Link0demons Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 I have to say something: my name is Austin Jones, I am twenty two. I arrived in Fairbanks late August on a shoe string, and NEEDED wheels. I found someone on CL to buy a legacy with a broken timing assembly. I ended up begging him for a different car from his graveyard, it had to be a stick shift, running, and last a thousand miles, I said. He produced an old 1990 Loyale. The lifters knocked, belts squeaked, light lenses broken, leaky tires, and she was VERY clunky on the road. Odometer said 252K, he popped the hood to reveal a clearly worn CV axle on the passenger side, and a SPFI EA82 power plant. He showed me around to the driver seat. I got in it, the seat belt is stiff, and hardly works. A large note I had was that the clutch engages at the opposite end of the pedal, which was very awkward! Test drive revealed the engine has oil pressure issues, coolant seeps into one of the combustion chambers, The passenger ball joint was worn to the nub as well, and the whole wheel shook under any load. Only one window worked, no radio. I didn't care. It was perfect. Upon negotiating the final sale, I hear about how the car was his best friends, mothers. She bought it in Fairbanks and drove the thing from 1994 to 2009. The engine died, which is Where she sold it to whom I found. His history with the vehicle appears to be a rally. Him and the friend tried to kill this car. They put in an engine from a similar car that had died a different death, and They'd run it down as far as they were comfortable. They then parked it on his lot at the end of summer 2010. It sat, and sat. Until I happened upon it August 2015. We negotiated $500, and I got to keep the battery from his ford ranger. I sit here tonight typing to you idling in the driveway of my cabin, at 262,597 miles. I have to tell someone, because this car is a miracle. It's like driving the dead. The third day I owned the car, I took it from Fairbanks, to Homer and back. It did very well for not running in four years. I just had to add gas. It earned an oil change. Not long after, I had to go to anchorage and back. It was the second snow storm of the season, and I HAD to go that day. A plow truck threw a rock at the perfect time and smashed a hole in my windshield. NO penetration to the stock glass. I was going 75 downhill, the plow truck 55 up. The rock was about the size of a golf balI, it stays in the glovebox now. Overall, I got three thousand miles on nothing but fuel. As far as maintenance, I've changed the tires, coolant, and oil. Repairs? I've had to remove four dead mice from the air box, a month later; clean the tufts of hair from the MAF sensor. I finally broke the lower passenger ball joint at 255k. It happened when I Turned into a lot with a sharp bump down, And it popped out of the socket. I limped the car to a parking spot, wrote a note on the glass, and went to work. I eventually propped it from the bumper on a log, and had the thing rolling again in three days, balancing my work schedule. ALL clunking was gone. I did not know how severe the problem could be if the ball joint broke on the journeys to Homer and Anchorage. I cold soaked the car on Friday the thirteenth of November, it wouldn't start all day, I HAD to call for a jump start. The next week I hit a moose on gold stream road. Going 55, but it started crossing the road on the left. I slowed down ASAP and watched it cross the road. I would barely clear it, but I didn't notice the second one still in the middle of the road following the first. I squeezed my brakes a little harder and slid the car right, Impact inevitable. I did a J and hit the moose on the rear driver quarter panel at about 20 mph, coming to rest facing the wrong way on the shoulder. I looked back, both moose were gone. Nobody was around.... I turned back onto the road and headed to the laundry. It drove well, further Inspection revealed zero damage. No dents, scratches, not a thing! Im so mad I don't have evidence!! The heater blower motor died and I fixed it yesterday. Total, I've spent about a hundred bucks in actual parts. I still drive on that worn out half shaft, too! I drive this thing like a madman, because I am. I am VERY impressed with the performance of this platform, and I have personally tried hard to kill it myself. This soldier lives on to take the beating! Although I have not personally taken this car a hundred thousand miles, it's been around the block. I will never know how deep this one has gone, either. I feel I have to post here as a testament. and as more undeniable proof that these cars are nearly Indestructible. From this day forth, I shall respect this car for what it is and slowly return it to its former glory! Sincerely, -AMJ P.S photos coming soon, this is my first post. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR_Loyale Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 Nice testimonial. I have always been impressed with the low cost and reliability of the Loyales. With only basic maintenance you can have a reliable daily driver with decent fuel economy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dfoyl Posted November 24, 2015 Share Posted November 24, 2015 Great writing and background, but it just shows the madness in not requiring a RWC when cars change hands in AK... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Link0demons Posted November 25, 2015 Author Share Posted November 25, 2015 Sorry guys. I'm not sure how to post photos yet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Link0demons Posted November 25, 2015 Author Share Posted November 25, 2015 And, to seemingly illustrate your point, what's RWC? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Link0demons Posted December 3, 2015 Author Share Posted December 3, 2015 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Link0demons Posted December 3, 2015 Author Share Posted December 3, 2015 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Link0demons Posted December 3, 2015 Author Share Posted December 3, 2015 finally some photos for everyone. I'm too busy to wipe my own butt at times. Enjoy! She still rolls! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firstsubi Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 I thoroughly enjoyed reading that!, and enjoy your enthusiasm for the loyale! I'm glad people still treasure these cars. I live on the east coast so there aren't many around at all. But I'm driving my third one now. Everybody gives me such a hard time about it being my daily driver and my compassion for it but they've just never owned one to know why it's addicting. And when is it ever really dead? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Link0demons Posted December 11, 2015 Author Share Posted December 11, 2015 (edited) For my reference: 264,371 @ 12/1110w-30 does pour like honey when it's -15F.Oh! Last night: I'm headed to the bank, I'm the only one in the lot. Right as I come to a stop I see a red car, same thing I drive with a burnt out passenger light..... Pull into the lot. I get out as the car does a loop around the little island at the end. I go out to my hatchback, and the car pulls up next to me. "Nice car! He says." I have a headlight bulb for you! Was my reply. "Really? 9004?! Can I have it?" Yep. I let the door off my head and it slams shut. Only if, I can tell you the secret to how I fixed mine. "Oh? He says, how did you do it?" I proceeded to tell him, and gave the bulb. I told him I got my car for five hundred bucks, it's like driving the dead. "Me too!" I awkwardly lean in, and look at his mileage, Not bad. (191k) I'm at 264k. "Wow. That's awesome! Thank you again!" No problem, and happy Thursday! "Thanks!" He let the clutch go and we parted ways.What was that all about, life?! Subaru's rule Alaska. I see at least ten other drivers with my generation car each day. plenty of other older models of all makes still roam these streets... say a good half of the drivers here drive something 15 or older, very fun. Edited December 12, 2015 by Link0demons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Link0demons Posted December 12, 2015 Author Share Posted December 12, 2015 (edited) Well, true to my word: I've purchased a timing assembly/thermostat for this old engine. Installation will begin tommorow evening! Also, I got to contact the kid i bought the car from, and found out where "the oil is going". It seeps from the passenger valve cover, the oil pan, and the rear main seal at about a rate of a quart per 500 miles, ish. too bad i don't have facilities to swap engines, i'd totally make the drive to Knick recycling and grab a good used motor for $600 delivered to the back of my car. Just thinking out loud, old tinkerbell still starts right up at -20. yeah, i fix my steel at these temperatures too. it's great! makes the precision parts fit better. a torch helps, too. Also, going to try some 5W-20 motor oil. my car HATES 10w-30 in its current environment. i could tell the poor thing was complaining about how thick its blood was. Happy friday Ultimate subaru! Edited December 12, 2015 by Link0demons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maozebong Posted December 13, 2015 Share Posted December 13, 2015 you should use 0w30. that way its thick enough for hot operation. the latest and greatest 0w30 synthetic oils pour like hot 30wt. when its cold out you decrease the "w" number. never decrease the second number, only increase under hot weather. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subnz Posted December 13, 2015 Share Posted December 13, 2015 (edited) Nice 1 totally agree had 2 of these in earlier versions 86 and 88 GL wagons The best one was 86 GL EA82 MT D/R because of its simplicity and a better car ie non power steer, manual choke carb. single coil breakerless electronic distributor ignition. Probably one of the best cars ever owned for simplicity reliability robustness ease and cost to fix etc no issues. Wishing I still had it but rust put it off the road @ (24 years old) The only things had to replace was clutch and carb (which I stuffed) in 15 years of ownership and adding 125K miles from 1995 (95K miles) to 2009 (220K miles) still had plenty of life left in it - gave it to neighbour as needed new tyres / battery and thats all it was worth :-( Apart from the usual maintenance like cam belts etc tyres brakes spark plugs filters servicing batteries bulbs etc Not a fan of modern cars etc ecu tcu sensors managed fuel ignition systems etc more complex, components expensive, to diagnose / cost to fix. though have an 06 3.0R Outback and an 87 Brat :-) see pix on signiture links Edited December 13, 2015 by subnz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK aaron Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 did you buy it from an old man named jim by chance? he owns an auto glass shop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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