6 replies to this topic

[backcountrycrui]

First off sorry for the long post. :-\So I used a couple of web pages to run

the vin on my 86 gl. Vin is JF2AN53BXGE430049. On a couple of the pages

it came up as a turbo GL. It is certainly not a turbo any longer. I was

suprised to see that because, when I went to Rob's for a little help timing it,

we noticed a small pressure switch on the passenger fenderwell. It was

making an anoying clicking noise from time to time. On the switch it said

something about "turbo pressure switch". We discused wether or not there

was any badging that would indicate if it were once a turbo car, and there is

none. All badging is the GL type, no GL 10 or TURBO. What is in it now is a

brand new rebuilt ea82 carbed engine. I havent noticed anything remaining

from a mpfi system. Given the fact that the PO who rebuilt the engine didnt

know how to set the timing on a subaru, I dont think he would know what to

do to swap in a carbed engine and computer. Im assuming that the

computer for a feed back carb is different than a turbo's? Is there any other

loose pieces left over that I should check for, or any problems to look out for.
Thanks
Mike

[The Beast I Drive]

Check the VIN on the firewall in the engine bay against the VIN on the dash, if they don't match then you have a problem, but if they do match then either you got a car that was supposed to be a Turbo, but the factory F-d up and made it carbed, or a previous owner before the one before you did the swap...

-Bill

[backcountrycrui]

And if they dont match then what would be the problem?
Thanks
Mike

[The Beast I Drive]

If they don't match then your car is illegal, both numbers have to match otherwise one has been swapped for some reason... Which is illegal. But if you don't have inspections in your county then it will prolly never be noticed

-Bill

[MilesFox]

yeah if the dash and door plate differ from the firewall, someone did a vin swap.

otherwise, someone may very well have swapped in a carb engine.

I have swapped a carb motor into a turbo. all i had to dp was change out the fuel pump, and connect the disty straight to the coil. the rest of the mpfi harness remained as loose plugs under the hood. Car ran normally, tach worked, but of course, the check engine light was on!

and by doing it this way, i was able to swap back in a turbo motor and plug it in like it was, and go back to the high pressure fuel pump.

go look at your fuel pump and see if there is evidence of it being swapped

the vin number you posted looks to be correct for a turbo

Subaru Vehicle Identification Decoder
Look up your vin number online
First 3 Digits
JF1 Passenger Vehicle
JF2 Multi-Purpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)

Fourth Digit Model Line
A Subaru XT and Loyale (L series)

K Subaru J Line

Fifth Digit Body Type
A Justy
B 4-dr 81-84
C 4-dr 85-89
F HatchBack 81-89
G 3-dr Coupe 86-89
K Touring Wagon 89
M Wagon 81-84
N Wagon 85-89
R Brat 81
T Brat 82-85
U Brat 86-87
W Hardtop 81-84
X XT 85-89, XT6 88-89

Sixth Digit Engine Type
1 1300
2 1600
3 1600 4wd
4 1800
5 1800 w/o air suspension
7 1800 4wd with air suspension
8 2700
9 2700 4wd with air suspension

Seventh Digit Model Designation
1 STD Hatchback
2 DL
3 GL 81-90, RS, Justy
4 GLF 81-82, GL-10 85-89, Xt6 88-89
5 86 Turbo, GL-10 Turbo 87-89, GL full-time 4wd 3-door 87
6 Turbo RX
7 GL Turbo 87-89

Eighth Digit Weight Class and Restraint Type
A Less then 3000 lbs GVWR
B 3001-4000 lbs GVWR with Passive Restraint
1 Less then 3000 lbs GVWR
2 3001-4000 lbs GVWR with Passive Restrain

Ninth Digit Check Digit

Tenth Digit Vehicle Model Year
A 4spd MT
B 5spd MT
C 3AT
D 4spd 4wd MT 81-84
D 5spd 4wd MT 85-89
E 4spd 4wd Dual Range MT 81-84, 85-89 Hatchback, 85-89 Brat
E 5spd 4wd Dual Range MT 85-89
F 3AT 4wd
G Full Time 4wd MT
H 4EAT Full Time 4wd
4 4spd 4wd 87 Hatchback

Last Digits
002001 & after Touring Wagon
100001 & after Hatchback
200001 & after 4 Door Sedan
300001 & after Hardtop 81,84, XT, XT6
400001 & after Wagon
500001 & after Brat
700001 & after Justy
800001 & after 3-Door
Subaru VIN code

Position Sample Description 1 4 World Manufacturer Identifier 2 S 3 4 4 B Line type 5 T Body style 6 6 Engine type 7 1 Model identifier 8 C Restraint type 9 X Check digit 10 3 Model year 11 7 Plant of manufacturer & transmission type 12 1 Sequential number 13 0 14 8 15 3 16 8 17 5
Line types

The line type is specified in character four of the Subaru VIN for passenger cars.
VIN Code Description A Alcyone/XT/XT6 B Legacy/Baja C Alcyone SVX G Impreza S Forester
Body styles

The body style is specified in character five of the Subaru VIN for passenger cars.
VIN Code Description C Impreza Sedan D Legacy Sedan E Legacy Sedan F Impreza & Forester Wagon G Legacy Wagon (Outback models) K Legacy Wagon M Impreza Coupe P Outback Wagon T Baja X XT/SVX Coupe
Engine types

The engine type is specified in character six of the Subaru VIN for passenger cars.
VIN Code Description 2 1800cc FWD 3 3300cc AWD 4 2200cc AWD 6 2500cc AWD 8 3000cc FWD
Models

The model is identified in character seven of the Subaru VIN for passenger cars.
VIN Code Description 1 Base 2 Brighton 3 L 5 LS/S 6 LSi 7 GT/RS 8 Outback/Sus 9 Postal Vehicle
Restraint types

The restraint type is specified as character eight of the Subaru VIN for passenger cars.
VIN Code Description 2 Automatic Seat Belt without Air Bag 5 Manual Seat Belt w/ Driver/Passenger Air Bags 6 Manual Seat Belt w/ Driver/Passenger Air Bags and Side Air Bags C Manual Seat Belt w/ Driver/Passenger, Curtain and Side Air Bags
Plants and transmission types

The plant and transmission type is specified in character eleven of the Subaru VIN for passenger cars.
VIN Code Plant Transmission 6 SIA AWD MT5 5/R 7 SIA AWD 4EAT 8 SIA AWD 4EAT (Postal) C FHI FWD 4EAT G FHI AWD MT5 5/R H FHI AWD 4EAT

• SIA=Subaru-Isuzu of America
• FHI=Fuji Heavy Industries

Subaru WMIs

WMI Country Description Vehicle Types JF1 Japan Fuji Heavy Industries Passenger Vehicle 4S3 USA Subaru-Isuzu of America Passenger Vehicle 4S4

[backcountrycrui]

OK so all the vins match. I guess they just changed out the engine. It

seems that the computer is plugged in to this engine, as it run rough and

without any power when I first start it. When the cel comes on 90 seconds

later it runs great and has good power. Sans a flat spot in the acceleration.

The fuel pump lookes like it has been replaced, but the po did replace a lot

of stuff. Guess I wont wory about it then.

Thanks for all the help
Mike

[MilesFox]

you should be confident to know that if you would ever want to 'convert from carb to turbo', a complete turbo ea82 would simply be plug and play, as long as none of the original connections have been chopped away. The MPFI harness from the car side is located under the overflow jug between the coil