Hello guys, I've been looking for an older subaru for a while and found one in very good condition for $1,500. Its a 1988 GL10 sedan. It has only 80k miles on it and only 1 owner but it is FWD. I was wondering how hard it is to convert to 4WD. The body and the rest of the car looks so nice that if it isn't too hard I'd be willing to do it. Advice?

You have to find a parts car to make it easier for you. It can be done, is a lot of work

Usually easier to buy what you want but it can be done.

MT to MT?
AT to AT?
MT to AT?
AT to MT?

Manual or automatic car?
Manual of automatic conversion transmission?

Need:
Transmission
Driveshaft
Shifter mechanisms

Entire rear suspension - crossmember, diff, axles, knuckle assemblies - and probably gas tank for 4WD clearance?

Rear struts are different but interchangeable - they have different mounting positions so might give the car a rake if you don't swap in 4WD strut assemblies. 

If AT to MT or MT you'll need pedal assembly
If MT to AT you'll need a radiator or dedicated cooler for the fluids with

Not necessary but Ideally you also get or may want:
Center console for interior aesthetics
Instrument cluster

cruise control is auto/manual specific, if it's equipped, swap the controller. 

Edited April 2, 201610 yr by grossgary

MR radon did it and documented it at subaruxtz.com

I did make an 87 fwd wagon into 4wd. Before and after, 3AT transmissions. Had all the parts from doner cars that the body rotted away, but the hard parts were still good. Had to fab a bracket for the drives shaft bearing, and add a wire or 2 to the harness.

Thanks for all the info. The main reason I'm considering it is that it is by far one of the nicest GLs I've seen in my area. Most seem to have rusted out or are already missing parts, etc. I got him down to $1,200 so far and will see what it looks like when I go to meet him. He said it has a crack in the windshield and no rust but pictures can be deceiving. It is an automatic and I'd prefer a MT but maybe I could swap it when I do a 4WD conversion. Would it be Best to do both conversions at the same time? There are a decent bit of parts cars in my area so I believe I can find a good donor vehicle.

Thanks for all the info. The main reason I'm considering it is that it is by far one of the nicest GLs I've seen in my area. Most seem to have rusted out or are already missing parts, etc. I got him down to $1,200 so far and will see what it looks like when I go to meet him. He said it has a crack in the windshield and no rust but pictures can be deceiving. It is an automatic and I'd prefer a MT but maybe I could swap it when I do a 4WD conversion. Would it be Best to do both conversions at the same time? There are a decent bit of parts cars in my area so I believe I can find a good donor vehicle.

In my area that's a bit much but if it's as good as u say it is it's worth doing the swap I did it to a 92 Loyale sedan 5speed FWD car the only thing u need from a parts car is

Transmission

Shifters, linkage and pedal assembly

U need to cut out the brakits that hold the Driveline carrier bearing off the parts car and weld it in place

Driveline

And since your car is a sedan you want the front and rear struts only if you use a wagon as a donor car as they have slightly taller struts then a sedan

Rear differential

Rear axle and hubs

The cross bar that holds the rear diff up to the body u need to drill holes in to the trunk to bolt the cross bar to car

U do not need to swop out the gastank

If you're not picky you don't need to swap the instrument cluster you just don't get that little 4 wheel drive dummy light

I may have missed a few small little details if you get into it feel free to message me I could help you out

And sorry for my no punctuation explanation I have piks of swop if u need