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quattroPilot

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Posts posted by quattroPilot

  1. hey folks. was out for a quick jaunt this evening in the RX (mudrat's old car) and about 15 minutes into the drive I feel the car studder/hesitate/lurch ever so slightly; this was at about 75... it did it two or three times. Then I start to loose acceleration ability and I am able to notice the oil pressure dropping a bit. Since it's dark I don't notice the HUUUUGE billowing smoke cloud behind me until I pass underneath a few street lamps (i live in the boonies). But then the smoke dissipates and sorta comes & goes during my prompt and direct drive home.

     

    I had a few hills to conqur on the way, and the motor strained to pull the car up all of 'em. Oil pressure would drop to almost 0 at idle, and would be less than 45 while I was making my way home. About 5-10minutes after the initial studders I begun to hear a quiet ticking/tapping noise coming from the engine; which I guessed to be the top end starting to complain due to insufficient oil. Engine would also backfire randomly during "cruise", something it never did before. But never once during the drive did I hear any sort of "BANG" or "POP" or pounding sound or anyting to indicate that I'd broken any of the vital internal parts.

     

    So in the end I managed to limp home, poped the hood, and got some oil into the engine. Started the car (yes, it did turn over).... still rough running, still ticking, no smoke though, and OilPress didn't really rise as it had previous times. A dipstick check revealed that there was MORE than enough oil in the Crankcase. I looked at the tailpipe and there was liquid oil ALL over the inside.

     

    Oddly enough the engine & its bay was prettymuch oil free, same with turbo and whatever else. This leads me to believe that it was something internal, and probably important... a piston ring (or two), or perhaps a seal somewhere.

     

    My question to you all (John included) is WTF happened!?! It's too dark right now for me to dive into it, and besides I gotta work tomorrow. But I'd like to know what I'm up against. I was scared that in driving home one instant the whole show would be over and I'd be looking at a hole in the side of the block. Any guesses from you guys? I'm good with basic and overall mechanical principles, but I need to learn each different car/engine as I go. TIA, I owe ya'll a big one for this...

     

    take care

     

    -Rob

  2. Phoned & spoke with Mudrat. Very pleasant fellow.. i wished he lived closer so's that we could meet. I wouldn't mind taking that GL-10 out for a burn before I made a decision one way or the other.

     

    thx though :) . this forum is quite unlike the Audi one, which is old and outdated and not very user friendly. I am still getting used to all the functionality which is presented in this forum style (like the handy location index for each user placed in the top righthand corner of each post)

     

    check yah later

  3. I get a GL cause they are waaaaaay cheaper..

     

    Compare '89 GL 5sp wagon for $500 (canadian)

     

    vs.

     

    '89 GL-10t Wagon $3500obo

     

    or:

     

    '86 GL-10t Sedan auto $2000obo

     

    I figure if I can get the car cheap, then I drive my Volvo & trailor around the Province to scavenge the tranny, motor, and whatever else I require...

     

    but still, I'd much sooner have the turbo straight up. I hate headaches :-\

  4. thanks for all that interesting and helpful information. Nice to hear from someone who has actually put a car together. Now I know sortof what I should be looking for.

     

    Your car offer is much appreciated, and I think I'll take you up on the phone call at least. Which coast are you on (or not on at all) and what time(s) are appropriate?

     

    One more quick question. Are the Subaru motors chipable? I just read here that someone with an ER-82 has his ECU chipped. Is that possible with regular EA-82t engines, or is it specific to a certain car (i.e. XT-6)

     

    Thanks a lot mudrat, ttyl

     

    take care

  5. my series of Audi, as well as those older than her, are remarkably user friendly. I imagine since all your friends have B5 and newer body styles, that perhaps all the funky experiences you've heard about stem from that fact alone. However this is a Subaru discussion forum, and I came here to talk Subie... i have an Audi forum for the other car :)

     

    Are many of the parts interchangeable between EA-82 models? I'm really trying to stick with the GL mostly because they are fairly common, relatively cheap (compared to any XT or RX), and they are more prevalent in wrecking yards as compared to obscure models (I run into the same problem with my Audi... owning an obscure car kinda sux). So if I can get a GL Sedan/Wagon, I could feasibly swap an ER-82 engine into it... slap on an intercooler & perhaps a turbo mod, and away I go.

     

    thanks folks for all your help, check yah later

  6. Hey folks. My name is Rob and I don't have any previous experience with Subarus. However I am fairly mechanical and have taken a "learn as you acquire the vehicle" approach to repair & upgrading. I've recently got into Audis, after having bought a 1993 90quattro (which I absolutely LOVE) but our family has always trusted Volvos to get us around safely.

     

    In any case, I didn't come here to relate my auto experiences. For some time now I have been interested in building/assembling/buying a hobby-man's rally car. For obvious reasons I'm not interested in using my 90q as the rally machine, but I'd always been interested in having a mid-to-late 80's Subie for such purposes. After driving for a year with the Audi quattro (i live in PNW British Columbia) I really want the Subaru to be an AWD car, and also preferably 5sp.

     

    What I'd always been thinking was an Ea-82 GL Sedan (or Wagon) as the chasis & drivetrain, and then swapping engines to a turbo model, perhaps out of a GL-10, XT turbo, or early 90's cars? The literature available online as to feasibility of engine swaps for these cars is non-existant (as far as I can tell) so I was hoping that people here may be of more help.

     

    Is there a particular engine/car model that you guys would suggest? I'm not into either the Brat or Justy... or even an XT for that matter. I can pick up a GL for pretty cheap ($500 give or take) and then the engine + other parts I can source from around the Province.

     

    Has anyone 'round here built a rally car at all? I'm not looking for pure off-road capability (i.e. huge lift, lots of clearance, mudder tires, low end torque etc.) as is kinda showcased by the "off road" section on USMB. I want something that's quick, stable, durable (to a degree), insurable, smog-test capable, cheap (if at all possible), and most of all able to be wrecked without me caring a whole heck of a lot.

     

    If anyone can help me out that'd be fantastic. Like I said I've searched for a long time online for this type of information but have come up empty. Thanks for your time, take care

     

    -Rob

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