NorthWet

Don't practice "scorched earth" when you remove them. Take your time and properly disconnect things, and then you have the chance to go back. Like I am going to do! The swap to steel prings is easy, but the ride just isn't the same. Pat

Cool! I also have a Harbor Freight cheap-etc., and was planning on doing my own bending, trying the water and the sand method. I was also planning on using small diameter pipe, and double walling it (tube slipped over tube). I want to try a couple other things, but need to take baby steps first... Let us know how things work, and what doesn't work.

Are you at altitude there? (I am at sea-level, so no little of your fun in the hills.) Did this come from a higher-altitude area and had an alt-comp device, or maybe a home-made equivalent that is causing your mid-range to go too lean? I assume that the good high RPM behavior is because of a carb enrichment circuit (not sure if Subaru carbs use this).

I have heard of using the sand also, but had not heard of a commercial application that I could use as an example that it worked. I imagine that just as important as it being dry sand is that it *not* be sandblasting sand, which is angular enough to not flow well. Play sand would probably be better. I was about to run out and measure my turbo port, but you guys have that covered, so I will stay dry!

What are you using to bend it? Have you considered trying GM's trick of "hydroforming", filling the tubing with liquid, sealing it, and then bending the tubing?

How about using PB and chasing the threads with a headbolt?

I am going to have to go through this soon myself, so are you interested in me taking some digi-pics to go with the text? Just a thought.

WOW! A bigger cheapskate then me! My wife's '87 GL-10 Twagon cost us $350. 3AT with wonky governor (45 min to fix), blown vacuum modulator, and low and toasted ATF. Saggy air suspension; temp replaced with springs, but that air ride is nice. She loves it. But whatever ride she ends up with will get a 4EAT. If the car was in good shape the $1000 might not be too bad. If you are willing to find one with a common soob problem that the average joe/jane doesn't know how to fix then there are some bargains around here. I just picked up an '88 XT for $200 with a plugged radiator. My favorite reading is craigslist.com. (Note the pluralization... leave it off and you go someplace taht children shouldn't see.)

Thanks. Pat

More accurately, or at least commonly, called a 3AT... it is all hydro-mechanical, unlike what is called here the 4EAT, which is a 4-speed, and electronically controlled.

Thanks for the timely writeup... I will post it to my (slightly fogged) windshield and refer to it as I work.

On Monday, someone left a message on my POS answering machine, and said POS machine garbled the message. My wife says that it sounded like a phone number that was left had a 541 Area Code. Said wife deleted said garbled message from said POS machine. 'Nuf said. I am trying to locate the caller, so if it was you, please let me know. My machine seems to take a dislike to certain phones... might be cell and/or cordless. Really hates telemarketer headphones, which is why I haven't replaced it yet. Pat

Sorry for the apparent tangent. But the rest still applies: Cold starts in cold climates give condensed vapor. Low-power running in very cold weather can give condensed vapor regardless of engine temp. Any minor leak from intake, HG, or exhaust will aggravate this. This doesn't help you much, other than to let you know not to get too freaked by visible exhaust vapor.

Do you have headlights? My vote was for a bad battery connection and/or bad ground. The connection to the POS battery cable (near where the cable clamps to the post; this connector secures various ring-connectors to a small post using a wing-nut or regular nut) is suspect.

Two catalytic processes used in current emission controls: One that oxidizes HC and CO (with O2) into H2O and CO2, and one that reduces NOx into N2 and O2. The exhaust system also tends to have a lot of residual moisture in it on cold start, either from combustion, atmosphere, or both. And has been already said, if it is cold enough then normal combustion vapor will "steam" behind... just look at jet contrails.

So now BOTH heads have warped valves? Sorry, couldn't resist. Threads for head bolts sounds right, at least according to latest information/speculation.

First impression: Somebody rolled an Edsel.

In the old days, and I assume still today, the colorant used in green antifreeze is flouroscein: So, I would think that all you would need is a UV source (blacklight, Wood's Lamp) to check for leaks in a system that uses Green-dyed antifreeze. Given the crowded engine area of an EA82T this wouldn't give me much consolation. Mine always seem to find new and innovative ways to leak, and I have seen the leak trail travel a foot to somewhere viewable. :-\

Northguy, yeah, I saw that. OK, folks, I started a Market Place thread for stuff that you know that you want shipped. This wouldn't commit you, just gives me an idea about serious requests and locations. I also *might* be coming through the West all the way into Cali on I-80, as someone in Reno/Sacramento area wants something major brought to him. I think the pickup point for this item was in Missouri...

So... have you calmed down yet? Or did you eat too much Christmas candy?

Both my assumption and my FSM says that the water flows from the head, through the turbo, then on to the t-stat housing. I am more than willing to accept that my assumption is wrong, but is the FSM wrong , too? Pat

So, I get the impression that you want to know what kind of food I like? Wide range of likes, just as long as it isn't fancy. Plain 'merican is fine, especially straight off the grill. Indian, Asian (SE Asian or otherwise), Japanese, Mexican, pizza, seafood... whatever. I don't know how to spell capers or balsamic vinagrette, let alone eat them. Doesn't mean that I won't, just kind of wasted on me. At home I grill and/or do pasta dishes, jasmine rice, potatoes, 'nutin fancy. On the road I eat off of the value meal or Denny's breakfasts. I'm a "cheap date". (No jokes, oddcomp!)

OK, too lazy to MapQuest right now... where is Chugiak? I am sure that I will have had my fill of snow and ice by the time I get back to my beloved rain and mud. How about a raincheck ( ) for warmer weather? Well, I am glad that people are getting excited. I had hoped to do this a little earlier, and do a "Subie Claus" kinda thing. But timing didn't work for Christmas, or any of its 12 Days. Thought maybe I could do it for Epiphany (the rest of you can look it up), but I wouldn't have made a good "Wise Man bearing gifts from afar"... maybe a Wise Guy, but that would be stretching things. Hey Paul, don't go too overboard! I'm a simple guy with simple likes, just trying to make the best of what would have been a silly trip if not for your car next door to me. Not often that I can feel good about doing something of questionable judgement. I would like to think that any one of us would have done the same thing if we had planned to drive 3000 miles to tow a $200 car back the same 3000 miles. TTFN! Pat

Are you sure that your problem is not just the infamous exhaust port crack in the passenger-side head? Might look like an blown HG, but replacing the HG won't fix it.

Ok, Monstaru. Northguy, I saw your post on scrappy's thread first, so posted there. Basically, you are way ahead of me on shipping details. I think that I will start a thread in "Market Place" where people can post there confirmed pickups and deliveries (unless somebody knowledgeable has a better idea). Trip is still tentatively planned for Jan 8th or shortly thereafter. I would also like route suggestions, as I haven't gone the northern route before. I am leaving Seattle area, heading to Spokane along I-90... eventually ending up at moosens in CT. Then I am dropping down at least as far as southern PA to pick up my Leg, sounds like stuff in VA to get (unless it can be brought north a little by locals ), then back to WA. Route depends alot on pickup/delivery points along the way. I don't mind deviating a few hundred miles for major stuff, but it would be nice if locals came together to get stuff close to my route... and I think it would be good for the subie community. :) Again, I am not wanting normal shipping rates, just maybe a couple of bucks to help defray expenses, both mine and moosens.