The Ballad of Simon The Squeaking Subaru- A 2004 BH Outback Build Thread.
- Thread starter Wildcat-01
- Start date
I'd also scored a cheapie tailgate tent that hangs off the liftgate. I'll take my daughters to the beach on my weekends and we'll just pop the tent up and chill in the back. It's really fun.
The tent didn't ship with guywires or pegs, so that's why it looks so deflated here.
The tent didn't ship with guywires or pegs, so that's why it looks so deflated here.
My most recent mod:
I've roughed in some jerrycan holders for a JK using L-tracks and rivnuts. They still need some adjustment, and I want at least two through-bolts per track that goes through all layers of sheet metal and are braced with washers and locknuts. The proof of concept definitely works, though. I also need to trim the horizontal brackets where I bent them out, repaint, and kerjigger some standoffs, because the plates do tough the glass occasionally.
I've roughed in some jerrycan holders for a JK using L-tracks and rivnuts. They still need some adjustment, and I want at least two through-bolts per track that goes through all layers of sheet metal and are braced with washers and locknuts. The proof of concept definitely works, though. I also need to trim the horizontal brackets where I bent them out, repaint, and kerjigger some standoffs, because the plates do tough the glass occasionally.
Major progress recently, and almost no photos to back it up!
After deciding that 1" of lift wasn't enough for my purposes, I'd decided to add in an extra 2" lift kit with subframe drop brackets from ADF as well and extended travel front axles from NAPA.
While we had it apart, I replaced the absolutely hashed rear upper camber arms with fabricated units from Godspeed Project, thereby fixing the squeaking rear suspension.
The bushings were so gone, these things were metal-on-metal, with the bushing race and camber arm itself hogged out to the point of not being rebuildable.
Glorious Godspeed camber arms. These things were the same cost as a new OEM pair, but they're fabricated with full roller bearings, adjustable camber settings and heim joints.
Dat angle of departure.
I'm gonna trim the front bumper where the foglamps used to live in order to get a better angle of approach.
And there it is, looking like it's ready to get dropped off on a remote island to go hunt some dinosaurs.
After deciding that 1" of lift wasn't enough for my purposes, I'd decided to add in an extra 2" lift kit with subframe drop brackets from ADF as well and extended travel front axles from NAPA.
While we had it apart, I replaced the absolutely hashed rear upper camber arms with fabricated units from Godspeed Project, thereby fixing the squeaking rear suspension.
The bushings were so gone, these things were metal-on-metal, with the bushing race and camber arm itself hogged out to the point of not being rebuildable.
Glorious Godspeed camber arms. These things were the same cost as a new OEM pair, but they're fabricated with full roller bearings, adjustable camber settings and heim joints.
Dat angle of departure.
I'm gonna trim the front bumper where the foglamps used to live in order to get a better angle of approach.
And there it is, looking like it's ready to get dropped off on a remote island to go hunt some dinosaurs.
Next up, I'm adding lighting and charging to the interior trim on the liftgate. This was something that I'd wanted to do to the fleet cars when I worked at a big Home Inspection firm, the extra lighting inside the liftgate for grabbing or putting away tools or getting changed into boiler suits when the evenings are short. Those are some rock lights from my parts pile. They'll be wired into the rear cargo light so they'll function as an extension of the cargo lights, but will illuminate the ground under the liftgate.
Enthusiast III
this thing is awesome! If I could fit an outback in my itty bitty garage I would be building one of these with the EZ30. Love the switch panel in the center of the dash!
Enthusiast III
This is really slick! I’ve been wanting to do something like this for my back door as well but haven’t figured out a clean way to install some power points and swivel lights.
It's funny how our rigs are paralleling each other. I guess a Jeeper and a Toyota nerd are gonna do the Subaru thing in a very specific way.
I was just thinking about reaching out to you, now that we're getting some rainfall, I'm hoping to take my daughters up to the Knoxville-Berryessa OHV Area. They love blasting through the creek crossings. I figured once I nailed down a date, I'd shoot you an invitation.
Member II
