hit the beach and back roads.
 
Gidday Mat

What was the engine oil condition like? Any emulsification or sedimentation?
 
Wasn't too bad RB - bit darkened but had been changed in January according to the seller.
Can't tell if it was emulsified '(don't know what that means) or if there was any sedimentation since my drip tray was last used on my old motorbike and had been sitting in the garage for months and hadn't been cleaned properly since last use.
I'll be changing the oil every 5000km / 6months so should clean out anything that's in the sytem.
The thing that was really a mess was the coolant system. Filled with rusty sedementation. Only used cheap SCA brand coolant as I'll be flushing it right out in the near future. Will also replace the radiator hoses when I do that just for piece of mind.
 
'Emulsification' is a kind of semi-solidified frothing. Usually seen around the inside of the filler cap in particular. Lumps in drained oil are also a cause for great concern.

If you use fully synthetic oil (I use Shell Helix Ultra 5W-40 in both of ours), you will find that you can go a lot longer between oil changes. Roo2 went about 24 months and 11,000 kms without much degradation - colour, smell, look and feel were still OK. It had used no oil in that time. Mineral oil is rooted after 6 months, regardless of distance travelled.

In an engine the age of yours, I would be inclined towards using a FS 10W-40. If it uses any oil, change to a 20W-50 FS.

Our mechanic of about 20 years advises against using FS oil in Subaru gearboxes (and also Hondas ... ). He reckons that the FS gearbox oils are too 'slippery' in his experience, causing the synchro rings not to work properly.
 
Thanks for that Ratbag,
From what I can tell she's all good. I've always used Castrol Magnatec 10w40 - I think it's semi synthetic or fully synthetic not sure, but it's always served me well.,
I've got the same stuff for the diffs as Subaru Pukekohe use so I'm good there. If I've got the wrong ATF (I've got a 4EAT) I'll return it and get the right stuff. Was told Dextron 3 by my tame subie mechanic.

Gotta say, feels bloody good having something to work on. Since Stromtrooper (my old motorbike) died I've been without anything to play in the garage with.

On tyres, what's the opinion between Yokohama Geolander G012 A/T-S tyres vs Bridgestone Dueler A/T 693II tyres? There's about $15 between each in price so not much of a difference there. Hoping the 215/65/16 will fit past the rear strut tower as there doesn't seem anything worth getting in the 215/60/16 size.
 
Not sure if you can still get Bridgestone D693 pattern. I recently, about 2000 kms ago, put a full set, 6 tyres, of D697`s 215X65X16, on my MY03. Fairly aggressive tread but handled the sandy Googs track at about 20 psi extremely well. Not as noisy as I thought they would be on tar. Have yet to take them for a long bitumen run though.
Not cheap however.
As far as oil goes I change engine oil, 20W-40 or 20W-50, usually Castrol, whichever is on special at the time, and filter about every 5000/6000 kms, Cheap insurance at 330000 kms I reckon. Snychro on 5th gear is a bit lazy these days but seems to be self correcting. Maybe I am just modifying my change technique without realising.
 
Thanks for that ateday, they are still available apparently at Hyper (local nz general car chain) BRIDGESTONE DUELER A/T 693II @ $248NZD each.

Is your MY03 a turbo or NA?
 
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