GeneralDisorder

I always carry water, couple quarts of oil, antifreeze, a set of metric wrenches, a set of sockets, set of screwdrivers, extra belts (used ones from when I replaced them last), extra axles (one front and one rear), axle change tools (3/16" pin punch, hammer, 36mm socket, breaker bar) shovel (folding type - whatever), small bit of plywood (to lay on, set the jack on, etc), rags...... That's all I can think of right now. probably missed a few things. GD

I don't know of any no - I haven't bought any swampers. I don't think John used 8" rims - those wildcats aren't much more than 6.5" wide at the tread - maybe 7". I'm running basically the same tires on 15x6" US Wheels 70 series steels. Got mine for $25 each at the Tire Factory in Beaverton. I used a 7" rim on a 215x75R15 wildcat that I got used for my spare.... and that's awful wide - wouldn't want my rim sticking out any more than that. 8" would be far too much I think. Get as narrow of a wheel as you can or you will break beads, and smack your rims on rocks and stuff. GD

You don't want you car covered in mud after wheeling?!??! What kind of sicko are you anyway? Hehe Subarubrat used 80's toyota fender flares on his brat.... maybe you could find something similar for your car. GD

Not sure what the whirring noise it - could be your fuel pump. If so, then it's probably nothing to worry about. The click is some auxilery solenoid closing - also probably normal. I would check your starter solenoid. One way to check it - smack the starter with a rubber mallet, or the handle end of a wood hammer. If the solenoid is stuck this will sometimes get it to work temporarily. If this is the case, the starter can be dissasembled and cleaned, or you can get a new or rebuilt one if you don't want to do that. Two bolts, and a couple wires and the starter comes off easy. Another thing - try putting it in run, and jumpering the starter with a screwdriver. If it starts then your start circuit is messed up. There isn't much to that circuit other than the ignition switch, some wires, and the starter/starter solenoid. GD

That's what I would do. And get them from a 4WD truck shop. That way you can get a warrantee on them that covers anything - sidewall punctures - massive blowouts - etc. GD

Ok - so have your driven it at speed to see if she's balanced or not? I've always thought that would be the way to do some interesting things with axles. Like did you know that the Datsun 510 stubs will fit into our diffs? That's how the dastun guys run Subaru LSD's. And thier stubs have flanges on them...... stronger maybe? I don't know, but it might be worth a look. GD

CCR sells rebuilt HH units.... GD

I was tought to test the clutch - go up a hill at about 30 MPH, and then stick it in 4th. If she bogs down, then your ok - if the engine revs, then it's slipping. No bleeding required (there's no fluids) - just replacement. If it's slipping - time to pull that engine. No connection to the brakes either. Completely seperate system. Make sure your clutch cable isn't too tight. That could cause it to not release fully, and slip. GD

Just an FYI - those are wider than you wildcats, so you'll probably have to do some more cutting and beating. Not a huge deal tho. GD

The car in question is 2WD. I think he's using it as a pattern for my bumper... am I right Tony? Hehe. Too bad I'm not closer - I've got a couple spare axles. You mean to tell me there's not a single EA81 in the JY around there that has an axle for you to pull? Man that sucks. GD

Other gears will work too - Ken said he prefered 4th - not sure why - I asked the same question...... don't recall getting a good anwer other than "I like 4th" ok........ GD

The damascus and foster ave. U-Pull-It's are decent. Look at their map.... the ones farthest from the city center have more old stuff, and are less picked. I personally do more "shopping" durring the winter - people don't like the weather, and cars stop running because of it, so they don't get so badly picked this time of the year. Middle of the summer is the worst - people always scavenging the yards cause of the sunny weather. Forget about the Salem U-Pull-It. They just reorganized the yard, and last time I was there, there wasn't anything old to be seen. Could always change I suppose - too far to drive for nothing tho. Some of the cheap yards down on columbia and stuff are alright.... some scary people hang out in those yards tho - hell, even the people at the front desk are looking like vultures. Wear really ratty clothes and drive your worst looking car cause they will price gouge you if you look like you can afford it. The yards are dirty and un-organized. You have to walk all over the place in seriously deep muck to find the cars..... really annoying. Sometimes you can gets steals at these yards tho cause they are willing to bargain. At the U-Pull-It's, there's no bargaining - they go off a price list, and if you don't like the price, then you just don't buy it. At any rate - I'm not giving up ALL my secrets. You can look around - check the phone book - drive down columbia and look at the signs - stop when you see one and ask what they got - if they do it U-pull-it style or what. Some don't. GD

Donor cars: RX's had em in the late 80's. late 80's GL-10 full-time 4WD Turbo's had em stock I think. They were an *option* tho, so check under every EA82 you see. Look for that big sticker on there or turn the wheels if you can and see if the other side turns the same way..... In my experience some yards don't know from LSD versus open, so at those you get em cheap. If they are savvy, you'll end up paying up for then. I know of one yard that pulls them for the datsun guys. They want $150 a peice, and you of course will not find em in the yard there.... Also have had yards not allow me to pull them myself, saying they are too heavy, and that they would have to do it for me. Rubbish I say - if you can't lift 50 lbs of diff, then you shouldn't be out in a JY at all. GD

Found a great set of explanations: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/differential6.htm All you could want to know! I really wanted more info, so I searched around..... GD

legacy would be a 4.11 rear diff I think..... at least the ones I've seen are. The 3.9 VLSD is some sort of late 80's option I think... XT6 maybe? I'm not sure tho. GD

Isn't it the XT6 that had this? Apparently according to some I've talked to, they aren't much good for off-road. I think Zapar had one in one of his off-road rigs for a while, and reported they suck - at least for that purpose. GD

Easiest to either remove the engine, or the transmission from the car. Might as well change the rear main seal while your in there - cheap and easy to do. Don't want any oil on that pretty new clutch. If you can, rent an engine hoist for a day. This can make the job a LOT easier. Pull out the radiator, then the engine - do he clutch, then put it back. Should be able to do it in a day if you have all the parts. Maybe two days if you need the flywheel turned too. Another thing - when installing the enigine back into the car, place a jack under the tranny, and jack it up a few inches. Place the tranny in 4th gear, and put a breaker bar and socket on the crank pully bolt. Turn the crank while inserting the engine onto the transmission shaft. Will go in much quicker if you use this method...... credit goes to Qman for this method of installation. GD

The 5 speed dual ranges are 3.9, except for the RX tranny, which is full time 4WD, and only has a 1.2 ratio low gear...... GD

You don't have an LSD - uness it's been swapped in. Jack up the rear, and turn a wheel - if it turns the same way on the other side, it's an LSD. GD

Sounds like it - especially with the cornering you mentioned. look for torn boots - those help give away which side is bad. If there are no torn boots, it's pretty hard to tell in my experience which is bad. I usually just pick one, and then drive it a bit before returning my core in case I have to swap em around. GD

Hhhhmmmm - does it look like the other two will hold the tranny together? Should I run to the nearest fallout shelter? If it does 'splode on me - I just hope none of those little guys come flying into the cabin - could be very dangerous at high speed I should think. What is the going odds on me putting this back in? HAHAHAHA GD

Noah - you may just have had a spot of bad luck with your sending unit. I've removed and swapped a couple, and haven't had any problems. If there's a lot of rust tho, you may just want to find another tank. Get the sending unit out at any rate to comapre to the new/used one cause there's several as I said. Some have a rectangular float, and others (specifically, the digi-dash ones - maybe others, I don't know) have a triangular float. When I did my 4WD swap, I fogot to swap sending units, and just recently corrected the problem. The guages read really funny, but they did still read. GD

I think it depends on your intended application.... are you driving just around town, and occasionally going on some rough roads, or are you wanting to hardcore off-road it? If your going to go off-road hardcore style - the EA81 seems to be very reliable for this. Otherwise, the EA82's are roomier inside, and aren't as "primitive" in design. I personally like the EA81's for their simple construction and maintenence - but they aren't for everyone. GD

Well - it was a "free gift with purchase" of my redline geer oil..... http://usmb.net/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=albup37# That is to say it was stuck to the drain plug magnet..... I'm still driving..... probably wouldn't have bought the redline if I wasn't ($40 - ouch!), so what could this be? Any ideas guys? Looks like a very specific key for something.... GD

An amazing turn out of cars - both new and old. Was great to see a forester, and a WRX wagon (a friend of mine). Matt - my friend in the WRX - goes by cracker on this board I think - was very impressed with the older stuff, and rode shotgun with me as we accompanied Zap, Austin, Shawn and John up the mountain. We went further than any other group of soobs today I think. Who knows - maybe I can talk Matt into building an older lifted soob to compliment the WRX in his driveway. Austin - although possibly somewhat crazy or unbalanced (maybe a bit of both) came all the way up with us in his stock '80 wagon with bald street tires. Managing to not get stuck once bad enough to need a pull. He did slow us up a few times cause he kept getting sidways every 100 yards or so..... lots of fun tho. Got some great photo ops up on the mountain. Matt should have plenty for me to post.. I didn't get stuck this time at all! My new clutch (thanks Ken!) gave me a lot more confidence, and my tires have very aggressive tread allowing me to dig down to something hard. Had a lot of fun on the rock piles at the camp site too. I will certainly be there next year - and probably for any other HP functions I can attend... GD