New Foz owner/member - 2nd cat/exhaust question

[AndrewH]

Hi all, looks like I'll be spending some time here now :) I bought an 04 Forester 2.5 XT a few days ago, 94k FSH, sat nav, heated leather, plenty of owners! Not mint by any means but drove well and got it for a very nice price. Didn't realise when I bought it but looks like it has a full factory bodykit on it - front/rear bumper spoilers, side skirts and boot spoiler. Also looks like it's got a recently fitted Pedders rear shocks fitted on the back. Due a service so have dropped in a Cosworth air filter and getting an oil change this week, checked all fluids, coolant looks fresh (but that will be on my list), and gearbox oil nice and clear. A bit scabbier than I thought underneath and the exhaust system looks like it will need attention sooner rather than later, problem looks like it will be how far I'll have to go as the nut/joints look like they will fall apart at the sight of a spanner. I have already got a cheap newage Impreza STI rear box and longer hangers but will probably need the mid pipe and maybe cat too (decat?). A bit of a whine from the box under load but put quite a few miles on her already and no major disasters discovered yet. I will try to give it a good clean underneath and some underseal before we hit winter, just looks like surface corrosion towards the rear. Bit worried about the head gasket issue on these, oh well fingers crossed! Cheers, Andrew

[stants]

Hello & welcome 🖒

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[Paul_JJ]

NIce car! Welcome! What's the 0-60 on these models?

[Steveuk260.Esq]

I got 01 forester with about 140k miles and no head gasket issue in sight. The first thing we did when we got her was to do full service. Including diff oil gearbox oil timing belt etc. Just to be on the safe side. 😀

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[AndrewH]

Thanks all. I think 0-60 is about 6 secs? Understand it's the same engine/turbo as Impreza wrx but milder tune I think so with a remap  there's quite a few more horses to be had. 

So first issue already, removed the oil drain plug to find it stripped. A new plug but has taken many attempts to get it to seal (fingers crossed). the thread in the pan is probably a bit damaged too, anyway got a fumoto valve on the way which I'll fit next oil change. Also had a bit of a squeak on the belts - easily cured by tightening it up a bit, but both drive belts have seen better days so ordered a couple from ICP. So no squeaks, fresh oil/Subaru filter and a new air filter and seems be be running quite well so far, touch wood...

[Biffa]

Head gasket issue is on non-turbo engines.

2.5 turbo can be prone to ringland failure, but thats really only if you try and push silly HP through one (>350)

[Paul_JJ]

On 9/21/2016 at 10:39 PM, AndrewH said:

Thanks all. I think 0-60 is about 6 secs? Understand it's the same engine/turbo as Impreza wrx but milder tune I think so with a remap  there's quite a few more horses to be had. 

So first issue already, removed the oil drain plug to find it stripped. A new plug but has taken many attempts to get it to seal (fingers crossed). the thread in the pan is probably a bit damaged too, anyway got a fumoto valve on the way which I'll fit next oil change. Also had a bit of a squeak on the belts - easily cured by tightening it up a bit, but both drive belts have seen better days so ordered a couple from ICP. So no squeaks, fresh oil/Subaru filter and a new air filter and seems be be running quite well so far, touch wood...

What's the weight of the car and how many BHP? Yes it's like WRX, but it's heavier!

[AndrewH]

Apparently 3289lbs, 210bhp & short gearing meant quicker 0-60 than wrx of the time @ 5.3s

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/subaru-forester-25xt-road-test

 

[Paul_JJ]

My SF5 Forester is 100 kg lighter -) as of the 5.3s must be very good gearbox then. Mine is an auto so manual would've been lighter.

Impressive forester though!

[AndrewH]

hi there, just have a quick question for you guys. i have done quite a bit of googling etc already, but just wanted to confirm with the learned folk on here before I get my wallet out. The exhaust is all getting a bit crusty now (all original I think so not done bad) but looks like I'll have to go all the way and replace exhaust, mid pipe and the last cat to get back to some good metal as all the flanges etc are too corroded. I have got an Impreza STI exhaust and mid pipe which I think should fit with some fettling and longer rubber hangers, and I thought I had a good cat too, fits the mid pipe end but too small at the front and the flange is not at the right angle either. I'm not too interested in tuning, but want to know my options, and most important of all what will fit!

So, will any Newage Impreza WRX 2nd cat fit without having to mess around with rotating flanges etc? And if so would another option (and likely MOT OK for emissions as long as they don't twig that there used to be a cat there?) be something like this?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/351766822207?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

which I am hoping would be the same fit as this one at Hayward & Scott which is listed for the SG Forester, but a bit more spendy:

https://www.haywardandscott.com/subaru/forester/forester-new-age-cat-pipe.html

Thanks very much!  

[Mr B]

Rusty rear flange on those cats are pretty much the norm. what we do is cut flange off and use a clamp pipe on remaining pipe tail or if good enough can weld on new flange . Seems it an XT you would be best getting mid and rear box made up by a local decent powerflow centre perhaps, they could design centre pipe slip right on cat remaining tail if rest of it good and solid and tweak cat shields to suite new joint . not great options for ones with same flange angle and most used not lot better or wise buy .

[AndrewH]

Thanks Mr B, appreciate the advice. So are all 2nd cats/decat pipes from Imprezas going to need the flange rotating? I would really like to use the mid pipe and back box I've got and I've lined up someone with a welder who will be able to bend the hangers etc if needs be, so I really just want that 2nd cat pipe/equivalent and I should be good. I remember when I had an old Impreza sport which needed new cats I got a set from one of the online specialists and it was fine, just can't see any available for the XT SG9 :( 

[Mark D]

Double check with prices on eBay.com, I got stainless exhaust parts from there and even with postage from the US it was still a good price. $167 for a stainless (non turbo) manifold , just rechecked price from same seller and now it's around £75 for manifold (non turbo) and £35 shipping.

Got my cat convertor from there as well although saw one in the UK later on for around the same price, it came with 3 holes for the O2 sensor with a metal bung to seal up whichever hole isn't being used, so I guess if the P0420 pops up will see about putting the O2 in the rear cat to see if it gets rid ;)

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[AndrewH]

Thanks Mark D. I did decide to go with the decat pipe which I've just received - bought from Scooby World, think it's an H&S pipe, advertised as 'New Age Forester 2.5 inch':

http://scoobyworld.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=24_55&products_id=2077

Offering it up seems like it will fit my 2.5 XT perfect. I will update this as to how I get on anyway. My understanding is that once fitted I should be OK MOT emissions-wise, but technically should fail as a cat that was there has been removed (what about if you had added a Prodrive pack which I understand removes this cat??), but hoping I will get away with this. May well try to get hold of a cat in the meantime anyway. Wondered if anyone could confirm that I'm right in thinking there's just one other cat in my scooby which is in the down pipe? Cheers, Andrew  

[AndrewH]

just to report that the pipe fitted no probs, o2 sensor went in and taken it for a 20 mile spin no CEL's. Also had Impreza STI mid pipe and back box fitted at the same time so have a little burble now too. Just extra long hangers required for the back box, and I think I should probably get the tail pipe extended an inch or so as it's a bit short. Fingers crossed for a friendly MOT tester come the time, but I feel like with no CEL's and (hopefully) passing emissions with the two other cats it won't be picked up. Tempted by a remap now...