el_freddo

Interesting. If you were in Oz I've got a 3spd auto that's flogged the front diff that you could have for parts - it's just taking up space in Dad's driveway. My sister tells me that having the front diff lock up at 80km/h isn't fun, can't imagine why! Glad you've got a grip on these gearboxes, we swapped ours out for a manual. Getting way better fuel economy now! Cheers Bennie

I thought it time to share my full L series build - I had a thread in the welcome forum, but since writing this out recently I thought it a good time to move over here. Some of you will already know this vehicle... This is the short version I purchased Ruby Scoo from Yackandandah, VIC, Australia (google it!) in 2004 or 2005 for $500. What we didn't know was that the engine was toast - over heated to the point that one cylinder was cracked about halfway down. After some research I found that the EA82 engine came in EFI format, so went with one of these and had a steep learning curve into the operations of EFI systems. Pick a part became my best friend here! Problem was I lived over 1 hour away. After a year in the shed she was ready for rego. This is me learning some 4wd'n with a mate near Kangaroo Flat, Bendigo: From here I had a few mods done - welded rear diff. This was a good and bad mod as it gave the vehicle awesome point and shoot abilities but with the lack of lift I managed some damage to the underside of the body, I inverted my floor pans and didn't realise this for some time. In 2007 I roadtripped to WA with my brother with a "fresh" 9 month old rebuild that was going really well: SA/WA boarder: Perth: Hit a new milestone while I was there: And we had some fun too: On the way home we (read: my brother!) blew the side out of the plastic radiator end tank on a hot day drive home. We were stuck in Tintanara and were trucked home the next day. After sorting a temporary radiator it turned out that the engine was severely cooked. For 18 months I put up with a jerry-rigged carb engine over the MPFI wiring. It got me around while I sorted all the bits for my EJ22 conversion - again pick a part played a huge role in this conversion - this time I got all the bits I needed the before getting into the conversion. Cutting down the wiring was another steep learning curve and in hindsight quite easy to do, just need to know what you actually need and go from there. I didn't do the HG's on the EJ as I bench tested the engine and was happy with how it operated. When pulled from the yard it had 127xxxkms on the clock. Turned out the clutch was completely fried. All oil seals were replaced, cam belt replaced and I should have replaced the water pump - did it about a week after the conversion hit the road. Easiest way to do the Engine and gearbox - out from under: I cased an L series gearbox in a set of EJ front cases to avoid an adaptor plate and an EA clutch. This conversion is all EJ clutch and bolts straight up without issues: The initial test was a bit of fun in the paddock - I should've put the bonnet on though, it wasn't fun to clean! All fits in like it should be there. The L series should've come with the EJ from the factory, it's a great combination! Out at Robe, SA: After a chance purchase of a lifted L series, in one weekend the swap was done and Ruby Scoo grew to this: More fun, Otways, VIC: A few years down the track and a lot of searching I managed to track down a set of the infamous Scorpion 14 inch rims, these ones with the awesome general all rounder Wild Conqueror Super Trippers (can't get them anymore ): Robe, SA: Wyperfeld NP, VIC: Lerderderg SF, VIC: After two seasons at Mt Hotham and a 4wd'n trip with a "rally section" on the Dinner Plain Track south of the township I got Ruby Scoo airborne unintentionally. Not realising for some time but I did some extensive damage to the suspension mount on the LHS. Not ready to part with her I stripped her out and went to work between other things: While everything was reinstalled I added power windows, mirrors and central locking. That took a pot load more time than I anticipated and blew out the build time. I would say this took me 6 months over the summer period to sort out and get back on the road. Return to the road: Getting back into the thick of it: Mt Cole: Getting out in the High Country with the Subaru Club of Qld (offroad club, can't remember their official title) - most of these guys are online mates from ausubi: Basalt Knob South Tk before it was switchbacked: Back at Mt Hotham for another visit (Love this place!) New "trick" gearbox - L series AWD locking centre diff, front OBX (cheap!) LSD, 1.59:1 low range, low range oil feeders and 4.111:1 diff ratio (old box 3.7:1 stock ratio): Diff locking mechanism: This was an awesome mod - the diff ratio change has transformed the drive for the better. The ratio matches the tyre size the same as the foresters run so it's a tried and tested setup, just not really done in an L series in this fashion on a regular basis. I added a snorkel for added confidence during water crossings: This was 2013. For the christmas period we were planning another road trip to WA to catch up with some mates I made over there on the cruise in 2007. Unfortunately after finally getting my AC sorted the Head Gaskets let go. Not a bad run so I shouldn't complain - just the timing over the silly season slowed down the new parts arriving in a timely manner. But she's sorted again and running very well. First time I've had an EJ stripped down like this: Where I think the HGs let go, wasn't major but enough to run hot on a warm day. No damage resulted, money saved there Back together sporting a new radiator conversion (N14 pulsar) and new thermo fans - a good setup so far: Over Easter 2014 we ventured into new territory out at Walhalla in the foothills of the Vic Alps: First real good use of snorkel - Fulton's Creek Tk, Walhalla: Messing around, Fulton's Creek: Trig Track - 12 switchbacks! Loved this area and seriously cannot wait to get back out there! Last trip most recently was to McKillop's Bridge (very speccie!) and the general Snowy River NP, VIC: ^ Pics do not do this bridge justice, it's very high, very long and has been flooded over several times! I was with a "different" cohort for this trip with some mates in larger, "real" 4wds: Ruby Scoo held her own: Until I managed to blow 2nd gear coming off throttle on a down shift from third. Nothing harsh about it. From here it was a tow job, not fun! Once back on a decent track - logging truck track - we decided to see if I could manage third, using low range as another gear. This was done to avoid time delays, rocks flicking up and damaging the front of my vehicle and my newish windscreen. It was noisy in the box but it kept going, at the time I was kind of past the point of caring. After stopping for the others to catch up (I was rally style, they weren't!) we continued but I think it was too much, once the oil settled in the gearbox bits had moved. At walking pace I ended up locking up all four wheels. We were trailered from there, trailer came from Orbost. Then another type of towing occurred a week later: ^ These guys were great, they let me park up for a week in their yard very cheaply! Near M&D's, not quite "home" though: The gearbox came out at M&D's before I took the car home as I was itching to get it started. Once the box was stripped we found this damage: I've since sourced an SG forester gearbox for it's stronger internals as Subaru did a big overhaul on the 1st and 2nd gearsets in these boxes along with a few other things. My bench looks like this as I work through the little hurdles that are thrown my way: I've had to modify a few things along the way, the low range synchro hub being one of them: Latest modification hurdle is the woodruff key for the 5th gear as I want to use the 0.87 ratio I've got in the shed, not the SG's 0.78 as that's what I used to have and I wasn't too keen on it at cruise: That's where I'm at. Using Redback (Brumby - more to come on this addition to the family!) as the daily which is what I got her for, but I can't wait to have Ruby Scoo back on the road and 4wd'n again. I'm also working on some surface rust I've found since removing the gearbox, this is a slow process itself and work/family/social life is getting in the way too. Weekends are not at home at the moment I hope you've enjoyed reading and viewing the pics. While writing this and looking at the large number of pics I've got I've surprised myself just how many places I've been with Ruby Scoo. Many more pics if you want to view! She's currently knocking on 500k kms... I've had many great times out bush in this vehicle and I'm hoping there will be a number of years of more good times to come! Just have to get it back together and out of the shed!!! Regards Bennie

Geez mate, LOADS of work going in on this project! Love it. Wish mine was still moving this quickly! Gearbox rebuilds are not all they're cracked up to be You'll want to look into running 4.44s with those tyres - do it! SO worth the effort! I'm sure someone can do a cut and shut for you on an EA AWD locking centre diff pinion shaft, works a treat! I've got 4.111s in Ruby Scoo, I now wish I had 4.44s, even with 27s! Keep up the good work! Cheers Bennie

Used a combination of the Dual Range GL PT4wd and the Vortex XT to find what I needed, thanks for the link! Cheers Bennie

Just to "back up" what I said above: Back on the road again: I'm glad I've kept her going - many good times had since this repair work (took about 3 months due to the heat + silly season and other bits and pieces) and she's never felt as strong in the body when I first got her. Very happy and also learnt a few things on the way too. Here's the link to read about it if you want - sorry for the oversized images. Seems that Imageshack forgot my sizing when they converted to the new layout. VERY FRUSTRATING! So again I'd say a new set of strut all round and some new drive shafts seem to be the cheaper/easier option. You'll have the "I regret" cloud hanging over you for the rest of your life otherwise, at least I reckon you will! Cheers Bennie

Injector looking clean doesn't necessarily mean it's flowing as it should be Cheers Bennie

Is the SPFI inlet manifold up for grabs? I wouldn't mind one to complete a mate's SPFI system which is just missing the manifold. And that's a fair effort! An even bigger effort will be to fit that rear tub section onto the wagon! I'll be watching. Cheers Bennie

Avoid the turbo dual range gearboxes if you got them over there as they have the crap 1.19:1 low range rather than the good L series 1.59:1 Everything should bolt straight in without any issues other than the drive shafts (23 spline count required) as mentioned by Gloyale. Cheers Bennie

Injectors clean? SPFI or MPFI? A dirty TPS also caused issues with my EJ22 with start and running issues. Cheers Bennie

Further to Goyale's last extra note is to get an auxiliary temp gauge that actually tells you the temp of the engine rather than just points at a place on a numberless gauge. I put a T piece in my heater circuit where an aftermarket temperature sensor was fitted. Awesomely simple and VERY accurate! Cheers Bennie

Sounds to me like the real issues are struts/shocks all round and some rear drive shafts that are needed. Keeping your old faithful on the road is a thing of passion. I'd know, I had a replacement vehicle ready to go and couldn't do it! I purchased a rotisserie and got to work. Looking back at it now the next body will only be welded in the door jams rather than along every joint in the body between the struts. I've done over 200k km in my old faithful. Only the body and doors are really the original things on it these days! Cheers Bennie

PS: I wouldn't stress about the "extra weight" of the AWD setup. I would go the AWD over the FWD simply for the better handling in all conditions - and you'd be able to throw it into corners harder. It's already a lighter body so you're on a win there! Cheers Bennie

A limited slip diff up front is an awesome upgrade - even in the 4wd/awd mob they under estimate it IMO. As for the setup of the gearbox it's already done. Being a FWD only gearbox you'll probably find the diff stubs are the 23 spline units rather than the 25 spline ones. If not, swap for a 23 spline set while you put the LSD in. What you will have to work out is the gearbox crossmember, shift linkages and how you'll match your speedo drive to the actual speed you're doing unless you're upgrading to to the EJ sized tyres. Regards Bennie

Hill holder is a golden piece of kit on these old rigs. It's only now that the likes of BMW and a few other car makers are adding this "new technology" to their vehicles. Personally, I love my hill holder - even when offroad and you're trying to make your way back down a hill you didn't get up and have to do that dodgy brake on clutch off then quick brake back on manoeuvre. If you're going to disconnect it there should already be a spring there to do the job. I'm looking forward to pics - I'm sure it won't look ANYTHING like mine (or half of those on here!). I do love a good L series though! Cheers Bennie

Love that trike - and Tweety's too. Both have me once again hatching plans in my head to build my own trike. Tweety has had me doing this for some time now - not that I think I'll ever act upon them due to the cost of engineering over here! Still, that's one very neat "minimalist" trike you've got there Longboarder! Cheers Bennie

G'day mate, The broken wire will be from one of the switches on the gearbox. A pic will help identify which one it is. As for the 4wd, is this gearbox a single range gearbox? If so there's probably something wrong with the vacuum 4wd engaging system. You can manually pull it out of 4wd by jacking one wheel off the ground (to release any binding), get under the passenger's side and find the lever on the side of the gearbox near the rear of the box. Move this in the other direction to what it is and you should be back in 2wd. Cheers Bennie

I've solved several clock issues simply by resoldering the "dry" joint. Just pull the clock apart and go from there, what needs to be done should be obvious! Cheers Bennie

Got a link to this parts site? I need some rear housing seals, and since I don't have a factory Australian delivered VIN with this gearbox I'm finding it near impossible to get the bits I need for my build. You need an NA PT4wd gearbox from the L series. MPFI will have the 25 spline diff output stubs and the carb'd units will have the smaller 23 splined output stubs. If you're really serious about a lower final drive you can have the pinion shaft cut and shut. Not ideal but it's a solution to the 3.9/3.7:1 ratios that are currently on offer. I've gone 4.111:1 with 27 inch diameter tyres and love it. I'd love to go to 4.44:1 but it's a cost thing Cheers Bennie

I've had this thought before - but that's about as far as it got. A Datsun 720 transfer case with the low range blanked out with a set of short nose nissan/datsun diffs in the rear there would make it all work in my imagination - you'd need a 3 or 4 inch lift minimum! I'm sure someone can do a better photoshop of the concept with larger wheels as well! Cheers Bennie

I've just noticed that in your spare wheel well that seam at the back is not sealed with factory sealer - DO NOT use sealer here! My L series has not got any and has no rust in this area. Several other wrecks I've seen (and have as parts) have this section sealed and painted from the factory, all have rust in there! Not a nice place to work on! The EJ22 is a great conversion to do! If you spend the time getting your head around the wiring you can bench test your engine and wiring before installing in the vehicle - that's what I did with mine. My L series also runs this gearbox but the dual range version that's been "tricked up" a little bit for offroading. I've just stuffed 2nd gear so I'm in the process of replacing the gearsets with something newer. It's just taking time. You can read about that thread here if you wish. If you want to see more of my ride just google Ruby Scoo Ausubaru or Youtube it So like all good projects, what's the start date that will be missed? Regards Bennie

Lucky bugger! I SO BADLY want one of these... and you guys say we got all the good stuff over here, well we sure missed out on this beauty! If you're going for all out performance go with an EJ box - these locking centre diff gearboxes are very precious Subaru material! Technically the centre diff is inferior to its later model counterparts. It's not hard to spin a front wheel when accelerating through a tight corner even when dry due to the diff being open... Personally I love my AWD L series box, but I've also got easy access to gearsets from dual range EJ gearboxes that I'm currently exercising I'm looking forward to seeing this restored to its former glory, EJ or not. Cheers Bennie

Nice work mate! The Safari wagon is certainly growing up! Did the snorkel attract some attention at the Subi meet - it certainly stands out! Best CAI you can get I reckon! So are you going with 29s or 31s? That's pretty bloody big for a subi! And I can only imagine your fuel "economy". That wheel arch replacement panel is insane - i didn't know you could get that stuff still! If I had a welder I could make Ruby Scoo into a new beast "straight off the showroom floor"! How's your body going for fatigue? I found that with the offroading I was doing you could hear the interior panel's mounting points creaking as you got pressure on each diagonal wheels. Since the body stitch welding I've eliminated that completely. Next build I'll be trying out doing this only with the window seams and the door jam seams where it can be hidden from our authorities - we're seriously restricted with what we're actually allowed to do over here Ruby Scoo is illegitimate as it is Cheers Bennie

Don't forget a new thermostat! The build looks good! These things take time! Cheers Bennie

Don't sell the wheels - roll the guards so you don't need to run with flares That would look totally awesome! Looks good mate! I still can't get over the amount of work you guys put into rust repairs, I really take my hat off to you all who do it! Over here a vehicle like that would be scrapped, which is why you don't see many these days Keep up the good work! Cheers Bennie

I'll also add that the above kit is for an "auto" - but a second brake switch on the clutch pedal is an easy conversion to make it a "manual" kit rather than buying their kit. Cheers Bennie