LokeDawgg

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Not at all nip. You know, the way I learned to drive stick was this: I was working a construction job and my foreman (who knew I didn't know how to drive manual) left me at a different job site with a company truck and said "see you there" Well, I got to the other site, but perhaps lacking a bit of finesse. He said "now you know how to drive a stick" and I took it to heart, never bothered to ask anyone if I was doing something wrong. Drove beater trucks around for years without a problem, but a sube is something a bit different and I'd like to treat her right.

When you say "lugging the engine," I take it you mean letting the needle drop a thousand or so rpm and then revving back up shifting into a new gear, instead of applying more gas and keeping the needle stationary. Yeah, I've been doing that, and I've been corrected. Alright, when you say "bottom end" I think cams and pistons, maybe clutch. What would be the purpose of skip shifting? I mean, over revving in one gear say to 5000 or 5500 rpm then skipping a gear? Seems like it would be pretty hard on the engine for regular use. You know, it's funny when I first got my sube I was shifting at 3500 but people on the road were looking at me like I was crazy or trying to show off or something... the 2.5 growl is intimidating to some folk I guess. Maybe I just need to seafoam the thing and replace filters and plugs, etc. I don't know, my mechanic took her around the block and told me that it didn't have the power it should. It's no slouch though. I don't know.

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Welp, because of lack of funds it's taken longer than I thought it would, but I've finally got a hold of a set of four '04 Forester struts with tophats and coilovers. They've got 55k on 'em but look to be in good condition. Got them from a guy over on the SubaruForester forums in VA for $250 delivered! I could put them on right now but I figure I'm gonna wait until my next paycheck and buy some saggy butt spacers from Shawn at Paranoid Fabrications... seems like a really nice guy. I figure I could throw on the 3/4" rear spacers and be done but I'm gonna get the 1" rear and 1/4" front... add a quarter inch of lift for $30. Also going to get tires... I'm a little split between Geolanders and HydroEdge right now. I'm getting crappy mileage ~18mpg bleh. Probably because of my gigantic old cargo box, bad tires and struts, and need of a tune-up. Speaking of cargo box, I took off the duct-tape holding it together and laid some carbon fiber mat and epoxy, sprayed the thing flat black and sealed it. Looks pretty good if I do say so myself. Oh, also I got the rear five windows tinted to 3% vis at a cash-discount tint shop in Oakland. Tune-up, tires, struts, spacers and ground kit in a week or so! Pictures to come!

Thanks Gloyale. I found four complete assemblies with 55k for $250 and they're on their way tomorrow!!! @SubaruForester.org

Hey, Searched around Just wondering if I can keep my springs with the Forester GR-2s... KYB 334468, KYB 334469. Can't seem to find OEM Forester springs anywhere online, I guess that'd be a junkyard find eh? Definitely do not want to lower the saggin' wagon. Specific info on this would be appreciated. Thanks! L

Sweet! I was looking at that exhaust stack and thinking: may as well do away with the pipes on the undercarriage and just have a short run to the hood on the other side of the snorkel? Less crap on the car -- strip it down. But yeah, sweet UAV/mudder!

Got 22 mpg on my last tank. Just cleaned the MAF with denatured alcohol, and will report mileage findings on next fill-up. I'm pretty sure I need struts, trailing-arm bearings, and tires, so my mileage may not be the best! :-p

Must be niiiiice! Not hatin' okay, I'm hatin' dammit! ... but only because I can't afford one, and if I could it'd get stolen off the street: Not enough $$$ or garage space here either.