If you recall, last year I had swapped my faltering 5 speed tranny, well, it WAS a 5'er until I lost 4th gear, with a tranny purchased from mountaingoatgruff (thanks again man - hope you got your cars running). When I installed it, the newer tranny was fine, but the u-joints on both the old and new drive shafts were shot. I had from time to time scanned the bone yard for a replacement, but 5 speed Legacy wagons were not very common in this market. I was planning a trip up to the Sacramento area for the new year and really wanted to fix this before the trip. I went to the yard and BINGO, I found one. The dilemma - the up coming week-end was 1/2 off day at the yard and I could have saved some money if I waited till after the trip. But knowing my luck, either the donor car would have been removed, or if I took the shaft off and stored it in another car, that car would have been gone, so I bought the shaft on the spot.

 

Man, what a difference. The car rides so well, and now there is no vibration. The last thing that needs to be done is fix the ABS. I think the problem is the rear passenger wheel sensor. When we bought the car a few years ago, that bearing was toast, and I figure the excess heat from the bearing fries the sensor. I have another sensor, but haven't gotten around to putting it in yet. Oh, and maybe a paint job, though I don't care much about that.

 

 

PS. On the way home from Sac, We took highway 49, which courses through what used to be the mother-load area for gold in the heart of the Sierra Nevada. Passed by old Sutters Mill. What a beautiful drive. I highly recommend it to anyone in California. If you have time, go to the Mineral Museum in Mariposa. It's awesome. You won't be disappointed.

Nice to know you got the problem resolved!

 

Have you taken CA-58 between US-101 and Bakersfield? It's epic, I guarantee that!!!

No, but I have taken the 58 through Mojave, either going to Vegas, or switching to Old Highway 395 to take the back route to San Diego. There are so many great roads in this state. Too bad most are in disrepair as the state goes bankrupt.

True that! Lots of great roads in this state, but just about all of them are in such bad conditions, I wouldn't try to drive them hard with something as powerful as a Dodge Viper.

 

Of course, a Subaru with AWD and a manual transmission gives me confidence

 

 

Oh, and since you haven't yet, you MUST! I honestly believe it is a road that should be driven before death! If the road isn't twisting laterally, it'll be a roller coaster ride in elevation change!!!

I'm in the process of fixing up Murphy, the $500 87 Turbo Wagon. It already has the RX suspension swap, the crappy 3AT to 5 speed FT4WD swap, and soon to have an intercooler tacked on. Sounds like 58 West will be the proving grounds. I'll take the 41 to the coast, stopping at Parkfield for lunch natch, then I'll come back up the 58 and take the 99 back home to Fresno.