scoobyclimbs

The previous owner I bought the car from said the guy he purchased it from was abit more portly than myself say 400lbs..so the drivers seat was broken down..much to my suprise the mounts and towers too...! So it was time to upgrade..I was trolling the local u-pullit and found a nice pair of '98 outback seats in grey cloth $48 pair . I also nabbed the seat belts from a '95 impreza . First the mounts on the drivers side had to be reconstructed..so I cut/fabbed and welded them. The left rear tower was completely unsafe...! I later cut /fabbed & welded the outback seat brackets to refit to the ea81 chassis mounts. I first set the seats in just to see how much I need to cut off as the outback seats mounts are taller..I'm 6' so I used the drinking method..(how many fingers)lol.. Stock ea81 seats I have 4fingers horizontally from the top of my head to the roof(safe) . The outback seats in (just set in place no mods yet) I had 2fingers clearance...being a wheeler & I didn't need the headaches.. After a couple hours of cut/fab/welding I got the seats in and I also had to trim the plastic inner sill cover(seat side) to fit the seats in also the drivers side hatch lever/cover abit. It's a tight fit but works great. The seat belts I had to retro fit (impreza belts) by reversing the mount postion(belt/barrel assembly) and welding two pieces of 1/8" flatbar for setback and length & then drilling a hole for the mount. They tuck nicely inside the frame pockets. I will post more detailed pics of this later.. here's a pic of the seats mounted with reconstruction..I also steam cleaned them so they look almost new.. I have some safety and comfort now...

I ditched the Hitachi that was giving me issues (worn throttle shaft bushings). I found almost new Weber 32/36 DGEV w/elec. choke w/75miles that was on a 22R toy powered sand rail for $175. I purchased an adapter plate $39 / rejetted to Subaru EA81 spec. Primary/secondary Main jets 140/140 Air correction jets 170/160 Idle jets 50/50 I eliminated all the smog stuff as they don't test deq here...otherwise a weber 32/34 dft(smog legal carb ) would work fine...I had one years ago on my Chev luv 1.8l Isuzu it ran great! I took the old right side air cleaner mount and cut it just above the plug wire holder and welded the stock throttle cable bracket to the appropiate height and bolted it down in the stock location of the original mount. I used the old Hitachi throttle linkage and tack welded it to the offsetted weber linkgage(clears the choke lever). For my throttle return spring I used the stock Hitachi spring and attached it to a ziptie wrapped around the weber(see pic). After abit of tunning she runs like a rocket and sucks you back in the seat in 1st/2nd/3rd gear...

I don't recommend it.. I would try some Gorilla tape the stuff is amazing even sticks to water covered surfaces. Another way is to get some plastic epoxy and remold the broken bits & pieces together again . Use the gorilla tape to help hold pieces together while you let the expoxy set. I would try to get another used cover... beats having your EJ18 becoming an interference engine..in a catasrophic way! Cheers

kewl.. "Four lugs...for dirty deeds done dirt cheap" I have a line on this guy who makes custom steelies in any lug pattern/offset you want for $36 a wheel... So my 14" pugs will be upgraded to 15" cheaply..and more tire options..!

As a mechanic we use Trans-X in many vehicles the stuff is amazing...! Also a good cheaper alternative to full synthetic ATF is Valvoline Max life which is equivilant to full synthetic and is covered under manufacturers recommended fluids..Max life is great for vehicles with 75k or more... The best way to keep 4eat /5eat trans life is to change fluids /filter every 30k . Also adding a trans cooler makes a difference as well. An ATF flushing by the dealer or jiffy lube if they have the machine is the best way to insure all the fluid gets changed to fresh. just draining the 3/4qts from the pan will not get all of the old fluid out. Don't forget to remove and clean the trans filter screen under the valve body...!

kewl, I'm in Newberg I hit TSF and Hood alot...in my '84 lifted hatch 503-314-7535

The front is still on stands in the pic... As far as blocks I hope they are in right as per no instructions....That's where my install pics/video will come in... It looks like they sit right on the ground...

Damn...While you were out havin' fun..I was in the shop doing the headgaskets on my hatch...and stuffing the ea81 back in..! Jason, I hope ya get your wagon back together... You too....Chaz... I don't wanna be solo...on my debut....

Here's a pic of the ea81 block as you can see the one cyl. headgasket was going...Note : the clean area in the carbon(right side)on top of the piston.( I had already started prepping it the block..) and of course the motor installed.. Here's the steering shaft modified 3 3/32" longer(welded w/ 1/2" steel rod) and painted with a zinc coating gettin' closer..

Jason, I know upullit in Tigard has a complete exhaust on an '84 Gl wagon...It would be a cheap fix ...I would jump on that..!!! If I had the time and cash I'd pick it up for ya...(gotta pay mortgage..) I think if you were lifted and had bigger tires adding more lift to the suspension you could've avoided some of that... call me if ya wanna pick up that exhaust..it'll fit in my outback..

Sunday I replaced the headgaskets,valve covergaskets, intake gasket, stuffed the ea81 back in...a few hoses, radiator and shift linkage...it'll bee done to wheel it...

It's gonna be close...The D/R shifter linkage , front brake hoses, stuff the Ea81 in, radiator, rad hoses, misc. hoses.., Ign switch., wire in /mount CB. OHV permit...

I got the radius blocks in... Tommorrow I get my brake lines.. Also steering shaft will be lenghtened All that is left is D/R linkage(tires...install motor/rad..) Then I can wheel it:banana:

They are the same profile.... the tread pattern is different.. So if I ran the current snows up front and the regular radial tires in the back...how would that affect the Trans.. Note: the studded snows aren't mounted yet..

Ok it's official ..my hatch is lifted..thx to SJR for the lift...and Teamcf for the install help..! I used the SJR 4" lift (ea81), rear shocks (rancho RS5241). It's off the ground . However, I still have to finish the radius /trans mounts/shift linkage/steering linkage, brake hoses lengthened. I did find a "pug" spare at upullit today $19 (my core tires/blower motor paid for it...It's from the same Pugeot I got the others from.. I also found a set of 2 snow tires on honda rims for $40 on craigslist Friday..that are old school meats...w/ a few studs...they looks like A/t's( Toyo rally & snow) 185/70/R14's... ok so they are small ...but my funds are low..I'll get these mounted on the rear...That welded diff. will dig in....! I took a pic of the tires plus the other set I purchased(Cooper weathermaster STII's studless (which are mounted on the fronts) so here's some progress pics..

Thx for the help...she's gettin' closer to wheelin' day...

Ya just have to egg me on...I'm just dying to go wheelin' in my hatch..... I did get my overhead rack(from my outback) on yesterday and painted two of the pugs semi-gloss black(new treads A pair of cooper weathermaster stII studless snows) . So much to do... so little time... After I get her running I'll start workin' on the EJ22 swap and 5spd...

here's just a few pics...for now with new pugs, hatch struts(open hatch stays up), clean eng. bay, new clutch kit...

I got two pugs sandblasted/primed for black paint Dropped off two wheels to tire shop for a set of cooper weathermaster snows for now....I can't choke on swampers yet... CB swap from my outback in progress...I ran the antenna wire around the hatch and in thru one of the lic. plate lamp holes..nice and clean... I also scored a set of 53" x-bars w/ barcraffters raingutter mounts/w locks for $60...(the thule mounts are $140 + another $50 for x-bars )so my outback overhead rack with lightforce rmdl 170s, hella ff75(backup lamps) will bolt right on...just have to wire it in.. For Sat. the 4" SJR lift is goin down unda..!

Try www.offroadsubarus.com I saw their add on the site and asked about them a year ago.. I would buy American ... since, our own board member makes them...even better...SJR lift is the way to go..unless you live in OZ...

Nice! I'm doing my '84 hatch Sat.....! Makes me wanna go wheelin'....!

Sure ...But is it a full size wheel? or a donut.. I had a wheel barrow full of parts/tools/4wheels/tires.. It took two trips to haul all the stuff I got that day...whew..

since the site was down , I welded the rear diff. installed blower motor, replaced oil pan gasket, thermistat, hatch struts, front swaybar removal for max. articlutation, CV boot. SJR 4"lift is on it's way..