'84 Flat-Four

I know. Tells you how badly I fell in love with it.. despite the rust. The entire inside and underside were POR15'd. Wonder what its hiding... The worst of it is this and the rockers... Welding patches are in order, but I was more inclined to braze..., if I have someone else do it, then most definitely going for the weld.

Thanks! It's not much to look at now but I'll get her to "impressive level" sooner or later. Once I get her running, i think bigger rims & tires and maybe a lift are in order. Indeed, the evil R is creeping on her. Rockers are pretty much toast, but saw thread re. Mill supply or something like that... got plans... I think I'm gonna keep the bullet hole:lol:

Correct, just cranking. After the carb cleaner/gas "treatment" i got a couple of backfires, one up front, one in the rear, seperate attempts. I definitely have a consistent spark. Not sure about the tach. Maybe this is a dumb ques. but how do you check timing without it running? It could have been exhaust related... why do you say? Since reading about FP replacement and seeing that a hammering banging sound would indicate FP failure, I gave it no more thought, esp. since it failed bench test once out.

When I got her, she drove me home under her own power. Ran well (well enough) for a week. Now she's dead and I can't get combustion… death while cruising (haven't posted about this issue yet)... While cruising at 60mph I heard a loud banging sound from underneath, by passenger's side rear wheel... fuel pump? She hesitated, then five seconds later died entirely, forcing me to coast to the side of the road and eventually get towed home. It was as though it ran out of gas. (had a full tank of fresh gas.) I replaced both fuel filters, and got a new pump. Old one was indeed bad. I thought it would crank right up... nope. I do have spark at the wire/plug junction; got new plugs; have fuel in the bowl… but it won't start up. After a little I poured a tad of gas into the carb... it still won’t start up. My next step was to rebuild the carb. It's a Hitachi. Since I don’t have a rebuild kit, and am broke as a joke, I followed the “emergency” re-build in How to Keep Your Subaru Alive. I discovered main top gasket was shot, “rubber boot” in accelerator pump torn but the float & needle seemed fine. I gave everything a bath in gas and followed up with carb cleaner in tough spots. Put ever together, and nothing. No combustion. Also, I don’t see gas when the throttle lever is actuated. Some nearby nosy neighbors suggest vacuum leak, others say it may have skipped timing (is that possible?)… I began to think about the gas tank and how I found rust in the filter in front of the fuel pump. But I have gas coming into the carb …? The hoses look good when looking for leaks, shot gasket=vacuum leak? I started to think that the new FP wasn’t pushing enough fuel. I began to think, well everything… all day long and its frustrating as all heck having no $ and just staring at it in my driveway. I am debating my next step…use my tax return to purchase a Weber 32/36 DGEV? I think the $ may arrive in the next week or so. Could this be the solution to all of my woes? (at least get her back on the road?) I really don't want to rebuild the Hitachi, but this would be the obvious cheaper way to go... $25 vs. $339... Please advise.

Hi all. I am new here, but have been posting here and there since I joined. Never really introduced myself. So I thought I'd post some pics... Here she is. My newly acquired 1984 GL 4-speed EA81. Picked her up for $500, complete with bullet hole. (i guess this is a teaser, cause I got problems, which I'll post about later...)

Thanks guys! She's an 84 GL 4x4 MT 1800. So basically, I am desperately trying to avoid paying the time (invoiced as labor) for the mechanics around me to familiarize themselves first. Then come and tell me that I should part it out because there's no parts for it anymore... COME-ON! Why, might some ask, am I looking to have someone else work on her, rather than do it all myself... ? Time, time, time.... Alternatives: 1. clone myself, 2. pause the space-time continuum, or 3. find some Soob-loving mechanics that know their stuff. My search will continue, hopefully with guidance from the USMB...

Thanks for the kind words edrach! I think I'm gonna need all the luck I can get... PS. Did your stomping grounds include Pine Barrens,... Del Water Gap, ...Poconos? Must seem like small potatoes compared to where you are now!

So without a doubt USMB is indeed the greatest place on the web to find all Soob related info, advice, awesome pics and vids of killer Soobs, and just plain good camaraderie. Looking for a physical location to take my baby to people that recognize her isn't so easy. But I came across the thread mentioning Superior Import Repair, located in Porland Oregon (http://www.fixmysuby.com/). It's enough to make a Soob-owner move out there just to be near them! Unfortunately I cannot So here's my question,... is there an East Coast counterpart to Superior Import Repair?????? I live in New Jersey and am willing to travel if there is indeed an awesome Soob headquarters/safe-haven similar to them somewhere around here... I know there's a few Jerseyians on this board,... any recommendations? (rust jokes will be tolerated )

very interesting, got a pic of said socket/tool contraption? I attempted to fab one up, but failed miserably. Thanks!!!

SWEET SOOB! I'm jealous...

Highly motivating!!!!

Ain't that the truth!!!!!! I am a stubborn Noob! But I must say that I have learned my lesson. With about 2 mm to go, SNAP, needle-nose pliers break (my only ones). Unfortunately I took a massive pay-cut to hold onto my job and money is scarce these days. I get payed once a month, so basically the few bucks I had went into the parts, not thinking or having done this before... I said to myself, "Ahhh, I don't need that stinking tool!":rolleyes: gotta laugh at myself... cause i'm outta tears...

Darn. Well, I'll see what I can do then. What do you have and I'll see what else is available at JY in the meanwhile. If nothing works out short-term, you can have my amber covers when the time comes....

You got it Gloyale... You got first dibs and I'll keep u posted. I am unfortunately dealing with getting the carb rebuilt, so the bigger fish needs frying first. In the event that I get to the JY and find amber covers I'll get them to u. Will an '83 GL amber cover work for u? (pretty sure JY still has them).

Thanks for the clarification all! USMB is rocks!

No kidding... wow! So they were originally running lights? Yep, I bet you're right about that then Gloyale... the soob has been re-wired front to back and am chasing strange electrical issues since day 1. So I guess the turn signals on the original bumper were the narrow rectangular covers similar to the ones located on the side, but on the front... ? I was wondering why I have no running lights on the front... they only function as turn signals.... dangit!

Clear bulbs in clear covers for turn signals... really?! Is that legal? Reason I ask bout the legality of it is cause I unfortunately live the police-state that is new jersey. I've tried local auto parts stores for the amber bulbs, w/ correct specs and I just get laughed at (mostly by youngsters who have to ask "what the heck is that thing"). I can pull some clear covers from JY, but the bulbs are either all gone or shot. Recommend any online resources for small stuff like this?

Just curious to see if anyone knows if my 84 GL originally came with amber turn signal covers or clear with amber bulbs? I dig the clear look... but where can I find amber bulbs? I've had a hard enough time finding non-amber bulbs for the turn signals as it is... Pic attached...

It makes me feel a little better to hear that I'm not the only one busting knuckles with the pliers.

You are absolutely right. I went back out all excited to slip the caliper on, and wouldn't you know... piston isn't deep enough. It seems like it has to be flush after all. Oh well... I'll keep at it. Thanks again!

You da man Bratman! Yes, I did take note of that detail, re. the little nipple on the inside pad matching up with the groove on the piston. I can't tell you how relieved I am at hearing your answer...

I'm changing front brake pads on an 84 GL wagon... So I've been at it all day setting my brake piston back to fit new pads on (using needle nose pliers-not piston tool ) Pardon my ignorance, but how far back does it need to go? Flush or enough to fit the new pads on? If not Flush will this create a disaster? Do they re-adjust themselves. Haynes indicates flush, but to be honest, I am fed up with the needle nose pliers technique, and like I've mentioned... been at it all day. Boy does that thing set back slowly! Btw, I can't run out & buy a piston tool... I'm broke as a joke:(

Great! Thanks!

no pics, sorry... I took the ecm apart, and can clearly see the toasted resistors/transistors. I also found the thread re. replacing these components... good stuff and thanks for the idea... 40 cents vs. 300 dollars :-\ Naru, where did u get those numbers? quoting naru: "Probably 46082 7512.Look at 83 up ea-81 engined vehicles.(ea-71 too?)" The ecm only has a serial number on it, and my chilton & Haynes don't list a part #.

WOW! I didn't know that subiemech85. So I don't need to freak-out over this then...? What the heck does the ecm do anyway... ? If this is the case, then I do not care,... just thought "oh crap, this will lead to all sorts of problems in the future." I wanted to get right on it and replace it. Hmmmm,...