zyewdall

Pic of my ford sasquatch in some deep snow last weekend (about 14" that storm, and a few under that from previous). First... the Justy. No go (snow flew up over the hood and buried the windshield Then came back Sunday with the Sasquatch - - was plowing a trough with the diffs, but it made it about a mile in to the house. And... my new toy. 1967 Landrover series IIA 5 door 109" Kind of missing some stuff -- engine, rear axle, etc.... But I'm putting a 5 cylinder mercededs turbodiesel in it, a Salisbury rear axle (Landrover's version of the Dana 60). 8,000lb winch on the front. Stuff like that. I got pics from the previous owner of it on trails around here I decided I wanted something larger than the subaru that could carry more dogs (and people, but mostly dogs -- mine is 110lbs, and I often have a few others from the litter). And I've always liked the landrovers -- I learned to drive on a 1961 landrover.

I was told by a good subaru mechanic once that high idle can be caused by overtightening the center bolt on the air cleaner -- deforms the piece inside the carb that that bolt goes into. He tapped that bolt back down, and the idle went back down.... Hmmm.... Z

In Colorado. Biggest storm we've had all winter. About 12 to 16" at my house. Justy was doing pretty well till the snow crested the hood and covered the windshield, and the tires were lifted off the ground.

I used a giant crescent wrench and a bottle jack to get the wheel nut off my Justy -- the starter motor didn't have enough torque to do it (I've used the starter motor on the old GL to do that)

I've always had good luck with the DeWalt 18 volt stuff, and Makita is generally very good. Though, recently, DeWalt doesn't seem to be as good as it used to be 8 or 10 years ago. We cut almost the entire roof off a schoolbus with an 18 volt dewalt sawzall (not all on one charge...). Ryobi is good for occasional use stuff -- seems to be better than most the other cheaper brands. But not on par with Milwakee or Makita or Dewalt. There's also the option, if you get a 14 or 18 volt sawzall, to make an extension cord that goes over to your car battery with aligator clamps, and run it from that. It works pretty good, runs just a little slower than it does on the battery pack. Z

Ah, makes sense when you think of it that way. Speaking of collectable value instead of driveable value, I just bought a landrover (1967) instead of an old toyota land cruiser which is cheaper, easier to find parts for, better wiring, etc, if all I'd wanted was a 4wd station wagon of about that size. Because there are a gazillion 80's landcruisers around here, and only about 4 old landrovers. Definitey not chosen the the most driveable for the money

I know the coupes, and especially Brats are worth ALOT more, but I always though the sedans were worth less than the wagons. Or maybe it's just that I would not be willing to pay as much for a sedan as a wagon -- less useful, but not any cooler.

Okay, this is more like it. About a foot so far, and another foor or more forcast for tonight. Saturday morning run along the switzerland trail in the Sasquatch Z

Oh well. Work interfereing with play

The linkage is adjustable (at least on the EA82's, I assume it is on the EA81's as well). If it gets slightly misadjusted, then it might not go all the way to where it needs to be. I've had that happen before where it would not switch out of low range -- only halfway. Sounds like yours is the opposite issue -- check the adjustment first. Z

Hmmmm. I might join you with the Ford Sasquatch if you're doing that. four new studded tires, and I might be able to find some chains for one axle. Only issue is that it's not registered, so driving it down to there from Ward is iffy. It is insured though.... Where in particular? I don't know any of the 4wd trails down there. Wonder how the trail up past East Portal to needleseye is doing? That might be fun too.... Z

yeah... we only had an inch or less at my house Switzerland trail: http://switzerlandtrail.blogspot.com/ It actually continues to the north of route 52 to sawmill road, where the yellow shading dies out -- it's just a dead end to most subarus and cars. It turns into a forest service road that is pretty rocky and stepp -- lifted rigs are fine (stock yota type stuff). Great views along the entire thing though. Though... I notice we have a competing run on Sunday up by Central City..., higher elevation (perhaps?) for more snow bashing? If only my Sasquatch was registered....

I am making an electric vehicle, and I do solar energy for a a living. Pretty tree huggery. And, I also like taking my subaru or my sasquatch out wheeling on occasion and get them stuck and winch them out and all. I'm always careful to stay on marked FS trails and to not ignore private property and road closed for restoration signs and not to make new trails through the woods and such. Because i've been on the other side, and found new atv and dirt bike trails ripped through the middle of my favorite hiking areas. If everyone could be somewhat cognizant of other people's activities (and of the law too then it would avoid the polarizing of "we want to wheel EVERYWHERE" and "WE don't want to allow your wheeling rig out of your garage" Z

Anyone? It's mostly melted out. Great views, as usual. I did a some of it with the Justy last weekend (took the really really long way back to my house from Ned). Some good forest service roads along the sides of it for more steep stuff. Nothing too rocky (except for the very end, which we can avoid, unless we have some lifted rigs). Depending on what sort of crew we have, I might bring the Justy, or the GL wagon, or the Sasquatch.

I just redid my VW rabbit (a little less area than an EA81 wagon I think, but not too much) with 8 cans of rustoleum hammered spraypaint. Z

Haven't tried on on wheels, but I've done several of my cars in Hammerite (or the other brand -- hammerite seems a little better though) below the rubber door guards, because it's always getting hit by rocks down there. It does get dinged off, but no worse than anything else (if you properly prep the surface), and it's easy to just sand it a little, and respray it once every few years.

Yes, SPFI is a bit faster, and the sedan is probalby lighter. But, I've owned 2wd and 4wd 1982 GL wagons, both with the same engines, carbs, etc. And the 2wd one felt noticeably faster. Lighter transmission and lack of the rear diff and driveshaft is some weight reduction, but still.... don't know why they felt so different. Z

I've had two '82's and never had problems with the smaller clutch giving out, offroading. I had stock tires on there though, so maybe that's the difference.

I've got an '82 wagon that color too. Reef Blue is what the code comes up as. More rust down below on mine though And I've seen another EA81 wagon in Boulder that color. It's one of the more rare colors (compared to the white, tan, and light blue ones that are all over), but they are around.

I missed that you were in the Houston area before... honestly, you don't need the AWD of subaru there, so there are alot of other options that get better gas mileage. I'd consider the Prius, or if you want a more powerful car, a diesel jetta. Though... not sure what the impression of those cars is down there. Here, driving one of those will get you more sales, but down there, it could be a turnoff for potential clients. When you are in sales, more of it than we probably want to admit is in first impressions, including whether the car you drive matches what they expect someone in your position to drive.

I really liked the two tone 2007 Impreza's... two coworkers have them. Good looking, nice to drive -- not as large as the Outbacks, but those are pretty nice too (four more co-workers have 2006 or 2007 Outbacks). In 2008 they changed the styling of all of them, and IMO, they got quite ugly. So... I wouldn't buy any of the brand new ones. And, in general, it's a much better economic decision to buy a year or two old car instead of a brand new one -- let someone else take that big first 6 months of depreciation hit. However... subaru's (at least in Colorado) don't depreciate very rapidly, so you are almost better off getting a brand new one. Subaru's refuse to depreciate very fast here

Hmmm. I'm thinking an intermittent wire to something in the ignition system maybe (even the fuel pump, but could also be the coil or MAF or whatever....) ????? That sounds like it might be more temp affected than the fuel pump would be. Still doesn't quite sound like it though....

It sounds like a classic case of insufficient fuel delivery -- my Justy does that when it's low on fuel and sucking air -- it'll cut out on corners... then cut back in just as suddenly. A new fuel pump might be good to try, if the filter and all looks good. My truck does that same behavior when the filter clogs -- surging and cutting out -- tank was full of rust. I wonder if you might have run too much dirt through the pump and damaged it (depending on how bad the fuel tank was).

Eewwww. Did it do any irreversible frame damage, or do you just need to replace the fender and the hood?

If it was a wagon, yes, $500 or less. But... it's a brat, so multiply that by three and you'll get a more typical going price.