Anyone Have Experience With Forester XT's?

"Jay Lauer" (thefaultinourcars)
09/28/2014 at 22:21 • Filed to: None

I've been looking at this 04 Forester XT that's missing something, but I haven't figured it out yet.

Specifically, it's this Forester XT. It's an auto; bring your pitchforks.

It's looks nice to me. The owner had pulled the motor out and put it into an STI. I don't know why, and I don't really care.

I've called salvaged about buying a 2.5 turbo like the one used in the car originally. I've had 3 different salvages tell me that the Forester motor is different than the other, which I can't understand. My 05 Legacy GT used the exact same motor, and I can't see why one of those wouldn't be interchangeable. Everything Subaru is basically interchangeable.

Here's a photo of the engine bay from my old Legacy. It's close to the same as the Forester

It's not an NA. The turbos back there and the intercooler's off.

This is how dirty it was when sold to me.

Anybody have any experience with Subaru swaps that my know?

DISCUSSION (25)

OPPOsaurus WRX > Jay Lauer
09/28/2014 at 22:23

time to make an STI clone

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > Jay Lauer
09/28/2014 at 22:24

That's been on the OKC craigslist for like, around 2-3 months (I believe)

OPPOsaurus WRX > Jay Lauer
09/28/2014 at 22:26

Kinja'd!!!

Jay Lauer > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
09/28/2014 at 22:27

You're right. It's still possibly a good deal.

mcseanerson > Jay Lauer
09/28/2014 at 22:27

Almost all Forester XTs are autos. They're still plenty fast with really short gearing. I wouldn't buy one with no motor unless you get a really great deal because I've seen running and driving ones as low as $4k and lower mileage ones around $6k.

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > Jay Lauer
09/28/2014 at 22:28

How much does he want for it?

Jay Lauer > mcseanerson
09/28/2014 at 22:28

NADA on the one I'm looking at is about $7500. I've seem even higher than that in the area. Wichita doesn't have a lot of Subaru's like the Northeast or Northwest.

Arben72 > Jay Lauer
09/28/2014 at 22:28

Any usdm ej255 should work.

Jay Lauer > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
09/28/2014 at 22:29

Some dollars and cents. You can look it up, I just don't want to publicize how much I may or not pay for it.

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > Jay Lauer
09/28/2014 at 22:29

The Legacy will probably bolt in, but there the similarities end. 'Everything Subaru is interchangeable' is almost true.

Everything from the Forester and Wrx swap. The Legacy stuff is just different enough you should not try to force it.

E30Joe drives a Subaru > Jay Lauer
09/28/2014 at 22:29

Hello :)

Yes you can drop a WRX/STI motor in fairly easily.

Problems with using an EJ257 from an STI, is the wiring does not match the EJ255. It would be easiest for you to find an EJ255 and swap it in. Best engines are from 06-07 WRX's. The Forester is on the Impreza Chassis so swapping an engine from another Impreza, as far as the nuts and bolts go, is the exact same as swapping from another Forester.

Jay Lauer > Arben72
09/28/2014 at 22:30

That's what I've been thinking.

mcseanerson > Jay Lauer
09/28/2014 at 22:30

In my opinion a $300 plane ticket and the road trip back are worth $1,000+ savings.

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > Jay Lauer
09/28/2014 at 22:30

Oh, okay I understand (him possibly seeing how much you are willing to pay)

Jay Lauer > mcseanerson
09/28/2014 at 22:31

But not to most people, which means I could sell it at it's NADA value.

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > Jay Lauer
09/28/2014 at 22:32

Huh NP it just needs alot of detailing :)

Jay Lauer > E30Joe drives a Subaru
09/28/2014 at 22:33

That's the consensus I've seen from my research.

Any 06-07 WRX, 05+Legacy GT, Outback GT, Baja XT engine would work. I'm going to call and find out what care the cheap 2.5 turbo I found is from and see what I can do.

E30Joe drives a Subaru > Jay Lauer
09/28/2014 at 22:34

If you get an EJ255 I'd recommend getting the AMS rebuild kit. Full OEM gasket kit, rods, and pistons, optional crank too but that's big $$$.

Jay Lauer > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
09/28/2014 at 22:36

Body and interior wise, it seemed really clean actually. I get free detailing service anyway though, so it'll get buffed, waxed, and a bit of touch-up paint.

Normally the stuff I buy is never cleaned by the previous owner. That Legacy GT was that dirty EVERYWHERE.

Jay Lauer > E30Joe drives a Subaru
09/28/2014 at 22:37

It depends on how many miles the replacement engine has. I've been into a couple Subaru engines before. Below 120k, they seem pretty stout. I just replacement timing belts on both.

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > Jay Lauer
09/28/2014 at 22:37

You would have a hell of a time with my car... (dirtroadlife.gif)

Jay Lauer > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
09/28/2014 at 22:41

What stuff is different between the Legacy GT and Forester XT?

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > Jay Lauer
09/28/2014 at 22:52

the turbos are very different. Wire harnesses... The clutches do not interchange. Having thought of that, maybe it wouldn't even bolt up. Your best bet would be buy a wrecked 2004 STi and transfer all the pieces you want.

Jay Lauer > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
09/28/2014 at 22:53

The turbos are the same for Legacy GT and Forester XT. Only the STi used the VF39 Turbo. It should all be the same harness.

And the Forester I'm looking at it an automatic. All the clutch and flywheel is still in there.

NotUnlessRoundIsFunny > Jay Lauer
09/29/2014 at 01:33

Can I just say that this is one of the coolest conversations I've read on Oppo recently?

I have a strange and growing Subaru fascination but need to learn much more about what they need, how to work on them, what swaps successfully, etc.

Also, today I saw my first lowered Forester on the freeway, and it looked much better than I would have expected!