slowly coming together

[Sundog]

I still have some issues to work on but it's driving.
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t123/inkpreza/monster018.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t123/inkpreza/monster015.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t123/inkpreza/monster017.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t123/inkpreza/monster016.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t123/inkpreza/monster020.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t123/inkpreza/monster008.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t123/inkpreza/monster009.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t123/inkpreza/monster010.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t123/inkpreza/monster011.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t123/inkpreza/monster012.jpg

[ricetiva]

God damn that's hot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[zulater]

Nice. What all did you go with?

[snaggleto0th]

Nice lift! Specs? Looks like you got some positive camber issues to deal with.

[dustyrider]

Very nice.

I'd like to know the full list, too! If you care to share...

What where the results of your alignment per your USMB post?

[Sundog]

I have an alignment tomorrow, I do have rear camber bolts so we'll see what the numbers are.

I have 05 Forester struts, springs, and Subtle solutions 1" spacers.

[409industries]

Looks like another battlewagon!

[Sundog]

yeah, his was part of the inspiration.

[tyler_S18]

that looks gr8!!! i dont wanna hijack but how will those tires do in like rally-x? and what all did you do to get that much lift?

[Bubba02sti]

damn dude... looking good... now go post it on the hella flush site:headbang:

[impreza25rs]

did you use forester trailing arms?
im thinking of doing something like this on my 05 rs:headbang:

[Sundog]

I used the OBX adjustable trailing arms, I may add the Forester trailing arm mounts down the road just because.

[dustyrider]

So if one were to put together a complete list of the mods you have done in order to fit those meats under your wagon it would look like this:

Forestor struts and springs all around.
These swapped right over I'm guessing.
How do the axle angles look?
Any thoughts on whether you would want to swap to a longer axle length to relieve these angles?

Some type of additional 1 inch spacer. On all four corners?
These must be in between the tophats and the body right?
What are they made of? Did you have to get longer studs for the strut top?

Also you put on OBX adjustable trailing arms.
Did the trailing arms change anything in the back like the rear sway or lateral linkage?
Did you need to lengthen the brake lines at all?
What about any type of rubbing or clunking from the rear this gets brought up occasionally and I am not sure if this is due to the fact that the trailing arms have not been changed.
However I was under the impression that the trailing arms are the same and that it is the mounting bracket or link that is sized differently.
What about subframe spacers? These get brought up in interweb forums often when discussing the Forestor strut and spring lift.
Or is this the Forester trailing arm mounts you referred to as optional equipment to be installed later?

Also there are either camber bolts installed or are going to be installed for the alignment.
What bolts did you go with? Length? Is this because of the wagon's shorter track width? Have you considered swapping over to sedan track width?

Any chance of photos after you get the alignment?

After doing all this work what are your thoughts on lift blocks versus suspension lift?

I haven't been able to find a single place where all this information is compiled so please help me and maybe others by answering my questions about your experience. Even if you don't answer all of my questions this thread is already a better start then most of the lifted impreza threads I have read through which seem to be filled with speculation and opinion rather than fact.

[impreza25rs]

I am thinking about doing this with my car. but i was thinking about building something to lift from the bottom of the strut which will raise the spring perch so i can fit the tires with out rubbing on the perch.and buying wheel spacers to bring the tires out more

[Sundog]

So if one were to put together a complete list of the mods you have done in order to fit those meats under your wagon it would look like this:

Forestor struts and springs all around.
These swapped right over I'm guessing.
How do the axle angles look?
Any thoughts on whether you would want to swap to a longer axle length to relieve these angles?

Some type of additional 1 inch spacer. On all four corners?
These must be in between the tophats and the body right?
What are they made of? Did you have to get longer studs for the strut top?

Also you put on OBX adjustable trailing arms.
Did the trailing arms change anything in the back like the rear sway or lateral linkage?
Did you need to lengthen the brake lines at all?
What about any type of rubbing or clunking from the rear this gets brought up occasionally and I am not sure if this is due to the fact that the trailing arms have not been changed.
However I was under the impression that the trailing arms are the same and that it is the mounting bracket or link that is sized differently.
What about subframe spacers? These get brought up in interweb forums often when discussing the Forestor strut and spring lift.
Or is this the Forester trailing arm mounts you referred to as optional equipment to be installed later?

Also there are either camber bolts installed or are going to be installed for the alignment.
What bolts did you go with? Length? Is this because of the wagon's shorter track width? Have you considered swapping over to sedan track width?

Any chance of photos after you get the alignment?

After doing all this work what are your thoughts on lift blocks versus suspension lift?

I haven't been able to find a single place where all this information is compiled so please help me and maybe others by answering my questions about your experience. Even if you don't answer all of my questions this thread is already a better start then most of the lifted impreza threads I have read through which seem to be filled with speculation and opinion rather than fact.

Here is the parts list.
05 Forester struts and springs.
Subtle Solutions 1" lift blocks(customer service is awesome BTW)
OBX adjustable trailing arms.
BFG M/T KM2 215/75/15
Team Dynamics 15x7 +45( would recommend +40 if I could do it over)
Rear camber bolts

I still have a few issues to work out but will post solutions when I find the answers.

Alignment came out fine, everything zeroed out but the front camber is still .5 positive but I believe I can remedy that.

Hope that helps.

[sixTOO]

Looks great Sundog, thanks for posting info and pics.

I know this is OT, but can you comment on the wheels/tires? I'm wondering if you've noticed a major power loss compared to whatever setup you used to run? Or did going down 2" in wheel size offsess the weight? Thanks again.

[rally240sx.com]

Beast :muhaha:

[soobie25i]

damn!! a small child could walk underneath that bad boy.

very nicely done sir. looks great!

[2002maniac]

what a mean looking wagon!

[Sundog]

Looks great Sundog, thanks for posting info and pics.

I know this is OT, but can you comment on the wheels/tires? I'm wondering if you've noticed a major power loss compared to whatever setup you used to run? Or did going down 2" in wheel size offsess the weight? Thanks again.

The power loss is nothing major, my tuner said he can get me set up with a new tune in a couple weeks that will really improve the low end power. I'll report back after the tune and let you know how things have changed.

[JacksonRally]

Looking very good.

BTW I still have no idea what off set my wheels were.

Remember I made longer control arms to get neg camber at ride height. I also got sedan axles. Plus I made the lower pivot on the control arms further forward to help tire clearance at the firewall. I also ran my own camber bolt setup in the rear with quite alot of neg camber. These were some of the issue I had to work out. Sure enough it all worked out in the end.

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/Jackson-Rally/Dirtywagon/CC0901.jpg

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/Jackson-Rally/Dirtywagon/IMG_1800.jpg

Happy Trails!

[JacksonRally]

Wow, I sat a bit lower than you too. You are running a lift spacer and Forester stuff....sweet!

[Sundog]

yeah I'm running spacers also. my alignment came out ok, my rear camber zeroed out with the rear camber bolts, but I do need the whiteline adjustable lateral links to get the toe back in spec. The front camber is still .5 positive but I know how to fix that, I just need to save up a little cash first.

I ended up getting +45 wheels, I would do a +40 if I could do it over but it works well the way it is. I may add a 3mm spacer but we'll see.

How did you relocate your washer fluid tank? that is my next hurdle so I can cut my bumper and weld up the new one.

[JacksonRally]

Never put the washer tank back on, but then again I live in California.

[JacksonRally]

Get a washer tank out of an 02-05 Impreza. Those mount up on the strut tower. You will have to make a bracket to mount it but thats the easiest way to go.

[Sundog]

cool, I take a look at that option.

[medamullet]

needs more camber ;)

[sherbysuby]

Your wagon is sick!!nice job dude ;)

[scsi]

did you change the tophats or did you just use the forester top hats? will it be the same for my 03 TS? also, did you NEED the trailing arms too or was that just in case? would stock STI trailing arms work? fkn sick man!!