New guy, new project.

JPM · Post by **JPM** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 9:23 pm

Hello All.

My name is Jayd, and I'm back on Ausubaru after a few years away from Subi's. I've previously owned an RX Turbo, a few Leone's and an MY95 WRX wagon.

Anyway, I've had a specific project in mind for a few years, being a lifted Impreza wagon, and Perth's hail storm was the catalyst to get my backside into gear.

After a heap of watching and waiting, I located a one owner, 69,000km 2004 Impreza GX wagon with the dual range gearbox. It has some superficial hail damage, but I got it for a song.

I see it as a three stage lift project, and as of today I've completed stage two.

Firstly I had the car rego'ed and insured, then added a set of 15 inch alloy's with Bridgestone Duellers (205/70s). As a result, I went up a few cm, maybe an inch.

Second stage. I went with the logic that genuine Subaru parts was the way to go, and pretty much everything i used was from SF Foresters. I added self leveling front and rear struts, cross members (including g/ box), and brake lines. Huge thanks to Jap Wholesale in Wangara for thier help. I ended up with about an extra 2.5 inch of lift.

The next stage will be lifted Kings springs, sump guard, spotlights, and if anybody wants to sell one, a rear spare carrier. I might also fix some hail dents (maybe...).

I've attached photos for you to check out before and after.

Hope to talk to you all and maybe get to meet some people out and about on beach runs ect.

Regards

Jayd

gx_rex · Post by **gx_rex** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 9:59 pm

Looks like a sweet project. Not seen a GD lifted as yet. Keeping it N/A or going turbo down the track?

Post by **TOONGA** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 10:21 pm

looks good and that whole dimple effect could just catch on

like Homers speed holes

TOONGA

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 10:39 pm

Hi and Welcome back Jayd

Your Impreza hatch looks good.. what do you mean by stages of the lift?

Cheers,
Paul

JPM · Post by **JPM** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 10:50 pm

No, I don't think I'd go down the turbo road, if anything I'd go the H6 motor, but mine is such low km i couldn't justify ripping it out yet. My other car has a big enough turbo to keep my speed fix well in check.

I reckon the car is like a golfball. They go further and straighter because of the dimples, clearly the Impreza is the same. Perhaps you guys need to dimple yours up to improve road holding and fuel economy.

In regard to the 'stages of lift', it's just my way of doing things and how I'm terming it. First I did the wheels. A few weeks later (second stage-today) I did the struts, cross members ect. Next I'll do the lift springs and other bits and that will be my stage three. Let's be honest, it would make more sense doing it all in one hit, but...

Regards

Jayd

Post by **Alex** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 9:18 am

looks cool mate.

curiosity, where you the guy with the rwd rx turbo?

or at least i think it was rwd when i saw it.

alex

d_generate · Post by **d_generate** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 3:18 pm

Nice one, did you get full comp insurance or just 3rd party, Shannons will only give me 3rd party on my Lib until it's repaired.
See you on the beach, if you ever want to do Lanno or Two Rocks etc give us a yell.

JPM · Post by **JPM** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 8:24 pm

Today I fitted a set of brand new Boge Forester struts front and rear and geeze they make a difference over the worn out struts I pulled out, car drives like new again!!!

I've also got my Kings raised springs and Subtle Solutions 1 inch lift blocks in, so the impreza now sits pretty high.

I've also got a set of 215/75 R15s on the way (Hankook) and will hopefully have them fitted within the next week or so.

Maybe it's time to start organizing another offroad daytrip soon so I can try out the mods offroad.

I think maybe heading north to Greenhead or Jurien Bay for an overnighter? Any other suggestions?

Jayd

taza · Post by **taza** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 9:52 pm

JPM wrote:Today I fitted a set of brand new Boge Forester struts front and rear and geeze they make a difference over the worn out struts I pulled out, car drives like new again!!!

I've also got my Kings raised springs and Subtle Solutions 1 inch lift blocks in, so the impreza now sits pretty high.

I've also got a set of 215/75 R15s on the way (Hankook) and will hopefully have them fitted within the next week or so.

Maybe it's time to start organizing another offroad daytrip soon so I can try out the mods offroad.

I think maybe heading north to Greenhead or Jurien Bay for an overnighter? Any other suggestions?

Jayd

Sounds like an awesome project. if you head up north of Perth at all give me a yell because Ill come along from Geraldton in the Foz.
You could head up to the Murchison Offroad Adventure park which would be a good/interesting challenge. Or Come upto Geraldton, I could show you more offroading tracks than you could imagine!

F**K you have more clearance than my Foz and im yet to get stuck with my lift!

Taza

JPM · Post by **JPM** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 10:01 pm

I'll take some photos once my new tyres are on to show you just how much clearance I've got! It is really quite high, like when I bled my brakes today I just slid under the car on my back without any jack stands or anything and still had stacks of room to work. And the new tyres should give me another few cms of lift!

It's already well and truly higher than most Foresters I park next to in the work carpark!!

Jayd

taza · Post by **taza** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 10:15 pm

I do have 215/70R15 oversized tyres with the same 1" (25mm) Subtle Solutions lift blocks and raised spings.
I wouldn't mind swapping my lift blocks for 2" ones though and getting huge 29" tyres. Then I would have 5" of lift compared to stock. But now I have 2.5" (70mm) and its plenty

But being an impreza and shorter wheel base it would own offroad!

NachaLuva · Post by **NachaLuva** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 11:37 pm

Wow that is some SERIOUS hail damage...i thought we had it bad over here but that really does look like a golf ball lol. You might be right bout the aerodynamics lol.

Thats a great build you've got going. How does the extra height affect the onroad handling?

So now you cant wait to test it out

Let us know how it goes...

d_generate · Post by **d_generate** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 9:29 pm

Sounding great, mind if I ask what the struts & blocks cost you? I'll eventually need some decent ones in mine & want to lift the front a further 1"

JPM · Post by **JPM** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 9:57 pm

Yeah no dramas, paid $310 a pair for the struts, but they seem to be pretty good so far (on road driving only), but they have a 10 year warranty!!

The strut top spacers were from subtle solutions, and they were about $200 plus shipping! Mind you that was front and rear with all bolts ect.

Jayd

d_generate · Post by **d_generate** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 3:23 am

Seems to be the price of the majority but the 10yr warranty is worth keeping in mind, I'll see if I can get a pair of just front blocks but I wonder if Gen II Outback front struts are taller, I've got a feeling Foz are the same length as Impreza because you lift the bonnet on one and the strut towers are really low down, I bought a set of good brand (can't remember name) fronts & fitted them to find they were the same length as what was in there so I took them back as there was nothing wrong with mine...I'll have to do some investigating when I get back.

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New guy, new project.

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