529 replies to this topic

[Sam]

Here is but of a list of how I have modified my Outback since i bought it with 70,000Kms on the clock.

Model- 2003 My03 Subaru Outback Gen3 BH

Engine- 
- EJ25 2.5L SOHC
- In-Guard Cold Air Intake
- K&N Pod Filter
- Air Intake Resonectomy

Driveline- 
- 5 Speed Manual Transmission
- Custom Short Shifter

Suspension-
- Whiteline 20mm Adjustable Rear Sway Bar
- Poly Urethane Bushes
- Tein Flex Wagon Adjustable Coilovers
- Legacy GT-B Genuine Front Strut Brace

Exhaust- 
- 2.5" into 2.25" Berklee Sports Exhaust
- 3.5" Chrome Exhaust Tip
- Unequal Length Headers

Wheels/brakes- 
- 16" Genuine Subaru Outback Rims
- Black Brake Calipers

Ice-
- Clarion MAX386VD Double Din DVD Player
- Clarion SRQ1621s Component 6.5" Speakers (F)
- Alpine Type-R 200W Coaxial 2-Ways ( R)

Interior- 
- Leather Steering Wheel Cover
- Floor Mats
- 2010 Subaru Forester Gearknob
- Custom Gauge Cluster- Removal of green- Changed to Red
- HVAC Lights Changed to Red t4 Neo Wedge LEDs
- "Street Legal" 35% Black
- Sun Visor CD Wallet
- LED Foot Well Lights
- Satin Black Interior Plastics

Exterior- 
- Crystal Clear Side Indicators
- 4300k HIDs H7
- 5000k Driving Lights H3
- Fog Light Covers Removed
- Custom Rear Garnish Tail Lights
- LED Number Plate Lights
- Piezo Central Locking Beeper
- Personal Number Plates (Blue)- OBK•25L
- Clear Front Indicators De-Oranged
- Custom Mesh Grille
- Roof Rack Remove
- Fully Debadged
- Legacy Rear Wing

Mods to come-
- Rear Swaybar 
- Leather Seats
- Leather Door Cards
- Momo Steering Wheel
- Colour Coded Bottom half

Edited by Sam, 24 June 2011 - 01:36 PM.

[Morgan]

Hey hey nice work Sam.
Very interested to see the pics of your progress!

[aekOne]

sounds good mate. needs pics stat. a build thread is nothing without pics

[CodeBurn3r]

Pics will be good.. also i see you are from Coffs.. awesome, I love Coffs, prob my fav place in NSW.

Also, liberty struts from memory are the way to go with lowering the outback, i think there are a few other things that might need to be changed but it works out better than just getting lower springs.

[Sam]

Today i went and got a few items from various stores to create my own straight through air intake. All i did was remove the old resonating pipes and replaced with a 65mm pipe and some heavy duty rubber ag pipe stuff. Cost me all up $29.00.

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[Morgan]

Nice work Sam.
Have you found it any different to stock?
Are those bend flexible? Would they they bounce around while driving?

[Jovi]

What build?

I've change my head light globes a few times as wel... Buld thread for that?

Leave the kid alone, do you ever remember what you did to your first car to make it better?

Other wise good stuff mate im keen to see the autobarn letters...

[Sam]

Nice work Sam.
Have you found it any different to stock?
Are those bend flexible? Would they they bounce around while driving?

Cheers, It might just be in my head but as soon as i started her up and took her for a drive, i noticed (i think) that the response when i let go of the clutch and put the gas on was a bit smoother, as well as gear changes UP and DOWN. I didnt really feel a power or acceleration increase but it really does feel to me that there was an improve somewhere.

But it really isnt all that loud compared to the original stock intake, and yes, it does bounce around, theres nothing holding the pipe stable so i need to figure out a way to stabilise the pipe

[Morgan]

Yea I find it a bit smoother down low.

Supercheap (and similar stores) sell 45deg joiners which are solid. These will do they same job as what you've got but are stable which might be worth looking into

[Sam]

Yea I find it a bit smoother down low.

Supercheap (and similar stores) sell 45deg joiners which are solid. These will do they same job as what you've got but are stable which might be worth looking into

Yeah and theyre $65.... haha Thats twice as much as i spent on the whole thing? I did look at these but definately dont want to spend that much at the moment. If i got them cheap id do it though

[DukeNik'em]

fork me, not more pictures of home made CAI's.

Instead of thinking about which piece of PVC you want to use next, just think what it would be like to save all those little dollars and save up for a worthwhile modification. The amount of guys all of us would've seen who blow $200 on trying to find the right pod filter set-up......

Why rebadge it GEN IV, this confounds me, just leave it debadged.

Nick

[Sam]

Why rebadge it GEN IV, this confounds me, just leave it debadged.

Nick

As it will fill the two holes at the rear left of the car.. and add a nice and simple touch

[Soop]

fork me, not more pictures of home made CAI's.

Instead of thinking about which piece of PVC you want to use next, just think what it would be like to save all those little dollars and save up for a worthwhile modification. The amount of guys all of us would've seen who blow $200 on trying to find the right pod filter set-up......

Why rebadge it GEN IV, this confounds me, just leave it debadged.

Nick

Can tell you've grown up since you first got on these forums.

Gotta agree. Ghetto CAI's are sooo 2008 .
They don't really do anything, hate to burst the newby bubble.

(Not unless the "Defect me" intake whistle counts)

[Sam]

A PVC Pipe bracket might be a way of holding it in place if you could find somewhere to bolt it down...cheap too.

After re-reading this I understand what you mean. Haha that's a pretty good idea thanks

[allpaw4]

Guys come on. Play nice. It may not be the 'lets spend lots on an engine build' kind of build, but each mod, no matter how small makes a package. Its the complete package that makes a build or project. Hell, I think I put in my thread that I had a different seal panel covers. They're stuck on with double sided tape. But it makes the car somewhat unique.

However, back on topic - looks pretty effective Sam - keep up the good work. The only thing that will probably prove to be a pain the arse will be keeping the pipe polished. It will accumulate surface rust like nothing else on a rainy day. I'm not sure how to effectively combat this either, bar hitting it with a surface paint/clear of some sort. Anyone elses experience on this?

Cheers,
Ben

[DukeNik'em]

[begin_soapbox]
Yeah but I'd hate to see a guy like Sam, go down the path of nowhere modifications, when he's surrounded by alot of boys (and maybe girls) who've 'been there, done that'. I remember my first car, and everytime I saw on a forum that someone was doing an easy DIY mod, i'd go on an expedition to Supercheap or Autobahn, but sensibility would grab me before I reached the checkout. I kept that Sooby pretty factory, mainly cos I looked up to the older guys who saved and bought their dream cars or built a decent car, and didn't waste time with small no gain mods. Now look at me, I'm going to buy a factory HSV, not exactly the newest HSV , but still a factory performance car. I just wish the older boys would jump in right at the start and go "Here Sam, this is what you should target, this is what you shouldn't waste your time on" Granted it's his car, and his decision, but there's an absolute freaking wealth of modifying knowledge here, I thought we'd moved past the intake pipes or custom made CAI's.

[/soapbox].

Sam if there's anything you want to know about making a car look nice, let me know, i've debadged and pimped rides before. Here's my latest one SV6]

I think you should invest in keeping the back debadged, smoothing it out and covering up the holes. Just my opinion.

Thanks
Nick

[Sam]

Sam if there's anything you want to know about making a car look nice, let me know, i've debadged and pimped rides before. Here's my latest one SV6]

I think you should invest in keeping the back debadged, smoothing it out and covering up the holes. Just my opinion.

Thanks
Nick
[/quote]






Thanks for your thoughts. I should have studied the benefits of changing the stock pipes to a straight through one more thoroughly. But, it's not the end of the world. What would your suggestions be on modding my outback? I'm off my green ps in November, so na all the way till then.

And I want to get rid of the crap autobarn badges anyway so how do you fill the holes?
Cheers, sam

[Alex]

Good on you for having a go and doing it yourself.

Not what I'd call a build though


Else, you could have taken it to a "tradie", and get them to rip you off ten times over, for something so simple.

Not that anyone here would be guilty of that....

[Sam]

Good on you for having a go and doing it yourself.

Not what I'd call a build though


Else, you could have taken it to a "tradie", and get them to rip you off ten times over, for something so simple.

Not that anyone here would be guilty of that....

It's not a build.... Yet.