Bought this car from a member recently and we love it for duning!!! Had it out twice and it runs perfect, but I want to give her a minor makeover before I take it out again. Just spent the weekend at G, now I am tearing into it.

Biggest change will be the motor---- the 2.0 Subie is strong and fresh and runs perfect, but I want to go bigger! The car is going to get a OUTFRONT 2.5L longblock. Most of my parts will switch over. I will have the 2.0 Long block for sale cheap if someone wants it--- not sure what will be left over exactly, but should basically be a longblock.
The car is a little rocket with the 2.0L--- should be faster when done with the 2.5L!

I am pulling the lightbar with the Acro HIDs off today--- going to replace them with a LED lightbar- havent decided which one exactly-- open to suggestions. I was thinking of building a low bar over the top of the LED-- a lightbar to fit the LED light. May powdercoat the new bar Black especially if I do the wheels blk.

I already put new 13.50 paddles on it---- I took 14.50s off because it was too tight in the trailer. I will make an ad to sell those too- they are in great shape and held air.

Next-- I havent made up my mind yet, but I am thinking of powdercoating the wheels/lock rings satin black. The beadlock bolts would be silver or gold. How would that look? May also do the arms and links blk too. The wheels are just polished, but this design wheel gets alot of sand inside and I am sure they will dull up quickly. I like the way they look now, but I think the blk with hold up to the sanding better.

Also going to add some tunes--- not sure how big I want to go yet-- that will be a little later.

Thinking about a hood-- any thoughts?

THX for any suggestions!!!

Can anyone photoshop those wheels black? THX!

LED light bar & motor swap cool. I like the look without the hood. Very nice car.

If your are interested I could trade you a complete buggy sound system for your hid lights, Look for my ad on the sys under parts for sale.

THX!
The car isnt the fastest or have the most suspension, but we just get the giggles every time we take a dune run! Lots of fun.

replied in the light thread-

I would help out, but I am in Chicago and my work Laptop does not have Illustrator or Photoshop!!!!



Back in Town Wednesday night. I'm sure Lovesdunes or jwfab1 will chime in.

db

How much you asking for the lights? Nice looking buggy. I like it open up front.

man, i wanted that buggy so bad. i like the front minus the hood as well.

Thx, Guys!

$800 OBO on the lights and bar---


I am loading the car up rt now and heading to OUTFRONT to see John about a motor! Excited!

Can anyone use the 2.0L Longblock???

This morning we pulled the lightbar and wing and rear panels. Put the dirt tires on for the dyno and dropped her off at OUTFRONT for a heart transplant!

Doing many upgrades, but mainly she'll be getting a NEW STI 2.5L motor on racegas!!! Going to be a solid and true 350hp that should be pretty easy on the motor, and can go to a bigger turbo later if I want--- for over 400HP. Gonna stay with the turbo that I have for now.

When I bought the car with the 2.0, it was advertised as 350hp. Although it runs REALLY well, I knew when I drove it that the HP was much less than 350--- I am estimating 250 tops. Anyways, with a ton more midrange and 100+ more HP over the 2.0 this car should be alot MORE Fun!!!LOL

Does anyone know what this car weighs? Cant be over 1500lbs.......?

I cant really do much powder coating, lightbar building, stereo installing, etc. till I get her back from OUTFRONT. So, we'll wait patiently


This pic isnt the greatest, but I think it looks better without the lights on top---

stoked for you.

Nice talking with you today. Enjoy your new light...

On a side note 100dollarman "Mark" is one stand up guy..He GAVE me 2 sets of paddles yesterday afternoon...Mark I told my dad what you said and He was Blown away..Thanks Buddy..I just wanted to tell everyone in here what a great guy you are..Thanks again and have fun

What a hood could maybe look like!

db

I have the 4 seat version and she's pig heavy at 1780ish lbs. (have lots of extras on the car)
I bet you're 1500lbs wet.
Congrats, she's a real nice one!

Thx, Wes for the kind words.

I didnt even remember this until after I gave you the tires----

Wes TOTALLY helped me out of the dunes one time a few years back. I had blown a couple of CVs at Olds. Wes didnt hardly even know me back then. But he was quick to step up and offer a tow all the way back to my camp in the washes. He helped me when I needed help. Thanks, Buddy.

What goes around....comes around!!!

THX, db ! I am not sure if I like how the hood looks.... plus its not cheap to get one made. Anyone have one that will fit?


side note-- I talked to John at OUTFRONT today--- the car is scheduled to go on the dyno on Monday!!! If all goes as planned, that would make his job finished in under 1 week.!!! We were thinking 2-3 weeks.

There is alot of 'side stuff' getting done also while there----- new stage 3 clutch, flywheel turned, injector boots and wiring replaced, power steering leak fixed, Deep oil pan custom built and installed, intercooler fan installed. Installing ARP head studs. Chrome valve covers.

Hope to pick it up on Tuesday! LED bar should be here on UPS on Monday. Dumont on Wed? Maybe I shouldnt get ahead of myself.....

Thank you! Cant wait to git r done!

Thats my old car hope you enjoy her as much as i did looks like she got a great home

I'll take good care of her!

The Rigid 30" LED bar from LovesDunes came in on Brown today- GREAT service--BEST Price!--THX PETE!


Got a call from John at OUTFRONT---- the car is ALL DONE, COME PICK IT UP!!! I cant believe they did a complete motor build and swap (plus a load of side stuff) in LESS than a week!!! I am going to pick it up tomorrow!
John said it was smooth and powerful on the dyno-- rt where it is supposed to be. The numbers are 232hp to the wheel at 12.5lbs of boost. Calculates to close to 350hp at the crank. (I think the actual number was 348) WOO HOO!


I'll post more pics when I get the light bar mounted up---

We'll be waiting on the report after the first trip on what an honest 350 HP feels like

First impression-


W O W !!!


Just took it around the block a few times tonite with the dirt tires on it. Dirt roads and pavement. OMG! This things rips! I'll get a better feel once I run the paddles at the dunes. It just lit the dirt tires easily. Goes to the rev limiter super quick--- almost feels too lowed geared now! What was missing in the mid-range is now there. Boost comes in alot sooner. No more "YZ125" powerband--- now it feels like a hotrod YZ450f instead (for comparison). Pulls very hard.

John- what is the rev limiter set at?

BTW- If anyone needs Subaru work done-- I can HIGHLY recommend OUTFRONT Motorsports. Everything done was to the 'T'. No surprises, quality workmanship, everyone there was very polite and helpful. We even came in under budget, AND it got finished at least a week sooner that promised! You cant beat that.

Thanks OUTFRONT!

Soft is set at 7000, hard is at 7100, enjoy

John

Got the LED bar mounted up today. I thought about a few different ways to do it--- finally kept it simple- just made a couple of 'adaptor' plates to make my old lightbar holes work for mounting. (very hi-tech!) LOL)
I took the HIDs off of my old lightbar and I was thinking how to modify it for the LED. But decided not to use it. Had the Sawzall ready to rip, but went a different way.

Also got all the panels and wing put back on---
The LED came with covers, too. I had never seen any covers before-- didnt even know they had them!

My phone takes crappy pics--

The LED seems bright-- I'll try it out when it gets dark.

Update on the makeover build-


Got the new motor in and had a hiccup sometimes--- did 2 Dumont trips to try to get her dialed in with no luck. Did a local trip to the dunes at the "Hammers" the other day---- ran PERFECT for 2 hours in 100 deg heat. Long story short this is what the conclusion is--- Fuel filters had dirt in them and would run fine on the dyno and the flats. When I would get steep angles at the dunes, the filters would clog/semi-clog and it would hiccup. Finally figured out to change the filters! I think we got 'er whipped! Next dune trip is ST Anthony's next month-- keeping my fingers crossed!
Runs AWESOME!!! Love the difference the new 2.5L gives me. Alot more low end--- now I can go from idle to screaming up a hill in 3rd gear, where as before I NEEDED 1st and second gears first!
Very happy with it! John at OUTFRONT has been very helpful--- Thx John!

The only other thing I have done is replaced the front tires- 6.75s with some new Razor 8.50s.

Here are a few pics of Dumont trips, and the ones on dirt tires is at the "Hammers" area dunes--

Nice car.Looks great!!

Had the same SU, except mine was full bodied. I absolutely loved it. That car handles like a slot car! Have fun!

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Glad you had got it going..have fun in Idaho

Tore it up at Dumont over Halloween for 5 days! Car ran perfectly! By Sunday nite, I heard some bearing noise in the trans when going downhill, and a little cv clicking. I bought this car used and didnt know what kind of shape the tranny was in, so an inspect and re-fresh was welcomed. Now I KNOW what I have.

Took the trans down to Wright Gearbox---- Needed a new 3rd gear, replaced all the bearings and seals, and did a HD 2d bearing upgrade while we had it down. Wright told me it takes about 1-1 1/2 weeks. No problem as I wasnt going out for a few weeks. He has it done in less than 3 days! GREAT service!!! And he milled my seq shifter housing WHILE I waited! (to fit the larger bearing) This is the 3rd or 4th tranny I have had done by them--- always top customer service. I appreciate that.

Had the click in the CV so I bought 2 new ones to make sure I had it covered. Cleaned and inspected all of the joints- all looked good, so I re-packed them with grease and put them back together. I now have 2 new spares in the trailer if they are needed. I used OUTFRONT's website info to make sure how everything should go together. Some of the parts were'nt in 'correctly', but I quess some parts can go either way and still work ok. Well, the click was even worse when I got done! Took themn back apart and 'clocked' them----- NO MORE CLICK!!! CLOCK your CVs!

Yesterday I was STOKED to get a VIN for the car at CHP! I was very nervous because I didnt know how it would go. I have heard horror stories about impounds, stolen parts, and all kinds of crazy stuff. But, the CHP was totally cool, and the car passed with flying colors-- now has a VIN. Title and green sticker next week!

Light looks good on there.

THX! I like how it works, too!