Hello All,

Just wanted to say thanks for all the info I have already been able to glean from this forum after only 3 hrs. of browsing. I have been looking for an older subaru GL wagon or legacy for the last few months. My workhorse was a 1994 Dodge 3/4 ton PU with a V10. It works well for my contracting needs, but the gas mileage is killing me. Last week I picked up twin '85 Turbo GL Wagons. They are truely twins, same year, color, options, everything! One is ugly but runs, the other is in great shape body wise, but the motor is a non runner. I am leaning towards getting a JDM off ebay and swapping it out in the non-runner. Then doing a complete rebuild of the blown motor. Any advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated. Could you guys run down the pros and cons of a JDM, and maybe the pros and cons of a home rebuild? I have been driving 3/4 ton and larger trucks almost exclusively for the last 8-10 yrs, and this little wagon is quite fun to drive! Thanks in advance.

 

Nate

Welcome!

 

If you ever get into the Puget Sound area, might be better to just buy the JDM engine there rather than dealing with eBay and a shipper. I have had good luck with JDMs over the years, but some others have not. having lived near port cities msot of my adult life, I hadn't even considerred eBay as JDM source.

 

As far as JDM or rebuild, depends on what is wrong with the non-runner. Usual "deaths" are timing belt (easy) or headgasket (not to bad). Piston and crank issues are almost non-existant on these engines.

Welcome!

I suggest to first check well the non runner engine, maybe it won´t need much work to do.

Good Luck!

Welcome, congrats on your double score for the wagons.

You got two die hard Subaru addicts in your neck of the woods... I suspect they are both busy preping for the show this weekend at Hood River other wise they would have sent you a welcome.

 

Yea... I love running these cars around. I park by Olds on the weekend and use my 88 dl, wagon on the weekend. I am driving it out to work tomorrow, last road test till fri-morn when all of Subie land heads for Hood River, OR.

 

Not doing anything next weekend? go too the gathering.