November 6, 201510 yr I aquired this cool little wagon a little while ago From JAmacT. I thought the motor had issues and the 5 speed had no reverse But the price was right FREE. See ad here http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/topic/155635-free-86-subaru-dl-manual-5-speed-4wd-wagon/?hl=free So after towing her from Bishop to Salmon Idaho with no issues I was feeling pretty good. I pulled the dip stick and it was overfull by almost a quart and a half, maybe to quiet the terrible noise the motor was making. It was the tick of death X10. So I'm thinking junk! I always do a engine clean out before I pull it. I will give the recipe as was told to me by a career mechanic back in the early 80's. for a four quart system 2.5 oil 1.5 ATF new filter start and let idle for 30 minutes watch the temp. OK i can hear the flame throwers charging up, but I have done this to more engines than I can count with zero bad juju. Well Blue wagon seemed to love it the engine quieted down to a normal TOD. Drain oil/ATF and the sludge, and repeat, with a new filter. Drained and filled with synthetic blend I had on the shelf, TOD only at idle now. A stuck lifter or lifters, I am now thinking. The 5 speed has its own weirdness going on. NO reverse. it goes into a gear type space but no gear. While messing around I found reverse but closer to 4th. There is not a lot of slop in shifter except where reverse should be and is. But now I have a running driving (extremely loud) wagon. Push button 4 wheel works well. Needs a clutch in the worst way and front boot is gone, but axle isn't clicking loud enough for a deaf Ironworker to hear. We put 500 miles on her in the three weeks at the house. She is now in hibernation next to my vette and Electra Glide waiting for spring and a bunch of parts. and one of my son showing me he is almost big enough to get my ol Harley
November 6, 201510 yr That is an Awesome story, good way to "Resurrect" a good ol' EA82 wagon; the ATF had freed stuff inside but maybe more miles driving plus a new Oil Pump might help to elongate her lifespan. I like the fact it was Free, nothing can Beat free for sure... I wish I could find such a deal in Honduras... because even with those problems, that Wagon would be expensive here... Congratulations, Kind Regards.
November 7, 201510 yr Author Thanks Jeszek. I am buying parts and sending them home oil pump rebuild and a clutch, replacement muffler definitely
November 9, 201510 yr This is my favorite flavor. Way to give Wagon Smurf a new lease on life! I remember the for sale ad and was so surprised nobody picked it up at first. I'm glad somebody with intentions to fix it up and use it got it. Can't beat the price! ;-)
May 9, 20169 yr Author I now have a 5 speed D/R for Free Wagon. And wife said it needs bigger tires, and bumpers! Challenge excepted. I think she has became a closet Subie junkie, and she smiles when she calls them my Stoopid Subaru. I think I'll put SS badges on Free Wagon. In her honor.
May 20, 20169 yr Author My wife has been home for the last six weeks Free Wagon has been a daily driver, she sent me this teaser last week [/url
August 3, 20169 yr Author Wagon is still seeing Daily Driver duty, but soon she will have some new shoes. New old stock Goodyear Ultra Grip. I was given 4 steel 13's by local Les Schwab. They are at the powder coater now. Edited August 3, 20169 yr by ironworkerboomer
August 11, 20169 yr Author Got my rims back tires mounted, safari rack on. URL=http://s564.photobucket.com/user/68boomer/media/IMG_0077.jpg.html][/url] Edited August 11, 20169 yr by ironworkerboomer
October 25, 20169 yr Author New exhaust is quiet as can be. All lifter noise is gone. Daily driver duty is good for it. http://vid564.photobucket.com/albums/ss90/68boomer/IMG_2326.mp4 Edited October 25, 20169 yr by ironworkerboomer
October 25, 20169 yr Nice Video, thank you for Sharing it. At the beginning, there is a confusing metallic rattle sound, that doesn't seem to come from the car itself, sounded more like something loose on the Roof Rack, but nothing seems to be loose there... Kind Regards.
October 26, 20169 yr Author Nice Video, thank you for Sharing it. At the beginning, there is a confusing metallic rattle sound, that doesn't seem to come from the car itself, sounded more like something loose on the Roof Rack, but nothing seems to be loose there... Kind Regards. I had to watch it several times to figure it out. It's the tree branches hitting on the roof rack. Thanks for the interest, Loyale
April 27, 20178 yr Author Thank you rdweninger, I will be home this weekend look forward to the swap.
June 7, 20178 yr Author I did the Weber swap, no need for photos looks like every other one But I am impressed with the first drive. I run super non ethanol, so I turned up the timing quite a bit. I run this gas because I may be gone at work for a week or 6 months. The Free Wagon has more soup than my brat when skinny pedal is on the carpet. 235,000 miles and back from the brink of the crusher I say Win. And a little teaser. I am purchasing a tent trailer for her soon, photos of the family adventures ASAP
April 5, 20223 yr Author free wagon is now retired as daily driver has served me well. My son is going to make her into a camping rig. I’ll update photos as we progress
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