Mike W

Sorry, I've been trying to nail down the weekend adjenda (moving etc.) Yes it's gonna be SATUDAY morning, Leave north Seattle 8am sharp! We'll meet Qman and other southerners at 4Corners at 8:45-9am. If other north end folks are coming along, maybe it'd be better to meet up at your (Zap's) place just because very few know where I live? Or my place is cool too, whatever. I've been without cell phone for awhile too (dropped it in toilet) but I've got a loaner now so folks can call me at 2 0 6 8 9 0 1 5 2 2 for moer info.

One of the early hatch patrollers "Chewy" had his Hitachi snorkled using a very similar looking snorkus that I believe came from a Voyager. I'm fairly sure it was a direct fit using just a hose clamp to cinch it on. I've also seen a fancy aluminum snorkus thing on a Cavalier that looked like it'd work with minor mods. For Webers, the snorkle kit from Redline is kinda expensive. I've got one like this from JAM Engineering but it cost too much. Now they're selling these for $32 which I'd say is more reasonable and it bolts on with no adapter plate needed. http://www.jameng.com

Weber 38/38 DGES on modified SPFI manifold on stock EA81 with free flow exhaust. Makes lots of torque down low. I still haven't corrected the jetting so it's running rich and therefor the fuel economy is currently dismal. Should be getting mpg in the low 20s when it's tuned right. This summer I'll probably put a 32/36 on the car to pass emmissions and at that point I can do a halfways scientific comparison of the two styles of Webers.

Dang and I was really looking forward to taking Tex up that SqueezeTree trail. If we're definitely on for saturday, I'll put up a seperate post with maps and stuff.

Oh boy another "to lift or not lift" tangent (sigh.) I guess it pertains to trails like Black Diamond (and most of what we do) so I'll let it slide. A few years ago a stock '83(?) wagon came with us on the Kanasket trails and made it through a lot of stuff. It was entertaining to watch. Lets just say he had to use brute force and the car took a pounding. A 3" lift and even slightly bigger tires would have made all the difference and allowed him to cruise through it like the rest of us. In a nutshell, doing trails like this in an unlifted car will eventually result in the lower half of the vehicle looking like a crumpled soda can. Lift the car 3" and add 14" snow tires or 26" mud tires and it's a formible beast. Add a welded or LSD rear diff and it'll go dang near anywhere. Total cost might be less than $500 if you score a deal on the wheels and tires. Yeah the tranny and shift lever do drop but I never even noticed the change in lever position as far as driving goes. I haven't heard any complaints from other users either so I'd say it ain't much of an issue. Anybode else up for a run to Black Diamond on Sat 2/21? It's only about 45 min from Seattle if the traffic doesn't suck.

Don't know if I said anything before but I've got a minor beef with the Isabel trail myself, been wanting to try it for a long time. So you bet I'm hoping to be there and there'd better not be any emergencies.

So maybe I couldn't go today 'cause I had an all day "date" but I'm actually 3 for 3 on fun runs for the new year. It's just that I forgot to tell the rest of you I was going on my own fun runs! Actually I didn't tell anybody I was doing a "run" because I didn't know if or where I was going until I got there. Like last sunday night for example I drove from Carnation to Sultan on the Stossle Creek roads doing a bit of recon for possible future trips. Turns out that most of the trails I did a few years ago are shut down now but there's still some fun stuff and blasting up snow covered logging roads with the lights blazing in the dark was a hoot. Good adventure driving out there if any of get a notion to try something different. And I found out that it's fast coming back from Sultan by going to Duval and taking 520 to Seattle. Anyhow, I'm busy with moving etc. these days so I've been sneaking out when I get stressed out or get a chance. Might even go out tomorrow AM but have lots to do. Hmmm...maybe just go for a quick dip in the Mill Creek Mud Hole? Say maybe 10am? Anyone want to go? And how about a half day run next weekend? Saturday AM? Black Diamond area trails? Leave Seattle at 8am and meet at Four Corners by 9am? Try the powerline trails by Black Diamond first then the Kanasket trails & up Mt McDonald then maybe the Sugarloaf powerline trails for desert? Anyone in?

When I Weberized my car, I disabled the AIS but left it on the car. My plan at the time was that when I needed to pass emmissions I would temporarily install a smog pump where the A/C used to be. It'd blow air into exhaust and help burn the hydrocarbons in the cat. Haven't tried it, don't know if it'll work.

The XT scoop may not be big enough to do your intercooler much good and it's a bit too wide to fit the hood bulge of EA82 cars. But hey I guess if they melt that means you could use heat to mold the scoop to fit the contours of your hood.

Coveting thy tubing bender. Nice tool and nice design. Bet you'll be taking orders for more of those. Any issues with air bag sensors or such?

Will do when I get home from work. The bushing and pulley are currently off the alternator so I might as well snap a pic. It really doesn't look like much, just a straight bushing, no step in it like the one shown on the USRM. The funny dimensions make more sense when converted to metric. Length=10.8mm, ID=15.1mm and OD=22mm. I should also add that the bushing provided room enough for a split lock washer under the nut (but I still used lock-tite.)

Looks like the USRM is written for installation on a EA82T engine. Guess maybe it needs pics and story for EA81 engines too. Incase anyone is interested, the pulley spacer bushing I made for use with RX7 v-pulley measures .420" long, ID of .595", and .866" outside (wierd dimensions but it worked.) That resulted in the pulley just clearing the case, the nut having just enough threads to hold securely, and a reasonably straight belt angle. Oh yeah, a rattle gun is the easy way to remove the pulley nut and you don't have to hold the pulley with a pipe wrench.

That's exactly how I've done my 3 swaps. Guess I should look at the USRM sometime and see what it says. I've gotten my pulleys off of Mitsu alts on older Mazda RX7s and added my own spacer bushing.

Unless the cancer is reeealy bad I'd say restore it and keep it stock. That said, I've had thoughts of building a capable gen1 Brat but my approach would be to merge the body with Legacy engine, maybe Legacy crossmembers and some suspention pieces, and probably use diffs, axles, hubs etc from a non-Subaru but still keeping it IFS and IFR. I wouldn't want the body any higher than could be helped. Tippy isn't cool, especially if you're moving to the SW where rocks are the main event. I'd start such a project by investing in tools and figuring out the total budget. Welders, saws, benders, etc can add up but can be an investment. There's lots of unfinished projects out there from guys that underestimated what it'd take to pull it off. I don't mean to be naysay, just advising a bit of caution before diving in. Good luck and hope you at least get the Brat!

Yeah well what sucks is that I made those pics a couple years ago and forgot I had 'em. I should have shared a long time ago but forgot they were on my harddrive. Maybe they could they be added to the Weber installation info on the USRM? For those making their own adapters from scratch, a decent bimetal hole saw is all that's needed to bore the big hole. Works quuite well on soft aluminum.

Right on, that's the kind of interest I was hoping to get. Most of the places that we offroad our Subarus also have hiking and biking trails nearby. So even if Subaru pilots go off in different directions to recreate, it might be cool to hook up for a beer or soda afterwords, BS a while, kick the tires, and hang out.

And the gaskets (like you really need measurements for gaskets.)

The other side of the adapter and gaskets.

If my attached image works, it should give you the hole locations you need. It's EMPI brand adapter made to fit the Hitachi intake like you'd have on your '84 Hatch.

Lake Isabel has been on my things to do list for a while too. So yeah lets get that on the schedule for sure. Man, 7 months to a year...that's one long dry spell! Hope you can get yer fill of moss and mud before you go!

Yeah I knew you guys would say that! Man I'd love nothing more that to be able to 100% commit to being there and even "leading" a trip. My life is getting more normal so hopefully that can happen. But part of my reason for posting this is to start the ball rolling so that LOTS of trips will happen weather I'm there or not. I was hoping that if places and dates can be chosen by popular opinion, that the event will just happen...leader or no leader. I'm not a great organizer or activities planner or whatever, but I'll do what I can. Hopefully everyone's enthusiasm to get out there PLAY and USE our Subarus will be enough to motivate folks to say "Yeah, sign me up!" or "Pick some dates and I'll try to be there!" That's what I was hoping for. Now as for "give us a plan"... Near term: How about another Black Diamond trail run next weekend or the weekend after that? A month ago the trails between Ravensdale and Black Diamond were "open." And the powerlines and clearcut between Ravendale and Kanasket were open. And the Kanasket trails and roads up Mount McDonald were still open. How about another half day run to those places and maybe meet for lunch and/or a Hatch Patrol meeting? Zap, Dungeness may even be do-able right now. I don't think the elevation is much. I was hoping you'd chime in with the cabin campout concept. Sounds good to me! Hope the whoopdedoo bumps are still there...that rocked! Long term: How about Memorial Day weekend doing an east of the mountains trip to Bluett Pass/Mission Ridge. I've been over there a number of times on that weekend and had nice weather. The snow is mostly gone by then and the tour I have in mind would be really cool with a group (and wives, kids, etc.) I'm not sure about hardcore trails. There used to be some interesting 4wd trails but more current info is needed. There are lots of camping and excellent views making it a great backroads adventure drive at the very least. I just really like that area and it's a good place to find SUN! After that, the higher places melt out and we're talkin' Manastash, Evans, Elbe, etc, etc... It's been a long time since I played down by Lewis River and St Helens but I know that area is nice. Maybe someone from Vancouver or Portland can get something going in SW Washington?

Hey I've been having cabin fever lately and daydreaming about all the places I want to go when the snow melts. That got me thinking that maybe if some planning was done now, then cool trips would be more likely to happen and more people could attend. The type of "trips" I have in mind could be done as overnighters for those with time, or you could catch just one day of it and still have fun. They could have gnarly trails, yet folks with street cars could have a scenic dirt road tour. You could even just stop by the rendezvous for socializing then go hiking, biking, etc if that's your thing. Kinda like HPSS...that was a cool weekend (Kudos to Zap, Qman, etc for making that happen!) Just tossing the idea out there to see if anyone is interested. What do ya' think? Some potential places: EAST (good weather sooner) * Blewett Pass-Mission Ridge-Colockum Pass (Memorial Day weekend? 1-3 day campout & dirt road tour with views and 4x4 trail options.) *Manastash Ridge from the east side. Taneum Creek *Lake Wenatchee Area *Entiat-Lake Chelan *Naches Area *Rimrock Lake area NORTH & CENTRAL CASCADES *Baker Lake area *Money Creek/Miller River/Tonga Ridge *Jack Pass area *Naches Wagon Trail-Manastash Ridge *Evans Creek SOUTH WEST *Elbe Hills *Lewis River/Mt Adams area *Mt St Helens WEST Dungeness ORV area

There are other cars out there that use the same alt as the XT6 you just need to make sure that it's the 90 amp and not a 75amp imposter. Talking to Ed Rach's alternator guru a few years back, I asked him what other cars had that alt. He checked the books and found six or eight other cars such as certain years of Ford Probes, Mitsubishi, Mazda, etc. I got one such alt off a fully loaded Mazda but it was buried behind the engine and hell to remove. Has anyone else noticed that XT6 alteranators don't like mud? Their open design seems to be much more vulnerable to crud getting inside and chewing up the bushings. Next time around, I'm going with a GM alt.

Leave No Trace had reps at the Taste Of Subaru event in Portland last year. I got one of the little books they handed out and was surprised to actually learn a thing or two from it. In some cases they might go overboard in their wilderness ethics, but given the thousands of newbies visiting the mountains these days I see a real need for clueing people in. There's just so many folks that go to REI and buy the gear then go trash the mountains. I meand it's great that people are getting out and about seeing our public lands (and hopefully voting to protect them,) but without some gentle instruction average humans can be like bulls in a china store. So after seeing that booklet and looking at the Leave No Trace website, I'll endorse what they do and commend the Wrench Wench for wanting to teach their stuff. Seems like a great career move too. If nothing else it's a cheap opportunity to practice public speaking, learn instruction skills and maybe be a stepping stone to business success. Looking at the class schedule, I see some of the classes happen in cool locations. It might be fun travelling to a nice place for the class rather than having the instructors come here. Just an idea. How about NOLs? Is that in your plans too? I've known some NOLs grads and that program sounds tough but well worth it.

Oh yeah and if you're having trouble getting the throttle cable to pull the way you want it to and can't find the parts you need and don't feel like buying stuff from the local VW store, cruise the junk yard. Lot's of nifty throttle levers to choose from. The one I used for my 38/38 came off a fuel injected Dyhatsu Rocky or some funky rig like that and the cable stop came off a Volvo or Saab or Audi then I tweeked it to the angle I needed. Whatever works.