Dulagarl: the Lifted H6 Forester

Well, I bought it, and I have to say that what SKT has done is truly inspired.

It’s a freaking rocket on the bitumen, and it has an enormous amount of grunt offroad.

Engine transplant thread is here:

https://www.ausubaru.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16564

Here’s a little log of bring it home, and it’s first offroad trip once home.

Jan 29th I flew to Coolangatta. Scott picked me up at the airport and we went for a drive. It didn’t take long for me to be convinced that I should buy this. Sure, it had a couple of issues, for example some worn out bushes in the front end, and a cooling issue, but I could tell that this was a VERY serious vehicle.

Brought it home via Lismore and Casino and then to Tamworth for the night. Next day was Tamworth to Narrandera. Narrandera to Melbourne on the Minday was relatively easy after all of that.

Saw some amazing country in the process. Didn’t have time for many snaps, but here are a few…

Some of the country just into NSW after casino…

imgp1367a.jpg


Took a detour via the outer solar system…

001solarsystem.jpg


Actually, that virtual solar system drive from siding spring observatory is a good idea. That pic was taken in Gilgandra.

While on the space bent, couldn’t resist a couple of pics with the Parkes Radio Telescope…

002dish1.jpg


003dish2.jpg


It was 38 degrees Celsius when those shots were taken, and it didn’t get cooler for hours. Unsurprisingly, the vehicle got a bit hot just south of Forbes.

004southofforbes.jpg



A bit further south past West Wyalong, and there was still water around from December. Ridiculously flat country with paddocks turned to lakes…

005southofforbes.jpg


So, when I got home, I went straight to the mechanic and got an aircon service. I also consulted about improving airflow to the radiator. I looked at pics of offroad bars on Outbacks on the Subaxtreme site, and also the bar on the latest Forester. Armed with that info I decided to cut some holes in the bulbar, and this is the result…

001grille.jpg


002front.jpg


Gotta love the grille mesh from supacheap auto!

So, I then set up the GPS on the dash with some adhesive Velcro…

003gps.jpg


and connected the ECU to the laptop to monitor engine performance and temperatures.

004ecudata.jpg


(BTW: I think I might have resolved the “cooling issues”!)

... part two to follow
 
Last edited:
Click to expand...
^ Absolutely love it, Greg :rotfl:.

I needed a good laugh. Thanks, mate :poke: :biggrin:.
 
Just did a trip to lake Albacutya / Wyperfeld / Big Desert / Lake Hindmarsh.

This was the first serious offroading since the new exhaust and the tune.

The vehicle has heaps of power and torque now: just eats through sand. The tracks were very chopped up because of the number of vehicles out there: convoys of 7, 8, 9 vehicles, and one convoy of 33 FJ cruisers:huh: As a result I got beached once and had to dig out: it was on a very steep and soft dune. I must say that the exhaust is very strong structurally, given that the vehicle was resting on it!

The side steps are a great addition: aside from making it easier to load the roof basket, they greatly reduce the amount of mud and sand splashed up the side of the car. very pleased with them.

It is however time for a rear suspension upgrade. I hit a dip too fast and completely nosed in, the rear end kicked up and came crashing down. the result was that I bent an OEM strut. Rather than replacing with OEM or the weaker KYB struts, I will go for a reinforced carrier and a serviceable koni insert like Kevin and Douglas Ferrier. I have had this in mind for some time, and had determined to do it when the rear struts gave out, which they now have. It will cost, but it will work very well.
 
Nope. No more heating issues. The new headers and exhaust have made a huge difference.
 
Awesome! Although I can't imagine waiting for 33 FJ Cruisers to slowly crawl by :rotfl:

Glad that the exhaust worked so well :biggrin:

Custom struts will make it even more of a beast! :lildevil:
 
So, the struts are coming along. Car should be ready in a couple of days.

So, some pics.

I wanted a few things done: long travel koni inserts, raised spring perch, reinforced body near bottom. Due credit to Kevin and Douglas Ferrier...

#koni2015

0IUfde.jpg


Instead of bolting them at the bottom, they will sit on a spacer to lift them. The inserts will be held in place by a collet with a screw top at the top. Here's the spacer:

5xBgQ3.jpg


here you can see the modified carrier: a collet at the bottom has been welded in place. You can also see where the spring perch as been moved:

hrLYjp.jpg


Finally, you can see the carrier with the strut in it, and the collet that will be fitted to the top.

CTm0fI.jpg


Won't be putting the King springs back in. Instead, I am getting custom springs made. The rear springs will be progressive, and allow a decent ride when unloaded, but the rear will take up about 20mm when loaded and the spring will be harder, if that makes sense.

Really looking forward to this...
 
Going all out mate! That's awesome.

Sorry to hear the torture of seeing 33 FJ cruisers in the same place at once. NO ONE and I do mean no one should ever be subjected to that. I'm surprised you survived the ordeal. Kudos to you!

Would've love to be out there with you but alas... Gearbox...

Cheers

Bennie
 
Do you have the full details on the struts? Ive bent both my rears on a sinilar hill climb.
I'll be going down the same path.
Who is making your progressive springs?
 
taza said:
Do you have the full details on the struts? Ive bent both my rears on a sinilar hill climb.
I'll be going down the same path.
Who is making your progressive springs?
Click to expand...

Only details I have are what I posted: raise spring perch 20mm, reinforce base with collet. They were OEM SG struts. The koni model number is in the pic.

Trutrack suspension have commissioned the springs: I don't know who their manufacturer is.

I found a thread that shows another way of doing it:

https://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1219607
 
Nice build Dulagarl but you won't gain any stroke, will you ?
 
yes, will gain stroke. I am told they have in the vicinity of 100 mm droop.
 
I agree with the first half of that...
not so much the second bit.
 
I reckon we need a new custom strut thread so people can find some of this very useful info...can it be copied into another thread rather than just moving it?
 
Good idea - once the build is done and if Greg agrees a copy or at least a link can be created.
 
Yeah that's fine with me: best wait til the job is done. That could take some time.....

Ralf (Trutrack) went into hospital on Sunday, and had his gall bladder removed yesterday. Says he'll be back at work tomorrow. Can't see it myself.

So, car has been there 4 weeks come monday. I hope I get it back next week.

At least the springs have arrived. All it needs now is assembly.
 
Back
Top