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Found the Engine Problem with my 81 Subaru DL Wagon

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The Subaru Dealer Found the Engine Problem with my 81 Subaru DL Wagon, the Carburetor needs to be rebuilt or replaced. I'm located in the San Fernando Valley, can anyone recommend a good place to either rebuild my Subaru Carburetor or find me another one in good shape? I just had it rebuilt less than two years ago.

 

The Dealership said they don't do carburetors anymore because Subaru switched to fuel injection in the mid 80's and they rarely if ever get a car in with an actual carburetor so they can't recommend I go to anyone in particular.

 

Help!

You can check with TheSubaruJunkie. He's in Sacramento and might have some Garage references for you. Personaly I would spend my money on a Weber but with Ca. emmissions that might be more problems than you have now.

  • Author

Thanks for the lead. I think I stumbled across a few every encouraging leads via the internet, plus good old telephone calling once I found the internet leads. However it will require me leaving my car and probably taking Amtrack back.

  • Author

That looks like a great lead! Now I'm torn about bringing my car to someone who I have already talked to and seems to know what he is talking about or the link you have provided.

 

Do they sell rebuilt Subaru Carburetors or do they rebuild the carburetor that is on my car?

You can try these guys. You would have to ship your carb to FL. I used them 5 years ago to rebuild a Hitachi carb from an 81 Datsun 210 when I was living in Puerto Rico. Real high quality work.

 

http://www.nationalcarburetor.com/

I personally would never take my vehicle back to an aoutomotive repair shop that says they dont rebuild carbs. Find a new mechanic.

  • Author

The carburetor was rebuilt a year and a half ago. However, word from the real subaru specialists is that the carburetor kits are generally not "good enough" to get the carburetor back to normal.

 

I would have to agree with that opinion because after the carburetor was rebuilt, the ran fine for a short while, but it still had a "hesitation spot" which over a short time got worse and worst.

 

Plus I'm pretty sure the Distributor needs rebuilding. I sure am tempted to drive to Colorado and have Kerry do the rebuild.

 

But I've calculated two days driving each direction and one day there, that's five days of lost work plus all the exrtraneous expenses.

 

Plan B is probably going to be to purchase the carburetor from Colorado and have the carburetor expert I spoke with today actually install everything.

  • Author

Would it need to be rebuilt, and would it work on an 81 Subaru?

You need one from the EXACT year and model to meet CA requirements I'm sure..... the main problem with rebuild kits, is they do not address throttle shaft wear. You could just get a throttle base from roobuilders for around $40 after your core, and then rebuild your existing carb yourself, or locally.... the disty shaft can be rebushed locally I'm sure - you just need to find a disty shop like this one:

 

http://www.philbingroup.com

 

These guys have done several for me at $35 for a rebush. Real quality work. They are in Portland OR, so a bit closer than CCR to you....

 

The hesitation you speak up is most likely vacuum leak from worn throttle shafts. Very common on Hitachi's

 

GD

  • Author
Originally posted by GeneralDisorder

You need one from the EXACT year and model to meet CA requirements I'm sure..... the main problem with rebuild kits, is they do not address throttle shaft wear. You could just get a throttle base from roobuilders for around $40 after your core, and then rebuild your existing carb yourself, or locally.... the disty shaft can be rebushed locally I'm sure - you just need to find a disty shop like this one:

 

http://www.philbingroup.com

 

These guys have done several for me at $35 for a rebush. Real quality work. They are in Portland OR, so a bit closer than CCR to you....

 

The hesitation you speak up is most likely vacuum leak from worn throttle shafts. Very common on Hitachi's

 

GD

 

That's all good stuff. Yeah, the person who rebuilt my carburetor two years ago probably just used a carb rebuild kit that did not address what you are talking about, and 18 months later, I'm dealing with the same problem again.

  • 5 months later...

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