"The X-II" 5-Wide Convertible Teardrop

[Robbie]

Haha it's going to look like a disco party in there!

That's a nice touch of originality! I'm excited to see how they look up in the trolley top!

[Deryk the Pirate]

Nothin wrong with causeing seizures lol...I love strobe lights lol

[absolutsnwbrdr]

Its definitely going to be different! But isn't that why we build these things in the first place?!

I'm planning on going to All Good next summer with some friends. I think the X-II will fit right in!

[Deryk the Pirate]

Zach, very tempting, but a week later Im goin out near there in slippery rock pa for a week and a half... unless I could leave my vardo at a friends house who lives out that way... hmmmmm.....

[absolutsnwbrdr]

I feel like I've been neglecting the X-II since I got sick a few weeks ago

But...

I finally picked up my two 4x10 sheets of 3/4" MDO! Wasn't cheap, but I didn't have to take off work and drive 2 hours to pick it up, so I'm happy.



Would love to get the profiles cut this weekend, but we'll see. I just bought a 1" lift kit for my Outback, so I'm hoping to take care of that this weekend too.

[Robbie]

Lifting your Outback huh?! Sweet! Subtle Solutions? Paranoid Fab? Jackson Rally? You'll love having the lift! I cut out a set of 1.25" thick HDPE spacers on the CNC machine at work and after getting it all installed I think I will lift every suby I have from here on out. I'm still planning on newer Forester suspension for another 1.5" of lift and then some BFG All-Terrains. Gonna look good Zach! Let me know if you have any questions about the install, I took a bunch of pics when I installed my spacers that might be of help to ya.

Robbie

[Kharn]

Zach,
Its good to see you're making progress; what's the going rate for 4x10 MDO?

[Mikeestep]

Lifting your Outback huh?! Sweet! Subtle Solutions? Paranoid Fab? Jackson Rally? You'll love having the lift! I cut out a set of 1.25" thick HDPE spacers on the CNC machine at work and after getting it all installed I think I will lift every suby I have from here on out. I'm still planning on newer Forester suspension for another 1.5" of lift and then some BFG All-Terrains. Gonna look good Zach! Let me know if you have any questions about the install, I took a bunch of pics when I installed my spacers that might be of help to ya.

Robbie

Sorry to get off topic
Has anyone seen Jackson Rallys builds? His wagon is incredible. He built a F-150 awhile back that was amazing.

[absolutsnwbrdr]

Lifting your Outback huh?! Sweet! Subtle Solutions? Paranoid Fab? Jackson Rally? You'll love having the lift! I cut out a set of 1.25" thick HDPE spacers on the CNC machine at work and after getting it all installed I think I will lift every suby I have from here on out. I'm still planning on newer Forester suspension for another 1.5" of lift and then some BFG All-Terrains. Gonna look good Zach! Let me know if you have any questions about the install, I took a bunch of pics when I installed my spacers that might be of help to ya.

Robbie

Went with Subtle Solutions 1" aluminum kit, plus 3/8" HPDE for the rear, and 1/4" HPDE for the front. We didn't have a spring compressor so the rear struts were a PITA!! We pulled the wheels off to do the front and noticed that my lower control arm bushings are about shot, so I decided to wait to do the spacers until I get new bushings. Then I can just get the car aligned after everything is installed. Didnt have long enough bolts to accommodate the additional 3/8" spacer on the rear, so this picture is only 1" lift in the rear.

Already riding higher than a Blazer

Zach,
Its good to see you're making progress; what's the going rate for 4x10 MDO?

I got a price of $98/sheet from a place called Industrial Plywood, but they are 2 hours from me, and not open on the weekends. So I contacted a local sign company, and they charged me $115/sheet. It cost more, but I didn't have to take off work and waste gas. In the grand scheme of the build, that little extra is a drop in the bucket.

Sorry to get off topic
Has anyone seen Jackson Rallys builds? His wagon is incredible. He built a F-150 awhile back that was amazing.

Not sure if I have... you got a link?

[Robbie]

Kyle Jackson over at JR does build some amazing vehicles! Here is a link to a WRX he is prepping for the Baja 1000.

http://www.dirtyimpreza.com/forums/show ... php?t=5162

And here is Kyle's personal wagon.

http://www.dirtyimpreza.com/forums/showthread.php?t=765

Sorry to jump off topic.

Are you planning on using the Little Guy doors again?

[SubaruDave]

Good to see some fellow Suby owners modding their cars a little. I'm getting coilovers for the summer and Forester Struts for the winter for some nice lift.

[absolutsnwbrdr]

That wagon is sick! I want a snorkel!!

I've read about people putting Forester struts and springs on their Outbacks. Would love to get a fully adjustable gravel suspension! This little bit of lift will do for now though




... and yeah Robbie, I already have a pair of the factory style doors sitting in my basement, waiting for a trailer to be built. They're expensive, but they look good and work well.

[Robbie]

They definitely do look good! I wish I didn't cut my doors out the way I did and went with the little guy doors! There's always next trailer though right? Lol.

[absolutsnwbrdr]

Great day to work on the teardrop! A little breezy and chilly, but the sun was out for most of the day. My roving workshop landed me at my parents house this morning, and my Dad watched over my shoulder while I laid out the side profile on the 4x10 MDO. Then we got to make some serious sawdust!

We cut out both sides, the lower galley bulkhead, and the galley shelf. I'm planning on applying the CPES to the endgrain of the MDO tomorrow, and then maybe starting some assembly on Monday.

[Oldragbaggers]

That is a very nice profile Zach. I'm glad you're feeling better.

Reading this journal makes me more aware than ever how scared I am to do the electrical. I have absolutely NO IDEA what all that stuff is. I will be endeavoring to keep it as simple as possible to give myself less opportunities to screw it up, but perhaps I should take a class at the community college next semester so I can at least understand the fundamentals.