Basically, it's a 2002 SG Forester 2.5X. NZDM, so it has the 1.19:1 D/R 5-speed, a vLSD rear, rear discs, and the EJ251, not the EJ202 like JDM Foresters. Plans are to just build it up a bit, get a set of cheap snow tyres off a Jap import for 4x4ing and just drive it. Snow tyres are cheap here as we don't ever get enough snow to really need them, my photos say otherwise, but they are all taken above 600m (1200ft) and the amount of snow is low anyway. The tyres come in on Jap imports from the mountains over there.
My main build thread is over on offroadsubarus.com at http://offroadsubarus.com/showthread.php?t=5568
- I know a lot of you guys are also over there, and have seen it already.
I bought the car early June, and immediately started modifying it - nothing too obvious as the laws are fairly strict here in NZ, but just a few things that would give it a unique look.
I love the dual-range full-time AWD and while the reduction isn't amazing at 1.19:1, it's a lot better than nothing, and it works well from the offroading I've done so far - I'd still like a 1.47 sometime though.
Bashplate:
Stickers:
Diff breather:
DRLs:
I also screwed the bottom corners of the number plate in to prevent it getting ripped off when fording rivers, I've seen it happen before.
Intake:
I did this to make water ingestion less likely when fording, as the stock airbox wasn't the best design. I've since added another PVC elbow to replace the first box too, sealed the joints with silicone.
Changed the plugs, they were toast, as well as the gearbox/diff fluids. I also touched up my stone-chips to prevent a repeat of my previous car.
Previous owner bent a couple of the pinch welds on the sills.
