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"Gina the purple wagon"


ycagelurabus
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post-33777-0-95405900-1384634699_thumb.jpgSo I've had this obsession with Subaru every since i got my hands on a little xt gl when i got my license.

It was really a piece. The hand cranks for the windows were cut off, and it only lasted me one summer in Yakima county wa very hot summer. The dash wash all broken the side pods were all messed but somehow i wired up a stereo and the windsheild wiper. Jumped her down a hill, kinda sent the radiator/fan into the timing belt. Junked it and a ol tempo, to buy my buddys 91 legacy. 

 

 

It was ALSO a piece, fat holes cut in the muffler, terrible two tone, wobbly axle?, and 343K miles. The engine though, he said it had a little over 80k miles. I drove the piss out of that car but didn't like driving it to far, decided i need a wagon!

 

Decided to buy one when i went to visit my dads on the west side of washington. Found one i really liked, 1992 233k miles, huge HID spotlights on the bumper, LED lights in the car, Ipike studded tires, studded tires, roofrack, ran well.

 

Got cheated, drove her back to yakima, started showing my friends the new ride, took a drive.

She over heated, started cooling back down again, so of course i knew it was an air pocket.

Burped it drove it for the rest of the night just fine, until i'm on my way home, and the alternator goes.

This all on new years 2 years back.

 

So in the morning i grabbed my alternator out of the 91 and put it in the wagon, she over heated getting it home, couldn't figure out why this time, so i rage quit on that engine and put my lower mileage engine in the wagon.

 

 

Thats pretty much were i am right now, she was dubbed Gina the purple wagon on a camping trip, i wasn't very happy about it, but it really stuck.

 

Enough of my Ru story, i've been reading up alot  on here and all of you guys have helped alot!

 

 

 

I haven't done much else to it yet, other then rear-end someone and crunch the HIDs.

But today I'll be replacing my brake pads/rotors with the powerstop ones i bought from rock auto, and my timing belt/pullys/tensioner with a gates kit. The gates kit says 90-93, but i think the ej in there might be a 94, theres no difference correct?

 

It may take me a few posts to figure out the pictures.

 

 

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Got the brake pads and rotors changed out, had to replace a caliper too. Got cut short and have to do the timing this weekend. Buddy of mine totaled his honda and our friend in the passanger seat shattered his femur. So i had to go see them.

 

 

The front drivers side has been making noise off and on though, mostly when i turn right a smidge. Took the pads off to get a second look and couldn't figure it out. Any ideas?

 

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posibly are you sure its not the trans..

because the wheel bearing ...you will know when that gos out no grind just popping and it feels like the wheel is going to pop off ....best way to tell jack up the car and try to shake the wheel if it shakes ..wheel bearing ...if not something else ...also try your rack n pinion they wine when theyre low on fluid or dieing ! 

speacially and if not always during turning

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There's no wobble in the wheel bearing, but my rack&pinion does knock when i hit certain bumps.

 

I could've sworn it was the brakes though cause i stuck my head out the window a bit and it sounded like like it was coming from that wheel. 

Thats the only corner i put a new caliper on too.

Can new pads/rotors make noise when they wear in?

Cause it didn't do it at all on my way home from work just now.

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Did the cam seals and timing today, I think I might be a tooth off cause I'm down on power, was to tired to try a re-do it tonight.

 

Is there any tricks or tips you guys have to make sure I do it right tomorrow? I've timed this engine around three times already and never got it wrong.

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could  very well be the brakes ...

i was just throwing out other options ...

as for the timing i cant help you ..i have never had to do mine therefore i wouldent know ...the way i figure things out is forums ...with the majority rules prespective ...i built my hole car that way lol

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  • 2 months later...

Hit a few curbs, messed up a few things. Luckily my moms letting me borrow her outback sedan for a week or two.

Popped one of my studded tires, so i gotta deal with that.

Thats the good news. The bad news,

Is that i almost popped another one, but instead it hit straight to rim and deffinetly bent some stuff.

Haven't had to chance to see what all happened cause it's surrounded by almost a foot of snow.

 

So on my grocery list i'm looking at new

-tie rods

-a control arm

-struts(wanted them anyway)

 

 

Really looking towards doing outback struts, but i don't really wanna mess with camber(unless its simple), or strain cvs.

Gimme some input, i probably won't get it into our buddys shop until saturday, so i have some decisions to make.

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  • 1 year later...

I've really been slacking on fixing all the things because i keep breaking stuff. A couple months ago i had the drivers front knuckle break at the lower ball joint and the cv destroyed itself, so i replaced all that and both front wheal bearings. Then a couple weeks ago i hit a basketball size rock driving down bethel ridge on a day hike.

I hit it with both passenger tires but it only popped the rear. 11038796_868513159881403_857813494900833c

 

Forgot i let my roommate use my jack so i didn't have it, improvising works. I got the tire replaced but now the front whealbearing is wobbling around a month after i replaced it. So i gotta do that but i think i'll just snag a knuckle from u-pull it.

My struts are tired and probably bent so it's about time i do that.

Plus i've got an atf leak that appeared to be from the pan gasket, so i replaced it and it's still leaking(might just need to torque it more, i went really easy on it not wanting to break the rubber gasket).

I wanna get this all sorted out soon for some camping and i wanna save for a newer car so i continue to beat the hell out of this thing.

If i get 96-99 struts from an outback and use my springs and top hats all i should need is rear camber bolts and the trailing arm brackets for now? Eventually i am gonna get the body spacers, but thats probably farther down the road as i need to replace some bushings and mounts probably(plenty of knocks over bumps and turns). I've got some pictures from over the years, i'll try to start from when i bought it.

 

400398_262134057185986_1650815318_n.jpg?

Previous owners picture.

154450_328732810526110_177462742_n.jpg?o

Lower milage engine i put into it.

 

392471_328733147192743_393095026_n.jpg?o

 

10489728_784537601612293_369186113981549

My first legacy.

 

1781951_777398595659527_6272548324236257

Almost flipped it down a valley side somewhere out in little naches.

 

1505532_658068670925854_1394407303_n.jpg

 

1459798_617128795019842_400473614_n.jpg?

Gates timing belt kit. I was a tooth off the first time i timed it lol

 

269312_493041400761916_1275988990_n.jpg?

Goodbye HID spotlights.

 

 

I also want to cut a half bumper and get a sign for a skidplate. Where could i acquire such things legally lol

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I truly enjoyed reading through this haha, I love the way we all McGuyver and it's not a big deal at all. Love these wagons, I may or may not be getting one soon. Funny you mentioned the sign thing, I have a huge sign in my garage that I've had forever and never thought of using it for a skid plate, so thanks!

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I knew it would work but my friend isn't very big or strong so i had to change it quickly.

I'm planning on buying some outback kyb struts but keeping backing out since it's my DD and want everything planned out to get it done in a weekend.

So all i'll need is rear camber bolts and the trailing arm brackets if i use my springs and tophats right?

 

Once it's all said and done it needs to be road worthy for trips down to oregon.

How can you tell if a motor/transmission mounts or other bushings are bad? They all appear to be in one peice but i've got plenty of gnarly sounds from turning and hitting bumps.

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You don't NEED rear camber bolts. There is enough adjustment in the lateral links to align it. The trailing arm brackets are a good idea, but again, aren't absolutely necessary, but will help to center the tires and fit bigger ones. If you plan on going with more than outback struts, than you definitely want the brackets.

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On a legacy the trailing arm brackets don't do nearly as much as the Impreza. Heartless has one she lifted and it's good to go. The trailing arm brackets would become more useful if you were maxing out tire sizes around 29inches. But with a decent 27 or 28 inch tire you wouldn't really need them.

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