new to me 1998 Brighton legacy
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new to me 1998 Brighton legacy
So I'm picking up a Brighton with 65K miles this weekend and was wondering what kind of upgrades I could do on this base model. I don't mind the manual windows and locks but was looking for;
-a stereo upgrade (specs say it has only 2 speakers! is it prewired for more?)
-Rims/tires, are stock outback or GT (love teh OEMs) rims a bolt-on?
-noticed its missing rear headrests, can ones be added? (how about from a newer generation subaru, i see them for sale all the time)
-I noticed for CA spec 2.2L it says timming belt change isn't until 105K miles, any problems with people waiting that long (I imagine since its a 16v there would be damage if it broke)?
well thats all I can think of for now, its my first subbie and I think I got a pretty good deal so wish me luck,
-a stereo upgrade (specs say it has only 2 speakers! is it prewired for more?)
-Rims/tires, are stock outback or GT (love teh OEMs) rims a bolt-on?
-noticed its missing rear headrests, can ones be added? (how about from a newer generation subaru, i see them for sale all the time)
-I noticed for CA spec 2.2L it says timming belt change isn't until 105K miles, any problems with people waiting that long (I imagine since its a 16v there would be damage if it broke)?
well thats all I can think of for now, its my first subbie and I think I got a pretty good deal so wish me luck,
Rims from the Outback, GT, 2.5RS, WRX, etc. should all bolt on.
Don't know about the headrests, but I would assume you should be able to find ones you want from a junkyard. You might have to test fit to see if they fit, though.
I would also recomend some brakes, possibly. IIRC, the Brightons had very small brakes.
Don't know about the headrests, but I would assume you should be able to find ones you want from a junkyard. You might have to test fit to see if they fit, though.
I would also recomend some brakes, possibly. IIRC, the Brightons had very small brakes.
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noaha - just bought a 99 brighton myself
hope you have good luck with it. my clutch is slipping and my speedometer stopped working within the last couple days. however, i am talking to the dealership i bought it from and it looks like they might take care of it.
I'm curious about the timing belt as well, mine isn't a CA spec. I think the timing belt on mine should be changed at 60k. My car has 67k on it. So, far I have read that the engine will and won't be damaged if the belt breaks. So, I can't help you there.
You might also want to think about adding a tach - I am going to look into this. I am pretty sure it is just a matter of adding in the tach part, there is a gap for it with a blank panel in its place already.
As far as the breaks go, the Brightons have rear drums. Which isn't as big as a deal as everyone makes it out to be. The front breaks are 10.1" disks which I think are the same size as all other legacies.
hope you have good luck with it. my clutch is slipping and my speedometer stopped working within the last couple days. however, i am talking to the dealership i bought it from and it looks like they might take care of it.
I'm curious about the timing belt as well, mine isn't a CA spec. I think the timing belt on mine should be changed at 60k. My car has 67k on it. So, far I have read that the engine will and won't be damaged if the belt breaks. So, I can't help you there.
You might also want to think about adding a tach - I am going to look into this. I am pretty sure it is just a matter of adding in the tach part, there is a gap for it with a blank panel in its place already.
As far as the breaks go, the Brightons have rear drums. Which isn't as big as a deal as everyone makes it out to be. The front breaks are 10.1" disks which I think are the same size as all other legacies.
NASIOC Slut
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,723
From: Roseville, CA
Car Info: 1995 Subaru Impreza 1.8 L
Alot of that generation legacy upgrades are related to Impreza upgrades, minus the swaybars. You can use Impreza suspension parts and such, and the same with engine mods. Basically, everything but body kits and swaybars you can relate to Impreza modifications for the car.
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Originally Posted by planet01
noaha - just bought a 99 brighton myself
hope you have good luck with it. my clutch is slipping and my speedometer stopped working within the last couple days. however, i am talking to the dealership i bought it from and it looks like they might take care of it.
I'm curious about the timing belt as well, mine isn't a CA spec. I think the timing belt on mine should be changed at 60k. My car has 67k on it. So, far I have read that the engine will and won't be damaged if the belt breaks. So, I can't help you there.
You might also want to think about adding a tach - I am going to look into this. I am pretty sure it is just a matter of adding in the tach part, there is a gap for it with a blank panel in its place already.
As far as the breaks go, the Brightons have rear drums. Which isn't as big as a deal as everyone makes it out to be. The front breaks are 10.1" disks which I think are the same size as all other legacies.
hope you have good luck with it. my clutch is slipping and my speedometer stopped working within the last couple days. however, i am talking to the dealership i bought it from and it looks like they might take care of it.
I'm curious about the timing belt as well, mine isn't a CA spec. I think the timing belt on mine should be changed at 60k. My car has 67k on it. So, far I have read that the engine will and won't be damaged if the belt breaks. So, I can't help you there.
You might also want to think about adding a tach - I am going to look into this. I am pretty sure it is just a matter of adding in the tach part, there is a gap for it with a blank panel in its place already.
As far as the breaks go, the Brightons have rear drums. Which isn't as big as a deal as everyone makes it out to be. The front breaks are 10.1" disks which I think are the same size as all other legacies.
but after some research seems like that has some advantages (such as 90/10 split on power) which leads to similar mileage as the stick. The car is in pretty good shape except supposedly the aftermarket alarm keeps blowing the backlighting fuse so I'll have to look into that some more. Adding a tach in the future would be nice as well! though not as useful i guess for the auto. Brakes seem okay, no ABS but i'm not planning on driving crazy in this thing. As far as the T-belt after doing some research it seems the CA-spec and Fed-spec 2.2l are the same, just that CA needs a longer maintance free emissions warranty (which the belt could be related too) so they seem to extend the milaege arbitraraly. Also it appears the 2.2l SOHC is non-interference unlike the 2.5l so I don't have to worry as much about the belt going out on me. Oh well all is good for now, its missing a hubcap but I'm hoping to find some GT rims to but on it eventually :P
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 110
From: Natick, Massachusetts
Car Info: 1999 Subaru Legacy GT Limited - Quick Silver Metallic
Seriously -
From the Brighton to the GT - pretty much all the '95 to '99 Subaru Legacy seats suck. Worring about a minor detail like headrests is silly... look for someone selling WRX seats - those seats are excellent. Very comfortable - although you will sit slightly higher up... Not having a sun roof, you SHOULD have plenty of headroom so that shouldnt be an issue (unlike me in my GT LTD with a moon roof that has only marginal headroom).
The stock Legacy GT wheels are very nice looking, but they are a real pain to keep clean. the 15" Legacy "L" Alloy wheels are much easier to keep clean AND they are much stronger. Almost everyone who has a set of GT wheels has at some point managed to damage at least one wheel. Another option would be the Stock WRX wheels - very strong, not bad looking, easy to clean and they are big enough to do a "WRX brake upgrade", should you opt for serious stopping performance. Also lots of folks with WRX opt out for a set of aftermarket wheels/tyres, so its fairly easy to find someone selling a set of WRX wheels fairly cheaply.
The 2.2 Litre motor with the slush box is some what gutless, although the engine is generally highly reliable as long as you have the regular maintenance work done.
Depending on how much upgrade money you wish to spend, doing a WRX brake upgrade and maybe a set of H&R springs (or maybe used Legacy or '98 - 2000 RS springs & struts) might be feasible, although not nessasary.
If it were me I would opt for a set of WRX seats, maybe a set of WRX tyres & wheels, and a stereo upgrade first before doing over the suspension & brakes.
From the Brighton to the GT - pretty much all the '95 to '99 Subaru Legacy seats suck. Worring about a minor detail like headrests is silly... look for someone selling WRX seats - those seats are excellent. Very comfortable - although you will sit slightly higher up... Not having a sun roof, you SHOULD have plenty of headroom so that shouldnt be an issue (unlike me in my GT LTD with a moon roof that has only marginal headroom).
The stock Legacy GT wheels are very nice looking, but they are a real pain to keep clean. the 15" Legacy "L" Alloy wheels are much easier to keep clean AND they are much stronger. Almost everyone who has a set of GT wheels has at some point managed to damage at least one wheel. Another option would be the Stock WRX wheels - very strong, not bad looking, easy to clean and they are big enough to do a "WRX brake upgrade", should you opt for serious stopping performance. Also lots of folks with WRX opt out for a set of aftermarket wheels/tyres, so its fairly easy to find someone selling a set of WRX wheels fairly cheaply.
The 2.2 Litre motor with the slush box is some what gutless, although the engine is generally highly reliable as long as you have the regular maintenance work done.
Depending on how much upgrade money you wish to spend, doing a WRX brake upgrade and maybe a set of H&R springs (or maybe used Legacy or '98 - 2000 RS springs & struts) might be feasible, although not nessasary.
If it were me I would opt for a set of WRX seats, maybe a set of WRX tyres & wheels, and a stereo upgrade first before doing over the suspension & brakes.
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yeah, my first mods, at whatever time i get the money free to do them are seats and wheels. suspension is definately next, and that will probably be it, i'm not going to bother to try to fool myself about squeezing a ton of power out of th 2.2
What about the MOMO steering wheel from the WRX? Would that swap right on over?
What about the MOMO steering wheel from the WRX? Would that swap right on over?
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Mods for 1998 Brighton Wagon
Thought I'd post the current/planned mods for my wagon just FYI
There is not a whole lot available for the legacy Wagon, and it takes a lot of filtering on the forums (NASIOC, etc) to figure out what is truth vs just talk.
Interior:
-WRX front seats (ebay purchase, bolt right in, though you use one less bolt for the WRX seats. You need to keep your seat belt buckle. WRX seats sit noticeably higher, and weigh about much more and are much firmer)
-Greddy Counter Weight shifter **** (specific for subarus, screws right on, no boot clip, heavy feel, small size. Looks nice, sits lower than stock, metal so gets cold in winter, hot in summer)
planned WRX pedals (silver with black accent, $40 from subaru parts.com. Scooby mods has tutorial for installing them)
Planned - Kartboy short throw shifter/shifter bushing
Suspension
-Stock WRX wheels and tires (screaming ebay deal, bolt right on, no change for spedometer needed. Huge supply on ebay from all the WRXs upgrading to bling wheels. Makes big difference off the bat compared to my stock 14"s)
Planned
-IPD rear sway bar/endlinks/mounts - (incredible price for whole kit. on sale $147 direct from IPD or also rallitek has them.
-KYB-GR2 Struts specific for Legacy
-Whiteline Control springs specific for Legacy wagon ( PDM racing, supposed to be minimal drop)
Ceramic brake pads
From the hours I've spent searching forums, the above seemed the best bang4buck mods for the Legacy Wagon for interior and suspension.
Engine mods that 'may' be performed include the Borla Headers, Ganzflow or GP moto air intake and a catback exhaust. But from what I've read the benefits will not be much with the 2.2L engine. Dream is to get a wrx motor swap.
There is not a whole lot available for the legacy Wagon, and it takes a lot of filtering on the forums (NASIOC, etc) to figure out what is truth vs just talk.
Interior:
-WRX front seats (ebay purchase, bolt right in, though you use one less bolt for the WRX seats. You need to keep your seat belt buckle. WRX seats sit noticeably higher, and weigh about much more and are much firmer)
-Greddy Counter Weight shifter **** (specific for subarus, screws right on, no boot clip, heavy feel, small size. Looks nice, sits lower than stock, metal so gets cold in winter, hot in summer)
planned WRX pedals (silver with black accent, $40 from subaru parts.com. Scooby mods has tutorial for installing them)
Planned - Kartboy short throw shifter/shifter bushing
Suspension
-Stock WRX wheels and tires (screaming ebay deal, bolt right on, no change for spedometer needed. Huge supply on ebay from all the WRXs upgrading to bling wheels. Makes big difference off the bat compared to my stock 14"s)
Planned
-IPD rear sway bar/endlinks/mounts - (incredible price for whole kit. on sale $147 direct from IPD or also rallitek has them.
-KYB-GR2 Struts specific for Legacy
-Whiteline Control springs specific for Legacy wagon ( PDM racing, supposed to be minimal drop)
Ceramic brake pads
From the hours I've spent searching forums, the above seemed the best bang4buck mods for the Legacy Wagon for interior and suspension.
Engine mods that 'may' be performed include the Borla Headers, Ganzflow or GP moto air intake and a catback exhaust. But from what I've read the benefits will not be much with the 2.2L engine. Dream is to get a wrx motor swap.
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