sayn3ver

sorry mountainbiker. You were right. And i apologize to anyone else. I've been a bit frustrated between this and all the rain we have been getting here in new jersey(because i havent had a chance to seal up my fenders becausei worked the last couple of days). we should compile a new fact for anyone else who may attempt this.

See, this is the info i was looking for when i first set out on this journey. This thread was in response to the billion questions i had in another thread. http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=52126&highlight=sayn3ver Thus, i shouda went with the outbacks like gut instinct told me too. Edit***** Just placed an order for 1996 rear legacy outback struts. Should be here tomorow or friday. I'm biting the bullet because i will spend close to that in wheel spacers and studs and it doesnt guarentee it fitting. All i need is anothe 1/8-1/4 inch of clearence between the tire and the strut. Looks like i will be doing that this weekend. Thanks for everyones help, especially to moutnainbiker for posting probably the most informative pic. Lets just hope the forester springs work on the outback struts.

Uh, well... i had 15inch wheels. I bought 15inch tires. There is no "go get a 14inch wheel" Second, everyone says that the forester and outback struts are the same part number, yadda yadda yadda. Apparently not. No pic required. they simply rub the perch. After the tire trimming, they dont rub the side of the strut/perch anymore(atleast i dont think) but now rub where the tread of the tire passes under the perch. Interco lists the tires as having the same diameter. One would assume they are the same. Apparently not. My rear struts might be installed correctly. who knows. I followed the how-to on scoobymods and they show you how to line up the front struts + top hats correctly. On the rear...i marked the tops and rubber surrounds and relative location on the old struts and tried to line everything up. The bottom spring perch is different that the impreza, so the spring sat in a diferent location therefore i tried to make the top look stock(the tophat was evenly covering the rubber upper spring mount on the stock setup, i tried to match it on the forester setup). I added one washer on each side. I will have to add more.

yea. wheel spacers may be the answer...the expensive answer.

went with 15inch wheels cause thats what i had on hand... I dont weld. it sucks. My brother's friend's dad welds, but not very good, and def do not trust him for a job like that. I am looking into longer wheel studs. Seems like the easiest solution. If i could bring the wheel out just a bit more, there the tire starts to taper down, it would clear.

Ok so i spent the last 3 days trying to get my super swamper ssr's to fit. I have a 95 impreza coupe that i just installed forester struts and springs on. They just rub on the rears no matter what. I have the 27inchx9.5 SSRs's on a 15inch stock subaru steelie. I knew some washers were needed (1/4inch quote Zapar). I bought extra and refuse to add anymore washers due to the lack of stud length available for the lug nuts. I went to put on and the swampers rub on the perch. Fine. Got my diegrinder out with a course pad on it. I shave down the large lugs that stick out on the inside. Thye now kinda fit, but still rub on the top of the spring perch now(instead of on the side). I lightly shave the path that the spring perch made on the tread of the tire down a bit to see if that helps. Sorta, but it still rubs. I really dont want to take my brand new tires and get them shaved. Its like throwing money out the window. It seems like i am having so many more issues than anticipated. grrrr. And i still have a clunking in the rear. Any ideas? Also, does anyone know where i could find longer wheel studs. Worst comes to worse i'll buy longer studs and just washer the hell out of my hubs...my wheel bearings wont last that long but i wont be using the swampers for daily driving.

WRX wheels are cheap and nice or even 2.5rs wheels from 98-01. Or if you can some 15inch alloy wheels...i think 5 spokes...were found on some imprezas stock. I think they look nice and have been looking for a set myself.

ej series cars are usually running a +52 offset on the stock wheels. I have no idea about first and second gens.

Nokian makes amazing winter tires. Eco stud and non studded. Its not a race tyre. But they are suppose to be the best snow and ice tyre. But they will cost yah.

I think the gap on the bottom is gong to be to wide to weld without adding more metal. I am gonna try Marine-Tex and see how that works out. Edit************************* Finished cutting today. It looks pretty good. I am gonna go out after dinner and marine-tex up the gaps and let it sit over night. And to Zapar, i dont know how you fit those 27inch SSR's on. I tried today after cutting and ended up making several trips to the hardware store. 1/4inch worth of washers my butt. I have close to a 1/2 inch and refuse to add anymore because i want atleast 3/4 of my lug nut to have thread in it.(its like 7/8 full right now). I realize you have 14 inch wheels and i have 15inch wheels, but the tire size should be the same.(i have mine mounted on the stock 15inch subaru steel wheels). i am gonna shave the large lugs on the inside of the SSR's on the rear with a diegrinder and hopefully that will solve my rubbing issue.

i cut about as much as Zapar said he did...alittle less than an inch. Doesn't look like too many options. JB weld or real welding, but i dont weld and i think our sheetmetal is too thin....

quit cussing.

rs25.com. another good site.

BFGoodwrench/Michelin. I think the only rally team running pirelli's is Subaru. Every else is on BFG's.

cut and reweld like mudrat did to foresterranger's forester. Or deal with the fact that 27inch tires are as big as we new gen's can go.

First, why pirelli? We all know who makes the better competition tire. Second, why not look around the rally forums or ask jamie who rallies burnsie where you could find used or even new tires.

mine never look like it hits...i stop and various points of articulation to check. At least i think. even if i dont, there is really tight clearance at normal driving height. ***************Edit********************* Just went through NJ Inspection because my inspection sticker was up. I failed for what i thought i would(my driver side corner lamp is not there. Although it contains no turnsignal and is not a headlamp, they still failed me but i mean, i assumed they would). Surprisingly, they also failed me for something else. They had all the inspection workers looking at my car, it was quite hilarious. Its called "Manual suspension failure". i asked the guy who handed me my car back and he didn't know. Went inside to the office and they said it means the inspector could not push the rear of the car down 2 inches for 2 repititions. HA. Probably because its riding the inside of my wheel well. I think next time i am gonna load the trunk up with weight and see if it passes. HA. manual suspension failure my rump roast. They were just looking for something to fail me...next time i am showing up to the station completely covered in mud...fresh mud.

i'd pay pal someone money for subaru wheeling dvds, epecially if they have the rubicon footage on them.

the turbo legacy's came with a closed deck 2.2L engine. It was the nicest block one could get for a long time. It was designed to be a turbo motor and even had piston oil squirters. With enegine management, bigger injectors and an larger turbo, they could be run at 24-27 psi as daily drivers. Search rs25.com for more info. Very nice block. It does have a few cons: -stock heads were very restrictive. -Required aftermarket engine management(stand alone). Today with the 2.5L STi block, the 2.2 is less desirable, considering guys are making good reliable power on them(on the 2.5 that is which people thought might not be possible when the block first appeared.). There are more engine management options available not requirering full stand alone management and the headaches that could arise from that. Also, the extra displacement allows for more power and more downlow grunt. If you plan on doing a simple swap...stick with a stock wrx motor. If you wanna build something sick, go with either the 2.2T or the 2.5L sti. I myself prefer the 2.2L. Its of better construction and is more rare than the 2.5L. Thats just me though.

already talked with them on the phone. The lift for the legacy's and outbacks should fit. The only issue may be the rear strut tower extentions(the bolt patteren and size for the rears differ from different years and models). I told them what exactly i had in the rear and in theory i should be A okay.

i know that feeling. Not with allied seeing i live across the country. But with other companies, friends, mechanics, etc.

Ok, so i put an addtional washer under there today. I called around and no one had an m30 or w/e, so i took the washer i got with the strut and went to ace hardware. I picked up a washer with the same inner diameter with an outter diamter that was a bit wider and the ring itself was broader. I used the new washers from ace + stock washer then the nut. It look like it gave it enough space to elevate the nut so it applies pressure to the washers instead of merely threading all the way down the treads on the shock. Went out and tested it. I still have a clunk. I poked around under there with the car in several different postions trying to flex the suspension out. It looks like the lower spring perch boot(goes under the spring) rubs the inner wheel well but it feels like the actual strut clears. Reguardless, i am gonna pick up 2 more washers and see if that will do the trick. If not, i am gonna bang the wells with a BFH. If that doesnt work i might have to take the struts out and take them to a mechanic to see if i seated them correctly.

i too thought it was alittle slow. But good none the less. I like anyone who puts video up, because i dont often have the tools or the time too.

sweet. i thought it had to go under the upper spring perch.

sweet. i'll get on that tomorow while i have the struts out anyways because i am gonna massage my rear fender wells. How thick? Ugh, just when i thought i didnt have to take those struts aprat again. i also need to fix my driver side window and passenger door lock. ghey.