dullers' 92 BC Legacy L -build log- (project "fun 2nd car")

[dullers]

Hey All,

Just the other day I picked up this 1992 Legacy L AWD Auto with 94,xxx miles on it for (brace yourself) 250$ !!
Being an avid sube fan, I couldn't turn it down.
My wife and I have a 2008 Impreza OBS and a 2008 Tacoma SR5 v6. This car is a total "fun" purchase. I want to build it as a "second" car for us if needed and to give me something to tinker on.
As the story goes, it's previous owner unfortunately passed away, and the car was left to a friend of mine. He didn't have the time nor space to work on it, so in my driveway it went. Woohoo!

My short-term general plans are the following, in order:

- Rust fix + respray the whole car (probably some sort of gray/gunmetal)
- Rims + tires
- Custom full exhaust, other simple engine mods/fixes/upgrades
- clear corners, clear tails, paint/tint tails
- add fog lights
- Interior upgrades
- Suspension upgrades; 18mm rear sway, 20mm(?) front
- Brakes overhaul/swap



Potential Long-term plans
- motor swap, wrx or legacy turbo
- 5mt swap (probably won't do this, but who knows)

I already started stripping down the car, sorry i don't have a decent pic of "before". It was an oversight on my part

Here's the car as of today:



here's where i'll be uploading photos:

http://imageshack.us/g/717/2011052720173382.jpg/


I've gotten a lot of great info and ideas from you all already. thanks much!

[dullers]

I have a high-flow cat, muffler, tip, and piping picked out. one thing I'm not sure of, though, is a header.

I'm looking for better flow, better sound, and that lovely boxer rumble without sacrificing too much low-end and without going deaf while driving.
From what I've read here, there's some random cross-compatible headers. Like maybe the 2.5rs motor (?). Also, I'm unsure of whether to use UEL or EL headers.

Does anyone have any recommendations?

[cartwheels]

The lovely boxer rumble will be lost if you get equal length headers. You'll make more power with EL than UEL though.

[dullers]

ah. well i'm not hugely concerned with the sound, then. thanks for the tip!

now to find a decent set of EL headers...

[Danny-G]

Just for the record, there are no totally clear tail lights for these cars. The set you have is the clearest and the front corner lights are already clear other than the orange bulb. I put clear bulbs in mine and I haven't been harassed by cops cause they look kinda like a faded orange. I have a picture of the difference but its on the other computer.

[dullers]

oh no, i meant just take the orange pieces out and use orange bulbs
i tried that once before with an older car (the clear bulbs) and saw the same hassle from the police lol

thanks for the tip!

[dullers]

just got back from shoulder surgery.

guess i'll be shopping for the next two months and have a field day with upgrades in july

=/

[Danny-G]

I finally remembered about the light pictures lol. So heres the difference between an amber bulb and a clear one.


And something to consider to help with backing up after dark is this.

Which requires this.

And I wiring harness with a relay in it, I wouldn't trust the tail light circut alone to run the lights but they can work as the switch to turn the lights on. Thats how I set mine up, only on with the car in reverse and the headlights on as well.

[dullers]

thanks!

[Redlined]

You want to be careful with your back up lights, make sure your not using high intensity bulbs that will blind traffic behind you and be sure you check local laws. Tried something similar with an amber fog lamp when I was a kid and got a talking to by the local constabulary.

[evolutionmovement]

You're not supposed to use them around cops! And they need to be bright as hell strobes, hidden if possible. They go well with the caltrop dispensers and oil drip in the exhaust.

[dullers]

***** UPDATE *****


I had shoulder surgery about 1 week after I started this thread. So, unfortunately, I've been on the DL and haven't been able to work on the car much.. until now.

- New shoes! 17" BBS rims
- Snorkus delete
- Started stripping the car down to prep for paint
>> removed: bumpers, fenders, taillights, headlights, corners, grill, mudflaps
>> Working on the trim now


Click for full-size

[Danny-G]

My opinion when it comes time to paint, do the door handles, door trim, and the mirrios body color, and the chrome trim around the windows black. Gives the whole car a much more modern look. If you like the chrome, disregard the stuff about painting it lol.

[dullers]

i like that idea thanks! I'll probably pull all the trim that I don't plan to be body-matched and rattle can it black myself. That way the shop can worry about just one color.

[Danny-G]

I used the Wal Mart brand spray paint for my door handles and trim, it turned out pretty good really. Just gotta sand those door handles and all the metal stuff till its dull. I learned that the hadr way when I painted the door trim last year and after about three months it was already chipping. This was about a week ago, the door handles, door trim, and the strip below the windows were all that I painted then cleared.

[dullers]

you're right, i dig it. it looks a lot nicer w/o all the chrome everywhere

[dullers]

From what I'm reading here, these should work. Headed to the salvage yard this weekend to find me some.
Only thing I'm confused on is the 18mm from an outback. Impreza outback? Legacy outback? Both?

For 1992 non-turbo Legacy AWD:

Rear
95-99 outback: 18mm
91-94 legacy turbo: 18mm
Front
02-07 Impreza RS/TS/i: 20mm
96-99 Legacy 2.5: 20mm