Big Black Land Boat - 2010 Forester XT

[ryangreen1]

Figured I'd make a project thread just in case I decide to do anything else to my car, or it decides to explode as soon as the warranty runs out in the summer and I have to fix it myself.

It's made a pretty big transformation in the last two years.





I got my Forester to replace my 2011 corolla S (S doesn't stand for sport on a corolla) since it was extremely slow and for some reason I thought a turbo land yacht was a good idea; thanks mighty car mods. Decided against a WRX hatch since ones with equivalent mileage were out of my price range and I wanted to be different. Turns out being different means being stuck with an automatic.

I kept it stock for all of 3 weeks before I put in a new Pioneer touchscreen headunit since I missed bluetooth. Then I broke out the plastidip to hide the curb-rashed rims and the hideous chrome bumper.



It rode so high back then.
After that I decided it needed more rumble so I picked up a used Nameless muffler delete super cheap off a forum. Dude said it was from a sedan wrx which fits perfect, but it was actually from a hatchback, hence the misaligned tips that are touching my bumper and stick out about 2" too far. Here's a video from my gopro after I put it on.

[youtube]https://youtu.be/fyJoQZEZiSo[/youtube]

Decided to get the OEM option mesh grill and a 3D printed forester emblem because "JDM bro". Also is a Subaru a Subaru until you put some hella horns on? I also picked up the Yakima snowboard holders somewhere along the way. Managed to fit 4 snowboards and 2 sets of skis on there.


Didn't mess with it for a while until my brake pads needed replacing and my rotors got warped. While i was doing that i painted the calipers gloss black because I knew I was gonna get some crazy colored wheel and didn't want the rust shining through.

Last summer I decided to spend every last dime I had and get coilovers so it didn't roll and pitch like a boat, it would just look like one.


After my bank account recovered from the coilovers I decided to do it again and get wheels and tires.
Went with XXR 527's since they're incredible cheap and were the look I was going for and some falken all season tires.


Shocking but I still don't own a vape after 2 years of driving a Subaru (That's Tyler in the picture)

After meaning to join MM for the last 3 years, when I got back to school I finally decided to do it, and the first cruise I went on up 33 I blew my turbo. This picture was taken like 2 weeks before when I went up there by myself to explore, but almost the same spot.


Thankfully the aftermarket warranty that the Chevy dealer I got the car from gave me came through and I was only out a $100 deductible instead of $2000 (absurd quote from the dealer by the way) , and Bob Wade Subaru had it fixed in about a week.

Since I had a new turbo I thought, might as well autocross and track it now that its already blown up once.
This was my first autocross at the College Solo. Didn't do too bad for how big and tall the car is, but definitely not nimble.


Then I went to the first and fourth refrigerator bowl in it. Beat some cars I shouldn't have but I think it was their lack of driving skill and not any abundance of mine.



I've heard about 6 horror stories now from former forester owners including the story of a certain alum on here whos' cars have broken them, so I'm now sitting in fear waiting for it to do the same to me. Its been a while since I've modded anything on it, and now I'm debating whether I should sell it while I still have my soul or continue down the rabbit hole that is modifying cars(boats) that aren't meant to be modified.

[Senor_Taylor]

You said you wouldn't... But you did. Good for you.


... Has it exploded yet?

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[ryangreen1]

You said you wouldn't... But you did. Good for you.


... Has it exploded yet?

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Not enough of us younger generation are on the forum so I figured why not. Fingers crossed but nothing catastrophic yet today, but I'll post weekly updates.

[Senor_Taylor]

You said you wouldn't... But you did. Good for you.


... Has it exploded yet?

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

Not enough of us younger generation are on the forum so I figured why not. Fingers crossed but nothing catastrophic yet today, but I'll post weekly updates.

Better late than never (<60 days from graduation) It's bad that I just now made the connection that you and Tyler both have Subarus now.

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[ryangreen1]

Better late than never (<60 days from graduation) It's bad that I just now made the connection that you and Tyler both have Subarus now.

Don't worry, I'll stick around on here and come to some stuff in Harrisonburg when I can the next few years. Tyler's wanted a Subaru since we first started thinking about cars and he converted me cause I wanted an EVO when I was 16, I just beat him to it.

[*insertusernamehere*]

He'll yeah Ryan! Glad to see ya here!

[ryangreen1]

Trigger warning for any past Subaru owners.

Told y'all I'd update it when the thing blew up.
Noticed the smell of burning oil on startup for the last couple days on my 1/2 mile commute. Went for a 30 minute drive today and it got way worse. Popped the hood and it was a decent amount of smoke coming from oil on the headers. Looks like the oil is coming from the top side of the timing cover near the center of the car and dripping down onto the headers. Quick google says cam or crank seals or the beginnings of a head gasket. Its not a ton of oil yet but if anyone has any clues on what to look for or common problems it could be I could use some help. I know very little about actually fixing cars and don't have the tools with me to fix it, but I'd like to figure out what's wrong with it before I take it anywhere. Pictures if that helps at all:

[Apoc]

Paging Justin.

[Jake]

Paging Justin.

He'll just tell Ryan to wait at least five minutes after the fire starts before calling 911 and your insurance, to make sure it's totaled for good.

[WRXtranceformed]

Sounds about right

Bummer dude

"Dump it and get a Prius"

- Justin, probably

[JustinG]

Oh hey guys what did I miss?

Oh.....



Huge bummer. If you aren't investigating on your own, definitely take it somewhere to investigate before writing it off completely.

But yea, set that shit on fire.

[Jake]

I'd try to poke around a bit more and see if you can identify where the leak is coming from. Mayyyybe you'll get lucky and have it be something easier than what the internet claims.

That said, I had very good luck fixing my Yukon by trading it in to Fairfax Honda on something else.

[navin]

Sounds like a cam seal from reading the following: http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/...er-333105/

[JustinG]

I'd be hard pressed to think it's a crank seal or cam seal. Those typically fling oil down, and you'll see the leak on the bottom of the motor where the timing cover meets the block.

Cam seals are further out towards the wheels.

Oil isn't going to leak up and through the timing cover.

It looks like it's external to the timing cover, my guess is Oil Pressure Sending unit. Which sits at about that location. $20 part, with a basic mechanics set. If that's the fix.

[ScottyB]

i'd agree its likely a threaded sending unit that's come loose, or cracked and has some kind of access to a main oil galley. seals leak downward and almost never that much, that suddenly. if it was a HG you'd be seeing likely a smaller seepage and/or oil milkshake on the dipstick.

its been a long time since i've looked at that part of an EJ57 but i think you can at least get the timing cam covers off easily enough...the center cover over the crank pulley requires pulley removal i think. if you can look at the cam pulleys you'll know right away if the leak stems from that location.

you might be able to get some MM'ers with wrenches to lend a hand. if you have oil all over the timing belt you'll need to replace that as well or the oil will foul the rubber over time.

[ryangreen1]

I'd be hard pressed to think it's a crank seal or cam seal. Those typically fling oil down, and you'll see the leak on the bottom of the motor where the timing cover meets the block.

I was thinking it was weird for it to be leaking from the top of the cover, that may just be where it's pooling. I'll poke around some more tomorrow and see if I can figure out if its the oil pressure sending unit.
I'm not sure what all was included in the 60k mile service I had done the same time my turbo was getting fixed and it may have had some stuff around the timing belt area done, so I asked dad to try to find the receipts at home.

i'd agree its likely a threaded sending unit that's come loose, or cracked and has some kind of access to a main oil galley.  seals leak downward and almost never that much, that suddenly.  if it was a HG you'd be seeing likely a smaller seepage and/or oil milkshake on the dipstick.  

its been a long time since i've looked at that part of an EJ57 but i think you can at least get the timing cam covers off easily enough...the center cover over the crank pulley requires pulley removal i think.  if you can look at the cam pulleys you'll know right away if the leak stems from that location.  

you might be able to get some MM'ers with wrenches to lend a hand.  if you have oil all over the timing belt you'll need to replace that as well or the oil will foul the rubber over time.

Yea nothing looks off about the oil when I checked it. I don't know if I trust myself to mess with the pullys and actually getting it back on right, so if it comes to that I'll have to take it to a shop.
I graduated from JMU last year and I'm in grad school south of Raleigh now, so unfortunately I don't have any MMers around I can recruit that actually know how to fix cars and make sure I don't screw anything up.

[ScottyB]

I graduated from JMU last year and I'm in grad school south of Raleigh now

ah - didn't realize. good news, i can tell you from experience that you have some of the best subaru shops in NC in your back yard....

make an appt with either Turbo Time in Cary or Janko Imports in Raleigh. i used to live in carrboro and then durham for 4 years when i had my 2.5RS. ALL of the local subaru guys went to those 2 shops. i had my headgaskets/t-belt done by Turbotime and i knew Sebastian and Jan at Janko more personally as i used to race against them in rallycross with Tarheel Sports Car Club. Janko is a "euro" shop but they have tons of expertise with turbo subarus and campaign a WRX in SCCA stage rallies.

either one will treat you right.

[ryangreen1]

ah - didn't realize.  good news, i can tell you from experience that you have some of the best subaru shops in NC in your back yard....

make an appt with either Turbo Time in Cary or Janko Imports in Raleigh.  i used to live in carrboro and then durham for 4 years when i had my 2.5RS.  ALL of the local subaru guys went to those 2 shops.  i had my headgaskets/t-belt done by Turbotime and i knew Sebastian and Jan at Janko more personally as i used to race against them in rallycross with Tarheel Sports Car Club.  Janko is a "euro" shop but they have tons of expertise with turbo subarus and campaign a WRX in SCCA stage rallies.

either one will treat you right.

Thanks, if its more than I can handle I'll definitely check them out. Maybe that explains why I see so many other modified Subarus around here.

[*insertusernamehere*]

Dang Ryan :/

Hopefully it's not too complicated and the ol fozz keeps kicking a little longer. Meh, push comes to shove just get an RS Audi wagon, yeah? Lol

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