TheSubaruJunkie

Stock rim size is 13" rim, stock tires are around 175/70R13. The bolt pattern our cars have do not match any other bolt pattern for any other 14" or 15" rim other than Peugeot. You will hear alot about them on this board. Without a lift, you can run 14" peugeot rims and up to 26" tires, and thats after alittle sledge work and alittle fender triming. -Brian

In order to get your steering linkage on... just put the side on the steering column in 1st, it will slide up alittle further than normal so you can get the bottom half into the section that leads to your Steering Gearbox. This might be little too late... but here is how i removed the studs from the bracket that bolts your crossmember to your car... Step 1: Step 2: I have a few other pictures of the lift proccess on my '84 EA81 here: http://usmb.net/gallery/albun85 -Brian

goes away when you have it in nutral??? hrm. i was thinking it could be a bearing. Maybe put it on jackstands and put the car in gear. See if you can pinpoint the sound with the car sitting still. But I would definatly check for ripped CV boots, loose castle nuts and brake equipment. -Brian

Yup, about $350. And I had to wait a month or so for mine to be finished and shipped to me. But its worth it! Here's a pic of her: And there are more here: http://usmb.net/gallery/album05 -Brian

That '83 GL is almost certain to have a Dual Range 4speed. If its 4WD and its a Manual, its a dual range. They will take almost anything. Just look around at some of our Subaru's and what we put them through. I have a '84 GL which is the same body style, has the same engine but I lifted it 3" and use it as my primary off-road rig. Some of us here have done even more to them. -Brian

If it is a 4 speed manual transmission it should be Dual Range. If it is an automatic then it is a single range. They used Single Range 4speeds on alot of DL and 1600cc models. With the 1.8 chances are it has a Dual Range tranny. Single range doesnt suck. But Dual Range is alot better. -Brian

Thanks guys. Went to Napa and got a full gallon of 85/90. Had a buddy weld the diff too, so next day off I should be able to do a full lube job. -Brian

Can I use the same oil for the rear diff AND my EA81 4spd tranny? Time for a complete lube job. And im installing a welded rear end, so i need to fill that with oil. Is there "special" gear oil for a manual tranny? Im thinking Castrol 85w90 off the top of my head. -Brian

Grew up in Wasilla Alaska until the age of 14. Moved to Anchorage at 14 and stayed until i was 20. now i live in California -Brian

Yeah, i saw that. Was about to post, but it slipped my mind. Petersons 4Wheel Drive, page 46. -Brian

ALL NEW GASKETS! Kinda goes without saying, but just to make sure. You can get a sheet of gasket paper too and a nice exacto knife to make those hard to find gaskets. Not every Kragen and Napa has Carburator Gaskets for a EA81 hitachi. Also, gimme a call if you run into any problems. I will have all day tomorrow off (Friday). -Brian

Nope. Its a 4speed. Dual range 4WD. It will be alot better than your Turbowagon when it comes to off-roading. The Brat makes less power, but it gives you more power at low rev's. Making it great for off-roading. -Brian

Ive heard good things about Hollister ORV park. A few of my Jeep buddies go there alot. Here in NorCal there are TONS of places to wheel. You need to get stationed up here. -Brian

IF you would like to do that, that would be great. Just keep everything in its own folder, then .zip the entire folder. You can upload the .zip file to that page there, or you can email me and we can arrange for the file transfer. All credit will be given to you, the author. -Brian

Shannon. That large metal plate that is left on there, thats what needs to be beat off suspension. That backing plate is ruined Heheh. This is what it should look like when you finally get that plate off: It should go from this: to this: There are plenty of backing plates up here Shannon. I will have Friday off and i have to goto the yard anyhow. Lemme know if you want me to pick up a set of backing plates for you -Brian

It looks to be 2WD with how low the rear end is. And it has steel rims too. Easiest way to find out is look under the rear end, if it has a diff... its 4WD. -Brian

I know back in '83 they had smaller clutches on their 2WD EA81's. But I thought in '84 they put the larger clutch on all EA81's. -Brian

The 2WD '88 GL's in EA81 have the same clutch as the '84 4WD GL's right? -Brian

YEah, i'll probably have to do that. Im getting the hatch sometime this week. I will have it on jackstands and stripped to the shell soon. I wanted to have it ready for the camping trip in Grants Pass at the end of September, but without a gas tank, the engine wont run for long If I only need an extra inch of clearance above the diff... i might try to tweak the hatch tank to make it fit. Is it hard, or dangerous to bend the metal used in the tank? -Brian

Fuel Capacity is not the goal. but its good to know the 2WD tank is different. if I went 4" in the rear, I would have to go 4" in the front. Not something im willing to do at this point. If I were to massage the tank to fit a diff... is that dangerous? It will be difficult to find a 4WD tank that is not damaged. Ken... do you know if the 4WD Wagon tank will fit under the Hatch? I guess i could find out when the parts are laying on the garage floor tho -Brian

Im not worried about the time it'll take to swap tanks. I can drain all the gas and save it to reuse it. Just didnt know if the wagon and hatch have the same tanks. I think in my sales brochure for 1983 it lists a difference capacity for the wagon and hatch, and 2WD wagon and 2WD hatch. I will have to double check that when I get home from work. -Brian

Woody, i rent my house. I was saying that you have spent more money on your daily driver/rubicon rig that most i know that hire people to work on their home's. Your $12,000 vehicle made it to walker hill in 90minutes. Their $4000 subaru's made it as well. maybe not as fast, but they still did it. And they will be back to do it again... and again, and again. And nothing you, or anybody with your attitude, can say to stop us. No matter how "booty fabbed" our rigs are. -Brian

If you do not have the time, equipment or skills (expecially skills) then you have no room to base your opinion. These are not daily drivers. They are trail rigs. And the work that John did is something nobody has done before. He is a sort of pioneer in the subaru world. He has done something nobody else has. And for you to come here, make fun of his work, and boast your vehicle... when 80% of the work done to your vehicle wasn't even done by yourself. That right there is what makes you seem like the *******. -Brian

Jon, the beast was at the 'con. Woody. You have put more into your truck than most have put into their house. The fact that you have more money than us does not mean your vehicle is better than ours. For you to come here, post a picture of John's work and call it "booty fabbed" and then ADMIT that you pay other people to build your car... well.... that makes you seem like a very large *******. You're not even worthy to STAND next to John's car, let alone speak about its fabrication. John spent 4 weeks of blood, sweat and tears. Fabricating, and doing things to his subaru that NOBODY HAS EVER DONE BEFORE! And you have the audacity to come here and try to degrade him for that. Who the hell do you think you are. Im not sure if you can tell... but im alittle pissed right now. Woody, you have no business even opening your mouth to voice an opinion. You think your badass cause you can pull an engine by yourself. That's nothing. Thats like brushing your teeth compared to what this group accomplished. As far as im concerned, woody... your a nobody, a nothing. You talk the talk, but you pay people to walk the walk. Oh, and dont think im hiding behind my computer. My location is listed next to my name, and if you feel the need to want to speak to me face to face... look for the only lifted Subaru Wagon in Sacramento. 'nuff said. Ive vented. Should have been private, but that last statement by woody really did it. -Brian

Well.. im not sure a 4WD Tank from a WAgon is the same as a 4WD tank on a hatch. Are they?? If so, i could use the tank from my wagon cause that is getting parted out. I cannot get a tank from the yard. They puncture all thier tanks to make sure there is no fuel left. -Brian