I am from the snow belt in the U.P. of Michigan. I have been a avid subaru lover for over a decade. In my time I and my friends have run many a subaru into the ground, almost to the point where there are no low rangers left up here. The ones that are here are so rusty that a good jolt will break them in 2. So now to my vision;

 

I needed to go down to Florida anyway, so I checked eBay and sure enough there was a rust free 86 wagon, with an automatic tranny. Now tell me what other brand of car except Subaru would you even consider driving 1700 miles sight unseen. The body was everything I had hoped for, and the auto trans would encourage me to use it as a car and not a baha buggy, so I was happy. Unfortunatly the problems we have up here with our cars is not anything like what is ailing this subaru.

When I push the 4wd button the light comes on as I am pushing it in but as soon as I release it the 4wd light goes out. And I did check it is not in 4wd if you hold in the button. Any suggestions?

Here is some other food for thought. I have 2 88 wagons, efi and dual range, bodies are shot. Is it even possible to swap the whole powertrain

out of an 88 and put it into the 86?

Last question, need any parts I have 2 88s and an 86, both 88s are high/low, as is the 86.

Jeff

You should be able to swap out the transmission with ease. My 86 is carbureted. If it's got FI you might have to swap the ECM, too. I'm not sure about that.

I have read a few posts in here where the hardcore soob boys have bought 1-way plane tickets, bought a car sight unseen and drove it home several states away...

 

And where exactly is this car in Fla? If you change your mind, I'm interested. A much closer drive for me as I live in La.

Already went and got it. Flew down visited family for a week and drove it home. What a rattle trap, but it made it. The choke system is useless, I have adjusted it but really don't have a clue how it is supposed to work. This is my first carb subaru. But it is all worth it to be able to crawl underneath it and say, "wow thats what that is supposed to look like." Other than a leaky battery dammage it is completely rust free.

yes, you can swap the entire drivetrain into it but you'll also need the whole engine wiring harness for it as well, plus the ECU. A lot of people have done swaps like this here on the board, myself being one of them. I swapped my automatic RX to a manual with not a lot of problems.