Time has come for 1st mod

[Marne_Aeok]

well ive gotten comfortable enough with the car (it being my 1st manual transmisson car). I no longer feel the tingle in my spine when i take a corner quicker than i normally would nor when i actually PASS ppl going slow as hell.

i kinda wanna keep that feeling what should i do as a first mod for my Suby? Ive replaced the radiator due to it having a massive leak. It was to the point where if i gunned it up past 3k (in neutral with ebrake up of course) and coolant shot up out of the radiator like a fountain.

i keep seeing coolant spilling tho wth is wrong. all hoses are tight. there is a skinny looking black radiator looking thing in FRONT of the rad right before the bumper. its got lines coming out of the top on both sides and there covered in green fuzzy crap. if i knew what part that was id replace that along with my 1st mod whatever it may be.

remember my car is bone stock. 161k on the odo. shes a good old gal ^_^.

[Jcarv20]

What are your goals for the car? If its just a DD get an accessport it was my first mod and it improves the car in every single way.

[mosc]

Tires

[Marne_Aeok]

oh yea i should list everything ive done maintenance wise to the car :P

I got all new brake rotors and pads, tires and radiator so far. the stuff isnt anything special. i work at a Firestone so i can kinda get some stuff for free/cheap done.

im planning to flush tranny and both the differentials. also had an alignment done when i mounted my tires.

what kind of fluids should i use for the diffs and tranny?


my goals for the car are just DD with a lil bit of extra pep. in time id like to get a STI or maybe a newer WRX to actually put money into. i figure with a car this old i should not buy any big power mods because ill be looking at buying a new engine before long lol

[mosc]

Sorry, I said that incorrectly: Performance Tires.

I use Castrol GTX 5w30 under the hood and subaru fluids for the drivetrain stuff. It's VERY IMPORTANT you use only the factory subaru fluid for your rear differential.

[airplnmdls]

I've spent HOURS looking at which fluid I should use for my front and rear tranny fluid...your best bet would to stay with the factory fluid. Which for you should be the same as mine, 75W-90. Or if you feel like going a step up, Subaru sells a synthetic version of the fluid that people really seem to like called 75W-90 Extra S...Subaru only sells it by the drum, but I found this website (which is actually a dealership) where they sell it by the quart, and that's where I plan to get my fluid from... Subaru 75w90 "Extra S" Synthetic Gear & Transmission Fluid - Quart Bottle
It's not anymore than other aftermarket fluids, and I haven't reads anyone who has complained about it...

[airplnmdls]

Oh and as for mods depends on what you want to improve. I'd say...
Power-Cobb accessport, then possibly a turbo-back exhaust
Handling- Sway bars
Shifting- Kartboy shortshifter and bushings

[booosted09]

Get a AP and TBE and like Mosc said....a good set of performance tires

[09azwrx]

short shifter, tires, exhaust are my 3 choices for first up grades. got the exhaust and love it.

[ratfink]

Originally Posted by airplnmdls

I've spent HOURS looking at which fluid I should use for my front and rear tranny fluid...your best bet would to stay with the factory fluid. Which for you should be the same as mine, 75W-90. Or if you feel like going a step up, Subaru sells a synthetic version of the fluid that people really seem to like called 75W-90 Extra S...Subaru only sells it by the drum, but I found this website (which is actually a dealership) where they sell it by the quart, and that's where I plan to get my fluid from... Subaru 75w90 "Extra S" Synthetic Gear & Transmission Fluid - Quart Bottle
It's not anymore than other aftermarket fluids, and I haven't reads anyone who has complained about it...

Do you need to add a friction modifier on top of that lubricant?

[airplnmdls]

Originally Posted by ratfink

Do you need to add a friction modifier on top of that lubricant?

No, you don't need to add anything else to either the regular or synthetic fluids (95% sure, anyone back me up?). What I do know for sure is that out of all the people who used it (that I read about) (talking about the Extra S), I haven't read that anyone added anything else to it...they just put it in by itself and if they had a problem it was cleared up quickly, or there shifting felt easier...I'm not a big fan of the whole cocktail ideas...one fluid should be good enough, I don't need to worry about mixing...my $0.02.
Oh and if you feel like you're going to get the full drum of the extra s, a lot of the dealerships don't know what it is...so the best way to get it is to look up the part # and just tell that to them...

[Marne_Aeok]

guys i work at a firestone. i had one of the best techs they have look up what fluids the scob takes and he said its GL-5 (75w-90) for Front/Rear Diff and the tranny itself.

gonna drain and fill all that soon

[airplnmdls]

Yes that is what Subaru reccomends...GL-5 rating and a 75W-90 weight, but people still seem to have troubles with certain brands, even though they meet those two requirements...I don't know if its their driving habits or actually the fluid...but I'd stay with the stuff you know for sure works, and works well...(either of the Subie fluids that is)

[ratfink]

Originally Posted by Marne_Aeok

guys i work at a firestone. i had one of the best techs they have look up what fluids the scob takes and he said its GL-5 (75w-90) for Front/Rear Diff and the tranny itself.

gonna drain and fill all that soon

Be careful, allot of gl-5 fluids have more of the substance that protects hypoid gears, but kills synchros on the tranny. Subaru has found a happy medium with their gl-5 that won't destroy the synchros as fast.

[Marne_Aeok]

well im kinda worried about the tranny. 161k is a metric crap ton of miles. i bought the car with 154k so i dunno how the previous owner drove it. im worried that if i flush the trans that its gonna bork it beyond reason. same with the diffs