bobs97c5

So awesome! Nice build.

That tool is great too if you're trying to figure out how much your speedometer is off once you go with different than stock sized tires. I can see that with my 215/75/R15 tires that my speedo is approx 19.4% slower than stock. This also helps when I calculate my fuel economy with the larger tires. Oh, and according to TireRack.com the stock tire size for my 86 GL is 185/70-13.

Excuse my ignorance when it comes to the RX, but if it's a 5spd dual range, then why does it say "Full Time 4WD," on the back of the car? Is it only full time 4WD when you lock the center diff? Just curious as my 1990 Legacy was Full Time 4WD which meant it was AWD all of the time. On the RX I'd assume you can engage it and disengage the full time 4WD? Thanks for "learnin," me in advance.

Wow, let me know how this works out. I had an 05 STi that made the clunking sounds you referred to and it was very common for STi owners to swap out their struts pretty quickly after buying them.

Definitely take the heads to your local machine shop to be pressure tested, resurfaced (if needed), and a 3 angle valve job performed (if needed). Bring them the valve stem seals that will come in your head gasket kit. Also in your gasket kit will be intake gaskets, exhaust gaskets, and cam housing cover (valve cover) bolts with new rubber on them. It's a great time to do timing belts and inspect/replace any accessory belts too. In addition to that I replaced the water pump, thermostat, cap, rotor, spark plugs, and wires on my EA82 while replacing the head gaskets. Since mine is carb'ed I also replaced the carb base gasket. I know it all adds up, but it was much easier to do all of this at once then having to go back later and do the extra stuff. Here is all the stuff that comes in the Felpro Head Gasket kit (which I hear is the best):

What color is the smoke? If it's white smoke then make sure it isn't burning coolant. If there is a head gasket going out then you may see water/coolant in the oil or you may see white smoke coming out of the tail pipe. Just keep an eye on your temp gauge if you do drive it. I'd start by checking the oil and the amount of coolant in it first. I wouldn't take someone's word on what the problem is unless you know them and they know what they're talking about. It would be a shame to drive it and cause any other issues if it is something other than just the turbo. Good luck getting it home!

My friend spent the weekend troubleshooting why his GL-10 wouldn't start up after replacing the timing belts, distributor cap, rotor, wires, etc. Since he didn't have a Haynes manual he looked for the firing order on-line. Needless to say, he spent hours messing the the timing after setting the firing order as shown on this site (1-3-4-2): http://autorepair.about.com/library/firing_orders/bl-subaru-firing-86.htm Once I brought him the Hanynes manual today and was talking about the firing order I knew instantly that's all he had wrong. He is a very mechanically inclined person and knows what he is doing, so I didn't question something as simple as the firing order when he had already checked that. The correct firing order as we all know is 1-3-2-4. Lesson learned, don't always blindly trust the internet!

This is an interesting thread. I'm quite interested to see what everyone comes up with as I'd love to get more travel our of the suspension on my lifted EA82 Wagon. I'd love to see a vendor such as SJR offer a long travel sping/strut package for EA82's. I'm good a bolting stuff onto my lifted EA82, but I'm not a fabricator by any means.

Thanks, I ordered some touch up paint today from this site. I appreciate the reference! ~Bobby

You'll never believe it, but I sold my 90 Legacy today. I found a GL-10 on Craigslist that just stopped running a few days ago. The owner was desperate to sell the GL-10 and buy another car. I went to look at the GL-10 as a potential new project and liked it although it wouldn't stay running long before it would die. The guy saw my Legacy and was interested in giving me his GL-10 plus cash. I asked him to make an offer and he offered more than I paid for the car plus his GL-10! I guess that just shows how good of a deal I got on the Legacy. Now I have a few hundred in profit plus a GL-10 that is in great shape that likely just needs a tune up and a bit of TLC. No blown head gaskets, no smoke, oil is clean (no water in it), great body, suspension, brakes, tires, interior, and appears to have a new water pump, and rebuilt heads. I needs a new windshield and the hood is a different color, but overall it's nice. It turns over, idles rough, and then dies. My friend and I are going to pick up the GL-10 tomorrow and then start the troubleshooting. It's getting fuel (check that already), now I need to check for air and spark. It was a great Legacy, but this was too good of a deal to pass up! I know this guy and his family needed the car more than I did anyway, so I felt good that I helped them out. I'm glad too that we both felt like we got a great deal on the trade.

Okay now that I am pretty certain that my car is Lucent Gray Metallic I can't find anywhere that sells touch up paint for this color. Wonderful.

I found this 87 Brat that is Lucent Gray. I think this must be it. 654 lucent gray metallic all 1986 1987

Okay, I've looked and looked and my guess is that the sticker with the paint code must have been removed over the years. Is there any other way to get the paint code with the VIN #? They had to have put the paint code somewhere else other than just one sticker on either the driver's side strut tower or radiator support. Does anyone else have a GL this color that can help out? Thanks! Bobby

Has anyone had any luck getting in touch with Head Trauma Inc? I sent a PM and e-mail saying I'm ready to buy an EA82 rear bumper and roof rack/basket, but I haven't heard anything back yet. Just curious if anyone else has had any luck getting in touch with HTi. Thanks! Bobby

Do you have the stock Hitachi Carb?

Holy crap that is one tall shifter. Your kartboy got a 3" lift! If I look for a new aftermarket Legacy shift knob, then what size works? Will newer 5MT legacy shift knobs work on my 90 Legacy? How do you remove the shift knob? Pull up or twist off?

I took a spare fuel pump and plugged it into the fuel line leaving the gas tank toward the back of the car just before the fuel filter. I then powered the fuel pump with a 12v battery charger and let it suck the fuel tank dry dumping the bad fuel into a bucket (luckily the tank only had a 1.5 gallons in it). This went way faster than when I was trying to do this from up in the engine bay where the fuel line goes to the carb on my EA82. This is the best spot where you can get the hose lower than the tank and let gravity help do the job. Also make sure to remove the gas cap so the fuel will empty out quicker.

Thanks guys, I'll look more closely when I get home this evening. Thanks! Bobby

1986 GL EA82. It's a metallic gray color of some sort. Here is the VIN: JF2AN53B5GE478543 Is there a place on the car that has the color code? It was super easy to find on my 90 Legacy. I'd like to get a Duplicolor type touch up paint pen or something similar if it's out there. Someone keyed the driver side fender/door before I bought the car and I'd like to see what I can do with some touch-up the paint. links to pics of my car: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/-HUYQjDleHe2kGCBNbFhUg?authkey=-niJ-OTGFUI&feat=directlink http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/qCWVxz2knGaGhCdQ8ms8mg?authkey=-niJ-OTGFUI&feat=directlink

I had a 3000lbs winch from Harbor Freight that I bought for $70.00 that was on my 84 Hatch. It has a wireless remote and it has been great for pulling myself out of anything not too extreme. Typically I used it for getting out of ditches, snow drifts, etc. On my lifted 86 GL Wagon I am going to mount receiver hitches in front and rear so that I can use the winch on either end. For $70, I think it's an awesome winch. I rarely pull out other vehicles, otherwise I'd go with a larger winch. Pic here: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/G8TtLTTJgVvw-HSQv1bc_w?feat=directlink

So I had the coolant port on the intake manifold welded up as suggested and replaced the intake manifold gaskets as well as the carb base gaskets. I used a bit of indian head shellac as suggested and bolted everything back together. The car started right up and idles beautifully. It was still smoking a lot, but this time the engine was running great. I unbolted the exhaust and no smoke is coming out of the heads, but as soon as I put the exhaust back on there is a lot of white smoke pouring out the tail pipe. There must be a lot of coolant/water left in the exhaust and cat that has not burnt off yet. I let it idle for about 15 minutes and it was still smoking quite a bit so I dropped the exhaust back off of the head. Still no smoke coming from the exhaust ports on the heads so I am just going to drive the car until all of that coolant burns out of the exhaust. I also changed the oil to make sure to get rid of any water that may have made it's way into the oil. Thanks everyone for your ideas and help!

Most definitely the crappy shift knob must go! I need to keep my eyes peeled for a stock shifter or maybe a better aftermarket shift knob. I'll send you a PM when I get the new muffler on. The one on there now is new and in good shpae, but just too loud for a Legacy IMO. It has a nice boxer rumble and doesn't drone at high RPM, but still I prefer quieter exhuast unless it's on an STi.

196k miles and it runs great!

No idea, I bought it from a local seller here in Medford, OR. The guy was nice as could be and honest about everything. The car has a lot of servicing documentation to help me see how well the car has been cared for by the dealership and last owner.

No doubt!