Outback '01 2.5 4eat VDC project

So couple years ago i bought myself my first subaru ever and after long time thinking took outback against forester. Didint had budget for newer one so went for some 2nd gen that i found

Top original, lower 2"" lift with BFG TA KO2 215/65 R16

It was 2001 subaru outback 2.5 4eat eith rear LSD and early VDC package. All weather with heated seats, windows, climate control.
It has rear self leveling shocks still ok condition so i left them just put 2" spacer on top. Not sure is it made car harder and less comfy but it can take load very well. But its not soft car to drive fast on bad roads
Then i cut front bumper and put steel skid plate just for engine. Diy it myself from steel sheet from scrapyard

 

[Ben Up North]

Ouch. Don't buy a Jeep is my recommendation. Not that I've personally had any experience with them, but they don't have the best reputation. Bit like Land Rover...

 

[ABFoz]

It's hard to get back from that, @scalman. It's proper structural damage. It's a shame the mechanical things are still OK but the body is badly rotten. Perhaps, a similar gen Outback from the south of Europe but with a 3.0 and VDC so you can just transfer your modifications?

 

[scalman]

Yes shame but then i knew its coming . Its good that it happened near home on bad road like 2km from home so i still drove back myself. What if that would happen like hundred km from home, would be much worse.
Yes i will call about couple same gen but 3.0 vdc outbacks , now i will see that rust in those worst places, if i find those places bad its no no.
Looked at some 3rd gen outbacks too but noone sells 3.0 model just 2.5 , though 2.5 i can find with manual dual range and its little more powerfull then mine at 121kw . But then its no vdc just simple awd system there.
Then i looked at foresters and they hold that price too high because they more popular, or then its 2.0 engine with manual i mean thats not much . Newer foresters can be found even some xt ones year 2003. But 2.5 xt at 155kw i mean they need to be maintained well with that turbo, and i can get 150kw with 2nd gen outback 3.0 for cheaper.
Looked at those grand sherokees and sure they cool cars and lots can be done with them in terms modifications it would be almost double price for mileage. If large 4.7 petrol even with lpg or 2.7 diesel still drinks that fuel, so driving those would cost almost double so it would mean less traveling then. Or just accept and pay more.
Lots thoughts now .
And another kinda goos thing is that this car will end MOT in november so now itd kinda no point to repair it more just to drive untill i find other car.
And yes for same gen outback i would have extra bumpers then same roof rack, hi lift jack adapters all will transfer.
I never drove 3.0 outback is it feels much better in that more power? Not as good as turbo forester though?
Still thinking about 3rd gen 2.5 outback manual dual range those 121kw on low range should push well i think? But then no vdc so in diagonals it would be 1wd car i guess. Wonder is it same awd system on manual then on those old foresters or something was change on year 2004-2007 outbacks.

 

[ABFoz]

EU models get vLSD in the rear after MY2001. It's not as hardcore in diagonals as the VDC but it's fine as it is what I have now, although I have a 4EAT. The manual ones will come with the 4kg centre diff by default. If you get a manual with such centre diff and open rear diff, maybe you can install a locker? Perhaps, it's the best time to do such. What if you have a 20kg centre diff? There is a tuner in Germany who has good access to and price on such.

The EZ30 is a good engine. My experience with it is only with a BL Legacy Sedan with a 6-speed manual and it is rev happy with a good torque band. It is heavier than a turbocharged engine but it will last a long time. One thing to be wary of is that the bleeding of the cooling system can be quite tricky and must always be done with the proper technique.

Some BP Outbacks in Southern Europe (almost rust-free) have VDC, they are just in the high kms now but they are properly spec'd. You might want to have a look at those. Cheers.

 

[scalman]

So you think outback 2006 2.5 manual dual range would have rear lsd? But how to know. Most people who sell them dont even know what lsd is.
Found couple manual dual range here for 3k euros and just one 3.0 180kw vdc model but for 4k. I mean those some high prices for such old 2006 car some arw even 2005 or even 2004
Then go back for about 2k i could find same gen as mine but 3.0 vdc model. But those would have some rust allready they where driven in my country for some time. That why they sell them anyway find that time when rust just coming up but not too bad yet so you sell car but t will be all rusty in couple years.
Good deal when they take car like from switzerland they coming almost rust free here at least.
It realy sucks when in all my country im seeing like 2 2nd gen outbacks for sale and like 5 3rd gen outbacks. Only. Not much to choose from.

Then i presume that manual dual range would have more momentum on higher revs go like uphills andb such then even 3.0 vdc because that auto just not like to shoot revs up so much even with vdc off.

First try vdc off 1 gear, then vdc on 1st gear, very clear how vdc just goes: lemme soin all 4 wheels for you but very slowly.. still vdc makes all 4 wheels spin slowly when vdc off would just spin one that is easier and dig itself.
Plus i was doing this with full 2.5 bar in tires no airing down cus im lazy , some 1 bar there would maybe make some difference
Wonder how that manual dual range would climb there?

 

[Ben Up North]

So you think outback 2006 2.5 manual dual range would have rear lsd?

From memory, none of the outbacks have LSD. which would make it easier to install a torqlocker..!

 

[scalman]

They say in specs that some have. I mean US never got any dual range in 3rd gen outbacks anyway.
Torqlocker in us i wont buy it , i can buy some russian alternative for like about 210 euros lock right locker or one click locker . But they very clicky, imagine its my daily car so i go shoping with it and carry other people so they will look at me weirdly and will ask why my car is broken it clicks. And my streets all very twisty here lots turns and such not much straight roads so car will just click all times. Who wants that? And winter what about that locker on snow, will it lock when i dont need who knows, it muct lock when wheels starts spin too much.
Can they make elocker?

I was reading more of those wk jeeps i mean they seem pretty reliable as they talk and that 3.0 merc diesel engine they put on many cars so it must be ok too. But imagjne on wk 3.0 diesel you would have quadra drive 2 means all 3 lockers. And they lock really good fully lock not some lsd. With low gear that car climbs like goat. But then they go from 3k price. And i know how to fix subaru but i duno how to fix that diesel at all so yh little wories....damn

I mean lifted they look good like some bigger forester brother

Lifted 3rd gen

 

[Ben Up North]

And my streets all very twisty here lots turns and such not much straight roads so car will just click all times. Who wants that? And winter what about that locker on snow, will it lock when i dont need who knows, it muct lock when wheels starts spin too much.

That makes sense. I know a couple of people here have put in e-lockers, but they had to change the diff to an R180. Pretty expensive, which is why the ratchet lockers are being such a hit.

 

[scalman]

Foresters look ok and some xt models have nice power sure but they no vdc and i like vdc now so not looking at fories. And they cost more then similar year outbacks but are less equiped...

 

[ABFoz]

To check if the rear has a vLSD, you can lift both wheels with an axle stand and when you rotate one wheel, the other wheel must go the same direction. It's a simple test.

I remember when we were looking for a car for my brother, I asked one owner if we could lift the rear to test if his car had the LSD and he gladly allowed us.

Foresters look ok and some xt models have nice power sure but they no vdc and i like vdc now so not looking at fories. And they cost more then similar year outbacks but are less equiped...

I am not sure if you have the L.L. Bean version of the Forester there but the Japanese import ones that are here are VDC equipped.

Regarding Quadra-Trac, it is pretty fascinating how responsive it is. In some cases, they react much more quickly than the ones in the Land Rovers. My only worry about the diesel version is that the crank shaft breaks too easily. Ask the owners if they have those replaced with an updated one already. If not, walk away. Cheers.

 

[scalman]

Why subarus old and new with auto gearboxes so easy stall cars meaning you stop before hard bump or before steep hill and then try to move , you can press pedal to metal nothing will happen as on low revs it has no power at all and if weels not spining then , they have grip, then car just give up and wines like wounded animal. People did tests on old autos and new cvt models its same. They just stall. Then again with manual gearbox in that situation you probably will burn clutch, still that stall situation is pretty annoying as any other car with low gear would just climb forward but not subaru. They happy with momentum sure but going slow and hard on low revs they just give up, even most powerfull 3.6 models does same thing . That my only reason why im looking at some 4wd cars too as sometimes i just love do some off roading fun. But then its subaru its easy to fix, change parts, maintain. Its cheap, used parts are good too they hold for long time.
Older 4eat not very good for high speeds, anything over 110km/h and revs go high what follow high fuel usage.

Is it safe on 4eat do like 2 pedals launch on offroad like loose sand gravel and such. Sometimes i just need that punch at launch so sometimes i try it with 2 pedals holding brake until more revs for couple seconds then relase brake , it does punch some more that way,not sure is 4eat happy about that.

 

[Ben Up North]

It's better to spin up the torque converter with it in gear and brakes on (like how you are describing) than rev the engine and jam it in gear, that's all I know. I think increased heat would be the main problem, but that should be not too bad in your climate in the winter, totally different story where I am

 

[scalman]

Oh yes heat sure. Some people putting separate radiator for gearbox to better cool it if doing more offroad. Our summer can be very hot too. Im trying to not do that in summer much.
I would like to be in more warm dry climate zone . So tired of this wet and cold autumn as we have now...
You think i should go for more expencive car and just enjoy it or like think of saving money and get cheaper but not as good as i would want car, meaning go cheap for same gen outback just more power or go to newer gen but pay more. And man i want that VDC model i think not manual. But for me its lots money, well like full 4 salary just for car which i dont have so i will need take loan from bank.

 

[scalman]

Would be nice if making legacy into lifted outback height would be easier. If all 4 shocks needs to be changed and body lift spacers then its not that simple. But not too expencive as well. I can get legacy same year for lot cheaper here.but then i need lifted car ....

 

[Ben Up North]

Would be nice if making legacy into lifted outback height would be easier.

There is an MCM (Mighty Car Mods) build where they did that just recently. you could probably cannibalise a fair bit of the suspension of yours, but you're right it seemed quite a job.

 

[ABFoz]

^Yes, have a look at this video from MCM, @scalman. It's doable but you have to make sure to put in the Outback driveline and spacers to lift the legacy.

 

[scalman]

i thought of that someone saying it enough to just put outback struts and thats it , but then those CV angles should become too big maybe. though people puting forester struts into impreza without any other mods and its fine its become lifted impreza. So then newer legacy dont work same way ... they selling 1'' lift kit for 2005 legacys those are just simple spacers for struts. so 1'' works fine on legacys but then higher outback struts wont work ? why is that ?
as i understand outback struts are just some higher not that much so its like free lift and no need any spacer

but i get it will get just some lift with struts , maybe would reach level of no lifted outback with that , so not what i need. would need more.
found pic someone says hes put outback struts and then another 1'' spacers on top and it looks like this

so ok it can look ok but so skinny tires, if you can put there something 215/65 would be much better if its fits

 

[ABFoz]

Outbacks have a stock subframe lift. Perhaps, you can have that installed to default to the standard outback height first before you lift so that you won't have that much CV angle? If you are to do the spacers yourself, maybe you can just add the length of the stock Outback spacers.

Also, it will be nice if you get the longer Outback CV shafts. Cheers.

 

[Ben Up North]

Outbacks have a stock subframe lift. Perhaps, you can have that installed to default to the standard outback height first before you lift

I reckon that's got to be a must if you're converting a liberty.

 

[ABFoz]

I reckon that's got to be a must if you're converting a liberty.

I am kind of curious about this as I haven't seen such yet, except for that BM Legacy that went up Moab. He just put in an aftermarket lift though. I am interested in seeing one that uses Outback gears as well.