Project RS

[ScottyB]

well it's been a while. after dealing with subpar fuel mileage for the last year or so I've finally gone back and started to dig into the tune again. big thanks to Adam Flint for hooking me up with a Tactrix cable again.

i did some logging for the first time. it's very fun and anyone with a subaru should at least try it just to see what the car does when you're driving it. its extremely easy to log with open source programming like Romraider. found out i was going out of closed loop fueling at about 60mph (due to throttle position, injector cycle, etc) so when i was on the highway i was sitting in open loop at about 13:1 AFR or worse...wonder if that had to do with any of my weak highway numbers? :lol:

i logged and corrected the closed loop MAF voltage and altered the DBW throttle for a softer tip-in which may be my favorite mod EVER. no more bucking around near idle while in gear in traffic due to going from 0% throttle opening to 20% in the first millimeter of pedal travel. set some of the closed loop/open loop transition settings back closer to stock.

between all the new settings it feels great. mileage around town is already way better.

next up, install the new trailing arms. i'm debating whether i install them as-is or do the other trailing arm bushing in the hub as well to complete all the bushings on that arm. the hub is a PITA to do though...and its hot out....le sigh.

[Sijray21]

i logged and corrected the closed loop MAF voltage and altered the DBW throttle for a softer tip-in which may be my favorite mod EVER. no more bucking around near idle while in gear in traffic due to going from 0% throttle opening to 20% in the first millimeter of pedal travel. set some of the closed loop/open loop transition settings back closer to stock.

That is a pretty cool mod!

[Dave]

next up, install the new trailing arms. i'm debating whether i install them as-is or do the other trailing arm bushing in the hub as well to complete all the bushings on that arm. the hub is a PITA to do though...and its hot out....le sigh.

Do it now.
Otherwise the bushing will start to degrade one week after you get all back together. Murphy is an asshole...

[ScottyB]

so i was inspired by Dave's headlight lens overhaul and decided to pick up a restoration kit while getting new headlight bulbs at the local advanced auto. i'm tired of the lights looking like crap and it probably doesn't help the meager light output to begin with.

for comparison sake i got the 3M kit which is similar in that it's supposed to be used with a regular household low-rpm drill. it has less liquid compound than the Mother's kit but i liked that it had a wide variety of sanding discs and a robust foam compound disc. it is priced the same at about $18. i bought an extra little bottle of lens cleaner to use on the compound disc for later use.



washed the car today but ran out of light. here is what i'm up against:

[Dave]

That's the kit that I used (wish I had gotten it for $18...); you'll be pleasantly surprised when you're done!

[ScottyB]

ah, i thought you were using the Mother's kit. good to hear.

[WRXtranceformed]

I'm pretty sure I didn't actually buy a kit when I redid the last set for someone. I remember buying different grits of sandpaper, some Meguiar's Plastic-X and I believe that's it. I'm curious to see how your kit works though, knowing you I'm sure they will come out to showroom quality :thumbup:

[Steve85]

That 3M kit looks very similar to the Turtle Wax kit I bought for wifey's headlights. The polishing compound and a terry towel got about 85% of the stuff off. When I get more time I'll need to get into the sanding pads too.

The packet...is that a polishing compund or a sealer?

[ScottyB]

The packet...is that a polishing compund or a sealer?

compound.

[ScottyB]

i rushed it a bit but it came out nice. i did about half the recommended passes due to time constraints. my drill also tops out at only 750 rpm which is lower than 3M's 1200-1600 rpm specification. there are still some minor sanding scratches but you really have to be looking for them. i have plenty of discs and compound left so this was worth it for me, and the Xterra is up next.

before and after:







it was a bit unsettling to turn the lenses into plastic dust but once you get a feel for it, it's easy and the directions are great. 2 zombie thumbs up.

[WRXtranceformed]

Looks great Scott! You can't see any of the excess marks at all.

[Sijray21]

wow, that looks fantastic!

great job!

[ScottyB]

recently had to replace my bulbs and bought some silverstars before remembering these don't have the greatest reputation. sure enough, 2 months later 1 burned out. for the price....never again. they were installed with gloves on and everything so i know there was no oil on them.

i want some good lighting but i'm not going to try a higher wattage bulb on the stock harness, and it damn sure better last at least a year or more. so, i looked into high quality, uncoated 55W bulbs like the Osram Night Breaker +90's, Phillips Vision Plus +50's, Narva Rangepower +50's and Hella Premium Plus +30's. I came away with the feeling that for the lifespan/price ratio, overall increase in light, and having great experiences with Hella quality, I'm going to snag a set of Hellas from Susquehana Motorsports. we'll see how they do.

also got sick of the stupid daytime running lights so i popped off the glovebox and simply unplugged a connector from the DRL module. can't believe i was do lazy to do this earlier.

once TurnIn Concepts gets their shipment in, i'll finally be able to make the most of my new trailing arms with the rally-spec Group-N front bushing. TIC is doing final testing on their rear trailing arm bushing. once installed together it'll keep the suspension from toeing in under power as well as reducing driveline windup a bit. it should really help keep the car more neutral under power. they're 2-peice too, so i won't need a press which is a plus for my parking-lot workspace.

[ScottyB]

yay, finally got my bushings in. these will be installed along with the RTA's when it gets warmer. i think i might try to refresh the rear struts while i'm at it with a regreasing, depending on how ambitious i feel. the bushes are pretty sweet...i think shore 95, self lubricating and the pins are beautiful.


another reason why ordering from TurnInConcepts is a good idea. free army guys :lol: they are currently guarding my monitor from commie bastards.

[WRXtranceformed]

Ha ha, nice!

[D_Eclipse9916]

Nice! And I have to laugh about the army guys, do they really include those with every package?

[ScottyB]

Nice! And I have to laugh about the army guys, do they really include those with every package?

thanks guys. and yeah, apparently they like to include them with orders nowadays. they're a crazy bunch.

[ScottyB]

well, hit again. thankfully just a 5mph stop/go traffic hit. a new skin is gonna have to be installed and resprayed for this one though.

so, i think this makes the tally the 4th time i've been hit while either parked or not moving and the second time for the ol' suby. :roll: just put my Save The Manuals sticker on there too, dammit.

[WRXtranceformed]

Ouch man sorry to hear that! It's so hard to keep a daily driver in good shape. I wash and wax mine and try to conscientiously park, but it just doesn't matter. I just dropped mine off at the body shop this morning, hopefully I'll have it back in a week or so.

Hopefully the suby gets back to shiny shape in no time!

[ScottyB]

yeah it's due for a wash anyway, why not replace the whole bumper? :lol:

i was thinking of your ordeal this morning. as much as i try, keeping a DD nice is just a ton of effort.