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What Have You Done to your Soobie lately? (Please post in here and keep it going)


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There isn't an age exemption down under? In the states, 25+ is exempt from the DOT requirements (antique vehicle) and in Ohio 

 

Swapped out the radiator a few days ago.. the bottom brace had started to rust, crushing the pass. side tank and causing a leak.. Was sad because that original Calsonic went 148K and 22 years. Still in good shape too, but an original replacement was $230. The aftermarket one was 70. Not a bad design, but I wasn't crazy about the mandatory trans cooler..

 

Anyway, must hunt down this intermittent steering/chassis vibration.. Suspect even lift at high speed since it really only happens at 65+...

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Re-torqued my pan bolts, good thing cause they were all loose.

 

While underneath was wiping stuff down due to all the oil here and there...then I noticed the blown inner CV boot on the drivers side...ugh just had both sides replaced back in September...boom I figured I should replace my first boot. Took me almost 3 hours, I figure not too bad on my first go around. And the caliper bolts were soooooo fringing tight...doesn't make me real happy my go to shop would make them so tight. Oh well everything else seemed like it should be. I guess I'll be doing my own from now on, especially at $3-4 Benjamin's at the shop.

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Removed the ECS after getting tired of seeing the light pop on after 20 minutes of driving.  If I get ambitious I might actually remove the wiring as well.

 

Edit:

 

Oh ya, ordered new rear shocks(KYB 343056), valve cover gaskets and oil pan gasket for some minor tuneup work.

Edited by chompy
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There isn't an age exemption down under? In the states, 25+ is exempt from the DOT requirements (antique vehicle) and in Ohio 

 

Swapped out the radiator a few days ago.. the bottom brace had started to rust, crushing the pass. side tank and causing a leak.. Was sad because that original Calsonic went 148K and 22 years. Still in good shape too, but an original replacement was $230. The aftermarket one was 70. Not a bad design, but I wasn't crazy about the mandatory trans cooler..

 

Anyway, must hunt down this intermittent steering/chassis vibration.. Suspect even lift at high speed since it really only happens at 65+...

There is an exemption. 30+ years in the state I live. Some others its 25+

 

However, I suspect that the government will change the rules soon.

We got a lot of the "grey imports" from Japan, because we're also RHD.

These usually require a lot of "compliancing" work to be allowed, but we used to have a rule that any import 15+ years old didn't need most of this stuff except needed to be RHD & "roadworthy".

In 2002, the government realised that Japan suddenly introduced a LOT of high HP car in 1989. Subaru Legacy GT, Toyota Supra twin turbo, Nissan Skyline GTR, ...

So the rule got changed to pre 1989... :(

Quite a few people were annoyed, particularly those looking at importing the 1993 Ford Escort Cosworth.

 

I've heard of someone in Aus who has owned a Ferrari F40 since new, who is looking forward to be allowed to register it for the first time in this country as a historic vehicle ;)

 

Now it's coming up to 25+ years...

So it wouldn't surprise me if this rule gets changed also... :(

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Gutted car, again, while searching for source of rain water leak into cab.....this time all the way down to the firewall.

 

DSCN1221_zpsfb913606.jpg

:o  So that is what the dash area looks like underneath. Hope you found some hidden change. Now would probably be a good time to check your heater core and see if it needs any fixin.

Edited by MR_Loyale
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Haha, yeah, we've had it since 2010 and bought it with 52k on the clock. 1 owner car from the Bronx. Almost doubled in 4 years what it took the previous owner nearly 20 years to put on it ;). My 87 gl has only 79k and i picked that one up 3 years ago with 46k on it! 1 owner car from guess where; Staten island lol. Mike made a good decision. I hate it out here.

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So where is the water going?

I'd like to see a few more pics of the drivers side and some details while you've got it apart!

Gutted car, again, while searching for source of rain water leak into cab.....this time all the way down to the firewall.

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Ordered KYB shocks off of Amazon, should arrive tomorrow.  The Brat goes off to the shop next monday.  Taking a auto body class, the instructor is super knowledgeable and most importantly, they have a paint booth with oven, lifts and pretty much everything I need to do a pretty good refresh on the Brat. Will probably pull the engine to fix the rear main oil leak and might throw in a new clutch as well.  Probably needs a total front end overhaul, won't know till I put in on the lift and look around.

I will take some pictures during this adventure.  Should be a lot of fun!

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Gutted car, again, while searching for source of rain water leak into cab.....this time all the way down to the firewall.

 

DSCN1221_zpsfb913606.jpg

I've never seen behind the dash of a LHD car before.

VERY interested to see the 3 big multi wire plugs hanging off the RHS. These are in the same spot for the RHD cars.

ditto, the power window plug, even the wires that run up the A pillar.

 

Can you please post a picture of the plugs on the LHS of the dash & also of the back of your dash skin?

 

I've always wanted to get a 3 door, but finding a RHD model from Japan is pretty much impossible. I thought that Subaru would've changed the body wiring for LHD & RHD models, but it seems maybe not so much...

Makes a LHD - RHD conversion so much easier. Change a few holes on the firewall & change the 2 brackets that hold the steering column & Air con evaporator.

 

Don't know why people don't know how this looks :P

I can get a full car to this point (maybe still with seats & carpet still in) in about 20 minutes...

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Usually, car makers uses the same Wiring Harness to all their different versions of the same base car; so they only plugs the needed accesories or change some, or even not put some, depending on the vehicle's trim level; but wiring is the same; not only in Subarus, I've seen that in another brands.

 

 

... I can get a full car to this point (maybe still with seats & carpet still in) in about 20 minutes...

 

Then, What you're Waitin' for?  :D 

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I wasn't sure about the LHD - RHD wiring.

I've just noticed the under dash fuse box on the LHS, plus there are still a block of multi pin plugs on the LHS...

So seems that Subaru have done different LHD & RHD body looms :(

They started to become modular with the Legacy.

On pre 90 (carb) models here, the base model DL has all the wiring to simply plug in the GL accesories & dashboard, but post 90 models are missing those wires.

 

Been mucking around with Hyundais for the last few years, and post 00 models are definitely adapted for RHD from their original LHD.

 

The thing I've noticed is that Japanese cars made for RHD are remanufactured for LHD, but LHD cars (particularly Europe, but also Korea) are only adapted for RHD.

 

 

My project car has been in this state for about 4 years now... :(

I need to reattach the roof skin to the roof cross supports before I get any further :(

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I'll get together some pictures of all the wiring you guys asked about tomorrow.......EVERYTHING, and I mean everything (well, except that heater core, not effing with that) has been reduced as far as possible to component parts.

Dash/console is completely dis-assembled, harness out and dash padding off. Since I've got it down this far, the 27 years of dirt, crud, and rodent surprises have been cleaned out of it, and all of the foam seals for the HVAC are getting replaced with weatherstrip foam from the hardware store--because the factory foam pretty much disintegrated as soon as I looked funny at it....

Also seriously considering going for a blackout interior with vinyl/fabric paint, since my interior has a mix of GL and Loyale pieces which aren't matches anyhow.

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The KYB shocks arrived today via Amazon.  Perfect fit, took about 45 min for both sides, used some wd40 on the bolts before attempting to remove them. I was expected a real pain in the butt, but all the bolts came out without any of them breaking.  The old shocks were pretty worn so the ride is so much better.  Also adjusted the freeplay in the clutch pedal since it was pretty sloppy then drove up Little Cottonwood Canyon with the T tops up and got a lot of looks for that.  There are always a lot of Subarus up at Snowbird and Alta, but all them are at least 96 and newer.

Counting down to next Monday when the major rehab on the rusted panels begins, my $100 Harbor Frieght welder is fun, but no match for the real welders at the shop.

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I tore apart a complaining EA81 digidash...

 

And seemingly.... fixed it  :lol:

 

I think it was just a loose connection somewhere.  I tore it all the way down, cleaned all the contacts, and put it all back together.  And it seems to be 100% again.

 

ea81digidash01.jpg

 

ea81digidash03.jpg

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Here's a shot of the other side for Wagonist, not sure if it will show him what he's looking for or not:

DSCN1222_zps178a078b.jpg

 

And a bit of the foam I mentioned. Ick. Either destroyed or just disgusting, it's all getting replaced:

DSCN1223_zpsf80d96f1.jpg

 

And here's the dash just about 100% disassembled for deep cleaning and possible color change:DSCN1224_zpsfc896fe6.jpg

 

Harness has been since been cleaned up and the speaker wiring I put in has been more cleanly integrated into the harness for a....

well, "cleaner" and more tidy look and fit, lol. It's balls-hot today, so not much else getting done until late late afternoon, if at all.

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Little bit more work done, inside away from the gawdawful blazing hot sun.

 

Looked like the P.O. had at one time (or perhaps a hundred....) wiped a good deal of dust and dirt off of the clear

cluster cover, scratching the crap out of it. I didn't take a before picture (sorry) but I tell you it was pretty horrible.

About an hour of time, some elbow grease, and some Blue Magic products had it back to this:

 

DSCN1225_zpsa8b3f2e3.jpg

 

DSCN1226_zps75b78b6b.jpg

 

Not absolutely scratch-free-perfect, but it is 1000 times better than before. While I had it all disassembled I of course cleaned everything I could reach; I really wish there was some sort of seal between the transparency and the cluster to keep future dust out of it. I may add one of my own.

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This looks sharp, good job with the buffing of the scratches.  I am sure you'll keep us posted on how your barrier idea comes out.

:headbang::)



 

 

 

DSCN1226_zps75b78b6b.jpg

 

Not absolutely scratch-free-perfect, but it is 1000 times better than before. While I had it all disassembled I of course cleaned everything I could reach; I really wish there was some sort of seal between the transparency and the cluster to keep future dust out of it. I may add one of my own.

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This looks sharp, good job with the buffing of the scratches.  I am sure you'll keep us posted on how your barrier idea comes out.

:headbang::)

 

 

 

 

DSCN1226_zps75b78b6b.jpg

 

Not absolutely scratch-free-perfect, but it is 1000 times better than before. While I had it all disassembled I of course cleaned everything I could reach; I really wish there was some sort of seal between the transparency and the cluster to keep future dust out of it. I may add one of my own.

 

Very nice!

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