El Presidente

Very Nice!! I like the bracket you made to put the EJ tranny in there. What did the tranny start as gearing wise, and where did you get your 4.44 gearset? I have a question about your bedliner...That looks like herculiner right? How much did you put on? How many layers? Happy with it? I'm still in the fabrication phase, but after all my exterior stuff is done, I'm planning on putting 2-3 gallons of OD green on the outside and probably 2 gallons on the inside of dark grey. How did you go about masking the windows and other areas you don't want covered? Did you remask your edges after every coat or did you just mask once and carefully remove it when you were done? Josh

Welcome to the USMB!! Its always good to see lurkers join in! Gotta ask the simple ones: Have you checked fuses? If you where shaking the hell out of your car going down a dirt road, it may have knocked a ground loose, especially if you have rust issues. Have you checked grounds and if the rear wiper/clock/ac is getting power when switched on? Josh

See you then! Of course!! Josh

Its a Saturday, lets do 8am.

How about where we usually meet before wheeling trips, the old GI Joes parking lot, behind Denny's. Heading north on I-5, take the College Way exit in Mount Vernon and turn right on College Way. Turn right at the very next light and go behind the Denny's(Denny's will be on your right as soon as you get off the freeway). You'll be in the GI Joes parking lot. What time do you want to meet there?

A ride along could work, try posting in one of the NWWO trip threads and ask if somebody's looking for passenger. Unfortunatly, I think most guys are hesitant to offer rides to guys they don't know, because if there's personality differences, it can take the fun out of the trip. Worth a try though! You could, bring some 27's and some wheels, we'll help you get lifted and you could hit the trail with us, but if something bad breaks, its a long limp home. You could have a buddy follow you over too, so you know you can get back. Better yet, just move out here!! Josh

Ok, I talked with Jeff, and this Saturday works for the both of us. Whats your schedule like? Your gonna have a lot of trimming/bashing to do, so if you got tools, don't be afraid to bring them along. Josh

Awesome! You mentioned you have pugs, do you have tires for them yet? If you're good to go, we'll work out a time with Jeff to get you lifted:D Josh

Growing up, I was around Jeeps and yotas, and yes, Subaru wheeling is different, but I find the challenge of making a family wagon go where the yotas and Jeeps do, much more fun. Its a different ride, but definitely not boring:D. Josh

Looks good, I've been needing to do the exhaust on my rig and have been dreading it a little. Looking at this setup lets me know its not impossible:clap: It looks like you routed down the tranny tunnel, could you post some pics of this please? Do you have your tranny crossmember dropped? I'm wanting to it down the tunnel also, but wouldn't mind looking at something someones already done. Thanks Josh

Some pictures would be great too! Josh

Great! sounds like you got a direction you want to go. Craigslist is a good place to look, but remember too the board has a "parts/stuff wanted" section in the classifieds. Might not hurt to post a thread and see what you get. Good luck with your search! Josh

It sounds like it should work. I think theres a couple write-ups on how convert to 4wd, so I'd try searching around and see what you find. The search function in the forum can be buggy, so I just use google and include ultimatesubaru.org in the search. As far as the EJ Dual Range..one out of a forester xt would suit me well, it has a 4.44 final drive. I think they also came in outbacks and some legacys, but were geared a little higher(4.11 ands 3.90). I'm not sure about the year, but as long as it has a hi/lo shifter and it has an EJ motor, its good. If you could line up some ej d/r transmissions and a way to ship them, it might be worth some side cash for you. I'd buy one! Josh

The rear EA82 suspension is completely different than the EJ platform, so no, the rear suspension will not bolt up and would require a lot of fabrication to get it to work. An EJ transmission will fit but requires a custom made crossmember or one from and xt6. Buying a parts car over here and having it shipped over might be your best bet or just have the parts you need shipped over. Seems like a trade would be easy if you could come up with a D/R EJ 5MT transmission:brow: Josh

Have you tried disconnecting the rear shock at the trailing arm? You need to get the tire off the ground, but doing so will allow the stub shaft in the trailing arm to swing down far enough to easily get it in. I ALWAYS coat the splines on both ends with anti-seize or at least axle grease to keep them from rusting together. Keep and re-use the stock pins too, they're much better quality than any aftermarket ones Josh

I'm using 1.5" schedule 80(just over 3/16 wall) grade b pipe for my sliders, same as my tube fenders. They'll get welded onto a unibody stiffener(that will be 1.5x1.5x3/16 sq tube) that ties the front and rear lift block together. After seeing what happened to Jeff, a skid pan is still #1 on my list be fore I make it out. Josh

I need to finish my rig and get on the trails! Josh

Yes you do! Anybody got a cheap EA82 car? I know we're all looking for them, but this guy is good to go, he posted back in the first Free Lift offer last year. Hes not afraid to get his hands dirty either..he's building an impreza up right now and its gonna be fast Sounds great! 29's(235-75R15) are gonna require a lot of cutting, but is probably the cheapest way to go. 27's(205-70R15) look the cleanest on a 2" lift, but 27's can be hard to find in the mud/all terrain variety. I saw a set of 28" swampers with %60 on CL for $100, deals are out there, but you gotta look. Somebody on the board might have a set for cheap too, Do you know what size you want to go with? Josh

**If you are interested in this offer, please read the entire thread before posting. Thanks!** Jeff(one eye) and I are looking to widen our wheeling group so we are willing to put up a(1) 2" lift and help put it on in Jeff's shop for free to someone who is really wanting to get into it but just dont have the knowledge or tools to get a lifted rig set up, so Jeff and I will help do that. Things that will be needed: 1)We have a 2" lift for an EA82, so you will need an EA82 with a hi/lo 5 speed manual. 2)We're looking to widen NWWO and we're looking for active members, do you have enough interest/time to wheel at least every 2-3 months? The more the better! 3) You should have a good idea and probably some experience working on your car. You are going want to learn, its not just a free lift, it is more of an opportunity to learn. Up for learning how to lift your car? 4) Car Must run well, We really don't want to get a piecer and try and rebuild a whole car that needs struts axles motor trans and everything, this is just a lift. Does your car run well? 5) When we go wheeling, we're not just driving down bumpy gravel roads, we're in the mud, rocks and stumps. We run on the same trails as the Jeeps do. Minor body scrapes and small dents are normal and major dents and other body damage might happen. You will probably occasionally break and axle, stub, driveline or other parts so you shouldn't be relying on your rig as a daily driver. We help each other out when things go wrong, so a "team" attitude is appreciated. Are you OK with all that? 6)Please, no EA82 automatics. They're simply not strong enough to keep up. 7)We usually wheel at Walker Valley ORV near Mount Vernon, Wa. Please consider the drive distance when when considering this lift and joining NWWO. 8)Your gonna need to find some tires and that is really up to you on size and brand/type. Your also gonna need some wheels that will work. 9)Generally, for bigger tires, you need to cut/trim/bash some fenders opens a bit. Are you ok with this? **To get the lift, please post a pic of your car and Explain why you might want the lift.** Here are some of the 2" lifted wagons that have been done in the shop or at Wills house Who is looking to go Wheeling????????????

2000lb. is gonna be small, even on a brat for serious wheeling. Rule of thumb on a winch is to go twice the vehicle weight, so a 4-5K winch is a minimun. I think super winch sells a 4500lb. winch for sidexsides, which I've heard good things. I'm going straight to a 8K warn eventually, because I know if I get a 4.5K, I'll wish I had a 8K. Some people have run 2k winches just fine too..just depends on what your doing.. Josh

Drilling hubs and trimming fenders are two different things. Drilling your hubs opens up options for different wheels, trimming allows you to run bigger tires. For instance, you could upgrade to a 6 lug and run a 195/60R15 on a stock height car and not have to trim at all(might be wrong, its close to a stock 13" subaru tire in height), or you could run 30's tire on a 2" lift car(using the same 6 lug bolt pattern and even wheel if you want) and your gonna have to cut the hell out of it. If your looking for details, the offroad section has a couple sticky threads regarding lift/tire size combos. With a 6 lug you can run any where between a 14" up to a 22(or bigger) wheel. 15" is the most common for offroad and generally the cheapest overall, tire sizes can be found for a 15" wheel from stock 23", up to 35" and bigger Building a wheeler? Josh

Try searching, you'll get tons of pictures, thats how I made my 6" lift. Josh

Do 2wd ea82's hold more fuel? Can somebody confirm? My 4wd tank has a big indent for the diff, but it only looks like I'd gain a gallon or two if it wasn't there. I thought about pounding the indent back out, but I didn't see it going well in my head, and I'd only gain at the most 2 gal. However, if my tank goes south for some reason, a 2wd tank might be a good replacement. Thought about making a tank, and I might do it if a stock one from another car/truck or universal is more expensive(probably, but less hassle...maybe). Like you say though, it would give me a chance to make custom baffles/size/sending unit/mounting. This route is sounding better and better. Josh

Recently when I pulled my tank to do some nearby welding, I noticed theres quite a bit of room around it. My diff is dropped 5" and I'm gonna run a glasspack on the far outside of where the stock muffler was. By just looking at it, it looks like I a 20gal. tank would fit in there. Anybody try putting a bigger tank in? 87 GL wagon 4wd 6" lift ej22'd Josh