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/
More to come, naturally.