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Tim.

Member Since 16 Sep 2011
Offline Last Active Sep 28 2021 09:20 AM
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Topics I've Started

Tim's 98 Outback

23 June 2015 - 12:17 AM

It was a bitter sweet moment selling the Lada Niva but the 90% wrench time could never make up for the 10% of fun I had driving it around.
 
Enter the 98 Gen 2 Outback.
 
After a month of scouring gumtree, ebay etc. for a replacement camping/towing/general purpose rig, an untidy outback popped up. I gave my money to the man and drove it home. What can I say, it immediately felt familiar - cruise control, power windows, air con. Subaru did well with this one and just a bit of a step up in comfort from the Niva. It seems to drive nicely considering the 316k km on the clock and aside from a dull knocking sound from the rear passenger side and an O2 sensor throwing a cel every now and then didn't seem like anything I couldn't handle. It's amazing what you can pickup for less than $2000.
 
The paintwork leaves a lot to be desired with a whole bunch of paint chips which have started to rust and the front bar missing a bit of paint but considering the purpose, I think it will serve me well. This isn't so much a build thread because I don't believe any building will take place with this one ...famous last words. So, in its raw state:

 

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There's a heap of work to do and it should be a good little project but yeah a good cruiser to tow with and a vehicle that will most likely become a daily driver.

 

Work i've done so far:

- Car washed and vacuumed

- Can of upper engine cleaner

- Air filter replaced

- Oil filter and oil change

- MAF sensor cleaned

- Fuel additive added to tank (I had a bottle lying around)

- 580cca battery installed, with normal sized terminals.

- Gen 3 RX steering wheel installed (airbag detonator delete)

- Driver door handle replaced

- Wipers replaced

- Front speakers replaced (Some splits I found at the wreckers)

- Boot globe replaced

- Coolant overflow topped up

- Front rego plate straightened

- Grill clips fitted

- Front bumper clips fitted

- Fog lamps installed properly and aligned

- Headlights aligned and polished

- Dodgy remnant spotlight loom removed

- Mounted the Air con condenser with some bolts

- Headlights polished

- CEL codes checked

 

To Do:

- Replace O2 sensor

- Investigate noises at the rear passenger-side wheel

- Remove remnant window tint glue from rear windows

- Fit wheel arch front bumper brackets with correct clips (or any clips for that matter)

- Fit old front speakers to rear doors (surrounds on the factory speakers have rotted)

- Touch up rust spots

- Oh and rocker cover gaskets are leaking...

 

Would be nice:

- Some sort of lighting upgrade, the factory headlights are not amazing.

- Small sub

 

I'll try to keep this updated with pics as I progress.

 

Cheers

Tim.