edrach

I have two '84 Brats: one in pristine condition with 117K on it which will be up for sale soon. My work Brat has over 350K on it (not the original engine or transmission but both are running strong). 50K is nothing; your engine should be good for over 200K if you take care of it. In SC you should be more concerned with rust taking over the body.

If the '84 Brat is the same I can send you pics of how they're routed in mine. Drop me an email address and I'll take some shots and mail them off to you.

Alloy wheels on my Impreza, require 75 ft-lbs. I regularly do them at 80. My impact tool torque stick is for 75, and I use a torque wrench to 80.

I've done three webers on our cars over the years. All the webers had an electric choke; and yes, they need it to start on cold days.

Lots of '95 thru '97 Legacies, one '95 Impreza, and a few EA81 wagons (one of which has the d/r manual transmission--row I1).

Sounds like a radiator to me.

The good news in the engine is non-interference so if there are any timing related issues, it won't damage itself. If you haven't found the crankpulley bolt yet, drop me and address by PM and I'll send you one.

Is it a 4.111 transmission? All the Forester 5MTs are that ratio.

Brian, the hole size is easily solved. I used the EA82 flywheel since I could use a larger clutch for my 5 speed conversion. I went to the hardware store and picked up a short section of thinwall aluminum tubing (forgot the size but you can figure it out) and cut short lengths of it to put around the EA81 bolts to take up the space. Works like a charm. I know others have just tightened up the bolts and ignored the space, but the German in me wanted to eliminate it!

I have a '99 Forester 5MT. Condition is unknown. I bought it from a guy who claims it was part of a STi swap and was pulled at 60K. My mechanic feels that the bearings are noisy so we never installed it. It would certainly be a good core since it does check out to have all 5 speeds. I got snuckered for $500 on it, but would take a lot less if it can be used to repair your transmission. Shipping would be a bear, but it's do-able. I'm in the Seattle area; from your post I would guess you're in Wyoming.

John, I think you have it reversed; the 4.44 rear ratio was for the automatics. ALL US Impreza and Legacy models from '94 to '05 were either 3.900 or 4.111 for the manual transmissions (check out the chart from the USRM: http://www.gearhack.com/myink/ViewPage.php?file=docs/Subaru%20Transmission%20Chart). It's my understanding that the 4.44 transmissions were all automatics, but I can't reference any documentation for that other than my '99 Forester FSM which lists a 4.44 rear diff for the automatic transmission model. To the original poster: You might find the chart useful in selecting a transmission with a 3.900 ratio that can handle the extra HP of your turbo model and that fits.

I'm pretty sure you have a 4.111 now (check the transmission charts in the USRM) to be sure. It's pretty easy to swap in a 3.900 transmission along with a 3.900 rear (check the charts again to see where to look). Thats certainly easier than changing the front pinion and rings gears AND the rear diff to match. I'm not sure why you want to make the change. Having driven both versions in my '97 Impreza, the primary difference is that the 4.111 has more pickup and you'll need to shift down less on hills. The 3.900 version is a little doggy in comparison and runs out of power on hills sooner forcing you to shift down. Oddly I never noticed a difference in gas mileage. Of the two, I certainly preferred the 4.111.

Hard to tell about pricing since prices in your area may be different than the NW. That being said I find $14K much too high, even with the low miles. Being someone who keeps his cars to about 250K (having bought it at 100K), I have to ask why did the previous owner turn it in at 30K? Time for a carfax report (or better yet ask the previous owner--if you can--why he turned it in). Secondly, having owned a '91 Legacy wagon and now a '97 Impreza wagon, the Impreza is significantly smaller both in rear leg room and storage space behind the back seats. If you don't need the room, I found the Impreza much more fun to drive. Lastly, while you're considering moving up....look into the Forester. A fun car to drive (built on the Impreza chassis) but still much more room throughout. I'm speaking from experience since we've owned a '99 Forester now for almost a year. The early Legacy was was sold off to my son's girl friend last year and she loves it!

Does the vibration go away instantly when you let off on the throttle? If so, don't rule out a bad DOJ on the axles. I've been through 3 Brats, and 3 EA81 wagons and every time I had vibration like you describe it was a bad axle. One car, the vibration was so bad I thought the transmission would fall out of the car. If you have a torn boot on the inner axle joint, that's a sure tip off of a bad DOJ when coupled with that type of vibration.

If Zap doesn't take it, I will. I've got your O2 sensor thingy. Give me a call when it's convenient.

The Haynes manual is the one reason why the actual fuel filter never gets looked at. GD is correct; check the fuel filter that's located next to the fuel pump. One time I replaced a fuel filter on an '84 wagon I bought and the date code indicated the filter had been manufactured 12 years earlier!!

www.oregonrally.com if you'd like to try rally or rallycross.

Take a ride down to Smokey Point Pull a Part yard. There's a '95 Impreza there. I wish I could remember whether it was a manual transmission. They wouldn't charge much for the dipstick; certainly cost you less than the gasoline to get there and back. In any event, there are a number of early legacies, all of which would have the same dipstick as your Impreza. I know at least one of them is a manual transmission that you can get the dipstick out of it.

When I did my '97, I filled it to the line on the dipstick and it took just under 4 quarts.

Carbs Unlimited in Fife has everything you might need. Ken could even pick it up for you; real close to Delta Cam. http://www.carbsunlimited.com; might have moved to Auburn, but google shows the Fife location also.

I think they will carry the jet or can get them for you. Otherwise try carbs unlimited in Fife; they have everything for the weber. www.carbsunlimited.com in Auburn, Fife, and Kent.

I have an uncracked dash in my '84 Show Brat. With any luck, I'll bring it down to WCSS11.

I feel your pain having pulled three dashes in my time. Worst job to do on a subaru; worse than even pulling the heater box.

I see you're in Everett; that works in your favor. Check out Bow Wow auto parts in Lynnwood. They'll have the adapter plate and throttle linkage you need for the install. I used their parts for the dfav I installed in my son's brat. Ask for Chris, he's Subaru friendly.

Interesting fact: there are two rebuild kits from Subaru for the PS pump on my Impreza. I bought them both when I did the repair and neither kit included the bearing! Just seals and gaskets. Apparently the bearing never wears out since it is immersed in PS fluid. Bearing in my pump was just fine after 140K miles, but I replaced it anyway. Only problem I had was that the vanes can go back in two ways...the right way or the wrong way. Just watch how they were installed when you take the pump apart (you shouldn't need to remove the vanes....I just dropped it and everything came apart....but I figured out which way was the right way).