tjZ06

I tried searching around but haven't found anything yet. What I need is something to help me while I comb the classifieds for a good candidate to build a "Woods Wagon" from. What I'm looking for is something that will tell me the motor, tranny (4 or 5-speed, D/R or not), induction (Carb or EFI), and other details for a given year Subi wagon. I'm not familiar w/ all the model designations so any help there would be great too. Were all Subis of this era AWD or 4WD, or were some FWD only? Would 4WD designate the D/R while AWD would just be full-time non-selectable? Or am I confused and there is no AWD, only FWD or 4WD models. Sorry for all the Qs and thanks for any help and/or links! -TJ

Maybe you missed my post, but one of my main reasons for asking is the 16hr (at 75mph) trip I take to Idaho several times a year. I'm not going to take back roads and go slower... 16hrs is long 'nough as it is. -TJ

All in all that's not too bad, about what my current daily driver does ('89 MazDUH B2200 w/ 185k hard miles). It gets about 22-25mpg on an average tank depending on what's in the bed and the city/freeway mix. It'll hold 75 in 5th but any grade means slowing to 65 and 4th. And it takes it's time about getting to 75. But it doesn't bother me. As long as the EA wouldn't be any worse I'd be okay. My main reason for asking is because I'll be taking this rig (assuming I buy and build one) to Idaho 2-3 times a year which is a ~16hr drive at 75mph w/ a few gas/piss stops. Obviously I want to get decent mileage on a drive that long and it'd be very tedious going 55 the whole way. And once I get to Idaho you better believe roads won't be considered. The last hour to my cabin is all on a dirt road and once I'm there there's plenty of places to play. You know the screwiest thing of all? My 428RWHP Z06 gets mid to high 20mpg on the freeway and that's considered pretty bad for a C5. Thanks for the input everybody! -TJ

...with a 4" lift and 29" SSRs as far as mileage, acceleration, and "comfortable" cruising speed? Will it hold 75mph and still get decent mileage? -TJ

I found a local seller listing a '88 Subaru Wagon. That's about it for details on the model. It supposedly has a good motor, exterior and interior but a shot tranny. Would all '88 Wagons be 4wd but just differing trannies? How much would I expect to spend on a D/R swap into it? Would this be carb or EFI? Thanks. -TJ

It's starting to sound like I should just do everything I can to this motor to get a bit more power out. Some minor lift and slightly bigger tires (too much and bigger and this thing isn't even going to move) along w/ some skid plates and stuff. Then I'm just going to beat the snot out of it. -TJ

I'm pretty new to the Subi world and I'm really startin' to dig these things. In a way they are the antithesis of my Z06. The Z06 has stupid power (428RWHP and gaining ), amazing dry-road handling and speed, and stereotypical good looks. The Subis are down on power, but make up for it w/ capability, utility (ppl/stuff space), and a very unique type of good looks. Lifted they have this demeanor which I just love. It's not your typical lifted full-size domestic pickup that really has very little ability off-road (too big to fit anywhere, and if it's late-model IRS sucks for a full-size) and they typical look. I was very into off-roading with some friends for a long time and we had some mean little Samis. I still might be acquiring my buddy's Samis for true, serious off roading. So what I want to build is a sort of daily driver vehicle (though I have a '89 MazDUH B2200 for that) that will be good for road trips too (my family owns a cabin in Idaho which is a 16 hour drive for me). I want reasonable off-road capability, and the pervy lifted Subi look. What's the best year and model to start with? Which has the most power, strongest running gear etc. What are the known issues year to year. Oh, and yes this will be a budget build. I still want some $ to spend on my '79 Subi 4wd Wagon I bought the other day. -TJ PS- Yeah, I sort of have a problem with collecting too many vehicles.

I figured it was solid front/back since it seemed to behave that way and the selector wouldn't make much sense if it was open anyway. And yes... I know not to weld the front diff... I have a fair 'mount of wheeling experience in Samis. Thanks for the info. on the EA81T trans stuff though! -TJ

Sure, PM me the details. I'm pretty interested depending on price. All the custom half-shafts and drive-shafts to do the tranny too will probably push this beyond what I'm willing to spend though. But I'll certainly look into it further. But if the motor will bolt up to my existing 4-speed I'd be all about that swap. I'm not worried so much about freeway cruiseability since I'll take it out on the street on occasion for pure perv-factor it'll get trailered to RallyXs so I can live w/ the 4-speed. Though if the center diff is open that sorta blows. I wonder if I can do a Lincoln Locker (aka weld the diff up solid, locked all the time) on the center diff. Hmm. So I guess my question is this: will the EA81T bold up to my current bell-housing and which clutch/pressure-plate flywheel would I need to use (EA71 or EA81T)? I'm not worried about the metal work, mounts, intake and exhaust hookups, wiring etc. Just will it bolt to my tranny. Thanks. -TJ

As the title says what can I swap into my '79 4wd Wagon. Emmisions and some custom fabrication are not a concern. But I don't want to be buying custom half-shafts, drive-shafts etc. I'm only looking for around 100hp so I'm not greedy. It'd be nice to bring a LSD and 5-speed along with the deal too. I, of course, want to retain 4wd. Thanks for any advice! -TJ

I don't mind sectioning the intake, or just building a custom unit for something like dual webers if need-be. Right now I'm leaning towards the motor swap idea much more though. -TJ

It already passed. Blew pretty clean too. So I'm free 'n clear on that for 2 years. I figure I'll say "forget emissions" now since in 2 years I doubt I'll want it as a street car. Though I'm already growing rather attached to this thing!?! -TJ

PM me all details please. Will this motor bolt up? What fab work do I need to do (my friends and I can handle lots, just want to know what's in store). Is this EFI or carbed. This would give me the power AND front LSD right? Then I just need a rear LSD swap to rock 'n roll? -TJ

We're towing it to our shop today (expired tags and the dragging brake prevent the ~50 miles drive) so if I can get my hands on a digi-cam (every time I'm going to buy one I go do something like buy a Subi instead ) I'll have some pics from top 'n bottom. BTW, where would I source LSDs for it? What year/model do they come from? Assuming a non-emmisions build is 100hp ever possible? What I'm considering is pulling a head and claying for piston to valve clearance. Once I've determined how much I can mill off the head without running into P-to-V problems I'll try for a mill to bump the measly 8.5:1 compresion closer to 10:1 if I plan for 91 or as high as I can get it "safely" if I plan on "the good stuff." Is there a cam I can swap into the motor? Say a EA81 cam if it'd bolt up? How much more lift does it have? Will the EA71 valve springs support that lift? Would I be better off just swapping on EA81 heads? Do they even bolt up? What's a good source for the Weber 32/36? Etc. Etc. Etc. -TJ PS- Looking at your sig it sounds like you have a lot of nice rust-free Subis. Well this one is certainly not rust free, I doubt it would have been "the right buy" for you. I'm going to make a patch panel to replace the lower frew inches of the pass. front driver door (right below the natural body crease) and there's a few little holes I'll need to cut 'n patch. Then there's plenty of lighter stuff to sand, Por15 and fill. Then she'll get a full respray (ralley theme). I'd say it's not a good restoration platform, but for Rallying around in the dirt it'll work just fine.

NOTE: If you'd rather not read the background story skip to the next NOTE. Let me preface this post with a little about myself. I'm an avid AutoXer, and will be taking up track-days at local Road Courses come spring. My "fun" car is a highly moddified '02 Z06 Corvette. It's currently putting down 428RWHP and 402 RWTQ, though I have parts sitting next to me as I type that should push both figure up by 10-15. The car has suspension and chassis mods as well, and is corner weighted and otherwise dialed in for its tasks. It's an amazing car, and does a lot of things well. But there's some strange part inside of me that isn't wholey satisfied. So I was sitting around with a friend of mine, either a) still drunk from the night before or in a hung-over fog. Either way, we're dicussing a new car for my girlfriend. She and I both have cabins (well, our families do, but we have access) but neither of us have a vehicle to take us there (ever to mine in Idaho, in the winter months to hers outside of Tahoe). I have a '89 MazDUH B2200 for a daily driver and she has a '95 Saturn SC2. So my suggestion for her was to find a reasonable deal on a used Outback. So my buddy Jason looks around on craig's list just to see what the market is like and finds this: For sale about 10 minutes from his place where we're chilling. Obviously not anything for the GF... but we decide we have to call the guy and take a look at it. About 2 hours and $485 dolars later it's ours. NOTE: If you skipped the story, begin here. It's a '79 Wagon w/ 4wd... the seller said the old lady he got it from called it a 1200 GL. Hell if I know if that's accurate. EVERYTHING WORKS. It's insane (it was last reg. in '99) every light, switch etc. works. The only mechanical issue I had was a dragging front right caliper, surely just frozen up from sitting. Other than that it's a complete DOG. And I'm not just saying that since I'm spoiled by a 428RWHP Z06. My MazDUH DD is certainly no race-car and it's smoke this thing. I know the dragging brake wasn't helping but it'd certainly not the only culprit. My guesses to the cause are 1) 6 year old gas 2) it needs a full-on tune-up 3) it only had what, 65hp to start. Anyway, the plan for the car is to go RallyXing. Neither Jason (the co-buyer) or I had a suitable vehicle (I have the Zoh, he rocks a LS1/T56 swapped FD RX7)... untill now. So what can I do to this thing to make it more competent in every way ON THE CHEAP. Motor swaps? Mods to this motor? Suspension? What year Subis can I snag larger wheels off of? I forsee trouble finding cheap (used) knobby tires for a 13" rim. Etc. Etc. Etc. I'd like to discuss two routes. Either keeping it smog/street legal so I can still fool around with it on the street for the hell of it, or f-it-all balls to the wall Rally build. Both would be el-cheapo of course. And if I choose the later I have the skills/shop/tools to build my own cage, shock hoops and such. Rebuild or swap the motor. Do some basic head porting. And things along those lines. Sorry for the novel, and thanks for any help! -TJ PS- The Z06 for ************s 'n giggles...