jboymechanic

I'm desprate for help. I recently bought a really clean '87 GL-10 wagon out of NC. It was running and driving pretty good, but I've been putting a lot of work into it to get into good condition for daily use. I had to replace both front axles before I could drive it anywhere and I did so last weekend. I drove from Waterford to Milwaukee (about 35 miles) and got there no problem, but it stalled out on me later that day on my way home. It was like I shut the ignition off. I tried checking for obvious problems like the coil wire coming off and things like that, but found nothing and I ended up calling a tow truck. The next morning, the car started right up and ran great. Since then I haven't driven it any where as I don't want to get stranded and it still acts the same way. Some times it starts, some times it won't. When it does start I will just let it idle and it will randomly die and not restart. I've already replaced the plugs, wires, distributor cap, coil and even the CPS inside the distributor. Then only piece I haven't replaced in the iginition is the rotor and that's be ordered. The coil is good, I tested it with a multimeter, and it's definitley an igintion issue as I can smell the gas as I crank it over when it doesn't start. After all the parts being replaced it still acts the same way. One last detail, the car was swapped from auto to 5 speed manual with dual range (done by previous owner). What the hell is going on here?

Tom also helped me with: two new front axles ball joints spark plugs wires distributor cap rotor PCV valve 2 inch SJR lift kit Upper Radiator hose

Type of Wrenching: Maintenance & Shade Tree What: Mostly old Mopars, recently Subarus, and whatever all of my family and friends drive and bring to me for repairs How long doing it: 20 years (first solo job was replacing my grandpa's radiator in his '78 Cutlas when I was 11 years old) Other skills: Degree in Mechnical Engineering, I've done carpentry, plumbing, tile work, electrical work, and frame off restoration (still in progress but nearing completion) of a '56 Chrysler Imperial Coupe making some of my own parts in the process.

Does your electric fan come on when your temp gauge is up that high? I'd check into that first. My car acted the same way and it turned out to be a sticky/slow thermostat.

I did find the correct manual transmission cross members from another USMB member, should be at my house this week! I'm planning on installing the lift and all the other parts in one shot, and one day should do it.

I now have everything I need to make the car road ready. New axles, steering rack, ball joints, and tie rod ends. I also have good used inner fenders, interior door panels, WWF tank w/ pump on their way along with a 2" lift from SJR. Now that the car has been driven a few times, the temp is right where it should be (about 1/3 up the gauge). I'm out of town this weekned and planning a trip to Subaru Heaven on Saturday August 14th. Any body else in? I can haul parts/people in my dad's '98 Ram quad cab. I'm still looking for a set of four hubs and maybe some other small parts. Any one want to have a ball installing all this stuff on my car with me?

partsgeek.com had them for about $217 but I get $75 back if I return my old one.

Turns out I won't be able to make it out there this weekend, so now I'm planning on Saturday, August 14th. If any one wants to meet me at my house, I plan on leaving by 8:30 or 9:00 AM at the latest, want to get out there before it gets too hot. I plan on taking Highway 20 west (I can show off that other junk yard west of East Troy that has some old Subarus) to Highway 12 near Whitewater. It's an easy and pleasant drive that I've made many times between Waterford and Madison when I was in school there. BTW, I ordered all the parts I needed through partsgeek.com.

Just ordered new axles, ball joints, tie rod ends and steering rack, car will be as good as new soon.

Not at all Tom, I know some people are weird about posting their license plate number, but there's nothing any body can do with them. Hoping to make the trip to Cambridge this Saturday to go to "Subaru Heaven" for more parts, want to find some better door panels.

The rear diff says it's a 3.9 gear ratio and I slipped the axle off the trans part way this morning and counted 23, so you know your stuff. Thank you.

I'm hoping I don't have to pull the axle just to find out. I will be replacing engine and trans mounts at the same time.

I was able to find the EMPI axles online, but how do I know if I have 23 or 25 spline axles? Again, it has a 5 speed manual trans with dual range swapped in place of the original automatic.:-\

In case it matters, this was an automatic car converted to 5 speed manual with dual range.

As you may or may not know, I recently purchased a '87 GL-10 Wagon. I'm getting it road worthy and it's getting closer every day, and now that I have driven it on a road I've noticed some clicking from the front end. I can only hear it at lower speeds, I'm assuming at least one of my axles needs repairs. Is this a solid assumption? Can these axles be rebuilt? Where can I source a rebuilt kit or purchase good quality new axles?

I'll bring the car out as soon as I have all those lights functional again and the car is up to snuff for regular highway use.

Which guy, Boomer or Norm. Boomer always asks too much, but Norm always gives me a good deal. Like I said, I've been going there for 14 years now with my dad. We talk Norm down as much as possible and then throw him an extra $10 and tell him to have a couple of beers on us. The next time we're out, the prices are even lower.

Hell, want to go to Auto Al's with me then on Saturday? I haven't been there in a few months, but I've been going there with my dad since I was 14 years old. He's been going there since 1960.

I was thinking sticky thermostat as well since the temp just spikes for a few seconds and then drops way back down. The fan not kicking on can't help either.

Some pictures of the rig

Just purchased a faded but extremely solid and straight 1987 GL-10 Wagon. It already has a D/R 5 speed swapped in place of the automatic and has a home made 1.5 inch lift and custom front bumper. I'm new to Subarus and still pretty new to this site, and I need a little help getting this car ready to relatively regular use by me and my wife. I'm hoping some folks here can help me with the following, I do have some money to invest in what will be our offroading, camping, and extreme winter weather vehicle (I just sold my '98 Dodge Ram Quad Cab 4x4 so I could do this). 1. Temp climbs up to red (digital dash) and then drops back to mid level after being on red for a few seconds, even sitting at idle. I've already found that the electric radiator fan is not coming on. I want to wire the fan so it comes on and stays on as long as the car is running, what it is easiest and safest way to do that? 2. This ties into number 1, I also would like to change the radiator to a dual row/core. What is the easiest way to tell if I have a two or one row/core radiator? Where is the best and most affordable source for a new two row/core radiator? (I also plan on a new OEM Subaru thermostat.) 3. I'd like to replace the home made 1.5 inch lfit with a 3 inch lift to better clear the 225-70-R14 tires. I've been considering the SJR kit, but that doesn't include a method to extend the steering shaft. Any recommendations? Is there an easy way to extend the steering shaft so I can use the SJR kit? 4. I want the car to last a long time and some one along the line removed the inner fenders, any one have a pair I could score? Will the tires clear the inner fenders with the 3 inch lift and 27 inch tires? 5. The wheels on the car are 6x140mm bolt pattern re-drilled to 4x140mm and whoever did it didn't do the best job. I would feel better having my hubs and rotors (4 wheel disc brakes) modified to 6x140mm bolt pattern. Any one have any spare hubs they'd like to sell? Thanks every one in advance for your help.