To Mod Or Not To Mod

"SPNKiX" (SPNKiX) 03/31/2014 at 20:59 • Filed to: SPNKiX Acton Foz fozzie Subaru Forester xt sports sti justin bieber

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I bought this car new a year after the model had changed to the 2009 body style. I've now owned it for 5 years and have NEVER done a thing to it.

First, let me get a few things off my chest: It is an automatic. The first auto I ever purchased. I bought an auto because my wife doesn't drive stick and since she started driving so late in life, I was and am afraid to add that extra level of complexity to her experience. I bought this car in this trim because I knew she would never let me change a thing on the car for the first few years of my daughter's life and I needed a close enough nod to performance as I could get. It looks like an STi and even says STi in several locations around the car (all stock). We don't get the STi in the US so we have to settle for this moderately exciting simulacrum.

I still change gears with the auto in an attempt to keep my skills intact for when I can bring the clutch pedal back under my foot. I look great doing it. Sigh.

My wife has threatened to sell the car for the last 3 years and for that reason, I have never let myself really buy any parts for it or play at all with its configuration, even after my daughter put on a couple of years.

I should probably point out at this juncture that no matter what I say next, it could go at any time. Our lives are super bizzy, the main reason why I haven't been fully forced to sell it yet, so it might only take a break in the storm to set that ball rolling again. Once I'm committed though, it will be harder to sell.

I really want to fix this car up. Just like the the one above… uh… no, not like that. Not at all like that. It's been mine for years and I want to make it more so. I want to start simple and keep it a sleeper. First, I need shocks- those are now dead and need replacing. I don't want to break the bank but I want to do better than stock. I don't want to change the wheels, unless it's to another stock wheel design but I do want to do a manual swap and suspension tune. I am not going to race it, I just want a highway/canyon tool. And then there's the engine. I have 75k on it and never touched a thing. I want to touch. STi swap? Is this stuff easy or crazy? Which years for which parts?

Any thoughts? Resources? I never really frequented any forums for this car and this is a 2008, so I am not sure they still exist for them.

Thanks for any input!

Bandit > SPNKiX 03/31/2014 at 21:02

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Leadbull > SPNKiX 03/31/2014 at 21:05

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Do what your heart wife tells you.

MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig > SPNKiX 03/31/2014 at 21:18

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A lowered Forester is an awesome thing. Add some low and an exhaust that you can hear the boxer burble, maybe a manual swap. Then leave it alone.

Boxer_4 > SPNKiX 03/31/2014 at 21:37

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subaruforester.org is a great resource for all generations of Forester. Your Forester is the last year of what is called the "SG" generation ("SG" meaning the chassis code). The 2003-2008 Forester shares a lot of parts in common with the 2002-2007 WRX and STi.

As for mods:

The Forester basically has an Impreza chassis, so pretty much everything from the WRX, and most things from the STi, will fit without a problem. That gives you a lot of potential options to choose from.

Honestly, the first thing I would look at is suspension. You already mentioned that it could use new shocks. Now might be a good time to look into either WRX or STi suspension. This will lower the Forester to either WRX or STi height, depending on which setup you go with. You also have the advantage of the suspension not being as harsh as an aftermarket setup. Changing out the shocks, springs, and front and rear sway bars for WRX or STi pieces will bring you closer to the handling level of the WRX or STi. You could also do steering rack bushings while you are in there, too. You will need "saggy butt" spacers for the rear suspension if you go this route, to get the rear of car to sit level. There is plenty of information online about this. Aftermarket suspension options are out there, too. The best way to figure out what you want is to look online for examples of Foresters, and see what setups you like.

A brake upgrade would also be a good thing to look at, too. Again, there are plenty of threads online about this.

As for the engine:

A lot of people think that the only way to get more power is to do an STi swap, a la EJ257. The Forester XT has the EJ255 engine. The main differences between the EJ257 and EJ255 are the heads, pistons, crankshaft, and turbo. The EJ255 has a lot of potential for tuning. An upgraded turbo, such as one off of a later WRX or STi, as well as an upgraded intercooler and a tune, can get you to stock STi power no problem. Add an upgraded exhaust system to that, and you have a very capable car, without having to tear the entire thing apart. A lot more people have upgraded the EJ255 in the Forester XT than have swapped it for an EJ257.

The swap process can be a lot more difficult than you would think or take more time than you would imagine. While everything bolts up fairly well, wiring everything up can be a bit of a challenge. The swap process goes a lot smoother when you aren't swapping one of your main cars that you depend on.

As for the transmission:

A manual swap is quite doable, provided you know what you are doing. It's much easier in Subarus than in a lot of other cars. Any Subaru transmission will bolt up, no problem. There are a few things you would need to look out for, and also a few recommendations.

Firstly, I would go with a WRX transmission at minimum. The transmissions out of the non-turbo models will definitely not hold up long behind a turbocharged engine. The WRX transmission could be a bit iffy at horsepower levels above 300. People have taken them past that, but I don't think I would trust it. An STi transmission will be a lot more robust if you are looking for high power levels.

Secondly, you will need a new rear differential with whatever transmission you would choose. The final drive ratio of the transmission and front differential must match the final drive ratio of the rear differential. For example, if you were to pick up a transmission with a final drive ratio of 4.44 (a common STi transmission) the rear differential must also have a final drive ratio of 4.44.

Thirdly, there are other items that you would need to swap over, including pedals, clutch hardware, shifter, and probably the front crossmember. There is also wiring that needs to be done to be able to run a car that was one automatic with the manual transmission. Again there are threads about this online. Its possible that you might come out ahead by selling this Forester, and buying one that was manual to begin with.

Long story short:

Do your research. Poke around subaruforester.org at some of the build threads. Figure out what your goals are, especially when it comes to horsepower. Start with the easy things first, and work your way up to the more complex. Max out the potential the Forester already has before you start doing things like swapping out engines.

Any build will add up quickly in price if you don't have a solid plan.

Hopefully, I didn't miss anything, and this was of some help.

SPNKiX > Boxer_4 03/31/2014 at 23:10

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This is EXTREMELY helpful. Thank you! I am pouring over it now and will be careful to get it right. It's been 5 years already, I can take a little time to plan! I definitely would rather not swap the engine so you convinced me on that. I can find someone to swap the tranny if it turns out to be too much. I've done some of that in the past, but I might know a subie specialist who could help with getting that part right.

I can do the rest myself. I think;) I do have a bit of experience, it's just been a while. I am not sure I want to give up my car in favor of one that is already manual because I love my car. Irrational, but that is what it is.

SPNKiX > MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig 03/31/2014 at 23:11

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I def want to increase the volume a little, but not much. I don't want to be recognizable from blocks away;)

SPNKiX > Leadbull 03/31/2014 at 23:13

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I know, right? We've struck a little balance that has opened up this possibility. Not set in stone yet, but I think I can make it work.

Boxer_4 > SPNKiX 04/01/2014 at 00:15

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I completely understand about not wanting to give up your XT. Out of everything, swapping the transmission will probably be the most difficult. Even so, a whole bunch of people have done it already, successfully. There is a wealth of knowledge on the forums.

For example, here's one where somebody did a 5-speed swap on a 2006 SG Forester. It's a non-turbo, but the process should be similar, and both his and yours are the face-lifted models. The author has the process he went through written out really well.

Boxer_4 > SPNKiX 04/01/2014 at 00:20

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Ignore the double post.

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > SPNKiX 04/01/2014 at 07:38

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Honestly, just do two things. Good tires (my fav tire Goodyear no longer makes anymore) and an STI rear antiroll bar.

I have a 2005 FXT. Done more than that, but those two things will turn this into the car you want it to be. Your front Anti roll bar is already the same part as the STI so no help there. The rear one brings the handling from hopeless understeer to mild understeer. You'll love it. I got mine from CL from a guy doing full suspension upgrades to his STI. It bolts it, everything is the same. It adds Z.E.R.O harshness to the ride. Your wife may not even know you did anything to the car. The steering is shaper, the cornering is flatter and the back tires do more of the work (less understeer).

Springs and coilovers and all that will add harshness. This new bar will not. This is the way Subbie should have shipped this car to begin with.

samssun > SPNKiX 04/03/2014 at 22:10

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Why would your wife "never let [you] change a thing" or "threaten to sell the car"? Is it her car, or yours?

SPNKiX > samssun 04/03/2014 at 23:55

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haha, don't bother. The situation is somewhat unconventional and it would be far too complicated to explain this.

samssun > SPNKiX 04/04/2014 at 00:06

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Try this, assuming your end of the deal is true: "Wife, I've fed, clothed, and sheltered you and the daughter, saved for the future on top of that, and now I'll be modifying my car. Good day."

SPNKiX > samssun 04/04/2014 at 10:49

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We work together. That's as much as I will go into that.