Cbetts' 2020 subaru Crosstrek Premium 6MT Build

[cbetts]

These are front LCAs. The factory model uses a flexible rubber puck for one of the joints. Here is an good picture:

I am finding Subarus are like Lego and many parts are interchangeable. This is because many models use the Global Platform (Crosstrek, Outback, Forrester, Ascent, Impreza, Legacy, WRX). The WRX LCA needed to be more rigid to withstand the abuse of track driving so it was designed with aluminum and replaced the rubber puck with a ball joint. The WRX model also moves the front wheels forward, giving me a little more clearance in the wheel well and also a gain of one degree in caster. I should get better handling on the highway too!

 

[cbetts]

New LCAs are installed!

Old:

New:

What a difference it made! Turns feel more solid. Braking is no longer squirrely. Still needs a real alignment done. I had some excessive toe-out after the work and cranked in each tie rod the same amount until it looked okay. Good enough to get me through the week.

 

[rascole]

Last Chance Canyon?

 

[cbetts]

Last Chance Canyon?

Thinking about it! Depends on who else is available to get me out of jams. Maybe Cleghorn or Gorman first. I have a few things on my plate at work that need to be cleared up first.

I am one huge step closer though!

 

[rascole]

Cleghorn should be a cake walk but a shake down run is always good.

 

[cbetts]

I finally got a chance to take the Battlewagon off road! For what it is, it performed well. The altitude really clobbered my power. I was able to make it up the switchbacks at Silver Canyon (Bishop, CA) a short distance before the engine ran out of OOMPF to climb the mountain.

Here is where I got stuck.

The water bottle shows how steep it was.

Got some tripod action on the way down.

I cheated and drove up White Mountain Road so I could take a picture at the top.

 

[cbetts]

I also took the Battlewagon around the Alabama Hills a bit.

I took a couple video clips as well.

Silver Canyon:

Alabama Hills:

 

[cbetts]

I have done a few more mods on the ol' Battlewagon . . . The engine was flopping around quite a bit with the factory mounts so I replaced them all with units from Perrin.

I also started to hack at the computer a bit. I was able to delete the obnoxious rev-hang and lowered the engine cold idle speed. I am still dinking around with other maps as I learn.

The next project has been ordered. I found an unequal length header to get that "lumpy" sound that the old boxer engines had.

 

[H3Hummer]

Man, never saw a Subaru like yours, cool build

 

[rascole]

Looking good. You're ready for Gold Mountain.

 

[cbetts]

Looking good. You're ready for Gold Mountain.

Almost. I still need to get more power to the wheels. The boxer engine has a short stroke so it needs RPMs to climb. Since I do not have a transfer case that can gear down, it makes it tough. I am hoping the new header and a professional tune will make the difference.

 

[06 H3]

Do they have lower diff gears for these? That may help.

 

[cbetts]

The manual transmission models already come with the lowest. I am looking at a 5-speed that came in older Foresters that has a dual range. LINKY

It will bolt up to my engine but will require custom shafts (half shafts and main drive shaft) and some slight computer reprogramming. I am communicating with an individual who is doing that upgrade on an earlier generation Crosstrek so I hope to garnish some good lessons from him.

In the meantime, I am hoping to have my next mod done before heading up to Bishop in August . . . .

 

[cbetts]

Well, I got the new exhaust installed.

It sounds awesome!

However, it is REALLY loud in the cabin. I put the old exhaust back in for now. Not sure what I want to do yet.