Jump to content
Ultimate Subaru Message Board

The Desert Fox. My `84 DL Wagon


Mechanical_misfit
 Share

Recommended Posts

  • 1 month later...

It's been a while since I've been able to do anything with the Desert Fox. I am just about to the point of being able to spend some money and get it rolling again.

 

I got some new Wheel Bearings from bratman, and have those installed. Thanks dude! :headbang:

 

My passenger front axle had been replaced with a junkyard one, but when I pulled the axle nut off, it took most of the threads with it. I don't want to risk running one that might lose its nut, so I've had it parked. I am ordering two new front EMPI axles in 2 weeks. the driver side has a ripped boot, and I'd rather just run two new fronts.

 

Next up are wheels. I don't know how much I will drive this car during the winter, but I want it ready to go if we get more snow than my K-car can handle. The tires on it currently are kinda worn, so I will be replacing them, but I have a couple options.

 

1. Buy new snow tires for the stock wheels

2. would be the 6 lug swap, and going up to a 15 Like OCD did with his BRAT

 

or, what I would really like to do

 

4280259086_da7d3c6681.jpg

 

Has anyone ever put some old school 4 spoke mag wheels on their subie? I know I've seen a picture of a hatch with four spoke cragers. I'm pretty sure I've seen a BRAT done that way too.

 

Does any one know if these fit up to a 4x140 bolt pattern? I know some of the Keystone mags were universal. I assume they did the cragers the same way? Am I just dreaming here?

 

2123446_4_full.jpg

 

I really think those wheels with some raised white letter tires would make it way cooler.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

547644_418141018203125_1758988240_n.jpg

 

I know I've seen a hatch too, but after multiple searches I couldn't find it. It was an ea81 light blue hatch.

 

I have access to a couple different sets of similar wheels. The one set is universal, but I've never tried it on a Subaru to see if it will fit that large of a bolt circle. I wouldn't be too opposed to drilling to a different size 4 lug pattern if it's possible. I have a friend who works at a machine shop, and I need to get a hold of him to see if he could do it for me. I don't have a drill press and I don't want to waste a bunch of good hubs.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wow, I never saw this thread until today? Odd cause I basically live here.

 

I am thinking 6-lug swap as well. Much more out there in the form of wheels. I did do a search at Summit based on the exact wheels I bought but looking for Cragar Classics and I found nothing? I would have thought that to be a common wheel for that bolt pattern?

 

Anyway, here is what I found. That is the specs I went with though and that is with a pretty meaty tire - 205/50/R15.

 

Awesome graphics by the way! Love the photographs as well. Makes it all look vintage.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the positive feedback guys!

 

 

PTo1f.jpg

 

I'm still unsure of what exactly I will do for wheels. I really like the idea of the four spoke Keystones. I think they would fit the retro feel of the car, and give it some more weird factor. I guess we'll see.

 

 

 

Anyway, I finally got a battery, installed a new axle nut, and got it fired up!

 

 

ccCc4.jpg

 

Now it's time to roll!

 

IMEcI.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Dude, you really scored a nice survivor for this part of the country -I hunt daily as I am a EA81 nut! Haven't been back to Muskegon since I was born there, but we love TC and the dunes area. My latest fantasy involves a flight out West and a cross-country drive home in something like you got!:burnout:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Dude, you really scored a nice survivor for this part of the country -I hunt daily as I am a EA81 nut! Haven't been back to Muskegon since I was born there, but we love TC and the dunes area. My latest fantasy involves a flight out West and a cross-country drive home in something like you got!:burnout:

 

Thanks man, I know they're pretty hard to come by. It's a small world, I seem to meet ex-muskegoners everywhere. TC is awesome, there are some sweet breweries up there! If you're ever passing through on your way up there, I'd love to see that convertible of yours. I plan on making a similar trip at some point to find a clean BRAT :headbang:

 

So, my drivers door window crank stripped out on the way to work yesterday morning. I'll need to figure that out pretty soon. It might actually be the regulator. The crank spins freely with no resistance. I have not taken it off to check it out.

 

I have finally pulled the skid plate off, and plan on powder-coating it white to match the wagon wheels. I'll have before and after pics of that once its done.

 

I'm still waiting on funds for some more needed parts. I want to get some snow tires before winter, and mount them on my H alloys. I am now a painter in a powder-coating shop so I'll slowly be powder-coating all the little bits and pieces that I can. It's free so I figure I might as well. I still need to sandblast these before I can paint them.

 

 

avtkU.jpg

 

I've got the center caps too. I payed $40 for the set. It seemed like a great deal because I've only ever seen one other set here locally.

 

ocoyK.jpg

 

Another goal, which I'm sure will take a while, is to score some of these wheels.

 

560418_502739213070880_98539117_n.jpg

 

They fit with the look I'm going for. They remind me a lot of the old five slot mags that you would see on vintage custom van or muscle car.

 

DSC02190.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Those Desert Fox decals are dead sexy!;)

 

They sure are dude and you're the one responsible! I'm more than pleased with how high quality they were. :headbang: I was actually going to PM you about maybe making me a couple more of the hood/hatch ones. I'm thinking about putting them on my parent's BAJA. They really make this car what it is. I was also wondering if in the future you would be able to make another complete set. I don't plan on re-applying them at any point, but it would be nice to know I could get replacements if some joker were to smash in to me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks man, I know they're pretty hard to come by. It's a small world, I seem to meet ex-muskegoners everywhere. TC is awesome, there are some sweet breweries up there! If you're ever passing through on your way up there, I'd love to see that convertible of yours. I plan on making a similar trip at some point to find a clean BRAT :headbang:

 

Hey, yeah -that will make a great road trip in the verti! don't be surprised if you do get a call on my way thru...I'd be happy to share a micro-brew with a fellow suby dude anytime! Soon I will start a little thread here on my story of the rag top.:brow:

Edited by rrgrr
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here's some more info on the Fox and how It got started.

 

I picked it up back in Feb. A friend of mine had gotten the car through Craigslist. I had seen the original craigslist posting, but didn't bother to call on it because I didn't have the extra money. I was stoked to hear he picked it up, and even more excited when a month or so later he offered it to me. I paid $1150 for it.

 

These are the two first pictures I took of it. these were taken at the tail end of February, a day apart.

 

c9Mbj.jpg

 

Ui8Pe.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here's what she looked like through a decent camera lens. The paint was faded, it was dirty, and looked about as good as you could hope for an ea81 that got stranded outside the junkyard where all of its family went to rest long ago.

 

vgomI.jpg

 

The door pillars were pretty well faded, so it was the first thing I set out to fix

 

W0mKe.jpg

 

So I sanded them down and painted them.

 

z73Hih.jpg

 

2vCE9h.jpg

 

I added a matching spare.

 

pMOHDh.jpg

 

And then I buffed the entire vehicle with Meguiar's brand compound

 

you can see the progress in this shot.

 

ZoRZCh.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The front seats were toast when I got it, so I went for the ford escort seat swap. I was able to find some that matched the color of my interior at a junkyard, for $25! :cool:

 

If your old ea81 has seats that are as worn as mine were, and you want an easy solution, go this route. I used front seats from a `97 escort wagon, would have liked some from a GT, but couldn't find ones that would match. use your stock ea81 seat rails, and oval out the rear holes about an 1/8 inch. Then simply install them on to the escort seats. They fit great and are way more supportive than the worn stockers.

 

uOFg5.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So at this point it only seemed logical that I pulled the trigger on Pooparu's Desert Fox reproduction decals.

 

533186_2104588510619_1722710135_1010417_1604626267_n.jpg

 

392497_2104588070608_1722710135_1010416_42640730_n.jpg

 

c9371674924f11e1af7612313813f8e8_7.jpg

 

and that pretty much gets this thread completed to this point.

 

I still have tons of work to do, but I'm having a blast building and driving it. I'm also having a good time spending a little time here on the forum. There is so much useful info here, and so many great people as well. Thanks goes out to everyone who has helped put it together this far, and to everyone who has read my ramblings here. :clap:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
Pimp GL dude :cool:

 

I normally dont like graphics, but those look right at home.

 

:headbang:

 

Thanks man, maybe some day it will be as nice as yours!

 

I've been driving this thing daily still. It's way better on gas than my `93 Olds 88. the 3.8L drinks way more fuel than the 1.8L

 

This fox hates the rain. I wish I had a garage.

 

wx0KP.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So, I still have a 3.9 LSD that came from my first ea82. Is this a direct swap with my ea81? I know it would be better on the dunes, but what about in snow or normal winter driving?

 

I know this place loves pics, so here are some more for those who want to see them.

 

wkxt4.jpg

 

I need to touch up my emblem. After drinking this beer, I made it into an over flow tank for the radiator.

 

waTBO.jpg

 

Fueled it up for $3.59 a gallon!

 

f0GZy.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...