Leeroy

Thinking about this again, someone must have changed the stud pattern early Renaults had 3 stud wheels not 4.

It is actually a Renault 4CV. Still French but not a Peugeot! Did not realise they share the same stud pattern as Subaru and Peugeot. You learn something everyday!

Excellent work kiwi subbie! Great to see another 1400 is on the road and driving again.

Shame about the missing twin carb set-up but that is still one mighty fine coupe! (pretty cool Brumby too!) waimaks, it would be interesting to know the exact date of manufacture. the trademe link said '72ish' but the dasboard photos look more like my 74 coupe. I know the GSR had the roof console but what is the little black box with what appears to be red lights?

Nice wagon Fox! If you have to replace the windscreen may as well go the 'whole hog' and replace the rubber gasket as well. There is one on eBay (AU) at the moment. Windcreen rubber

Yeah my post may have implied that only the 1400 had wet sleeve liners, which of course is not the case. Subaru did not offically export cars to Australia until 1973 (around July!) so there were only a limited number of early 360 and 1100 (possibly some 1000) models brought in by private importers until 1971 (changes to seat belt regulations meant Subarus could no longer be sold). Hence my knowledge is limited on these. In Australia the GSR only came with the four speed gearbox(New Zealand may be different, they seem to have a lot of GSRs). The five speed was introduced in 1975 with the GF hardtop (twin carbs & 5 speeds). The GSR was then dropped from the line-up! I think this also coincides with the change in the exhaust valve position of the EA63 engine. One article I have states the exhaust ports were moved for better cooling. I wonder if the later EA63 is not as prone to head gasket issues?

12 months is not really too long for a Subaru engine to 'sit'. However in my experience it is the rubber seals for the camsaft and the oil pump that tend to go hard (My wagon sat for nearly 5 years in my parents garage). Once the motor is running again (in my case - after 3 to 4 weeks) oil starts to leak from everywhere! It is pretty simple to fix but as I said, I doubt 12 months is long enough. Hopefully you will find it is all OK. From my understanding (here in Australia, anyway) the GSR was notorious for blowing head gaskets. In fact a lot of publications I have read over the years suggest the extra 20% horspower (thanks to twin carbs and a higher compression ratio) of the GSR made them far more prone to head gasket issues than the rest of the subaru range. The EA63 and the EA63S engines had cast iron cylinder liners with an alloy block. As the motor would heat up the cylinder liners and block would expand at different rates due to the different metal. Hence the block would expand (stretch) and blow the head gaskets. I think some of this reputation for head gasket issues was also the result of engine rebuilders not replacing the 4 copper ring shaped gaskets that sit at the bottom of the cast iron cylinder liners. These gaskets came in various different thicknesses (my FPM lists 11 sizes from 1.03mm to 1.14mm) and I believe (I'm not a mechanic!!) they ensure the cast iron cylinder liner is level with the alloy block so the head gasket seals correctly. Phew... Sorry for the long post I do tend to ramble when I get going!

Great score waimaks! Don't worry too much about the brakes as parts are readily available. I have just recently installed remanufactured calipers and rotors on my 78 wagon. The calipers I purchased from eBay (US) and the rotors should be easy to source locally. Your GSR should also have a brake booster fitted as standard, unlike my GL which only has the disc brakes. (I have sourced a booster from a Brat but it may take a little bit of modification to fit. Ahh... the joys of old Subies! Hmmm... Twin carbs:slobber: Cheers Lee

Hmmm... A road trip around the south island of NZ That would be cool!!

After I had the CV joints fixed I could still hear some weird grinding noises (which was hidden from the noise of the bad CVs ) Noise was loudest on steep, hard-left corners. While it was up on a hoist (back at the place that replaced the CV joints) we noticed the bolts that join the steering rack pinion to the rubber coupling and the steering torque rod were scraping the engine crossmember as the steering was turned. Back on the ground and with the car parked it was obvious that as the steering wheel was turned the steering rack would also move from side to side, hence the reason why the bolts scrape the engine crossmember as the car is moving. :-\ To cut a long story short the rubber that is called Adaptor A is completely shot and lets the rack move form side to side!

Thanks Todd I didn't doubt your input, just frustrating that some parts suppliers appear to make up the model years as they go along!

Thats why I like the photos at rockauto.com grossgary! Stuff like window winders (crank handles?) and steering rack boots for Gen 1 models are pretty easy to spot. I tried to order Adaptor A 731255000 and Adaptor B 731255010 through subarugenuineparts.com but it looks like you can only buy from the OEM catalogue (funny how you guys leave of the 'ue' off on catalog! ) with a credit card. :-\ I have not had one of those in years!

Thanks everyone! I looked at subaruparts.com but it appears they do not ship to Australia, however I have emailed them to check. Thought I would also check subarugenuineparts.com The part numbers Todd has supplied (731255000 and 731255010) are listed as suitable for 84 to 87 Brats?? :-\ (strange to list 84 to 87 don't they mean 82 to 87?) Is this right or a mistake? The Rock Auto catalogue has pictures of the parts for 83 - 87 Brats and they look completely different to what is under my Gen 1 stage 11. ( Damn I wish I could post pictures)

Thanks for the picture moosens. Unfortunately the rubbers are not in that picture. A few pages further back in the FPM shows an exploded view of the steering rack. That picture shows the following; # 13 Adapter A (gearbox) - 6313 19040 # 14 Adapter B (gearbox) - 6313 19050 My factory parts manual is from 1975 so I am not sure if these parts changed by 1978.

Just looked at the 73 coupe again and realised it is a GSR not a GL! Somebody buy that thing!!! Seems like there a a few GSRs in New Zealand! I want, I want :slobber:

Ok after 10 years I am loosing faith in my 78 wagon.:-\ I almost feel like it is time to move on! The latest trouble concerns the two rubbers that help locate the steering rack on the engine crossmember. The rack is moving from side to side which means the steering shaft and the rubber coupling connect with both the CV joint and the crossmember. Of course these parts are unobtainable in Australia from Subaru and aftermarket companies do not even realise subarus were sold prior to 1979. I have noticed you can still buy steering racks in the US for these models. Are the rubber mounting (Adaptors A & B according to my FPM) still available? I don't want to give up just yet so if anyone has solutions or ideas post them here! Cheers Lee

I have always loved the early ones... Hope it goes to a good home! http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170132243239&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:middle:au

Just thought I would post an update. Turns out I was right after all. The right hand side CV joints have been replaced and the noise is gone! Next time I will trust myself rather than listen to a so called expert! Oh well... now both sides have been replaced it should be good for a few years.:-\ I am quite surprised how much the steering has tightened up!

New rotors and reconditioned calipers where put on about 1500km ago and they look OK with a visual inspection. This may become a process of elimination! I might do the wheel bearings first and see if that changes things. Ahh... the joys of using a nearly 30 year old car as my daily driver!

My 1978 4WD wagon has started making a grinding noise when I turn right. I thought it was the CV joint so replaced the left hand side CV joint as I was told the left hand CV joint makes noise when you turn right. Apparently the pressure when turning right is on the left hand side. Unfortunately the noise is still there! It sounds just like a CV joint, a grinding or clunking noise when I turn turn right. Before I replace the right hand side , could it be the wheel bearings? Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated!

Always loved that 70s lime green and the white 'Subaru' stripes. It is funny how many people think I have re-painted my 78 wagon but it is still the original lime green and white stripes!

Bucky LIVES!!!! I am reminded of a line from the Six Million Dollar Man... We can rebuild him!

Just thought I would add that Australia did not get any EA81 sedans with 4WD. Although I have seen quite a few in my time, especially in Queensland for some reason! It must be a relatively easy conversion with wagon parts. We did get EA82 4WD sedans with either dual range manual or 3AT and of course the RX Turbo.

Hey waimaks that rust is kinda scary! Makes me glad my wagon doesn't live near the coast, then again who knows what the inside of chassis rails look like until they are opened

If you can locate weatherstrip for stage 1 that matches the picture I would certainly be interested in enough for a coupe, who cares about the cost of shipping! Without checking I think 7.5 metres would cover what I need. So that would be around 25 ft. Just to confirm, if weather strip can be found that matches the picture count me in!