Crazy Idea: I want to lift a Subaru XT

"As Du Volant" (skuhnphoto) 06/18/2015 at 12:01 • Filed to: crazy ideas

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So I had this nutso idea when I was writing up my answer for the QOTD: I want to lift a Subaru XT. Far as I can tell nobody’s done it other than people dropping the body on a truck frame, which for that kind of “lift” you can pretty much name any car and someone’s done it.

The thing about the XT... despite being an aerodynamic coupe body, they’re mechanically identical to pretty much all the other Subaru models of the day. I’ve owned four XT’s and six various other ‘80s Subarus on that platform and under the skin, most of the parts interchange. Including the suspension and subframe components. The XT struts are a little shorter than the others, and I used a set of them to lower another Subaru I had.

Lifting Subarus is nothing new. It’s been done many times to many models.

The lift kits are available for purchase online, and parts are plentiful. There’s no reason I can think of why it couldn’t be done.

The only other hangup is the transmission. The sedans/wagons/coupes were offered with a dual range 4x4 transmission; the XT’s were not. But once again, the parts interchange. Save for the missing dual range equipment the XT transmission is the same as all the others, and I’ve actually swapped a single range XT transmission into another Subaru before. Like I said, I can’t think of any reason why one can’t do this.

If only I weren’t broke and didn’t already have a project waiting for me.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > As Du Volant 06/18/2015 at 12:05

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There’s a guy near me with a lifted XT. I keep trying to get a picture, but he strikes at the worst possible times for my camera.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > As Du Volant 06/18/2015 at 12:29

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Not lifted, but rally-esque cool.

That lifted 3-door Leone RX-II coupe is kinda cool, too.

I have long wished I could merge the XT’s slant-nose front end and H6, with a manual gearbox, and RX-II’s fastback hatch, instead of the XT’s less sleek aft profile... and blackout the completely floating roof... which at least some of the SVXs properly did.

All this talk about cool Subaru coupes, and lifting them, only makes me want a Crossover-sport coupe with AWD all the more.

Or an XV STI.

Heaven forbid an XV STI 3-door shooting brake.

Frank Grimes > As Du Volant 06/18/2015 at 12:35

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I saw an XT on the highway. That means it is in decent enough mechanical shape to maintain 75mph for a stretch and it has some how survived destiny with a junkyard.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > As Du Volant 06/18/2015 at 13:45

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I would rally it, the hatch is awesome to lift.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 06/18/2015 at 13:47

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Oh man the graphics really make it pop. I do graphics a lot for shows so I could totally print that, one company I work for has a million dollar printer.

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > As Du Volant 06/18/2015 at 15:16

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I say lift all the Subaru’s. I’ve never seen a lifted Subaru that I didn’t want, though I have only seen a couple IRL. But the pictures on the internet all look cool.

Some good ones in this thread http://igotasti.com/vBforum/showth…

Tohru > As Du Volant 06/25/2015 at 13:07

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imgur.com/r/battlewagon