Forester XT Questions...

What is the lug pattern sizing??? (is it the same as 03 wrx??)

What is different with the xt compared to the STi (besides brakes, trans etc) I am after answers on engine's ability to handle upgrades.. I know fong and some others have gotten good results...

Main QUESTION... What is the auto like in these.. are they strong and able to be modified like Matt does with the WRX transmissions (bikerboy your input)


Basically my thoughts are.... 18g/20g with supporting mods... only thing is finding an Aspen WHite one (silver would work) in manual (plenty of autos hence the modifying of the transmission ???)

this is a serious question.. if you have nothing but smart arse answers dont post... piss off and go play with yourself... (I will ask for deletions or points to be given)

I am looking to make some decisions here maybe.. it might be after the house is built it maybe before...

not wanting to go the legacy route or the early impreza route... I want more room inside and more power from a base platform!!!

will end up like this one below... mmmmmm :yumyum: (if not white silver will do as it may get a re-spray next year anyways)
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:yumyum::yumyum::yumyum::yumyum::yumyum:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BRAN...202320053QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item280202320053


GOSH I LOVE THIS THING!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

nice wheels on that one.....I prefer 'em in gold though

yep, 5x100. only 5-lug subarus with anything else are the '05+ STis, Tribecas, and SVXs, all with 114.3.

isn't the intake manifold different?


certainly a sweet starting platform. although I still hate autos with a fiery passion

 

Yeah I am not sold on the auto.. I like changing gears, but at times an auto would rock... So bikerboy what would it cost roughly for the trans stuff you mentioned?? and why auto over manual?? list some thoughts.. like launching etc...

 

nope, intake is the same as a regular wrx, its the LGT that has the messed up plastic "thing"

 

not to deter the thread, but whats different about a wrx intake manifold and an sti? (red paint obviously)

 

If you decide you need more of that storage space you were mentioning, an auto is supposed to be better for towing (say, a trailer, to add more of said space).

However, I dunno that I would give up a manual for whatever the towing advantages of an auto would be.

But does a Forrester really have more room than a Legacy? I know that the Legacy has longer storage space than the Forrester. Maybe the Forrester makes it up in high-up headroom space? I say this b/c I used to have to take the front wheel off my mountain bike to fit it in the back of a Forrester but I could throw the bike in to the back of a Legacy whole.

 

throttle body mounting area. doesnt have the mount for the throttle cable on the intake, a few vacume ports are in different areas, and mounting holes for misc things are in different areas.

Biggest thing would be the throttle body (DBW, and DBC) If you have a 06+ wrx, you can swap a sti intake manifold on your car.



Good, choice Nathan, Thats what i am looking for for a donor car.

 

thanks josh!

 

5x100 bolt pattern, stick to +48 offset if you want the wheels center in the well. Max tire width is 9.5" give a little wiggle room(with +48 offset). You can fit up to 27" tall tires with little problem.

Decide if you want the manual or auto. Either will work very fine for towing, but stick to what you enjoy more. With the turbo(especially if you get it retuned(healthy gains)) either will be quick. The AWD system is a little different between the two given the center diff setup.

The best starter upgrade is a 20mm rear bar. The stock rear one is a hollow 13mm bar, does virtually nothing.:laugh: If you want to eliminate the fender gap, get Swift FXT springs, very light drop, more even spring rates, actually better ride overall than stock. With the 20mm rear bar, the car is dead neutral and very happy in the corners, very well balanced and behaved.

If you want to get into any level of sport driving(auto-x, rally-x, etc.), upgade the brakes slightly. The "H6 Upgrade" rear brackets+rotors will neutral out the brake bias(a must upgrade if you feel like disabling the ABS). Other than that, just get rid of the crappy organic stock pads. Anything ceramic will do but suggestions would be Ferodo DS2500 or Cobalt GT-Sport for all-in-one pads that have excellent cold weather to hot bite and performance. Toss in some DOT-4 fluid like ATE and you're set.

For the engine, there's a considerable amount of power to gain with a good, aggressive tune and probably a little turbo tweaking(if the boost isn't there). You can free up about 40HP and a whole lot of low end torque just with ECU work and making sure the turbo is dialed in and providing full boost early. There are compressor maps for it, so there isn't really much guess work for what psi to target at what rpm range. Cobb has a nice write up on our turbos and setup. Otherwise $200 for some quality time on the dyno is all that's needed. It's nearly free power with a little work on your part to set up the turbo.

My only other suggestion is to start upgrading bushings of you want anything more in terms of handling, precision, feel, that is if you can take a little NVH with it. You can just upgrade key points as needed or just go all-out. That's up to you. I'll say most of the bushings are pretty easy to replace as long as you have some tools, jack stands for the car, and a floor jack to lift/hold the engine/tranny/diff for some of them. Suggestions for shifter feel is the Kartboy bushings front and rear(don't necessarily need the short shifter if you don't want it). To get the shifter locked down(if you get a manual), you would need to do the tranny mounts+crossmembers. For steering, Whiteline steering rack bushings go a long way. Apparently the engine mount and tranny mount upgrades help with initial turn in as well. The pitch stop could be tossed in as well if you're doing everything else. The Forester already has the ALK block stock(what the ALK is actually based off of), but GT Spec has a Group N rubber version available. All the other Group N bits can be had from Rallispec. For driveline slop, it's all the rear diff's fault. TiC has their Klunk Killer kit that can make easy work of this, but they are poly bushings and NVH can increase a bit. Rallispec has Group N bits, but you start getting into pressing in and out bushings which isn't exactly happy fun time. Pretty much everything else on the back end is more metal sleeved press fit bushing fun. However, if you really want to lock down the car and make it feel exact, you really do have to go through the whole car and upgrade. There's just a lot of play...everywhere...from these bushings and mounts. Upgrade what annoys you the most.

 

^^^ so the H6 upgrade is the same bracket used for the 03 WRX?? cause i have all that on my car... if so I will be looking to swap everything back and use what I already have...

I dont plan to tow anything, although a small trailer with my ATV would be nice...

Will the rear swaybar setup from teh 03 wrx fit?? I guess I need to find out all that is swappable/compatible betweent he 2 cars, and work out from there what I can swap back and forth etc...

also anyone kno wif the rear diff is thje same between the xt and wrx?? I would love to keep my Quaife LSD
Matt aka bikerbor I am anxiously awaiting your reply and wisdom...

if I go ahead with this it will open up the door for me building exhaust stuff for this platform too... currently looking into new benders (mandrel starts at $30K with $3K+ per die set, so that went out the door)...

So I am running 19's on my wrx with the 48 offset... would this rub on the rears?? is the XT susceptible to the rubbing issues of the wrx wagons with rim setups??

thanks Back road runner for your insite.. I may be pming you more later...

ANYONE INTERESTEd in an 03 WRX with just over 70K on the clock.. owned since 900 miles... synthetic fluid since about 20K, Quaife LSD in the rear... and depending on what's transferable to a forester there may be more or less mods going with it...

 

It would be worth your time to look around www.subaruforester.org They've done everything you can think of, and then some.

 

thanks Techy... going there now!!!

 

the rear brake mounts are the same.

the rear diff is an r160, so at the very least, you could swap the LSD carrier, but the gear ratios might be different. and that will depend on which tranny you get.

rubbing will depend on tire size and rim width than diameter. but the outer diameter of forester tires is larger than WRX and they use taller suspension, so chances are pretty slim that you'll have rubbing issues. might even gain some wonderful fender gap.


foresters are built on the impreza chassis.....so most things will be compatible. I'm not sure....but I bet the sway bar would fit

 

yeah the great difference with the Legacy is the shift buttons.. the FXT auto console look s like ass....

ok... so back to some researching I guess.... have to check on what swaps across....

thanks for all the info so far...

 

Anyone interested in a trade

 

maybe the spammer post and the ones that followed could be removed so nates thread stays on topic.

back to XT talk

you should do it nate.... It would look very nice...

 

if it all lines up I will...

Just need to decide if an auto is acceptable.. am torn.. but if matt put shis trust in teh auto I would be inclined to consider...

 

couple of pics to wet my desires...

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White Forester FTW

 

Yeah Russ, I have pretty much decided the auto is the way to go now... the only reason I like the manual is to feel like I AM DRIVING, and for having snow fun etc... but an auto can do donuts too in the snow ha hah a...

plus then like you say... the wife or anyone can jump in and drive it...

Was just talking to the wife, and right now isnt the greatest time to spend $$$ as i said I would have to pay the dealer some $$$, then add some mods, I would say at least $2-3G for trans upgrade, turbo, etc.. suspension too....

 

when you say swap the diff so you mean internals... leaving the pinion etc... or do you mean removing the whole pumpkin.. cause then that would mess with teh gearing between the 2 cars?!?!?!?

 

Cheap route..

My '04 FXT conversion came almost exclusively from used parts found on http://www.iwsti.com/forums/ , http://car-part.com/ , or Ebay (thank you esnipe). The rear sway, intercooler, turbo, ecu, cat-back were all low-mileage STi take-offs. Used Godspeed downpipe was $75, only new part was the uppipe.
Add a Cobb Accessport, mine was a used first gen version, and you're good to go without the spouse questioning any checking account irregularities.

 

yeah except she knows all our finances .... I dont... I just say honey I want this... she either says NO or really....