DLC's 97 Outback Limited 5MT

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DLC
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DLC's 97 Outback Limited 5MT

Post by DLC »

This isn't going to be too exciting, but since I never really did this with the 00 GT, and nearly all of the 98 L parts are being moved over, it was time to represent in this forum.

Car:
1997 Subaru Legacy Outback Limited (BG)
EJ25D - 2.5L DOHC 165BHP - reconditioned by Metric Motors
5MT
148k miles
Black leather interior with heated seats, mirrors.

Pre-purchase modifications:
Exedy clutch disc
WRX front struts
STi inverted rear struts
06 WRX springs
APEXi Noir catback (OMG loud)
Vibrant ceramic catalyst (for the emissions)
Pioneer DEH-4300UB deck
Bridgestone 205/70-15 Whitewalls (FTW)
RAZO aluminum shift knob

Current modifications:
Custom Deltrin shift knob
JDM "L7" grille
CUSCO front and rear oval strut tower bars
EJ22 "simple" intake tube (removes large, central resonator thing)

Upcoming modifications:
Reasonable muffler
Turn 3 intake
WRX front brakes
STi transmission mount
JDM Legacy MOMO steering wheel (if electronics fit)
Use of 205/55-16 Summer/Winter wheels/tires
Window tint
Working alarm system

I was able to find this example of the Outback from one of the owners of a local Subaru/Mitsubishi shop. He's picked it up for a song after the previous owner's lack of enthusiasm about replacing the engine. That done, he put on the exhaust, sans cat, and slammed it on Cobb springs, then put in the nice deck. He's got a few project cars, and this was the least interesting, so he sold it with some reluctance but not enough to make him reconsider. I had him install the Vibrant cat and get the car a little higher off the ground with stock WRX springs.

It's a clean car and has had a normal life, with the usual dings, dents, and tears associated with 15 years of use. There's a little rust on the front driver side hood lip and both sides of the bumper have met hard objects, but the finish will buff our and the hood should be simple.

Rides like an STi/WRX, sounds mean, and looks nearly comical with the whitewalls. A reasonable muffler needs to be put in for the emissions visual inspection to pass (not going to argue, it's too noisy and drones). Needs tint. Needs better brakes.

This is my first DOHC Subaru and I must admit that I rather like how fast this engine revs. My cammed and uncorked EJ251 in the 00GT, with a lightweight flywheel, did spin up fast, but it was several hundred pounds heavier as well, so this car feels less encumbered. Should be fun.

Pics:

http://gallery.legacycentral.org/v/DLC/97Limited/

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More to come, naturally.
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Legacy777
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Re: DLC's 97 Outback Limited 5MT

Post by Legacy777 »

You can get the seatbelt replaced under warranty. The one on my 97 Impreza was exactly the same when I got it. I talked to the dealer and it is a warranty item, and they will replace it for free.

I wish they would have just given me the part, because it was more of a pain in the butt to go there and have them work on it.
Josh

surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT

If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
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Re: DLC's 97 Outback Limited 5MT

Post by SWRT »

Man...that thing's awesome :D I'm partial to wagons haha
Leather's in good shape too. Did you notice a good amount
of difference from the strut bars?

And as for the intake I believe the old one had
the torque box for lower range torque. Did you
notice if it drove any differently down low when
you made the switch?
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Re: DLC's 97 Outback Limited 5MT

Post by DLC »

I had to get the belt replaced on my 98 also, with no problem from the dealer. It does take a little time but it's not a big deal in that naighborhood.

The only time I've ever noticed a strut tower bar was in my BF. The first-generation wagons are flimsy and it really shocked me. This car has much stiffer springs and struts than stock, and I'd only drive the car 50 miles before putting the bars on, and noticed little difference on the 98 wagon also.

The torque box things is a good question to ask, and I'd not considered it very much, but if there is any difference it's not very easily discernable, aka it might be a dyno-sheet kind of result. In the real world this car feels as good at times as my 00 GT with the SOHC did. It might even pull hills easier, but I attribute that mostly to the weight differential (which I'm not certain of yet).
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Re: DLC's 97 Outback Limited 5MT

Post by SWRT »

I see. The only reason I haven't put one in my 90 is
because I tend to use the back a lot. I was thinking of
an upgraded swaybar for the rear though.

I probably only noticed a difference in my 2.5RS
because someone had put a short-ram intake on
there that wasn't made for the DOHC engine. I
put it back to stock and it was a night and day
difference in the lower range. I'm glad to hear
that you're loving that thing though :D It looks
nice and appears to be in pretty good shape.
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Re: DLC's 97 Outback Limited 5MT

Post by kimokalihi »

Just out of curiosity, is there a reason your paragraphs are narrow blocks rather than using the entire space allotted by default?
98 Metro Hatch Daily Driver :)
91 SS EJ20G Engine/Tranny/Diff Swap Build Thread Here
"Your testes are close to your bottom but you still play with them all the time." Jeremy Clarkson
DLC
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Re: DLC's 97 Outback Limited 5MT

Post by DLC »

Perhaps I'll return it to the torque box when I've quieted down the exhaust some. Right now I'm still getting used to the extra power the 2.5 has, along with its willingness to rev versus the EJ22E.

I've got an ancient Turn 3 intake "box" I'll be putting on it as well, so it would be interesting to do a back-to-back test with the simple tube versus the "torque box" some time.

I'm going to be getting my nice Bosal Brospeed SPT wagon muffler installed on Saturday, and I'm hoping it doesn't quiet down all of the popping and crackling it does now :)
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Re: DLC's 97 Outback Limited 5MT

Post by SWRT »

kimokalihi wrote:Just out of curiosity, is there a reason your paragraphs are narrow blocks rather than using the entire space allotted by default?
I really dont know if there's a reason
so much as it's something I just started
doing a couple years ago on my work
emails. I guess I just got used to it and
dont really think about it. If nothing else
it's at least easier to read :D
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Re: DLC's 97 Outback Limited 5MT

Post by SWRT »

DLC wrote:Perhaps I'll return it to the torque box when I've quieted down the exhaust some. Right now I'm still getting used to the extra power the 2.5 has, along with its willingness to rev versus the EJ22E.

I've got an ancient Turn 3 intake "box" I'll be putting on it as well, so it would be interesting to do a back-to-back test with the simple tube versus the "torque box" some time.

I'm going to be getting my nice Bosal Brospeed SPT wagon muffler installed on Saturday, and I'm hoping it doesn't quiet down all of the popping and crackling it does now :)
Yeah, I really have nothing else to base it on
since the intake on my RS wasn't really made
for the car to begin with. Hardly fair to gauge
the effectiveness of aftermarket intakes on that
experience.

I would be interested in seeing if there's a gain
there. I definitely noticed it, but we had different
forms of intake too.

Man...Brospeed. Makes me laugh every time :D
Make sure you put a video when you can.
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Re: DLC's 97 Outback Limited 5MT

Post by DLC »

I will try to get an out-of-car video of the noise this thing makes with the Apex-i Noir before I swap it on Saturday. The in-car stuff doesn't do it justice.
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Re: DLC's 97 Outback Limited 5MT

Post by DLC »

Got some more wrench time in the garage:

Purchased and installed a gold Cobb aluminum oilcap and blue Tuned By Cobb battery tie-down.

Swapped the JDM sidemarkers from the 98 to the 97.

Swapped the tires and wheels back and forth (whitewalls begone!)

Removed the Bosal Brospeed SPT muffler from the 98 to be put on the 97 tomorrow.

Found out that a JDM MOMO wheel has a smaller airbag charge than either a 97 Outback or 98 L.

Found out that 205/70-15 rub on a 98 L with stock suspension.
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Re: DLC's 97 Outback Limited 5MT

Post by DLC »

Seatbelt replacement scheduled.

"As long as it wasn't cause by abuse, like by a pet" - dealer service rep on warranty coverage confirmation
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Re: DLC's 97 Outback Limited 5MT

Post by Legacy777 »

Yeah....they like to do that. I pretty much brought the car to the dealer and said look at the belt.
Josh

surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT

If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
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Re: DLC's 97 Outback Limited 5MT

Post by SWRT »

DLC wrote:
Found out that 205/70-15 rub on a 98 L with stock suspension.
Haha...I like that part.

It looks like it's just falling apart from use, not
pet stuff so it looks like you're good :D

Now, what is the first year they started
doing the seatbelt replacement thing? I have
a 90 and although they're not coming apart
anywhere what is the policy on the replacement?
Do they have to be falling apart before they'll
consider it?
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Re: DLC's 97 Outback Limited 5MT

Post by DLC »

I am not aware of any date after which this expires. The 97 is the oldest I've tried with.

If the belt is very worn, has tears, or is in any sort of condition YOU think is sketchy, I'd ask them about it.

In other news, I got the Bosal Brospeed exhaust up with a modified FXT midpipe, including resonating chamber. It's now depressingly quiet while the FXT midpipe makes all sorts of odd sounds. Going to look at getting that replaced or modified to remove the chamber in an effort to get some of the exhaust note back.

Passed the inspection.

Got a set of painted 03 WRX wheels and worn Kumho tires for the 98 L, $140.

Need to put the Apex-i Noir exhaust up for sale locally.

Need to cash in on these two, stock catalyst sections I have lying around.
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Re: DLC's 97 Outback Limited 5MT

Post by Legacy777 »

When I had my Impreza belt replaced I did some checking and I'm pretty sure the lifetime replacement is only good for the manual belts. The automatic seat belts are not warrantied for life. You'll probably want to check, but I think they started the lifetime warranty in 95.
Josh

surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT

If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
SWRT
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Re: DLC's 97 Outback Limited 5MT

Post by SWRT »

DLC: Depressingly quiet, huh? That's a shame :/

Legacy777: Dang. Oh well. They're not bad yet, but
I would think seatbelts should be replaced after 20 years.
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Re: DLC's 97 Outback Limited 5MT

Post by DLC »

Well, I might just be getting back that incredible set of TWE Equal-length Stainless headers I had, with the Random HFC, and that should help the sound a lot.

Image

That, and getting rid of this ridiculous FXT midpipe silencer abomination. It makes the weirdest noises...

Image
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Re: DLC's 97 Outback Limited 5MT

Post by SWRT »

So how's this thing coming along?
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