superu

Did some later model OBs come with them also?

Ahh the problems of a race-speced car with HIGH HP! I think you'd be psyched to have the low range gearing of an EA82, for better "crawling" than 1st gear of your EJ tranny. Though the Auzzies have DR AWD cars (with suky low range gearing). And with some modding, their DR trannis can be swapped out for the 1.59:1 low range of an EA82, compared to their 1.18:1 (found in 3.90 final drive legacies). BUT, their forester boxes are 4.11 final drive qand stock with 1.44:1 crawl ratio (also modifiable to 1.59:1). I'm not sure about 4.44 foresters (I assume in later year turbos) and OBs. I'd assume they got 4.44 too, and if they did, I'm not sure what their crawl ratio would be (assume still 1.44:1 low range)... Anyway, fun ideas!! But for crawling, I'm sure you'd be more psyched with lower crawling gearing, BUT your turbo's still going to kick in at higher RPMs, and deliver the torque and HP probably above 3000 RPM,probably closer to 4,000...

PM sent. I've compiled a spreadsheet with a bunch of tranny gearing info.

I had questions for same springs for my 95 legacy on 97 OB struts. i was interested in Scorpion springs (stiffer) or Scorpion raised springs (stiffer and taller). This thread shares that info. http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=93542&page=2 via email correspondance with Scorpion and getting costs and shipping info... Hope this helps..

For speed for sure a downgrade, but with the low gearing and lower end torque, BACKED by horsepower, think of the climbing ability But i wonder how fast he'd burn through those older 3.90 trannies with the WRX torque and HP...

Yeah, i second. You should consider an EA82 DR 5 spd...

DUDE!! Seriously?!! SICK!! HOLY-FREAKIN"-COW! :eek::eek::slobber::slobber: LOVE IT! Your work is freakin' sick man! Awesome welds, good fabbing, great ideas, nice finish work, great reinforcements.. Lemme know next time you come to UT, if you make it to moab!

Props dude, p-r-o-p-s! Not enough cool stuff to say for cutting into and beefing up the WRX! I like the suspension flex, sweet tires! Sick work on the cross-bracing and front undercarriage armor! +1 interested guy for the build thread and photo history of your rig! (oops, here it is [http://ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=97168] Welcome to your new home in the off road forum of USMB!

Really? I thought for sure the final drive gearing played a big part in the speedo. When I went with taller tires my speedo and odo went off (with OBs as 4.11 and running taller tires than my stock 3.90 and 185x70x14s)... There was a tire size calculator on BFG (tires) website (many others available on the net) that tell you gearing ratios and how RPMs and speed changed withh tire size. I thought I could regain my lost power from taller tires by changing final drive tranny gearing, which would also recompensate my speedo. So I too could get an OB TCU to recorrect my speedo and odo? That'd be nice (but tranny gearing, would still give better power and performance by recompensating for tires right?) OOPS, sorry. Not hijacking, really... Nice work on the tranny swap! Car looks good with the strut lift! Good call on not modifying the exhaust and intake.

2nd!

Are you running a 4.11 final drive or 4.44 in your forester? Both are findable in Suby LSD, they'll vary on LSD or VLSD though. Someone else help me out here, but can't you get an 02 WRX (probly a 3.90 final drive?) auto (I've read that's the one you want) and pull the LSD unit then replace it in his rear diff with his correct outer ring gear (not sure what its called), or a similar deal with another factory clutch pak LSD? Scoobyclimbs has a 4.44 LSD in his 03 OB, I think its Suby... Anyway, I'm interested in this mod too, either creating your LSD from another Suby diff or doing the phantom grip install

Yeah agreed. That's where I am now. OB struts and springs on legacy subframe stuff. Yeah, that's what I'm considering, taller springs with the stock OB strut swap. So with the taller springs I think i want the other subframe stuff too. This is good. You're reaffirming what I think I've consolidated from other peeps here. Now to just get all those little parts together if I go the raised spring route. Also good to see if anyone State-side has a set rather than dealing direct with scorpion...

You should run a couple tanks of gas on stock tires and get an average mileage calculation (I assume you have a good handle on stock tires and suspension milage) there before you do bigger tires. its good to have a reference and also some calculations on whatever size tire you get so you can do the conversion and know how far off your speedo and odo get with larger tires... I'm sitting around 5% off, i.e. my odo is under milage and my speedo is slower than actual ground speed on BFG 27.5x8" 14s. Its good info to have about your rig. Also if you consider intake or exhaust modifications, its good to know what base stock is... Have fun and looking forward to new meats!

I've heard good things about the phantom grip used in offroad applications. A friend regularly puts them into his built up rigs (EJ swaps into EAs and DR swaps into new gen cars), but he's not on this forum, so i appologize for a second hand report. One of his rigs is run by freerange I think in Montana [(an 98 OB) has phantom grip front (i think) and rear with a DR 5spd from an EA] is smetimes on this board but more on legacycentral.org. He likes it well enough. He reports, "it's possible to burn off the front tires(phantom LSD) but axle hop and torque steering comewith it." I too have been weighing the phantom grip vs. a stock suby lsd (not vlsd) for a rear LSD in my minor-lifted legacy, for use in snow and minor off-road applications. But I've come to expect the PG would be better for off-raod but good in snow and the suby LSD primarily good in snow. I am considering it ONLY for the rear, as it is my daily driver. Anyhoo, I don't know if this helps but it is second hand reporting of Phantom grip being pretty good for offroad application in a suby.

heck yeah! nice catch

Heck yeah!! The only problem with OB lifts on legacies, BIG wheel wells dictat spending more money to fill them in with taller tires I too am a big fan of the OB strut swap lift! But, I've been am getting info from other folks about swapping over more of the OB lift blocks, trailing arms, etc. if i go for lift springs (to help push up my heavy bumper and skid plate). I've been told without the OB lift blocks and other OB suspension parts, but JUST the strut lift, that the axles can't handle the added geometry of lift springs. Lift blocks may negate that though, so just OB struts and lift blocks would be fine. ANYHOO, looks good, nice work, clean car!! WOOp WOOp!!

Yeah, wear items are wear items, but i thought that a clutch speced for racing would be overkill for a daily driver and occasional light offroading and pulling (i.e. pulling cars out of the snow I guess i was sold by the SPEC specs indicated extra long life, and by the guy at clutchexpress. I was under the impression it would be an excellent choice for long life (as a daily driver) but MUCH stonger than stock when applied for pulling, and light offroading. So if i got 60K out of it, and that's long for a stage 2, though not used in a racing application, i guess i feel a touch better about it... Still nearly 5 bills for a clutch gone in 4 years... Hopefully the "OEM" exedy will outlast the original Suby clutch (which went 110K) But, ya live and ya learn! :-\

Note to self. Live and learn. After mechanic installs new racing clutch.... DO NOT ADJUST IT YOURSELF, EVER! The SPEC stage 2 was to be, but will not be the last clutch I buy. After less than 60,000 miles this one is DUN! Racing clutches are touchy, BUT strong. They don't last long when out of adjustment though. Once its installed and adjusted by the pro, leave it alone, no matter how much you want to learn and fiddle with things.... Lesson learned. Now, with the need for another flywheel to go with my Exedy replacement, I will be back on the road tomorrow... AND I WILL NOT TOUCH CLUTCH OR HILL-HOLDER ADJUSTMENTS AGAIN

GOOD FUN!! What are you swapping the tranny for? Are you going MT to AT, visa-versa, or other fun tranny swapping? I too may be doing tranny pulling in the future, and also as a non-experienced tranny puller, wouldn't mind tips and triks from your experience. And your lift-to-be? Are you doing the fun OB strut swap?? Yay for more new gen lifted rigs!

Yeah diffintely good times!!! Scoobycimbs did good stuff, cleaning FB5, but too bad he had to work The proof was in the puddin' though with the older gens! I'm SOO sold on dual range! Holy-cow, I knew i wanted the low gearing of a DR, but didn't know how good they really are! TeamCF walked all over stuff idling up and down things that blew me away, in his stock carbed (though welded rear diff), UNlifted wagon. Never high centering, or even scraping on stuff I'd've pucked up waiting for the scrapage, and all in a 1.4something:1 EA81! Now i want, no NEED, to try out playing in an Ea82 with the 1.59 and fuel injection! Ooh, and the couple hundred pound less the older gen have sure is nice! I'll get that CD off today Gregg, thanks for playing! -m-

Nice! How's G. like his new hatch? Ooh wait, I'll ask him myself next week I'm psyched to check it out too! Will you be around tue, wed, or thur next week for some mid-day fun? It'd be cool to meet another USMBer in person. -mark-

Ahh Lada's... My favorite 4x4 of Latin America... I got pretty hot to try and import one for a second...

NICE nipper! Is that on lift blocks or king springs or both?? I've been looking into springs to push my car a bit higher and have seen a couple OBs on raised springs (and new KYB struts). Looks good!

asking for opinions?... my $.02 new forester, NOT the tribeca more internal room (than 08 and earlier), plenty of power, comfortable, stylish (agreed new IMPS got the shaft on styling), etc. etc. BEST for CO realtors, a bit iffy for Houston (I have a friend with a turbo 06 FOR, deffintely not many subys in TX)... goes w/o saying new (as in traded in 09 FOR) buying a zero miles car off the lot is NOT the best plan, get into one AFTER someone else took the depreciation hit. I'd advice against a lease, but i think the lease was designed for folks in your line of work. Good luck narrowing the ideas and Happy shopping

I love that sedan!! covet covet. it inspires my 95 sedan