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pleiad7's Subed Up MY04 XT

('03-'05) 
47K views 138 replies 47 participants last post by  TUGG 
#1 · (Edited)


This is Subed, short for Subed Up... I purchased him brand-new on September 19, 2003 with 12 miles on the odo. He just recentlly rolled over to 100,000... We've been through so many mods and configurations over time that I'll keep this list to the most current one.

Performance Upgrades

Engine & Exhaust
  • VF48
  • STI TMIC
  • TurboXS Stealthback with Bosal SS single-tip muffler
  • JDM STi ceramic-coated catless uppipe
  • SPT short ram intake
  • Fumoto oil drain valve
  • SAMCO TMIC & radiator hoses
  • Subtle Solutions IC splitter
  • Ecutek tuned by PDX Tuning
Suspension & Handling
  • KYB-GR2 struts (Forester-specific)
  • Swift Sport Springs - prototype set
  • 20mm STi rear sway bar with matching mounts, brackets, bushings
  • Kartboy front and rear endlinks
  • STI steering rack
  • STI aluminum control arms
  • STI aluminum lateral links
  • Whiteline steering & rear diff bushings
  • Whiteline subframe locking bolts
  • Whiteline anti-lift kit
  • RalliTek 4EAT transmission mount bushing insert
Brakes
  • STi Brembo front calipers (powdercoated black) and Centric Power Slot rotors
  • Rear Legacy H6 rotor upgrade
  • Goodridge SS brake lines
Wheels and Tires
  • 17" x 7.5" smoked steel grey Rota SDR's
  • 225/50/17 Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus tires
Lighting
  • DRL delete
  • Osram Silverstar headlight bulbs
  • Primitive Racing custom-built lightbar with Hella FF1000 driving lights & FF200 fogs

Dress-Up, Utility & Protection

Engine Bay Bling
  • Prodrive aluminum oil cap
  • GarageXTi Hood Dampers
  • Subtle Solutions chrome radiator shroud
  • JDM 2.5 STI belt cover emblem
Interior
  • Custom turned wood shifter knob
  • Alpine IVA-W205 head unit
  • Alpine 4-channel amp
  • mo_boost custom digital data display
  • STi AT pedal covers
  • MOMO WRX steering wheel
  • WeatherTech floor liners
Exterior
  • v.7 JDM STi scoop
  • Primitive Racing aluminum skidplate and rear differential protector
  • 22% tint on rear 5 windows
  • STi door crease decals
  • Debadged and paint-matched rear finisher panel

Most upgrades professionally installed and major services performed by LIC Motorsports in Novato, CA :icon_cool:

 
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#7 · (Edited)
Thanks... I've always been partial to the steel grey rims on PSM. Here are a few setups I was running before. I'm going to try and keep this somewhat chronological, although I don't think there are any pictures that exist of my car in bone stock form. The STI rear sway bar and my first set of wheels (Rota Downshifts shod with 225/50/17 Michelin Pilot Sport A/S) were installed during my first week of ownership:


Then came the anthracite Prodrive P7's with 225/45/17 Bridgestone RE070's, along with a slight drop on JDM Forester STI pink springs:
 
#8 · (Edited)
Shortly thereafter we picked up a badly road-rashed set of STI front Brembos fairly cheap, which were powdercoated black and installed along with the Legacy H6 rear rotor upgrade. Wheels were switched to the Rota SDR's.
 
#9 · (Edited)
My Frankenstein exhaust dates back to the time when there were no Forester-specific fitments except COBB. We bought the TurboXS Stealthback lightly used and paired it up with a Bosal/SPT 3" axleback. To allow for 3" piping all the way through, the tapered last 6" or so on the SB were chopped off, the flange was removed on the Bosal, and both were permanently joined with a piece of 3" stainless pipe. This also allowed us to compensate for the "shortcomings" of the Impreza-specific muffler.


Ecutek tune by Shiv at Vishnu:
 
#16 · (Edited)
Thanks for the props... :smile:

Subed has been the jack-of-all-trades of cars for me - he has carried us safely on many road trips all over the West Coast, has seen auto-x and rally-x courses, drag strips and road rallies (on pavement as well as dirt), has been a support vehicle for stage rallies, and served as a real workhorse in our yard by pulling concrete pilings out of the ground. Here's some of the stuff we do for fun.

One of the many lovely backroads in our neck of the woods


More backroads, having some fun with The Wraith


Roo at the 2006 Rally-Cross Nationals at Thunderhill Raceway


After tagging a Porsche 997 on Hwy 1, taking a break at the Hog Island Oyster Company


Navigational Road Rally south of San Francisco


Magellan Adventure Rally 2005


In 2006 Roo and I were married just outside of Las Vegas. It was only logical to make this a Forester get-together with some of our friends and fellow staff members from sf.org. The day following the wedding we ran the Magellan Adventure Rally with Peaty joining our team.

Here's our little Forester caravan in the desert. From left to right: Eclipse, ferretboy, The Wraith, and Subed


The only gas station between Kingman, AZ and Henderson, NV, or so it seemed!


Some nice shots courtesy of The Wraith


Vegas, baby!!!
 
#17 · (Edited)
Heading into Laughlin, NV for the Magellan Rally


Last minute rally preparations...


Rally Start


Gravel turnout just off Route 66


Some of the dirt portions of the rally


Peaty at the helm


This didn't really happen... it's just a real convincing photochop. :biggrin:


Checking the lightbar for rattles


Parade Lap on the Super Stage of the Laughlin International Rally
 
#18 · (Edited)
So here we are at almost 103k miles... tomorrow Subed will undergo a major rejuvenation, and a few upgrades. New timing belt, all new hoses, oil seals, water pump, VF39, STI TMIC, and a new-to-us ECU tuned by PDX Tuning. Oh yeah, subframe locking bolts too! :icon_biggrin:
 
#21 ·
Thanks! Actually, LIC Motorsports will be having a busy day. :icon_wink: I left Subed under their good care last night, and will be picking him up either tonight or tomorrow night.

Friday we're getting this installed, and that night we're scheduled for a couple of dyno pulls at Fine Line Imports here in Santa Rosa to make sure the new tune works well. Saturday I'm signed up for a hyperdrive session at Infineon Raceway to put the new-found power to the test. Yeah, my birthday came a little early this year. :biggrin:
 
#26 ·
Visited Subed in the shop tonight... Most of the 105k is done, VF39 is in... Adam is still in the process of replacing the rest of the hoses. Added a few items to the list of things to be installed.

- STI aluminum control arms with Whiteline ALK
- 04 STi steering rack
- RalliTek 4EAT Transmission Mount Bushing

Everything should be finished up by mid-day tomorrow, then Subed is scheduled for an alignment.



Obligatory picture of the LIC Time Attack STI :biggrin:
 
#28 ·
Well, I was hoping to pick up my car tonight, but no such luck. The installs took a little longer than planned (due to the items we added) and the alignment had to be postponed until tomorrow morning. I was almost giddy today at the prospect of driving Subed home... I guess I'll have to be patient for a little while longer.
 
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