Okay, I'm replacing the timing belts. You were right the driver belt was broke. When I time this, is the drilled mark on the cam at 12 o'clock high. There are three lines on the flywheel; is it the center line on the flywheel that lines up with the mark when the cams are at 12 o'clock? How do you adjust the tension on the belts? Thanks for the help.

This page should have everything you need to know. http://www.economysuperstar.com/milesfox/subaru/service/timingbelt.htm

Yes, the 3 lines on the Flywheel, the center should be at the timing light tab thats cast into the block.

 

The passenger side cam should be at 6 O'clock, and the drivers side should be at 12 O'clock. the "orienter" IIRC is the roll pin that aligns the cam sprocket next to the 3 bolts that hold the sprocket on.

 

As for tension, i always go from the crank out, and make it as tight as i can on the sprocket, and adjust tension after on the other side, as for how tight do i get it? i couldn't tell you, but some where between tight, and good and tight.

flywheel at center mark of three marks, driver side cam dot at 12:00 high, put on belt, snug down the tensioner, so the belt doesn't skip a tooth somehow.

 

rotate engine once, back to three marks, driver side cam is now 6:00 down

 

passenger side cam is 12:00 high, put on passenger side belt

 

Rotate engine a couple more times, verifying that cams are exactly 180* from each other.

 

 

I've found it's easiest to tighten the tensioners so they are as loose on the belt(s) as you can get them. Get the belts on, then loosen the bolts on the tensioners, and they will spring into tension on the belts.

 

In theory, I think you're supposed to 'torque' the belts a little by using a wrench (19mm?) to put some torque on the cam sprocket, and let the spring on the tensioner take up the slack. This is something I haven't done before, so hopefully someone else can chime in with their experience.

 

edit: two replies while I was typing... I need to learn to type faster :-P

Thanks a lot. I was working on it, but it got dark and really cold, so I'll go back after it tomorrow. I appreciate the help. I'm going to look at an '88 gl xt, 5 speed, fwd tomorrow, too. It sounds like a sweet deal. Any advice on it. I've never driven one before, but I love my '86 gl, so becoming a total subie family's okay by me. The '86 is my wife's and it's an automatic, but it's been good to us. We started out looking for a brat and had no luck there, but hope springs eternal.

Okay, I'm replacing the timing belts. You were right the driver belt was broke. When I time this, is the drilled mark on the cam at 12 o'clock high. There are three lines on the flywheel; is it the center line on the flywheel that lines up with the mark when the cams are at 12 o'clock? How do you adjust the tension on the belts? Thanks for the help.

I've had an '89 xt gl fwd auto for about 4 years now and really like it - drives like a slot car. Even though they are ea82 blocks, with the mpfi they are a bit harder to work on - a little more complicated and more time is required for taking things apart and putting them back together again. The main test I would do is to see how well it runs at hiway speeds. Another simple* thing to do would be to inspect the sparkplugs (*not always).

 

Tom

 

 

Thanks a lot. I was working on it, but it got dark and really cold, so I'll go back after it tomorrow. I appreciate the help. I'm going to look at an '88 gl xt, 5 speed, fwd tomorrow, too. It sounds like a sweet deal. Any advice on it. I've never driven one before, but I love my '86 gl, so becoming a total subie family's okay by me. The '86 is my wife's and it's an automatic, but it's been good to us. We started out looking for a brat and had no luck there, but hope springs eternal.

Got the timing belts on, and it started right up. No problems. I reinstalled the side timing coverings and left the center one off. It'll be an easy deal next time.Thanks for your help. I looked at the 88 gl xt. I have a feeling that it was one of the hurricane Katrina cars. I know it has been submerged and I heard they were selling those cars out west. So, I'm still looking.

Thanks a lot. I was working on it, but it got dark and really cold, so I'll go back after it tomorrow. I appreciate the help. I'm going to look at an '88 gl xt, 5 speed, fwd tomorrow, too. It sounds like a sweet deal. Any advice on it. I've never driven one before, but I love my '86 gl, so becoming a total subie family's okay by me. The '86 is my wife's and it's an automatic, but it's been good to us. We started out looking for a brat and had no luck there, but hope springs eternal.