Stage Rally Outback - Build Thread

[MonstarRallyTeam]

After a crappy turn of events and losing my 08 production class wrx rally car, i ended up with this '98 Outback Limited to do a crunch time build to get ready for my 2013 season. And after hours spent on google, i can not find a single stage rally outback out there... So i figured this might be a sweet treat for you guys. Thought i'd share!

This isnt a car i want to throw a lot of money at.. since i'll probably only use it one year, so im going to keep it cheap and basic and just run it in Open class.

Picked up a clean titled 98 outback limited, Heated everything, 147k, auto, really clean (minus a big dent) at auction for $2200. Took it out and played a little bit the day i got it.

















and then talked the GF into washing it haha








Anyways enough with the BS and playing around with it, time to get serious about getting it prepped for stage rally.

Spent the day today gutting the dash out and replacing it with a WRX dash.
Did a little wiring that needed done, and called it a day for now.






Going to start on the paint job and finish stripping out the interior tomorrow.
Got some switches ordered im waiting on to finish the wiring.
Trying to track down the last couple parts i need for a 5 speed swap

So those updates should all be coming rather quickly.
Sunday night i'll post paint job pictures!
Sorry not a lot of progress yet, just started today! but stay tuned!

[Latigo]

Is the WRX dash lighter or something? Trying to guess why that was a necessary swap.

[MonstarRallyTeam]

necessary? no...
Better?... IMO yes. Its just got a better design, and the layout works better for me in a rally car when it comes to switches, gauges, looks, etc.. it was purely for personal preference vs performance. I prefer the 08 impreza dash even more... but i had this one laying around... so it'll work!

[kmssgoten]

Primitive Racing Performance Parts

sure u might know of this site, but i am going to send u the link anyways, it has some good suspension,skid plates and stuff, might help if u wanted to go that rout that is if u don't know that already was thinking about doing this in my 2011 but i will wait till i pay it off first till i really get into it, BTW must be nice to have the money and time to put in a 5MT so quickly lol also let us know about set by set on how ur putting it to gather,like the switches and such... i would like to know anyways

keep it up!

[MonstarRallyTeam]

Originally Posted by kmssgoten

Primitive Racing Performance Parts

sure u might know of this site, but i am going to send u the link anyways, it has some good suspension,skid plates and stuff, might help if u wanted to go that rout that is if u don't know that already was thinking about doing this in my 2011 but i will wait till i pay it off first till i really get into it, BTW must be nice to have the money and time to put in a 5MT so quickly lol also let us know about set by set on how ur putting it to gather,like the switches and such... i would like to know anyways

keep it up!

I know primitive well, they are local to me! But they are the competition, i cant give them money for them to feed into their rally car to beat me hahahaa. Im going to run stock suspension (maybe forester suspension). This cars only going to be run in the open class, so it doesnt need top of the line everything to be competitive like my production class car would have needed. as for skid plates, i'll make my own. going to be far cheaper. (free actually)

Unless you've got about 100 grand sitting to blow.. i wouldnt ever even attempt to rally a brand new car lol. specially if your brand new to the sport. If your looking to just get started in rally. follow this thread closely. it will be the BARE minimum you need to get started in stage rally.

5 speed swap in this old of a car is going to be cheap and easy. and a days worth of labor. I already have the master and slave cylinders from a wrx i parted out. and the pedal assembl. All i need is flywheel, clutch, and of course 5 speed trans. and when your talking old 1995ish 5speeds... they are pretty **** cheap. I'm guessing i'll be able to pick one up for about $300. and in my case. it doesnt matter what year or model i get the trans from, because im not to conerned about wiring or check engine lights etc... its a rally car as long as it shifts gears, thats all i care about lol So 5 speed swapping this is going to be like changing a battery.

I'll keep the thread well documented dont worry! The switches i have coming will be so i can remove the keylock/igition and run a push button start, with a couple toggles for power/safety. Also have the battery cut off switch coming in, which is required for rally cars.

Anyways i got a wild hair up my ass lastnight/early this morning shortly after my last post... and i went out and started slinging some paint on the OB....
Its only about half finished right now... but heres a teaser shot!

[indytruckboy]

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[aftCG]

What is this "washing" process you describe?

I'm impressed. I was wondering why you went with an auto but now I see you're switching to a 5 speed. I wish that was an option for me (I know, it's been done) but I'd be money and time ahead to just trade someone.

Not that you'd even slow down if your bumper was torn off, but aren't most rally races on roads a bit less trashy than some of the terrain you show in your pics?

I haven't been to one in years but I've got pics still from a race in the cascade mountains here where the cars were doing well over 100 mph on logging roads. One doesn't do 100 mph through that creek bed and still have a car with four wheels.

[MonstarRallyTeam]

Originally Posted by aftCG

What is this "washing" process you describe?

I'm impressed. I was wondering why you went with an auto but now I see you're switching to a 5 speed. I wish that was an option for me (I know, it's been done) but I'd be money and time ahead to just trade someone.

Not that you'd even slow down if your bumper was torn off, but aren't most rally races on roads a bit less trashy than some of the terrain you show in your pics?

I haven't been to one in years but I've got pics still from a race in the cascade mountains here where the cars were doing well over 100 mph on logging roads. One doesn't do 100 mph through that creek bed and still have a car with four wheels.

Washing - Verb: Hot chicks in mini skirts scrubbing mud off cars

Most the pictures i posted were flat out offroading, not rallying. I just went out in the mt. hood national forest and went for a drive and had fun tearing it up. Rally roads are much much nicer most the time.

Got the paint about 75% done, but im doing everything wrong with this paint job lol. Like driving the car while the paints still wet haha. or down gravel roads with out clear coat. haha So gotta redo a couple spots, and then shoot some clear, but its getting there. Atleast all the green is finally gone!! I even jammed it haha.

Absolutely HATE doing window tinting. But i got ONE window done I'll get the rest done tomorrow.





Threw on the badge of ownership.



Paint/body work 75% complete



Finished up all the wiring i have to do for now finally. Dash is all fitted, and everything down to the cruise control works for now... (it'll come out later)



Need to find a center console, but for now, everythings secured.



more to come.

[MonstarRallyTeam]

Not a lot of pictures for this update.... but good progress.

All 4 door windows are now tinted.
Battery cut off switch is wired.
Back half of the car is gutted.
Paints basically finished.

going to pick up my wrx center console tomorrow and some forester suspension.
Ordering my Corbeau seats in 2 weeks, Then just got 18 more things to check off the required to do list, and we'll be ready to race!

[kmssgoten]

awesome! lol looks like a beast already!