Rons' Rides

[Ronald6]

Hello and welcome!

This is my blog / thread about my rides.

**********
Edit/Update: Sunday, March 1, 2015.

I currently own 4 Subarus.
My daily driver is a 96 SVX LSi. His name is Gareth Bryne.

My Rallycross car is a 99 Legacy Brighton that decided it wanted to kiss a tree and is waiting for a new front end from our parts car. Her name is Aviendha.

My wifes daily driver is a 98 Legacy Sedan L named Nynaeve.

Our fourth car is a 96 Outback. Bought as a parts car it runs ok and will replace Aviendha till I can afford to repair her. I originally called this car The-Car-With-No-Name or Bacon. My son calles it his car and has named it Kevin. So the cars name is now Kevin Bacon.

**********

I currently own 2 Subaru Legacys:
The first is my wifes daily driver, a '98 Coupe limited. I call this car 'Nynaeve.'
My car is a '99 Wagon, I call this one 'Aviendha.'

My wife's '98, Nynaeve, I plan on keeping as a daily driver and kid hauler (we have two kids still at home and one on his way to collage).

Aviendha is another matter. I want to turn this into a track day car that I can also use as a daily driver when Nynaeve isn't available.

I bought Aviendha late last week but I already have completed some work on her:
New tyres: I bought a set of toyo tyres from Gratteri's Les Schwab (highly recommended!) but I dont like them. The tyres on Nynaeve are about done and I'll switch them over and buy something more grippy.
Suspension work: the front right CV joint, two control arms and both front bushings. I still need to replace the left CV joint. My mechanic did more work but I can't read his handwriting to tell.what the parts are.
Engine maintenance: new spark plugs, new spark plug wires, new fuel and air filter, all fluids.
The belt still needs replacing.
I tried to install a stereo (pics to come) but failed and took the car to a stereo specalist. While there I also had them install a HID headlight kit.
The car came stock with an automatic transmission, but a previous owner switched it out for a five speed manuel. I think the clutch needs work, but its fine for now.

Plans:
I would like to upgrade the exhaust and intake, possibly the radiator. I want to increase the power, but am conscious of the extra wear and tear some upgrades impose.
I would like to upgrage the suspension. The CV joints are particularly worrying, I have gone through two or three sets in Nynaeve already.
Possible anti-sway bar upgrade.

This will be my first project car and any help or advice is welcome.
I would like to think @SVX and @UrieHusky for their help and encouragement.

 

[Ronald6]

Heres my first questions to the community:

What CV joints can I get that would be better than stock?
I've looked online but can't figure out which are better and which just cost more.

What tyres should I get?

Anyone? Anyone? Beuler? Anyone?

 

[Slash]

Always like Cooper tires myself. Durable, somewhat long lasting, but can get expensive.

As far as CV stuff, just get stock. Not really worth upgrading unless you are going to be putting massive power through them at all times. They are strong enough stock.

 

[Ronald6]

I looked at the Cooper Tire website but I'm disappointed in the selection available for my car. Not just with Cooper but everywhere I've looked.

I'm going to look for wheel upgeades. After I get better wheels, probably upsizing the rim diameter, then I'll get tyres to match.

Time to hit more websites.
Any suggestions on wheels? Function over form.

As for CV joints:
As I've said I've gone through three or four sets already on my coupe. With the much greater power output of the wagon I can't see not upgrading them to more durable parts. If I'm going through more than one set of CV joints a year then I can easily see going through a set every 6 to 9 months in the wagon. Not a good thing.

Thanks for the advice @Slash.


Edit:
OMG! Gratteri's has the smooth steel wheels like I gave to my Nynaeve replica in GT6. Must have!
Now, what size?

Edit 2:
P185/70R1487S
Aparently that means 18.5mm and 14 inch diameter.

So I probably need a 15 or 16 inch rim, right?

 

[Hayden]

If you want grippy tyres to be easily available I'd recommend 16 or 17 inch diameter. From the research I did before buying my wheels, any bigger or smaller makes good tyres harder to get, more expensive and leaves you fewer brands to choose from. Wheel design is a personal thing, I love me a nice 5 Spoke though.

Once you know the sizing of the wheels you want, I'd leave my checkbook at home and go around to your local fitters. Talk to them and see who can get you the tyre that suits your needs for the best price. Just keep your BS filter on high alert .

Also, we need pics!

 

[Ronald6]

Yesterday my wife and I tried to install a stereo into Aviendha. We have done this before, about a year ago in Nynaeve. It took a couple of hours but we got it done and my wife enjoys the music and Bluetooth link to her phone.

We started yesterday by unattaching the battery and pulling the stereo fuse. Removing the plastic housing on the console was simple and quick. I knew I had to replace the cup holder that sits above the stereo but I learned that the plastic housing was broken and barely screwed in place. I plan to find some parts next time I pass a U-pull. Till then the broken piece will do.

After removing the housing / console face the wiring was easy to access. We quickly stripped the wires and used electric tape to attach the stereo.

But after a half hours work: nothing, nada, zip, zero, zilch.

So:

They did a proper job of it. Now I have a working stereo that I'll rarely use because I still don't have a tachometer to go with my manual. But at least on my long highway drives I'll be able to listen to my books.
Audible.com 👍 👍

While waiting for the stereo to be installed I talked to the other guy in the shop about the HID lights. :sigh: I shouldn't have. I wound up spending much more than I should have. I should have installed it myself. Oh well. Live and learn.

The drive home from work was enjoyable. My HID low beams are brighter than my wifes high beams. My high beams make it look as bright as day. Yeah! Now I can see the dear before thay attack.

Hmmmmmm, HID fog lights?

FYI: HID stands for High Intensity Diffusion. When I asked for high intensity diffusion lights at a shop in town (not the one pictured above) the guy just gave me a blank stare. "What?" I was so disapointed I walked out.
Is it just me or should a person who's installing a part in your car know what he's doing?

 

[Ronald6]

@Hayden

Thanks for the advice. I spent this morning flipping through web pages but couldn't find a set of wheels I liked for the prices I saw.

I think I'll take your advice and take my ride into town and research, without my debit card. This is great advice: too often when it comes to my car my impusle to buy can be overwhelming.

Online I noticed that most of the wheels were 14" or 15". 16" were more rare for my car and I think I only found one set of 17" in two hours of searching. 14" and 15" are out of the question. No reason to buy something I already have. So 16" are looking probable.

 

[Ronald6]

I'm at Gratteri's now, waiting for the new wheels and tyres to be mounted.

I went by 3 other shops in town and only 1 had a set of 16" wheels (and only 3, not a full set), no one had 17".

I know much more about tyres now. I can look at a tyres specs and actually understand most of it. This is in large part due to the helpfulness of the people in my community. I love Oregon. Before listening to someone talk about tyres was like listening to Han tell CP3O how to fix the hyperdrive. Technobabel.

Instead of trying to find a set of used wheels for around 50$ or less each I settled on a brand new set of black steelies for 65$ each. And the new tyres with a much higher speed rating actually cost less than the all weather set I have on it now.

Before pics in the Gratteri's parking lot:

After

Whoops, thats my OTHER car.
Here's Aviendha now:

 

[ildd]

If you're getting HID headlights, you NEED projector headlights. Otherwise it would just be a complete waste and you'll blind everybody on the road and you won't see nearly as good as the stock halogen headlights you have. I couldn't tell if you already have that from a previous post.

 

[Ronald6]

I'm going to assume that they are projector headlights. Since they are obviously much brighter.

But I'll look at the paperwork for the parts when I get home, just in case.

Thanks for the heads up @ildd .

...

Still at Gratteri's. Aparently they have two black steelies and two silver. Im waiting on a matching pair of blacks to be delivered and mounted.

I was half tempted to tell him, "I'll take two blacks and two silvers. I want the car ugly."
But I decided against it. That'd bee like putting dents in the car on purpose. The steelies should be ugly enough on their own to add character.

While waiting I was told, "Your brakes look good. But your shocks are bad and leaking."
@#&$!
Total cost 1000$. A lowered kit is 500$ extra. I'll hold off on that for now and do some research. I read somewhere online how someone installed an Impreza WRX suspension on his 99 legacy with an aftermarket adapter/mount.
He also suggested factory CV joints. Fine by me, I'll go through them faster than the warrenty.

 

[ildd]

I'm going to assume that they are projector headlights. Since they are obviously much brighter.

But I'll look at the paperwork for the parts when I get home, just in case.

Thanks for the heads up @ildd .

Look at the headlights and see if something that looks like this is there. It's unusual for the highbeams to also be projectors...which worries me. Which of these looks most like your headlights now? (disregard the shape. Check to see if there is a circle like on the right side)

 

[Slash]

^^I've seen some Halogens the look like the right, others than look like them left

 

[ildd]

^^I've seen some Halogens the look like the right, others than look like them left

My high beam( the right-most circle on the right pic) is halogen, but the low beam(white circle) is projector, which is what is needed for HID lights.

 

[Ronald6]

Done at Gratteri's. I had just enough time to drive home, unload the old wheels/tyres into my shed and pick my daughter up early from school for a Dr appt. This will delay pics of the car and verification of the lights. I'll update tomorrow.

But, holy cow! So much grip. I can't wait till my wife tries it out. She has yet to drive it.

 

[Ronald6]

It was dusk but I got some shots with my phone before the light failed.
1) the first is a shot of my headlamps. The installed parts were a Bi-Xeon HID kit-9007 5k and a 35W AC kit. This pic is for @ildd. I hope this answers your question. I don't think they'll blind anyone, and my night time LOS is much better. It would be nearly impossible to overdrive my headlights (at legal speed).

2) The new wheels and tyres. My son thinks they look better than the stock hubcaps. The rides a bit rougher on the smaller sidewalls. But the grip!
From the invoice: 16x6.5 5-100 SBRU multi fit snow wheel, 205/50R-16 87V Granada HP all seasons BW.
Ok, not the best, but more than enough for what I want.

My stereo, and more importantly a working phone charger. I'll clean her inside and out tomorrow.

I might even clean the engine bay a little and post some pics of a 181k engine. I'll take suggestions for low cost upgrades. A friend mentioned an intake that bypasses the fender tubing.

A month or so ago my 15 year old son tried to use my wheel for GT6. He sat down, gripped the wheel, twisted to look at the pedals then asked, "Dad, which is the gas?" I picked my jaw up off the ground and walked out.
I also thought of replacing the very worn pedals with this to help him:

@SVX: nope, not yellow. Just dirty.

 

[ildd]

Hmmmm that's a no go if it's actual HID bulbs. Odds are you're blinding everyone else on the road...but it looks like a halogen bulb that was tinted blue. I know this seems like a pain, but I'm trying to help you and everyone else on the road. But can you please send me a pic of the headlight with them turned off? You can just PM me.

Pretty clean car otherwise and I like the pedals. I've never seen that before

 

[Ronald6]

@Ferraridude308 had some great pics of some of the roads 'round his area in his car thread. That and a conversation I had with @ildd made me realize I need to post pics of why I like to drive and why I want a car able to handle the roads 'round my area.

These arent pics of the roads but of my 'neighborhood.'

Wait... what's that? No, it can't be. But wait! It is! Blue skies in Oregon, the land of 'sun breaks.'

My back yard, with typical Oregon weather:

Taken minutes ago on my way home with the kids:

 

[Ronald6]

Fun filled and busy day today. It started with a dump run with our trailer, our first of the year since the weather turned nice.
After the dump it was lunch at the park so the kids could play.

Then my daughter went next door to play with the neighbor kids, while my son and I went for a mini road trip. We only had time to make it to Tillamook and back but the weather made even the beach traffic seem worthwhile. We took highway 26 to highway 6 and back.

My son has a "phablet," a phone/tablet that I'm hoping has a better camera than mine. As I drove he snapped hundreds of pictures, the idea being that out of those we would choose the best, rather than try for 20 good pics that might be out of focus or too late.

He waited till here to start snapping:

Looking back from the overlook, unfortunately the pic of the overlook itself didn't turn out, :

Highway 6 often feels like a long complex, curve after curve after curve:

Believe it or not, my windshield was clean before we left, inside and out:

A change in scenery, a straight:

And back to the curves:

Sometimes it's hard to drive, the scenery is so distracting:

After the mountains, the Tillamook farmlands:

Turned around and heading back, unfortunately we didn't have enough time to actually make it to the beach. Next time. I didn't notice it at the time but apparently we were following a wheat truck a few minutes behind:

My son didn't take as many pictures on the way back, an ugly, slow dodge pickup was in the way and opposing traffic didn't allow a pass. After that a Lexus did a good job of keeping a good pace ahead of me:

I took a backroad once I got closer to home, one I rarely use but love:

A view of Mt. Hood (Quiz: why are barns red? Answer: it's the cheapest paint.):

I had detailed the interior yesterday but I didn't like the result. I only used papertowls, (ALOT) of Q-tips and water. I picked up some microfiber towls and cleaner for the plastic that looked dry and dog chewed. I can't do anything about the chew marks but I can make the plastic last longer without cracking and make it look less dull.

I'll post pictures of the interior tomorrow after I clean it up.

 

[Davis]

Wow, that looks amazing. So green.

 

[Ronald6]

Thanks @Ferraridude308. Green is definitely the word to describe the land around where I live. One of the great things that I love about where I live is that if you're willing to drive just a few hours you can drive through several types of terrain. The sea to the west, desert to the ease, plains to the southeast, a rain forest not too far away in Washington, tundra to the east, hills all around me, mountains ("Mountains, Gandalf, mountains! ") between me and the sea. The Redwoods are something to behold, its been almost 20 years since I've seen them.

My family and I are going on a weekend rafting trip at the Deschutes river in a few months. I'll be sure to have my son snap along the way.

More pics in a few hours.

Edit:
Before

+

After

I like the look of that Turtlewax plastic protector. It brings out a shine in the plastic without drying it.

I took Aviendha to Gratteri's to have the CV joint on the drivers side fixed. The kids enjoyed the park again while we waited. It turned out it was the bearings on that side, not the CV joints. I went straight from Gratteri's to Liberty Auto. Tam is hard to communicate with but his work is very good and I haven't encountered integrity like his outside the Corps. I have an appointment in the morning to have the bearings fixed, then back to Gratteri's for another alignment.

Then all I need to do is fix the shocks, get a new bucket seat, change the pedals, change the shift knob, and install the new headlight in my wifes car when it arives.

Edit 25/3/14
Tam fixed the driver side front bearings. Yeah, no more grinding/thunking noise.
Except that its still there. I'll take it back to Tam in the morning to see if he can figure out what is wrong.

 

[Ronald6]

I took Aviendha to Liberty Auto this morning. He drove it to an emprlty parkinglot, turned as hard as he could to the left and put it into a sustained four wheel drift. No noise, nothing.

Gratteri's was next and the alignment only took minutes.

Then I took my daughter to the coast. I tried to take what I call the triangle: 26 > 101 > 6. My daughter took alot of pictures with my phone while the battery lasted. The sunny skies were gone and the typical Oregon clouds and rain were back. Because of the rain and learning how to use my phone camera none of the pictures on the way to the coast were worthwhile but our stop at Seaside provided an opportunity to get some useful pics.

We stopped for fast food and I installed a new set of windshield wipers. Being able to see when im driving behind a log truck is a good thing. 👍 👍
Seaside is a tourist town. The food is excellent and the shopping ranges from trendy clothing to trinket window shops. We went for a spin

before the ice cream shop my daughter likes best.

Then back on the road.

Alot of rain and s l o w traffic made the drive on 101 painful but we went through Tillamook and made it to highway 6.

Believe it or not thats very close to a picture my son took a couple of days ago.
A few hundred yards later and I was stopped and told the road was closed due to a landslide. Insert asterisks. Back to highway 101 and then to highway 53. Its been 20 or so years since I've been on this :

Unfortunately my daughter wasn't able to get more than a few pictures of this fantastic road. This is the archtype for roads that I'm building my car around. The corners are highly cambered with many, many elevation changes, and its just wide enough to position the car.

This road highlighted the necessity for a good suspension. I'm not going to lower it like I was thinking earlier. Instead I'm just going to get better shocks and stiffer sway bars.

H53 links up with H26 west of the mountains. Heavy traffic wasn't too much of a problem with the several dual lane passing zones. Heavy rains again and few pics.

Fin

 

[Punknoodle]

FYI: HID stands for High Intensity Diffusion.

It's actually High Intensity discharge.

 

[Ronald6]

It's actually High Intensity discharge.

I relearn something new every day.

 

[Ronald6]

Small update, no pics.

Aviendha handled the six hour trip to pick up my eldest son on Friday like a champ. All highway and back country roads.

Saturday we also did the triangle run, this time adding H53. 26> 53> 101> 6. It was poring down rain, bad even for Oregon. There were times when the road was a lake 2" deep. The car didn't care. The 4WD and very good tyres combined with great visibility due to the HID lights made what would be a terifying drive a fun evening cruise.

My father came for a visit and took the car for a spin. He called it, "The best car you've ever owned." He wouldn't admit it but he liked it better than his own current project car, a Z24. He disagreed with the need for new shocks. He wrote the book for Freightliner mechanics (literally) on how to examine shocks for wear. I never noticed a wrong move from the weight shifts and I've never noticed an extra springynes from the suspension. I'll hold off on the new shocks till I see a greater need.

Question to those in the know: what would cause a stock NA 2.2 engine to have amazing throttle response (I'm tempted to capitalize Amazing)? I know that a manual will give me better control, but its more than I expected. I've driven many sports cars over the years (Shelby Mustang, various older Camaros, a myriad of japanese tuners) but none of them (except the tuned ricers) had the throttle response this car does. At first I found it difficult to keep it in a 7 MPH variance at highway speeds. Even my wannabe master mechanic father couldn't figure it out.

 

[Thatman]

Maybe your throttle cable is nice and smooth and its just a sign of a well kept engine. Also you dont have a tach yet? I just grabbed one outta a junk yard. Simple swap but it needs to be close to your year, they did use some different connectors.

 

[Ronald6]

My mechanic said something about drilling the engine to equip a tach. ??? His accent is hard to understand. He's asian and I have Aspergers, not a good combo. Aparently the engine doesn't come equiped with the cable needed to equip a tach.

But... it does come equiped with what my father calls an "audible tach." I don't think I have an aftermarket muffler but someone attached a "tip" of some kind. It makes a very distinctive sound as it climbs the rev curve. It puts a grin on my face every time I hear it or think about it. It's very obvious in the car but apparently the car is quieter than my wifes coupe from outside the car.

I went by a Pick-n-pull today and got some minor pieces (a manual handle for my daughters door, the "Legacy" gold trim piece for the hatch, some plastic clips to hold the seal on the driver side door). There wasn't a dash cluster with a tach for my year. And I'm worried that it could be for a different transmission. I don't know enough to tell a four speed from a five speed with the shift mechanism removed.

I need to learn so much about Legacies and mechanics in general. My father knew so much about mechanics when I grew up but because of his Aspergers it was hard for him to teach me. I always considered mechanics the province of experts and didnt attempt to tread on their ground. I learned the basics: how to change the fluids; how to check the tires and other components for wear; the basics of how different components work {engine, transmission, LSD}. Other than that I left the repair and maintenance to others. I want to change that mental block I have.

With these Legacies I want to do as much as I can and learn as I go. I plan to build up my toolbox (both mental and physical) over the years I own these cars. My father has spent years building up some of his cars. I can easily see doing that with these cars and their descendants.

 

[Thatman]

Well they are certainly easy enough and can teach you a lot. Btw, it doesn't necessarily need to be the same year, but they did use different type of connectors. I probably have it on one of my posts where my old car,a brighton without a tach got one with a tach from like a 98. And you definitely do not drill into the engine for a tach. Because you can hook up a bluetooth OBD2 reader to your smartphone, or even one rented from a local parts store and with the car on it should give you the RPM of the engine.

 

[Ronald6]

@Thatman : the Bluetooth tachometer sounds like a good idea, better than a traditional tach. I'll look into it soonest.

I haven't updated on the car for a week so here goes.
I took my youngest son on a trip to the coast, hitting the triangle +53. He loved it but wished the car has an oh'$#!'handle.

My eldest son had his Eagle Scout award ceremony Saturday south of Eugene. It's a 3 hour trip each way and the car ran like a champ on both the highway and back roads.

My new shift handle came in Saturday before the trip but I didn't have time to clean the shift boot till Sunday.

Before:

I used metalic fingernail polish on the top of the old shift knob till the new one arived. It was ugly but better than faded black on black.

After:
It's an inexpensive Momo handle, but its not cheap. The red stitching doesnt fit the color of the interior but I could care less.

The boot is shiny now where its not dull and lifeless. I can pick up a new shift boot to match the shift handle for 40$ on eBay. Let me think... two trips to the coast or a shift boot, mmm. The new boot is going to wait. For almost twice that price I can get a brand new racing bucket seat with sliders mailed to my house. I'd rather have the seat.

The driving experience is much improved. The leather and stitching grabs my hand well and my hand doesn't slip off mid shift like the original. It felt taller at first but then I realized I was grabbing too high, instead of holding under the knob. A few minutes of back roads and it was much easier to shift smoother and quicker with much more confidence. Within a half hour I was synchronized shifting without realizing it. Most of the clutch play is in the first 20% of the pedal travel. I didn't think I would be synch shifting till I got a tachometer, but with the wonderful audible tach it's easy: waaaaaA, bap, waaaaaaA, bap. As long as I don't think about it it's easy.

My wife is taking my car to work today while I take her car to get the fluids changed and have a new headlight piece installed. I tried installing it but I don't have the tools to reach the bolts holding it in place. The body repair guy in my town only charges me about 5$ per hour of work. (I love my community.) It shouldn't cost much to have in installed.

So to prepare herself for the manual without a tachometer she took it out for the first time last night. She tried not to like it (I think she's jealous of the time I spend on the car) but failed miserably. I'll be lucky if I wake up tomorrow with the same set of keys.

A quick search revealed that OBD2 connectors are required on all American vehicles after 1996. And must be located within 3 feet of the driver and accessible without a tool. Cool. Now... How much is 1,550 Rs on eBay worth in American $$$?

Edit:
Headlight installed, and the fluids were changed in Nynaeve. She may have over 324,000 miles but she still runs like shes brand new.

My mother owned an early model chevy cavalier that made it to 700,000+ miles (no engine rebuild) before my uncle set it on fire while changing the oil.
Cars tend to run for awhile in my family and we all have high hopes for Nynaeve.

I ordered a Bluetooth OBD2 device for an amazing 11$. It had good reviews and was on sale at Tmart.com for 1/4 the normal price. No ship date yet, I'll review it when it arrives.

Edit 2:
I'm avoiding double posting.

I had a few hours to clean my wifes car while my daughter played at the park in the wonderful weather.

In order:

...

...

...

...

I still need to do something about the cigarette smell. But taking the center console apart was a cinch. That made cleaning between the grooves easier. I still used ALOT of Qtips. It's so shiny and clean.


Question to those in-the-know: how do I decrease the throttle response of Aviendha? Don't get me wrong. I like a snappy car, but it feels like she wants to snap my neck every time I glance at the throttle. Any help would be welcome.

 

[Thatman]

Coming along nicely, and just about any app for the obdII should work, Torque is what I use. But um, whats with "the Bung" on the radio?

 

[Doog]

View attachment 138573

322,000 miles?!