WagonsOnly

Which is why I brought the title and bill of sale with me (I hadn't registered the darn thing yet and I"d already lost the key). Still, a dealer can, and will, cut a key by the VIN with proof of ownership.

I stand corrected. The digidash and the sunroof were stand-alone options. But the GL-10 package debuted in 1983 and lasted until '89, and had most of the goodies included in the price. There was also something called the "turbo-10" introduced in 1983, not sure how long it lasted, but according to rumor it only was available with the wagon and an auto tranny. I've never seen one but I did see an ad in a magazine from that era.

Any dealer can cut a key with the VIN and proof of ownership (registration or title). The last time I lost a key it cost me $7.50 for two copies.

The GL10 designation lumped a bunch of stuff under the same name, standard, and added some model-exclusive options. You couldn't get blackout trim, a height-adjustable seat, or a digidash on a lesser trim level. Also, since a GL retailed for a couple of hundred dollars more with all the options, the GL10 was a much more economical way to go at the higher end. As for the RX, there wasn't much of a price difference but the RX was only available with a couple of colors (and in one body style, coupe or 3-door, depending on year).

If you were back East I'd take the parts sedan. How much do you think it'd cost to ship to Connecticut?

My local Soob dealer (Ty in Windsor Locks, CT) refers to all EA82 based models as "Loyales", from '85 to '94. I'm guessing it's easier for them to call them all Loyales since they're basically the same thing.

In 1987 the pneumatic suspension was available only with automatic transmission, according to my owner's manual. GL-10 sedans also usually came with the folding armrests. My window sticker lists N/C for the rear headrests, (wagon) digidash, intermittent multiple-time-delay wipers, etc. The only options were the Rusty Jones protection group (ugh), the upgraded stereo/cass, and "special paint" in Mica Red Pearl.

There's a used Subaru specialist up in Western MA that swore by the EA81 and EJ22/EJ18 engines to the point that he warrantied all used Soobs he sold with the engines to 100K miles, no deductible, on all drivetrain components. I think he stopped last year (they're getting scarcer in the used market, at least with low mileage) but he's still in business.

The '99 Forester has the SOHC 2.5. I thought that there weren't any known head gasket issues with that engine? At least I don't recall any on this board. (I've also got a '99 L MT.)

SoA celebrated their 30th in 1998 because Subaru of America was founded and started importing cars in 1968. The cars that they were importing were sold as '69 models, though, since they went on sale just before the beginning of the US makers' 1969 model year. Now they're celebrating their 35th anniversary with 2k4 models because 2004 came 35 years after the 1969 model year...confusing, no? Hope this helps, Andrew

Sorry, there was never a 360 wagon *officially* imported to the States. There was, however, a 360 wagon. The 360 van/cargo wagon/Sambar are all the same vehicle, a little refrigerator on wheels with four doors, the aforementioned 356cc 2 cyl 2-stroke engine, and a rear lift back. You can see pictures of those at the 360 Club site; they began production in 1963 and were imported to the States between 1968-70 (as '69 and '70 models). The 360 Custom/station wagon is a different breed entirely: It's a 360 sedan from the front to the back of the door pillar, and then it has its own uniquely styled 2-door station wagon body (think of what the offspring of a VW Fox wagon and a '53 Buick would look like). Pictures of that may be viewed here: http://subaru360.150m.com/subaru360/custom.htm (thanks to Russ Doyle for maintaining the site). As far as I know the tech specs were the same as the sedan, except the cargo capacity and (I believe) the transmission. Customs were never available in the States, and began production in 1965-67, depending on who you believe. All 360 production ended in 1970 with the introduction of the much-better R2, followed by the Rex, Vivio, and now Elten.

Very nice. Congratulations. Maybe you'll revise your estimates on roadworthy Soobs still in existence? Also--anyone out there know anything about the 360 auto-clutch?

I have a couple interiors for you, but both have some sun damage. It depends on how ratty what you have looks like--one's passable, the other is pretty bad. Both are DLs.

We've been through a couple, too. '62 360-mine '69 360s (2) (parts)-mine '70 Sambar (mine) '75 DL wagon '82 GLF (soon to be Mom's) '82 GL wagon 2wd (sold) '84 GL wagon 2wd (sold) '87 GL wagon 2wd (given away) '87 GL-10 Turbo wagon 4WD s/r-mine '87 XT GL (cousin's, crashed it) '89 XT Turbo GL (same cousin, killed it) '88 DL wagon AT 2wd-the Soob that started it all-was my cousin's, then my father's, then my mother's, then my father's again, when the auto tranny went. And it only had 130k on it... '88 DL wagon 5spd 2wd-"just visiting" '89 DL wagon 5spd 2wd-Dad's old one, parted & going to the crusher '89 DL wagon 5spd 4wd-beater, gone '99 Forester---mine. And coming soon, an '89 hatch and maybe an '84 wagon. Wish me luck in recovery.

Where in WMa are you? I grew up in Holyoke, and I still have relatives in So. Hadley and the Sturbridge area. Andrew

You're kidding--my first 360 and my Sambar came from Pennsylvania, and there are quite a few other 360-ists around Pittsburgh through central PA. And Paul, please don't do that to my mom. It'll be another 5 years easy until I get my own place...and that means 5 years of Soobies that could have been saved, to the crusher:boohoo:

Like Paul said--I have his pld '75 wagon, not going on the road for at least another year (needs brakes, minor body work, window channel and a bill of sale would be nice too:burnout: ), as well as two '69 360s, a '62 360 Deluxe, and a '70 Sambar. The two '69s are parts cars, one's not restorable, period, and one isn't worth the effort. So count three on-road/road-ready and two for the junkyard, for me.

If Paul will let me ride shotgun I'll try and make it...but I want to leave the Forester in the parking lot. And I don't have any 4x4s I want to bash up (just the Forester and the GL10, which isn't running at the moment) right now.

The JC Whitney catalog has OEM style seatbelts and replacement webbing, visit their website for a catalog. http://www.jcwhitney.com . Also I believe that the later model Soob seatbelts work on a pendulum--if the car stops short (sudden braking or an accident) the pendulum swings forward and locks the belt. So if the belt is stuck try reversing and slamming on the brakes to free the pendulum if that's the issue, or cleaning out any gunk around it.

Thanks for telling me...now I wish I knew what the previous owner had in that hole. Skip, what's the anti-tailgating system you installed? Mine's just the rear wiper/washer combo (only works on open sunroofs/convertible tops, though).

Hi, Does anyone know offhand what goes in the popout panel to the left of the fan blower switch on a GL-10? My cover's been pried off, and it doesn't say in the owner manual. Any input is greatly appreciated. (The car is an '87 4WD S/R Turbo 5spd.) Thanks, Andrew

Which adjustable struts do you mean, the manual ones or the air ones? And do you have a hatch or an EA82? Air shocks have a button on the dash, if it's depressed, the car is in the "up" position. Manual shocks have access covers under the rear seat and a place to put a wrench or something to jack the car up manually. I'm not sure which years/models had that feature. The owner manual should have details.

I know, I know...sometime soon I'm going to need new fenders. Safety inspection just started again here in CT (or it's about to, I'm not sure) and there's no way my Rusty Jones-protected GL-10 is going to pass with the holes in the cargo area...the rotted tailpipe...the missing front fender bottoms. Amazingly enough the doors are still solid--they must have missed.

There's no way you could hook up a 4wd drivetrain to a Suzuki 3-cylinder. Besides, if Subaru used the Suzuki 3s, who not the 4-cylinder 1.3L models for more guts? Surely you'd want a 4WD car to have as much torque as possible. I also think that the Justy ended production before GM started buying FHI stock--so I rather doubt that two of the fiercest competitors in the Japanese kei-car segment at that time would be sharing parts on North American models that were basically adaptations of JDM vehicles to fill a niche and maybe bring a profit over here...am I right?

Guess #1: 1999-2000 Forester L Guess #2: 2001-02 Forester L Guess #3: 1990-94 Loyale (distant cousin of the 1800cc Impreza, of the same vintage) Guess #4: An SVX of some sort--something rally-like Guess #5: A very gently used '03 Forester The L designation on the first two is because Foresters only came with grey undersides in L trim. Silver didn't debut until '99, as I recall; the S model had beige cladding; and the base model was only in white.