Legacy 3.0r Spec B

[scooby doo]

Nice , is that a beat rush brace and brake stopper?

[SpecB]

Try again it's the big blue thing! I already have a whiteline brace but the brake stoppers not a bad idea!

[scooby doo]

lol i meant is that a beat rush parts i can spot fitted already?
i can see the samco intake pipe lol..

[SpecB]

The pictures not my car - the hose is a special order part - took a bit of digging to find a UK supplier even though they are made here as I didn't fancy paying for a hose to travel to Japan and back!

I am now trying to find a brake stopper though!

[scooby doo]

ahh i see , understand now, i was going to ask you a question on the stopper if they was worth it?

[SpecB]

I had a CDF one on the Impreza and yes you could feel the difference.

[SpecB]

Just a minor cosmetic touch.

[SpecB]

Just fitted the Samco intake hose - should be a bit less restrictive now the old hose had a resonator and corrugations in it - also noticed when I removed it that it had been pinched at the airbag possibly causing an air leak post MAF.. In the next couple of weeks I'm also going to swap the K & N for a Cosworth filter, clean the MAF and remove the airbag resonator to try and clean up the intake route.

[SpecB]

No longer and oily K & N filter as I’ve now fitted the Cosworth dry version - car already feels better with the MAF cleaned as well - the old filter was also filthy (think it’s been 2 years since last cleaned) so not helping things. Only bugger is I broke the engine cover taking it off so now running without!

[Frenchie]

Hi Nick,bad news on the engine cover,does changing the standard air filter for a cosworth one make much difference?

[SpecB]

Originally Posted by Frenchie

Hi Nick,bad news on the engine cover,does changing the standard air filter for a cosworth one make much difference?

There was a definite improvement when I went dirty OE to K & N, this time again there feels to have been an improvement between the dirty (2 years since the last clean I think) K & N and the Cosworth. Not sure if it’s the filter or the fact it’s clean that’s made the difference but I’m definitely happier not having an oiled filter now as the MAF again was looking very dirty. As I cleaned the MAF when doing the filter it may be that that has improved the running as Id developed a bit of a flat spot/judder when coming off or accelerating after a period of light throttle running.



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[SpecB]

Having a bit of a play with a spare grille has resulted in this - need to properly attach the mesh and paint the inside. Probably going to paint the chrome (it’s chrome paint) the same gunmetal as the roof rails. I did consider trying to wrap it carbon but don’t think it’ll Work as the edge will be exposed.

[Ginola]

more airflowz!

[SpecB]

Originally Posted by Ginola

more airflowz!

Will be a nice space to fit a mini radiator!

[SpecB]

Been a while since anything’s happened but I’ve swapped the front bumper for a less buggered one (still not 100% happy with it tbh). Replaced the square plate with a UK plate and replaced the eyebrows due to an incident on the motorway (note to self cheap knock off 3M tape is not good over 70mph).
I’m in the process of getting the rear Brembos ready for fitting then it’s just a full cosmetic sort out which will have to involve pretty much a full respray or I may go with a wrap (although I think the paints too bad for a decent wrap.

[alfa male]

Plate looks so much better.
You lost your shoes?

[SpecB]

Originally Posted by alfa male

Plate looks so much better.
You lost your shoes?

FFS spent ages trying to get my shadow out of the picture!

[Frenchie]

Car looks good Nick. Well spotted Alfa Male, bit concerned he may have lost his trousers aswell.

[SpecB]

Having given up replacing the lower ball joint the garage also had issues having to remove the whole hub and the extract the broken pinch bolt! All back together with no knocks/rattles now! They also had to patch up the brake backing plate with a bit of weld before it fell off! Unfortunately due to the design on the legacy to remove the backing plat you have to remove the bearing as well and the fact the pinch bolt was corroded solid means the bearing is probably in the same state!

So on the way to me is a set of JDM front hubs and Alloy wishbones which I will refurbish with new bearings and fully poly bush before swapping over. Anybody got any tips for paints for the hub/steering knuckle?

[Red Baron]

Any possibility you could get them powder coated, would be a lot better finish and hard wearing, just depends on how much of a rush you're in?

I was cleaning up the piston on the rear caliper of mine earlier and noticed the stone guard was a little worse for wear as I was putting it back together.

[SpecB]

Was thinking of powder coat but knowing how susceptible it is to chipping compared to proper chassis paints plus the benefit of being able to do it at hone I thought I’d go the DIY route. I can get new backing plates for £30 a pair but on all honesty will probably just leave them off as they are only for the 315mm standard brakes rather that the 330mm Brembos I have fitted anyway.
I will look at the design of the STI backing plates and see if they can be fitted but I don’t really see the need to re-fit them, unless they serve a purpose I’m not aware of other than to trap stones!

[SpecB]

Should help with the front end refresh!
To go with the refurbished uprights, JDM alloy lower arms and full set of superpro bushes including bump steer. All bolted to the almost new Bilstein and STI pinks!

[asperformance]

your probably aware but the droplinks differ between the steel and alloy arm set-up........

[scooby doo]

Originally Posted by SpecB

Should help with the front end refresh!
To go with the refurbished uprights, JDM alloy lower arms and full set of superpro bushes including bump steer. All bolted to the almost new Bilstein and STI pinks!

Smart! Was this the icp easy fit set up.?

[Red Baron]

Are you going to top up the paint on the stone guard? I dont know how they get such a thin, even coat on without metal showing through. Noticed the rears on mine are decidedly flaky when I did the pads at the weekend.

[SpecB]

Not planning on adding to the paint on the stone guards as the originals did 130k miles and 15 years so should outlast my ownership!
These arrived today though!

[SpecB]

The strip and rebuild of the font end is getting there!
Had a few Issues with getting the replacement used hubs tidied up - The ball joint socket and bearing setting faces all need significant cleaning with a die grinder to get the new parts to fit.
All the threads were cleaned/re-tapped and the hub repainted before re-assembly with new Bearings, bolts and brake backing plates.
Before and after below!

Now struggling to get the ABS sensors out of the existing hubs on the car - bolts are out but sensors wont't budge.

[SpecB]

Originally Posted by asperformance

your probably aware but the droplinks differ between the steel and alloy arm set-up........

I wasn't! May need to look into this.

[SpecB]

All fitted and ready for alignment!

[SpecB]

Originally Posted by scooby doo

Smart! Was this the icp easy fit set up.?

Unfortunately I don't think they do one for the legacy so I've sourced a set of used uprights to refurbish with the new parts.

[Hongkongfooi]

looks good Nick..should notice a difference after all that!

[SpecB]

Even on the drive home it was obvious that it is much more sorted again - body roll feels reduced and turn in is sharper again.
The rear alignment isn’t perfect as the car has developed a bit too much toe in and the rear toe bushes were seized. Also still running more camber than desired on the rear to set the wheels to clear the arches. Will possibly drop the width of the tyres from 235 to 225 when I replace them.
I’m currently trying to source the parts to do a similar job on the rear using the JDM alloy trailing arms and most likely the white line lateral links so there is more adjustment to try and sort the rear alignment out.

[SpecB]

Latest arrivals - just waiting on the refurbished calipers and need to buy discs and pads from the rear.

[SpecB]

Finally got the OE mesh grille! These are like rocking horse sh!t for the 3.0 bumper!

[SpecB]

Another purchase due to an exhaust blow in the headers.

[Steve_PPP]

Shiny. Love the new grill, so much better.

[scooby doo]

Originally Posted by SpecB

Another purchase due to an exhaust blow in the headers.

Ooooo will sound good.

[SpecB]

It's dead! Had a 'new' JDM engine fitted by Hallie (Legacy Guru) and it's got exactly the same symptoms (but worse) than mine had so looks like the replacement also had a blown HG.
My engine was bubbling in the coolant tank and would push coolant out until it ran hot (never in the red) when pushed hard or towing, rarely on short 'normal' drives the replacement will push coolant out after 10 mins or so when up to temp. give the heater matrix and radiator flow cleanly and appear to have no restrictions then the only culprit can be the engine as the air is getting in somewhere!

Engine was supplied by Nippon Autospares (Derby) and I'm waiting on the outcome of the warranty claim, however i'm outside the 3 months as I couldn't get it fitted in time and they are claiming that my Radiator must have caused my HG to go and has now done the same to the new one. I'm probably putting some Impreza compatible bits up for sale shortly, namely rear brembo conversion parts and STI front discs/pads if there's any desire?...

[BIG"E"]

Sorry to hear this Nick..

So now what??

[SpecB]

They’ve agreed to fix the issue under the warranty so I have to get the car up to Derby in the new year. So for now I’m going that route. I may still sell it after it’s fixed to downsize to a hot hatch (possibly of the french persuasion) assuming Sian gets the big Merc for towing!