Subaru Specialty Projects
When Your Subaru Needs More Than a Typical Repair
We take on select larger projects that involve going through multiple systems, addressing years of wear or deferred repairs, mechanically overhauling an older vehicle, or planning a more complete restoration.
Every project is different. We start by learning about the vehicle, its current condition, and what you want to accomplish.
15+ Years
Subaru Experience
Bonded and Insured
Professional Protection
12-Month/12,000-Mile
Workmanship Warranty
Bismarck, North Dakota
Independent Specialty Shop
15+ Years
Subaru Experience
Bonded and Insured
Professional Protection
12-Month/12,000-Mile
Workmanship Warranty
Bismarck, North Dakota
Independent Specialty Shop
15+ Years
Subaru Experience
Bonded and Insured
Professional Protection
12-Month/12,000-Mile
Workmanship Warranty
Bismarck, North Dakota
Independent Specialty Shop
Older Subarus, Restorations & Custom Projects
For Projects That Go Beyond a Typical Repair
Some Subarus are projects by choice. You may have an older Subaru you want to completely go through, a vehicle you want to restore, or something custom you’ve been wanting to build. We take on select projects like these and help you plan the work from the beginning, handle the mechanical side in house, and coordinate body, paint, interior, or other outside work when it’s part of the overall project.
Older Subaru Overhauls
For older Subarus you want to put the time into and go through more completely. That can include the engine and drivetrain, suspension, steering, brakes, cooling system, leaks, maintenance, and other mechanical work throughout the vehicle.
Restoration Projects
If your plans extend beyond the mechanical side, we can help plan and coordinate the larger restoration. We perform the Subaru mechanical work in house and can coordinate body, paint, interior, and other specialty work with outside shops as needed.
Custom & Specialty Projects
Not every project fits into a normal repair or restoration. We also consider custom projects involving Subaru engines, drivetrains, components, or other Subaru related mechanical work.
If you have something unusual in mind, tell us what you're working on and what you're trying to accomplish.
Our Specialty Project Services
From Mechanical Overhauls to Complete Project Coordination.
Older Subaru Overhauls
This is for the owner who wants to put love into an older Subaru and go through it more completely.
We can assess the vehicle, work through what it needs mechanically, and put together a larger scope instead of treating every item as a separate project. How far we go depends on the vehicle and what you want from it when we're finished.
This can include...
✓ Engine repair, rebuilding, or replacement
✓ Transmission and drivetrain work
✓ Steering and suspension
✓ Brake system repairs and overhauls
✓ Cooling system
✓ Oil and fluid leaks
✓ Electrical and mechanical repairs
✓ Belts, hoses, mounts, bushings, and aging components
✓ Catching up on maintenance and fluids
✓ Replacing worn components throughout the vehicle
Restoration Projects
For a larger restoration, we can take responsibility for the Subaru mechanical side while also helping you plan how the other pieces of the project come together.
That may mean mechanically restoring the vehicle while preserving its current appearance, or it may be part of a much larger restoration involving the body, paint, interior, and other areas of the vehicle.
Depending on the project, this can include...
✓ Complete mechanical assessment and planning
✓ Engine and drivetrain restoration
✓ Steering, suspension, and brake systems
✓ Cooling and fuel systems
✓ Electrical repairs
✓ Mechanical seals, hoses, lines, and aging components
✓ Sourcing Subaru mechanical parts
✓ Planning work around body or restoration needs
✓ Coordinating body, paint, interior, and other specialty work when needed
Custom & Specialty Projects
Some projects don't fit into a normal repair, overhaul, restoration, or WRX/STI build.
We consider select custom projects involving Subaru vehicles, engines, drivetrains, and mechanical systems. These start with a conversation because what we can take on depends heavily on what you're building and what you need from us.
Examples may include...
✓ Subaru engine and drivetrain projects
✓ Engine swaps and conversions
✓ Custom mechanical configurations
✓ Subaru-powered projects
✓ Mechanical upgrades as part of a larger custom build
✓ Engine, cooling, fuel, drivetrain, or related system work
✓ Planning and coordinating the Subaru side of a larger project
✓ Other unusual Subaru projects considered individually
A Larger Project Starts With a Clear Plan
An older Subaru overhaul, restoration, or custom project can go in a lot of different directions. Before we start putting together a scope of work, we want to understand what you have, why you’re taking on the project, and what you want the vehicle to be when it’s finished.
For one owner, that may mean completely going through the mechanical side of an older Subaru so they can keep driving it for years. For another, it may mean restoring the vehicle much more completely. And for a custom project, the plan may be something that has never existed in factory form.
Once we know what you’re trying to accomplish, we can look at the vehicle itself and start working through what it will take to get there.
Know What You Want to Do?
Maybe you already know you want to completely overhaul your Baja, restore an older Subaru, swap a drivetrain, or take on a specific custom project.
Tell us what you have in mind. We can talk through the project, look at what you’re starting with, and determine what it will take to put the plan together.
Not Sure Yet?
That’s okay. You may know you want to keep the vehicle, bring it back, or do something more with it without knowing exactly how far to go or what should come first.
We can help you work through the options, look at the condition of the vehicle, and build the project around what you want to accomplish.
Ready to get moving?
We can help.
Understanding What We’re Starting With
Before we finalize the project, we go through the vehicle.
With an older Subaru, restoration, or custom project, what we plan on paper and what we find once we have the vehicle in front of us can be two different things.
Once the vehicle is here, we go through its current condition and the areas that matter to the project. That gives us a better picture of what has already been done, what needs attention, what can stay, and what may need to be addressed along the way.
From there, we can work with you to finalize the scope and decide how far you want to take the project before the larger work begins.
Your Subaru Gets You Where You Need to Go. Don't Let Mechanical Issues Hold You Back.
Building the Project Plan
No Two Specialty Projects Look the Same
Once we understand the condition of the vehicle and where you want to take it, we can start putting the project together. Not every older Subaru needs everything replaced, and not every restoration or custom project needs to happen the same way.
The scope depends on the vehicle, what you want from it when it’s finished, and how far you want to take the project.
What Needs to Be Done?
We start with the work the vehicle needs based on its current condition and anything that has to be addressed for the rest of the project to move forward.
What Do You Want to Do?
This is where your plans for the vehicle come in, whether that means a larger mechanical overhaul, restoring certain areas, changing the way the vehicle is set up, or taking on something completely custom.
What Makes Sense While We’re in There?
Larger projects often create opportunities to address related components while the vehicle is already apart. We’ll talk through those decisions with you rather than adding work without context.
What Needs to Be Coordinated?
If the project includes body, paint, interior, fabrication, machine work, or another specialty outside of what we perform in house, we determine how that work fits into the overall project and what needs to happen when.
Why Choose Dakota Subaru Experts
Some Subarus Need More Than a Repair Order.
Older cars, restorations, swaps, unusual builds, and one-off projects rarely follow a perfect repair manual from beginning to end.
Parts may be difficult to find. Previous work may need to be understood before anything new can happen. One decision can affect three others later in the project. And sometimes you don't know exactly what you're dealing with until the car starts coming apart.
That's why we take these projects selectively.
Our background with Subarus gives us a strong starting point, but specialty work also takes patience, research, planning, and the willingness to work through problems that don't have an off-the-shelf answer.
When we take one on, we want to understand the car, where it is now, and what the owner ultimately wants it to become.
Larger Projects Need Dedicated Focus & Time
We Take Specialty Projects on Selectively.
Older Subaru overhauls, restorations, and custom projects can require considerably more shop time, planning, parts sourcing, and coordination than a typical repair. Because of that, we take these projects on selectively based on the scope of the work and our availability.
Before we commit to a project, we'll talk through what you have in mind and determine whether it's something we're equipped to take on and can give the time it needs.
How a Specialty Project with Dakota Subaru Experts Works
What We Can Take On
What we take on depends on the car, its current setup, and what you’re looking to do. Some vehicles come to us for a few changes. Others come in for a much larger engine, drivetrain, or complete vehicle build.
Here are some of the areas we can help with...
Engine & Drivetrain
✓ Engine rebuilding and replacement
✓ Cylinder head and internal engine work
✓ Engine resealing
✓ Manual transmission and CVT work
✓ Clutches and flywheels
✓ Differentials, axles and drivetrain components
✓ Cooling system work
Chassis & Mechanical Systems
✓ Steering and suspension
✓ Struts, shocks and worn suspension components
✓ Wheel bearings and hubs
✓ Brake system repairs and overhauls
✓ Exhaust repairs
✓ Fuel system repairs
✓ Heating and A/C
Electrical, Maintenance & Aging Components
✓ Electrical diagnosis and repair
✓ Starting and charging systems
✓ Leaks, seals and gaskets
✓ Belts and hoses
✓ Fluids and maintenance
✓ Mounts, bushings and other aging components
✓ Catching up on deferred maintenance
Restoration & Custom Project Support
✓ Mechanical restoration
✓ Mechanical overhauls
✓ Parts sourcing and planning
✓ Subaru engine and drivetrain projects
✓ Select engine swaps and custom mechanical work
✓ Coordination with outside specialists when the project requires it
Have something different in mind?
Tell us what you’re working on and what you want to accomplish. We’ll talk through the project with you and figure out what it would take to bring it together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you mechanically overhaul older Subarus?
Yes. We take on select older Subarus for larger mechanical overhauls that may involve several systems throughout the vehicle. The scope depends on the condition of the Subaru and how far you want to take the project.
Do you offer complete Subaru restorations?
We can help plan and coordinate a larger restoration while handling the Subaru mechanical work in house. If the project includes body, paint, upholstery, or another specialty we don't perform ourselves, that work can be coordinated with the appropriate outside shop or specialist.
Do you perform bodywork and paint?
We do not perform bodywork or paint in house. When those services are part of an accepted restoration project, we can help coordinate that work as part of the larger plan.
Can you work on a Subaru that has been sitting for years?
Yes, depending on the vehicle and the project. Before deciding what it needs, we'll need to go through its current condition and determine what will be required to safely and properly bring it back.
Do you work on older and discontinued Subaru models?
Yes. We consider projects involving older and less common Subaru models. Parts availability becomes increasingly important as these vehicles age, so what is still available, what can be rebuilt, and what needs to be sourced used will be part of the planning.
Can you help source hard-to-find parts?
Yes. Parts sourcing can be part of the project, especially with older Subarus. Depending on the vehicle, that may include new, used, remanufactured, or rebuilt components.
Do you take on custom Subaru projects and swaps?
Selectively. We consider custom mechanical projects involving Subaru vehicles, engines, drivetrains, and components. Contact us with what you're working on and what you want to accomplish so we can determine whether it's a project we're equipped to take on.
We also take on select custom projects involving Subaru engines and drivetrains. One current in-house project is a Volkswagen Beetle with a Subaru engine swap, which we will document as the build progresses.
Tell Us About Your Project
Have an Older Subaru, Restoration or Something Custom in Mind?
Every specialty project starts with a conversation. Tell us what you have, what you know about the vehicle, and what you're hoping to do with it.
You don't need to have every detail figured out before reaching out. If the project looks like something we may be a good fit for, we'll talk through it with you and determine what the next step should be.
You bring us the idea. We'll build the plan together and take care of the work from there.
Request an appointment by filling out the form below, or reach us directly by calling or texting us at 701-401-5842.
Independent Specialty Service & Repair for Subaru vehicles.
Bismarck, North Dakota
Bonded & Insured
12-Month / 12,000-Mile Workmanship Warranty
Contact
1409 Lockheed Dr. #10
Bismarck, ND 58504
(701) 401-5842
[email protected]
Monday–Friday · 9:00 AM–6:00 PM
Saturday · 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
Sunday · CLOSED
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Disclaimer: Dakota Subaru Experts is an independent automotive repair business specializing in Subaru vehicles. We are not affiliated with, authorized by, sponsored by, endorsed by, or associated with Subaru of America, Inc. or Subaru Corporation. Subaru and related names, logos, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.