Fine Line Imports project 08 FXT

[Fine Line Imports]

I purchased my 2008 Forester XT sports a few months before the new 2009 models came out. After having owned a 2002 WRX that was heavily modified I thought going with something a little more low key and different would be fun. When I was looking into the Foresters I thought to my self when I get this car I am going to leave it mostly stock. That idea lasted a whole five minutes after driving off the dealership lot. On the way home I started thinking the suspension is to soft, its not fast enough, it needs some wheels and from there on it all went down hill.

My goal with the Forester was to have the best daily driven street car I could build while not resorting to built engines or crazy suspension. I wanted something everyone could drive and enjoy being driven in. I started out with simple and effective mods to make the car a more rounded car and cure some of the pitfalls the Forester has from the factory.

I do not have any pictures of it stock but I do have quiet a few pictures of the 6-speed swap. All my other mods will have more detailed pictures that I can share.

Engine:
Cobb Access Port
Cobb catless downpipe
Cobb cat back
APS TMIC
APS BOV
Odyssey PC680
Tomei equal length header
Tomei up-pipe
VF-39

Drivetrain:
JDM STI 6 speed tranny
R180 rear end
Cobb short shifter
Kartboy shifter bushings
Exedy twin plate clutch
ARP extended wheel studs

Suspension:
07 WRX shocks
Prodrive springs
Cobb front and rear sway bar
Cobb adjustable sway bar mounts
Karboy botox bolts
Kartboy outrigger bushings
STI lateral links
Group-N trailing arm bushings
Cusco rear strut bar
GT spec fender braces
Prodrive 18x8 GC10 wheels with 225-45-18 Dunlop DZ101 tires

Brakes:
Front and rear Brembo calipers
Front FLI two piece rotors (5lb lighter per corner)
Pagid brake pads front and rear
COBB ss lines
STI master cylinder


My FXT lowered with Prodrive GC10 Wheels










After the wheels and lowering it was time for a turbo back and tune with a Cobb access port on our in house Mustang Dyno.


Even though stage two was a big jump up from stock I was still left wanting more power. I then picked up a VF39, APS top mount and Tomei header for the FXT. After it was installed we put the Forester back on the Dyno for a retune.




The power of the VF39 was perfect for me and to this day I am happy with how much power the car has. I will most likely brake down in the future and go bigger but not for a while. What I always wanted since I had my WRX was a STI drive train. I really liked the way the 6 speed felt and how much power it could hold but never was able to part with the money in order to pick one up. As luck would have it I found one on accident from a Japanese Version 7 STi with suretrack for a great deal and I could not pass it up. So with the tranny and brakes sourced it was time to get to work.


The Version 7 6-speed



No more 5 speed



The Brembos came in some sorry shape so we tore then down and rebuilt them.


New silver paint job.



A stack of goodies waiting to be installed.

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[Fine Line Imports]

The rear hub and brake assembly all gone



Rear e-brake assembly all apart



Rear hubs and uprights back on with the ARP studs pressed in and rear rotor on


The rear brakes all done and ready to be used




The new cool FLI two piece rotors and pads




Front rotors and calipers on and looking good



All done and ready to roll


Cobb short shifter in and you can see the bottom part of my JDM Forester black dash




Random shot of the Exedy twin plate clutch and flywheel



Rear STI lateral links installed

[Fine Line Imports]

GT spec fender braces



JDM Forester STI dash



Engine bay shot



All clean and looking good









More to come soon

[topshark04]

This is hotness in the making!

[SignalWRX]

Very Clean!

[ADAS1223]

WOW thats a clean setup right therr

[banjabi]

came out great! i love foresters.

[whatishe]

HOT, really lovin it. Nice work.

[jdmeg693]

that is one sick ride

[wrxtremeWGN]

awesome fsxt! and very tastefully modded! everything looks so good...

more info on the tranny swap, could you PM me every part you needed

[fzel07wrx]

some nice modifications you've installed there. looks great!!

[stentorian]

That's hot!
-Joe

[PROGress]

I want one exactly like this some day. So sick brotha...keep up the great work.

[flystiguy14]

Why'd you go with the twin plate? Isn't that a little overkill?

[Fine Line Imports]

Originally Posted by wrxtremeWGN

awesome fsxt! and very tastefully modded! everything looks so good...

more info on the tranny swap, could you PM me every part you needed

Shoot me a call at the shop at 707-525-1536 and ask for Ryan and Ill go over everything with you. Its easier to go over on the phone then over PM

Ryan

[Fine Line Imports]

Originally Posted by flystiguy14

Why'd you go with the twin plate? Isn't that a little overkill?

Well knowing me I will be wanting more power soon so I wanted to make sure I would not have to upgrade it in the future.


Ryan
Fine Line Imports

[25rsti]

nasty

[darksc00by]

Very nice FLI

I just took your sticker off my RS. sorrrrry.

You sold the previous owner of my car a V4 STi trans.
It was a great trans.

FXT looks AWESOME. I have always wanted one.

[Fine Line Imports]

Originally Posted by darksc00by

Very nice FLI

I just took your sticker off my RS. sorrrrry.

You sold the previous owner of my car a V4 STi trans.
It was a great trans.

FXT looks AWESOME. I have always wanted one.

I had a version 4 tranny in my bugeye I really liked the gearing. I have tons of stickers here at the shop time to through another one on your car.


Ryan

[puertorck2]

that just sick nice forester

[thepigsti]

Really nice, right when I was starting to think my STi was the last car I will ever need.

[stikid2005]

should went with the six pots in the front...haha just kidding! very very nice

[rexxx]

theres a bruise on the bottom of my chin my jaw dropped so hard. beautiful*tear*

[kpSTi]

I don't know why, but I want an '08 Forester just like yours so damn bad. Your car is truly perfection. Mine would be a WRB FXT with gold Prodrives and Brembos. You really need to take some better hi-res pictures. How much are you into your car?

[Fine Line Imports]

Originally Posted by kpSTi

I don't know why, but I want an '08 Forester just like yours so damn bad. Your car is truly perfection. Mine would be a WRB FXT with gold Prodrives and Brembos. You really need to take some better hi-res pictures. How much are you into your car?

My last car was a WRB WRX and when I started to look for the Forester I really wanted that color again with gold wheels. For some reason though I could not find a manual in my area at all it seemed like this was the only one of could find within 150 miles. I got a great deal on it and could not pass it up.