Subafreak

Ive searched some threads on using the vented disks on the gen 1,s and got some mixed answers. My dilema is, iv'e done the rear disk swap on the 74, after swapping the front drums to gen 1 disks. Now realizing the rear brakes are bigger than the front i belive i would like to upgrade to the vented front disks. What i found in my search was some people saying they used the vented disks from the gen 2's on the gen 1's. Now i didnt think gen 2's used vented disks, i thought they first came on the Loyals, but it's been awile since iv'e had a gen 2 so can anyone confirm this? My second question is once i find out what im getting the vented disks from, is the vented disk/hub assembly compatible with the gen 1 spindle, wheel bearings, and axle and will the vented disk caliper bolt right up to the spindle? Some of what i read from the people who had done it said they converted over to the gen 2 or Loyal spindle, or spindle and control arm, but did not state if it was necessary to do so. So if anyone can answer my questions it would be greatly appreciated.

LOL, you trying to kill me? We would have to save that for a friday night. I already missed work today because i felt like i was gonna die this morning.....think i inhaled to many paint fumes working on the car this weekend. So for now lets keep it a simple smash and grab operation, just give me a night.

Hell, I,ll come down after work during the week if i have to catch u then. In fact after this saturday it maybe the only time i have to make it down there. Just let me know when.

Im making some progress and should have some new pics up soon, just been real busy working on it and my computer doesn't like to work most of the time. But soon!!! Hay Paul....still waiting for that call.

Yeah the plate kinda gives it away. I tell people i found it in a potato field.

Yes! Everyone loves photos.

So does that mean we got a date this weekend? ; )

Yes, just gotta get some new pictures up soon. Now that where back on line. Aaaaaannnnnd, a motor

That is sweet! +1 on the junk.

Lol, same chick Paul. We're on and off but she never passes up a chance to do some fabricating. Scott. I,m not sure about overall hight (I should remember to measure these things befor i start) I know the lift blocks are about 6 1/2 inches with another 1" in the struts. I will measure the wheel base after we get it all together again. This will basicly be the same drivetrain as the wagon. Will be using a subaru 5speed with welded center diff and a sammy T-case. Will be getting a reduction T-case from RockyRoad just havnt decided on what reduction to go with yet. With the 33" and the stock t-case it's on road manners were very good but it could still use a bit in the low range department. So with moving up to the 35"s i think im gonna go with the super crawler reduction gears, just hoping it doesnt rev to high on the highway. One thing that was troublesome on the wagon was the T-case position, it just hung to low. So that will be getting moved up into the body as far as we can. We will also be changing the front suspension and lift around. Whats in the wagon works and has proved to be very solid, but it's alot of metal and makes servicing the front diff imposible and makes a mess when you change the oil. Also we will be putting another R-180 diff in the front and changing the spindals to SVX ones, so at least the brakes will match a little better and we can have the same wheel bolt pattern front and rear. And the longer SVX axles should allow us to push the front track a little wider and help increase the turning radius with out the tires hitting. Will also be using STI rear struts in the front for longer travel, not so much for extension but a bit more compression with out hitting the bump stops. Traveling at speed down a potholed road in the wagon ussualy led to bottoming out the front suspension. As for those front axles, the top one is the STI axle and i will get some specs for ya next time im in the shop.

Gigity, gigity, alright!

And this is where we finnished for the night. More to come soon.

Getting the rear diff hanger fabbed up. Remember kiddies, you should always use proper welding safety gear. Here is a rough idea of the diff mount tacked in place.

The trailing arms. Basicly two stock trailing arms welded together and braced. Even with the drop of welding one arm under the other they were still hitting the lateral links under full droop, so we added a bend at the end for better clearance this time. On the car. Just to compare stock Turbo Legacy rear axles to STI axles.

With the links and spindals on, plus a pic of the custom caliper bracket mounts and the SVX front brakes.

IDK why i posted those twice???? Moving on! The STI rear cross-member. This little bracket on top is going to be part of the new front diff support (front of the rear diff) The old design we had some breakage problems with plus it was a pain to drop the diff if needed. In the car. I should also note that this subframe has the solid metal bushings in it, so it is bolted solid!

Ah yes, and the struts. There ugly and heavy but for now they are still good and they work. Compared to a stock outback strut. BTW: I have all 4 newish outback struts i will be selling soon.

Ah yes...and the rear struts. These interesting works of....um...art? Started life as an outback strut and then were chopped and sorted to get them in just the right place to deal with the lift and the offset, yet still clear the stock rims that were on the back. With the offset wheels that are on it now plus the wider STI rear end there is a bit more room to play with but for now these struts are still good and they are very strong......heavy and ugly but strong. Compared to a stock outback strut. In the car.

So we got busy this weekend swapping over the parts and reworking some stuff. We just about got the rear compleatly done. Here is the basic rear subframe lift. 6 1/2" channel iron with an offset to increase the wheelbase and a bar conecting the two sides that bolts to the body for extra latteral support.

When i first saw those rot pictures i was wondering how u got pictures of my car.....

Yeah, idk the last time i even saw a Nissan 720 pick up around here...? As for the rear struts, i dont think the axles would like anything with a longer travle than it's already got. Kinda limited to the Subaru stuff, but we shall see what happens.

Well as it turns out Subaru 5 speeds suck in lifted applications also. Lost 2nd, 3rd, and reverse last night. So im thinking this is the end for the monster wagon. Being this close to starting the monster sedan, i really cant see swapping trannies in the wagon right now. So for all thoes that wanted to see how the wagon got this way keep an eye on the monster sedan thread and i promise to take more pictures this time. P.S. Maddjack, did you ever get that P.M. i sent you?

Well this thread will be a bit more indepth of how it all got done the first time. Well for now the plan is to stick with the STI rearend and axles, but i may consider something a big stronger depending on what i find at the junk yard.