kdixey

BTW, that's the engine I got from you that will be powering brownie. Dual exhaust huh? Why? I like the stuff about clearing out the engine bay. i noticed that my friends rebuilt Subie also has the uber clean engine bay...that goes into the keeper column. BTW, I remember what else it was I was looking for when I picked up the engine. Do you have a rear swaybar like from a GL10 (I have a beefier front sway bar I got last year waiting to go in) and/or any rear discs sitting around? Kevin

I see...the gauntlet has been thrown! I've never actually considered going for fuel injection but minds can change.

My 86 brown wagon is on life support so I guess its time for major surgery. Engine, clutch, ball joints, cracked windshield, needs new brakes and more. I went out and picked up a 100k engine ready for a reseal. This will be my first BIG fix but I figured what better time to learn. My goal is to have it last for the next couple of years, take it camping some and not get stranded anywhere or killed. I'll put in a Weber if I can swing the $ but after that I'm not sure of what I COULD do so I thought I'd ask the masters. Any suggestions of what to do while I have it open? Kevin

Okay this will seem like nothing to most of you but my clutch cable broke and I was able to fix it by using this board by searching for "broken clutch cable" and seeing what others had done. BTW, it was NOT the easiest thing I've ever done on my car. Its a PITA to get the cable hooked to the clutch pedal and I am still having trouble getting that second bolt into the little block that the cable comes out of. ...but the car works, so HOZZZZAH!!! Kevin

The seat swap went fine. They do sit a tad high but they are much more comfortable than the stock seats. I ended up re-drilling the rails on the seats to match the ones in the GL. I think I even documented the procedure (complete with photos and a diagram) here: http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=60027&highlight=kdixey Since then I installed a new stereo (complete with an AUX for my ipod), replaced the steering wheel with one from a Legacy (although I'm always on the lookout for a momo or grant adapter). Since I've decided to keep "brownie" going... ...after the needed repairs, I think next up are sheepskin seat covers for the front, an amp installed under the passenger seat, a set of rear speakers, a heavier front sway bar and some RX springs (those last two are acquisitions from members that are still sitting in boxes in the back room). Kevin

God I love this board. Its members are what makes USMB so great. I am blown away by everyone's generosity. So, a bit of an update. A local friend of mine (with a lot of Subaru knowledge and a regular USMB member...he's the one that introduced me to it AND Subarus) offered me a trade. I'm going to help him design and install a stereo system in a project car he has and he's going to help me nurse "brownie" back to health. The more I thought of it the more the idea of getting a loan for a new-to-me car seemed foolhardy (although I was only looking at a $5K car). I feel much better about keeping what I have running. Besides, I REALLY like my beat up old brown car. No matter what I have looked at new I keep coming back to my old wagon and realizing that I like it (like an old shoe perhaps). It still has some life left in it and with a bit of luck and advice from board members I can make it last. Thanks again.

No can do as far as a new car...the school that I work for is facing BIG budget cuts (as they all are) and my job will likely be gone come next Fall. If I stay in the 5K range I can pay it off pretty easily before that happens. What I am gathering by the responses is stay away from the Forester and perhaps look for a used 2.2 Legacy (which I would love to find if they weren't all so ridiculously priced around here). The other option is to drop $1500 on my 86 GL to fix the clutch and get an engine reseal and see how far that gets me.

Sorry for the repeat post but I went back to look at the responses I got from the last time I posted this and I could not find my original thread when I searched for it. I have an 86 GL wagon with 220K and it leaks oil to the tune of 2 quarts every 1K miles and has a strong gas smell when started (carb needs a reseal). It also is near the end of its clutch. I took it in to a recommended mechanic here (and they were fine) and its looking like $1500 to fix it (for a reseal and a new clutch). For a $750 car that is seeming a bit steep. While i would like to do the work myself, I have no room and because of a job (where I am trying to avoid being a cutback casualty by Summer) I have no time. What free time I do have needs to go to finishing my Masters and hanging with my 5 year old. I got pre-approved at the local CU so I started looking at used New Gen Subarus (Legacy with a 2.2 and a manual would be my choice). Because of my likely unemployed status in the not so distant future I'm trying to keep things around 5K - 7.5K. The problem is that most local cars for sale have been waaay overpriced and the dealers are ON CRACK with their pricing (asking 6K for a car worth about 3K at the most). Here's my question, would I be better off keeping my 86GL? I like the car a lot and have more than a few hours of sweat equity in it. I installed the stereo, swapped Impreza seats (courtesy of Zap) did a lot of interior swapping of broken parts and replaced the bumpers with Loyale bumpers. I even have a Weber in a box waiting for a home. But at 23 years old $1500 seems to me to be a lot to drop on it. I could probably get into a used Legacy with less out of pocket and be able to pay it off before layoffs commence at my job. There is definitely a part f me that thinks sticking with the GL is smarter but I don't want to end up spending more on it that I could just moving to a bit newer car. Any sage advice?

After a long and fruitful relationship with my 86 GL wagon I've decided I cannot put any more $ into it for repairs (I used to do the repairs myself, but I have neither the time nor the space to do that in anymore). I also have a 5 year old and have been wanting to move into a more modern car. I went into this thinking that I was going to pick up a mid to late 90's Legacy. Yesterday I came across a very nice 99 Forester with a few minor interior cosmetic issues (missing speaker grills and such) and a cracked windshield. Its got about 90K on it and drives really well. They are asking around $5K for it and it looks to be pretty close to NADA and under KBB (so my bank will be happy). I had not even been considering a Forester before but this car has me thinking about it. Does anyone have any sage advice? If I remember correctly the Forester is built on an Impreza platform correct? I had an Impreza about 10 years ago and I really liked that car. Kevin

Thanks

I like the inventiveness, only problem is that I live in a small apartment so I don't have anyplace to work on the car. If I can score a yard or garage with the unemployment then I think I'll go that route. I have a Weber sitting around so I'm going to skip the carb reseal and put it on (or have it done).

So I decided that I won't be putting out my 86 GL (brownie) to pasture just yet. Partly because I may not be employed come Summer and partly because I LIKE having no car payment. So...brownie needs some help. He leaks oil (and more than is "normal" for a Subaru). Smells of gas when I start up (I understand it needs a reseal on the carb, but I have a Weber in a box so I'll likely just go that route). Basically I'm looking for a good Subaru mechanic in Bellingham, WA (or Seattle if I have no other options) that YOU would trust to rebuild the engine. I was originally going to go with CCR but at nearly $2500 for a rebuilt engine it is not looking like the wise choice. I've been to Precision Tune and Harmony Motorworks so far and both have been disasters. Any recommendations? I'm all ears. As much as I'd love to do it myself (and I have done a number of small things on the car with the help of friends) I just don't have the skill or the space to pull it off. Since I'm not sure about being employed after June I figure I'd better get it done while I'm still getting a paycheck. Any ideas? :-\ Kevin

Parts bin has the Grant Universal adapter that they claim will work. I also found... A MOMO to Grant adapter plate http://www.ltbmotorsports.com/granadkit.html Kevin

Before anyone says it...I DID do a search. Does anyone know of anyplace that still has steering wheel adapters that work on an EA82 GL? I see EA81 ones on eBay but curiously none for cars after 84. Momo and Grant have both DQ theirs. Any ideas? If I find something I'll post it. :-\ Kevin

Yeah for most people, however I live in NW Washington State and go up to Mt. Baker, through the passes in the snow and generally like to get into the back country. The DR transmission is probably the thing making me think twice about getting rid of brownie (and the fact that I'm oddly attached to it). I used to have an Impreza and it was pretty cool but believe it or not my GL is much better in the snow. I also like how the GL make its virtually impossible for me to get a speeding ticket.

Yeah, I started thinking that the 91 probably doesn't have airbags but its still newer by 120K miles and has the EJ22 engine so it has a bit more get up and go. The EA82 in GL however is a bit simpler and I feel a bit more confident in making simple repairs. There is something however about that ugly brown car that I just like. I could throw the Weber on it and get the engine resealed and see how far it tales me before it finally gives up. What got me thinking about this was the price increase at CCR. I was originally going to pop for a rebuilt EA82 at CCR but it seems like their prices went way up. I seem to remember when I checked last year it was about $1300 - $1500 for an engine. It looks to have gone up to about $2500. Its a lot less appealing to drop $2500 into a 23 year old car.

I'm definitely going to go check out the Legacy. As far as keeping brownie...no space at the apartment. Our second car is an 86 Honda Civic AWD wagon that my wife is not giving up any time soon. Kevin

The safety issues I mean are things like it doesn't have airbags, child seat anchors and half the backseat seatbelts don't work properly. That being said, I've never really liked airbags and I suppose I could make a trip to the Pull Apart and see if I can find a set of seatbelts in better shape. Shouldn't be too hard. As far as resealing the carb...I have an unused Weber. Perhaps its time to get that thing installed. Hmmm...

I've been struggling with whether or not to ditch my brown 86 GL Wagon with 219K miles. Its leaking oil at a good clip (nothing new there for a Subaru) and has a distinct smell of gas when I start it up. Over the past year I've collected a bunch of parts (a weber carb, new springs and a thicker front sway bar). The problem is now that I'm gainfully employed (although I miss grad school in many ways) and I have less time to work on "brownie". Just yesterday I came across a 91 Legacy with under 100K on it for around $2500 (and am pretty sure I could pick up a pretty nice one for around 5K) and it has me thinking its time to move on. Partly because I have a 5 year old and I'm still not convinced "brownie" is as safe as it could be. I'm not willing to go for a significantly more expensive car (as in NEW) because I work for a university and with all the problems with the state budget there is no guarantee that I'll be working come Summer. That being said, I figure I have at least $500 or $750 worth of fixes I need to do. So, what do you all think? Better to fix up my GL or better to move on? Personally, I am pretty attached to my old brown beater but I'm being tempted by a younger prettier face. Kevin

My wife, 5 year old son and I took "Brownie" our 86 wagon with 215K on it (and leaks oil) for a little vacation trip from Bellingham over Highway 20 to Lake Chelan, out to the Grand Coulee Damn and back over Highway 2 back home. It was hot and the countryside was beautiful. I packed a few extra pints of oil and we headed out. Despite struggling to get over the passes at anything over 55 mph we managed to get over and back without too much drama and when I filled up and did the math we were getting almost 31 mpg. Pretty cool for a car that cost all of $750. God I love that car. It may be slow and fugly but you gotta admire the way it just keeps going. I feel like I could drive it to the moon if I had to.

After some searching I see that I have joined the ranks of Subaru board members with tail pipes that are rusting off. So, here's the question... I can replace the muffler if I go to my local NAPA and buy a new one that basically replaces the muffler back to the nearest joint. They don't have any other option than that for my 86 wagon. Its about $80 for the cheap version. I have been seeing people talking about replacing their mufflers with Thrush and Cherry Bombs and I was wondering if you can get that chunk that is BEFORE the muffler or is is just a matter of sawing the muffler off exhaust pipe and throwing a new straight pipe on there and basically just rig something up? I'm pretty willing to just jump in an try it (I did some custom drilling to get those Impreza seats in my GL) but I thought I'd see what some more experienced folks have to say. Thanks

Well, I have neither A/C nor power steering and for the life of me I can't figure what that extra pulley could be for. It has never had a belt on it as long as I have had it. I considered getting a dual pulley alternator an attaching a belt, but... Let's just say that I'm living dangerously and decided to go with the single pulley and see what happens.

Electrically inept here... So "brownie" is sporting a new alternator. I drove to the local NAPA and picked up an remanufactured alternator. Installation took about 20 minutes (it took a some cursing and wiggling to free up something that had been in there for 20+ years. Worked like a charm. Thanks to everyone for the advice and encouragement. Now, here's the question part. The alternator in "brownie" was a dual pulley model and the one that the manual says I should have (according to NAPA) is a single pulley as I do not have power steering. The second pulley looked like it NEVER had a belt on it yet both the alternator AND the engine had these extra unused pulleys. What gives? I know the GL10 wagon had power steering...is it just a case of using the same parts and leaving the belt off one model? Any thoughts?

That would be a bit of a trek for me.

Thanks for the heads up...I'm actually not TOTALLY inept electrically...I installed the stereo myself and rewired the lights when I installed new bumpers). That being said, I really appreciate the tips.