Subarule

It's definitely called a stabilizer bar. I got a good look at it yesterday when I was having my tires mounted on my newly-painted white spoke rims. The sway bar is something else, shaped differently from the stabilizer bar. I had the tech measure the stabilizer bar with his digital calipers and it's 18mm, just like what is for sale here at Subaru Parts Warehouse: http://https://www.trademotion.com/partlocator/index.cfm?action=getLocator&siteid=214327&chapter=ANL730&appSectionid=19&groupid=10023&subgroupid=20127&componentid=61764&make=32&model=Wagon&year=1986&catalogid=1

Never mind that part about me being in Portland. I realized it's not relevant to you.

I believe I have the identical vehicle to yours - 86' 1.8L EA82, Hitachi-carbed, non-feedback, on-demand 4WD GL wagon. Mine still has the original carb & set-up. I could take photos for you. I didn't see this thread until just now so it would have to be tomorrow. Hopefully it won't be raining all day, as seems to be typical. I am not all that far from Portland, if that is Portland OR & not Portland Maine. (50 miles)

I'd urge you to try the least expensive approach first: run some Marvel Mystery Oil through a couple of tanks of gas first, see if that reduces or makes the ticking noise go away. Just go by the directions on the MMO container. It worked for me.

Put these in a "how-to" manual!

I'd still like to have a definition of "good condition". Some rust? A little rust? No rust? 90% or more of the paint left? Near mint?

For about $2K or less you could get it running really sweet. And no loan/car payments. This is a prime case of "do the math".

Thanks for fixing the link. The link-making format on each forum I frequent seems to be different. I wonder what this means, precisely: "The white spoke 'Jackman' wheel is the most popular and famous Subaru Wheel. Fitted to BRATs, GL-10s, and optional on most models, this wheel appeared on nearly every model from the late 70s to the late 80s. Available in 13" only, there were three different styles. One was perfectly flat, and fitted to 70s vehicles and Gen1 BRAT. The other two were curved (as pictured) and fitted to early or late models. All came with the pictured center cap and the chrome trim ring was optional. These wheels are worth $100 EACH if in good condition." What are they considering to be "good condition"?

Good reference, worth bookmarking. http://http://www.prosubaru.com/tech/wheels.htm

If all these tips aren't in a "how to" manual, they should be. I'm learning a lot.

Someone did ask for them a while ago. I just PM'd him to see if he's still interested. Will let you know as soon as I know. I'm in the middle of some intensive house remodeling right now so the old rims will stay on my car until the demolition /reconstruction crew is done here --- I don't have any time to get the new & olds rims switched out.

Thank you. And I haven't done anything at all to my wagon that wasn't stock/standard issue. I go look at other '86 wagons I see for sale, thinking I'll buy one for parts, and I have never seen any in as nice shape as mine. For me to buy one for parts (seats, upholstery, carpeting, lights, etc.) it would have to be at least the condition mine is in, or better. I know they're out there, but they're never offered for sale.

I hate to spray paint, I always get a cramp in my hand from depressing that stupid button. Oh well, not any alternative.

I would have had mine powder coated but there isn't a powder coating place anywhere near me.

Scrap them! Horrors!! No way. And thank you again for them.

Nah, they didn't. I told the paint shop to match the original color but it seems to have gotten lost in the translation from office guy to the painter. But they'll look very spiffy when mounted.

Even though they're whiter than factory issue, I will be staying with the stock look (the way it came). I'm not fond of trim rings. I need to clean up my Subaru wheel caps.

[quote name='crash321;798691 ]Just takes practice. Use a good quality mask tape made for automotive paint. Also a sharp exacto knife will help greatly too with getting the tape to do what you want it to do. What I do is mask with a thinner tape like 3/8 inch and then when all the detail is done I take newsprint (I too am a cheap bastard) and a wider tape and cover up what I do not want paint on. When you remove the tape' date=' always pull away from the work at a 90 degree angle, other wise your paint may come with it [/quote'] Thank you - excellent tips!

Here are the photos. They painted the rims more white-white than I actually wanted but that's OK, it won't take them long to become off-white. http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f69/justactnormal/Subaru/RIMS_1.jpg http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f69/justactnormal/Subaru/RIMS_2.jpg http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f69/justactnormal/Subaru/RIMS_5.jpg http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f69/justactnormal/Subaru/RIMS_6.jpg

Oh, I already have brand new ones. Just wondering what I should do with the old ones. Into the scrap metal pile?

Most of the metal trim (that was originally black) cannot come off the car to be spray painted. I don't know how to use a spray to get it black again. I'm lousy at masking off to paint anything.

They're not on the car yet. The painting placed wrapped them up individually, in that nice foam wrapping material and then taped them closed. I just put them in the garage like that while I wait for tire a I ordered to come into the tire shop. I had 4 brand new Michelin Weatherwsie tires (80K mile warranty) put on in Oct. and some $*@%&! slashed one of them a week ago. But yes, I can get photos of them. They are truly beautiful now.

That may be a very dumb question. But I'll never know the answer if I don't ask.

_crayola_ was nice enough to give me a set of the original white spoke wheels awhile back, which I took to a big commercial steel painting place (they paint tractor trailer bodies) & had them sandblasted to get all the rust and old paint off, and then had them repainted to the original white with a high-glass acrylic paint. They look FANTASTIC!! Now I can replace my original ones that look their age (23 years old).

Thank you both very much.! I thought it would be convenient to have a good matte black that I could use on other bits of aluminum trim on the car (it looks like aluminum, anyway) that have shedded most of it their black.