Sub78

Yeah it was dry just to see if it would engage and disengage. Perhaps that was it. Hadn't even thought about that aspect of it. Right in front of my face. Thanks.

Hey USMB, Have a question for you guys out there. I was testing out my 4x4 for the first time a bit ago. She engages ok and the 4wd light comes on. She drives down the road fine. When I stopped to pull her out of 4wd to 2wd it took a bit of strength to pull the lever down and then I heard a big clunk. It almost had a tight wound up feel in the rear end if that makes sense. Any ideas? Is this normal?

Me too man. Me too.

Well... apparently I had some tunnel vision on that oil pressure light. Checked the alternator today and it failed the test. Had the local parts store run it through their machine and it failed. Switched out to a new one and started right up. Looks like it had nothing to do with the oil pump. Thanks nipper for putting the bad alternator seed in my head. So damn basic. Ha. Now for a valve job this weekend to kill the slight tick and then hopefully she'll find herself in the world of daily drivers. She seems to be loving the road. Thanks for the help and ideas guys.

Well took her out today and lo and behold no problems. What the hell. Ha. I'll keep the oil level in mind. She says she's where she should be and when I did an oil change last I put in the amount specified by Haynes. I'm ruling out the carb since I did a rebuild and it has been adjusted properly with my tach dwell gauge. It would idle fine and then after driving it a bit she would die at the lights. Today though I took her out to see how she would do and she drove about 30 miles with no hiccups. Hopefully I can soon consider her a daily driver. It's been a long time coming. Thanks for the suggestions guys. Much appreciated as always.

It's an EA71. I'll check with auto zone and see if they have a gauge to rent.

Hey there USMB. Trying to get the ol girl on the road. I can get her to idle ok and she drives down the road but after she warms up and I stop at a stop light the oil pressure light comes on and she will stall out. Any ideas as to the problem? I'm assuming the pickup might be clogged but would that give me the same symptom of running fine at higher rpms and stalling at low? Any help would be appreciated.

No, I have a pretty solid 78 rust free wagon. More looking just in general for spare parts and whatnot. A feeler mainly. Especially something located locally. Not in the market to ship something too far. The big thing would be a solid motor. I'd like to rebuild one while I still have the runner in the car. Still in the works at ironing out some kinks though. Darn thing sat for a long time before I got her. She runs though. Just rough. Trying to get her to be a daily driver without pulling the motor; but that is where it keeps leading towards.

What is your ebay store ID? Looked up NLAparts but came up empty. Do you have a direct link? I've got a 78 Wagon that I am trying to get on the road. Interested in seeing what you have. Nothing specific in mind as I have a complete vehicle with just a few hiccups but I'm always in the market to look at what is available and finding spares. Thanks. -Dave

Hey Todd, thanks for the offer. Bonvos actually got back to me pretty quick with having one. Just got it in the mail today and put on. Hopefully it smooths this old girl out. Seems to be solving the problem as of right now but time will tell. We'll see if the fix sticks in the a.m. Thanks again.

Currently have a 78 Subaru wagon GL 4wd 4spd. I have an option to buy a 79 Wagon DL 2wd non running for really cheap. Would most of the body and non engine/tranny parts be a direct replacement? Looking for a solid donor parts car as it seems to be in ok shape. Any info would be helpful. Thanks USMB world... as always.

I've got one that is out of my bad tank. Would need some work to be done to it to make it useful but if you are really desperate it may be the only option. I'll take some pics of it and post em this weekend. It took me almost a year to source a replacement tank for my 78 wagon. They are hard as hell to come by. Not sure if it will be of use but figured I'd throw it out there since no one has responded.

Yes!! You're the man.

Oh man that would be awesome. I think its the only weak spot on the carb.

Mine is cracked. Looking for a replacement that isn't. Anyone out there by chance have one? Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Thanks for the correct terminology. Very good to know. Tried using some high temp gas resistant sealer but alas she is still leaking after putting her back together and running. Looks like I'll be trying to find a new one. Anyone out there have one just laying around? Ha.

So I am rebuilding the ol' Hitachi and the top half looks great. Figured I'd pull the bottom portion to replace the gaskets because that is where I am positive a leak was coming from and after pulling it apart found that the thicker gasket that is wedged between the two smaller gaskets for the base has a crack in it. Anyone know if it is possible to get a replacement "thick" gasket for the base of these? My rebuild kit did not come with a new one only the two thin bottom portion gaskets. Uploaded with ImageShack.us The Break Uploaded with ImageShack.us The thickness. Two thin gaskets go on each side of this larger one. Uploaded with ImageShack.us Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Macgyvering very encouraged as I would like to get her up and running asap.

Awesome Bonvo. Great pic.

Have had a few requests for the 2nd Edition of "How to Keep Your Subaru Alive 1975-1988". If you would like a copy of this PM ME WITH AN EMAIL ADDRESS and I will get a PDF copy of it out to you.

No problem man. I'd have been lost without some of the help here on the board. Just returning the favor.

Scratch that... with no vacuum leak and the idle mixture screw in all the way it SHOULD die. The vacuum leak is what is keeping it alive.

I don't think so, if it was all the way in if I have it figured right you would just be burning really rich (a lot of gas). But... it could be that the vacuum leak somewhere on the carb would allow enough air in for it to run. I mean, when you start your vehicle the choke is making the vehicle run rich to get her started. She can run on a lot of gas but what will happen is that you will run really hot to the point where you will actually burn up the exhaust system ie: glowing red catalytic converter. This is just my thought on the process. I am pretty new to these Soobs and in depth mechanics and such but I've been having a blast with this old wagon. This is almost identical to what I have gone through with mine in the last few weeks. I was able to turn my mixture screw in all the way with only slight change. Along with every now and then I would try to adjust the idle and it wouldn't change anything then all of a sudden she would high or low rev compensating with the idle speed screw. I've likened it to the gasket leak sealing and unsealing itself. We will see what happens. I've got the carb out right now and am just waiting on the rebuild kit to arrive but she looks fairly user friendly to tackle. I hope. If I'm wrong or mistaken on one of these points please someone feel free to correct me.

Second the vacuum leak. Going through the same problem with mine. She starts well enough and purrs but after she warms up she wants to rev a bit and eventually gets too lean and will die. Let her cool down and had the fire extinguisher handy and did a quick carb fluid vacuum leak test. Once started just squirt a bit of carby cleaner at each of the ends of all the lines and carb gasket points. If the idle jumps up then that is where a leak is. Found mine right at the base of the carb where it bolts to the top of the manifold. Easy enough to pull off and replace the carb gasket but if its off and out may as well do a rebuild. That manual I sent you lays it out really well. Whole rebuild kit cost 27$. Just be meticulous. Do the cleaner test with the engine cold. Carb fluid + hot engine= flammable. Sorry if you knew a lot of this. Just ran in to the same issue literally this past week, figured I'd share seeing as it seems identical. Good luck.

Let's hope parting her out doesn't come too soon. Unless you are just trying to jinx me. Ha. Consider it up for grabs to you if the day ever comes and you are still looking.

Here are a few shots of the interior A/C system. As for the the evaporator if I think I have an idea of what I am talking about and that it sits in the interior A/C box under the glove the box. I reached my hand up behind it and you can feel what I think are little cooling fins almost like a radiator. Was going to remove the cover but it is a little bit more than just pulling some screws. Thanks for all the info and the willingness to be a guinea pig for the conversion. Like I said I think this will go on the back burner for at least a few weeks as far as projects go. Carb rebuild is definitely the priority. I did however do a quick CL search and there is a guy here locally who has the R12 and vacuum and gauges to do an R12 recharge for a very reasonable price I think so we will see about possibly just doing that to save some time and effort considering there are so many other projects to do. Both my own and that damn honey do. Looking forward to your conversion and the fact that I am learning more than I thought I would ever about A/C systems. Thanks for the info. Yet again a member expanding my vintage Subaru knowledge base. #1: The heater / AC controller on the dash. Uploaded with ImageShack.us #2: The little AC knob on the drivers side that controls the unit. You just twist this knob clockwise and the compressor kicks on. Uploaded with ImageShack.us #3: Not a super useful pic but it shows that it was definitely a pretty pro looking install; on the interior anyway. This is on the black (what I assume to be the evaporator cover) box under the glove box. Uploaded with ImageShack.us #4: Shot of the passenger side under glove box compartment. The glove box on this is incredible small. Maybe only 4 inches tall due to this being installed I presume. Haven't seen a non A/C car to compare. Uploaded with ImageShack.us I think these are some of the shots you were looking for. Anything else you need just let me know. I was thinking I might even do a quick "follow the hoses" video that I can post on youtube and then put a link to on the forum.