83subaruGLchick

Getting ready to hammer down so I can go into reverse!

Update time yet again! I just wanted to also say thank you guys that follow this and like my build it's awesome to see that although I'm mostly posting here for myself some people actually like seeing it as much as I do! Okay so onto the updates, the steering shaft is in and extended I also replaced the crankcase breather hose because I went to move it out of my way and it just broke into like 10 pieces.. also had to get a longer vaccum hose from the intake to the brake booster due to the lift and shorten the lower radiator hose due to the lift as well! I started her up last night in hopes of moving and driving her but I cant get it into reverse due to it hitting the body around the shifter so I'm just going to hammer it out a little and put the carpet back over it and you won't even be able to tell. I figure while I'm there I'll probably due that 4 speed slop fix that I saw that involves self tappers... PICTURES TO FOLLOW! ONCE AGAIN THANKS FOR FOLLOWING THE BUILD.

I just sent you the part numbers. But I bought them at summit racing.

The lift kit is on! Just gotta finish extending the steering shaft and shorten the bottom radiator hose then I could drive her.

Brake lines in and bled

These where the solution to my front brake line mishap!! These are in they are working and they’re gorgeous. More pictures to come from today!

So just to do a quick summary of what I’ve been doing to this car since January I have replaced the following: Front passenger side e brake cable Front rotors and pads Front brake lines Inner and outer tie rods Ball joints Rear shocks Front struts Front CV axles SJR 4 inch lift kit installed at the same time This whole process has taken a lot longer than anticipated and it’s partly because I swear for a minute it seemed every old part I touched needed replacement as well as waiting for parts to come in, needing money for the thing and so on. I also cut the fenders sanded/cut a ton of rust off and painted the fender wells and around the wheel wells and rockers.

And here’s the front end. All cleaned up and together only thing missing is the extended brake lines and I also have to make the extended steering shaft. Other than that we are finally almost done! Take about a long time coming.

The rear end is all together and DONE only thing I need to finish the lift is front extended brake lines which I’m going to order today. I used a Rancho RS7241 shock for the rear which is supposed to just be the better quality of the Rancho RS5241 ADF and SJR suggest I did have to drill out the upper mounting bracket on the shock to fit my bolts though they where too small

Thank you for this it’s something so obvious I seemed to have not even thought about it. I will be going to a local auto parts store today.

I’m also getting really frustrated with the lack of information on these cars about the lifts. I’ve never lifted anything like this I’ve only ever lifted trucks and when you buy those lift kits they come with instructions and tell you about additional parts you need to buy. My lift kit although great quality from SJR came with absolutely no instructions, luckily I figured out what pieces go where but now I’m stuck again because I’m trying to find front brake lines that’ll work because stock ones are way too short and the rear Rancho shock that SJR and ADF say works I bought and it doesn’t even bolt right up either. I need redrill the upper mounting holes on the shock to make it fit. I don’t know if anyone else has had all these issues or if it’s just me? I’ve tried to search on here for answers and I haven’t gotten any. I WILL do a full write up on this lift kit once it’s completley done so it’s out there for everyone so no one has to deal with the crap I have had to. Anyone have any advice? I’m not a beginner wrencher either and my friend that’s helping me has built crawlers for 10 years and has NEVER seen the spoob I’m dealing with. Cheers guys!

Yeah I’m talking about an EJ22 swap. That’s about how much more I need to spend. I still need to buy the flywheel that’s drilled out and wire trimming from SJR as well as the exhaust which I’m planning on custom making headers back for that so that won’t be too bad. I already have everything else needed at this time I believe

I REALLY want that front bumper you scored...

The wheel wells are painted, and this is how she still sits soon little blue baby..soon.

Old shocks VS. New shocks for the lift. I'm surprised how much bigger they are. The upper mounting holes didn't line up like they're supposed to so I'm in the process of drilling those out. UPDATE ON THE LIFT: It's in, just the rear shocks aren't because of the fitting issue, I'm gonna finish putting the front end back together this week/weekend hopefully so it should drive out of the garage by Sunday if all goes according to plan. Then I gotta start the engine swap.... which I still am about 1,000-1,500 out on which sucks especially since now my STI needs my money too 2 MONEY PITS IS NOT FUN!

Love your build! Post some more project pictures when you can/have time! I want a shell that looks like this!

You'll also need to do something with the stock radiator hoses and radiator outlet i believe. The bottom outlet will need to be put into an upwards angle and the hoses of the EJ are a larger ID then the hoses off the EA so you can either use adapters or change the radiator outlets all together. I might be wrong though I've read a ton and asked a ton on the swap because I'm starting mine in about a month and this is the information I've gotten.

These spoilers to my understanding came stock on some model years, when I bought my car it had the mounting for one but it was removed. Luckily I was at Pick n Pull here locally one day and found a pretty destroyed GL that had this one on it! So I jumped on it. It also had the cyclops eye but every part was taken already I could only tell because the mounting bracket for the light was still there...

Here’s a progress picture of sanding down, hammering, and cutting out rust.

Here’s what the rear wheel wells looked like when I finally took the plastic trim off of them

I’m also kind of starting to look around for a dash assembly for my car. It’s the dark blue I don’t NEED one but mine is pretty cracked so if I can find one I’d like to replace it.

Alright guys my lift kit came in over the weekend and I’m in the process of putting it in which is super exciting. The new rear shocks I have don’t fit the mounting holes are too small for the upper mount so I’m in the process of fixing that. Finally finished sanding/removing/painting most of the rust. She’s coming along!

Do you have a dark blue dash assembly for 83 gl Wagon? Just need the top mines pretty cracked

Love it man I’m jealous I’ve always wanted a 2 door as well! Keep us posted

I found a forester version of your car !