AdventureSubaru

Any ideas on how many originally existed? Was there just one per year or was there a fleet of these things out there? Like a dealer package or something? Or limited edition. Trying to grasp just how particular I should be with this car. just how rare were/are they?

RX is a fine vehicle, but I wouldn't walk away from the Loyale just yet. Some bigger rims/tires and a little HP upgrade would make yours quite capable. The LSD is a wonderful thing, but if you use your car on-road I think upgrading to an LSD is overkill. How often have you been stuck as a result of not having an LSD? Wheels/tires - swap your loyale to 6 lug hubs. Or redrill some 6 lugs and you've got bigger rims with way more tire variety to choose from. Or find a set od Peugeot rims as throw them on. or get really fancy and steal some parts from an XT6 and go to 5x100 bolt pattern. As for HP. I am assuming you have fuel injection? You will get more long term reliability by swapping an EJ18 or EJ22 into your Loyale than running an EA82T. Especially if you are putting on the kind of mileage you mentioned. Turbos are fun, but more maintenance and parts are harder to find. If you're married to the LSD idea, they can be swapped onto your Loyale or you can weld your existing differential. I for one have never had any trouble on road with an open diff. LSDs in my mind are for off roading and rally stuff. I would say you can get a lot more out of your loyale than an RX. Besides, RX's are pretty hard to find.

Have we ruled out AWD? You know that feeling you get when you're driving in snow/ice and a wheel or two loses traction and the suddenly WHUMP! thrust forward as it grabs again? I feel it on snow all the time in both the Impreza and Legacy/outback. And when I took the outback up a river. it always feels a little scary when you're not expecting it.

Some Saab parts cross over. The 9-2x was basically an Impreza.

Tough to get taken on a running/driving car under $1000. I drive a 97 Impreza with 268k running fine. Wife drives a 2000 Outback with 320k running fine. Subarus are known for going on and on seemingly forever. The early legacies are known to be a very dependable generation. If it's as nice as you described it, I wouldn't hesitate. Don't let mileage scare you. If it made it to higher mileage like that it was because someone took care of it and didn't beat it to death after it turned 100k

Same rims I have in my basement for when the GL gets lifted! The tires however... What did the rims come from?

In the planning stages right now, but ballpark to get new decals for the ski team wagon? I could provide paper traces of them to be replicated.

Maybe he'll chime in here with more info at some point. Once this weather warm up a bit, I'm going to get traces of all the decals to have them re-done. Does it make more sense to have decals re-made? Or do I get really fancy and get the exact dimensions and actually paint it on?

Nice. I LOVE the 70s wagon look. Probably the classiest looking Subaru out there in my opinion. Looks like a real gem!

Was it behaving this way 3 weeks ago before the plugs and wires? Check your vac hoses for leaks. I'd double check fitment for plug wires. beyond that, o2 or knock sensor or possibly ignition coil. Sure sounds spark related.

Nice. After the 82 there's very little difference in the graphics.

For those who don't know, I recently purchased/traded for the 1983 Ski Team Wagon that Tom (TheLoyale) has been working on over the past year. Sitting in my driveway looking almost as cool as the 1980s. So I've been researching these cars and coming up mostly dry. I know it was a joint venture between Subaru and the Ski teams from the late 70s until early 90s originally to gain some attention and market the new 4wd of the Subarus. But how many did they make? How many are still out there? Where are they and who owns them? It looks like the restoration will continue and I'm also looking for a source to replicate the decals on the car to restore it to near originality. I'll be making full size traces of every decal before doing the rust work and paint to the car. Any info is appreciated as all I can find so far are some old advertisements and a smattering of info on a few others out there. I'm wanting to complete and preserve this vehicle as best i can. And I'm genuinely curious as to the history.

Probably going to be about a 4 or 5 inch lift. New twist to the plot on this car as I get to know it's history a little better.

Replace the fuel filter as well? This thread would get more traffic if it were in the "New generation" category.

"If it aint broke, don't fix it" You said yourself it doesn't get driven much. Just take your time and enjoy the ride. How much of a hurry are you in driving a 1982 Brat?

What could possibly go wrong?

Subarus are unibodys not frames. Most can be pulled stretched back to alignment. or depending how inventive you are.... I once undid a crunch on a unibody by bashing it with a sledgehammer and welding some angle iron from a bed frame. Not perfect by any stretch but is was a similar set up. $300. Mazda that got me around for over a year.

If it's in the middle and still acting that way, I would add more until you're at the full level. Use dex3. How much lucas is in there? I think it's only supposed to run as a mix of about a quart along with the regular tranny fluid.

Especially with the Lucas in there. That stuff is thicker so it will take a while for everything to spread out.

I'll play around with it. Can't be too different from the 4 speed. And I'm not scared of cutting and welding. Gotta track down some metal for the lift. Going about 4 or 5 inches and putting a set of 235 75 15s under there. Gonna get some butcher paper or something similar and trace out all the decals so I can get them re-made for some day. For now I'll finish eradicating the rust from the body and go with a solid color on the outside. transmission swap - not worried. Rust battle - been there. done that. Lift - just a little cutting and welding. Convincing the wife to be seen in the car with Ski team graphics - That's the hard part!

Beasty looking Impreza. I'd worry that spacers like that will make the rig eat through bearings pretty quickly. Neat style though. That thing is scary looking.

is your fluid topped off? having it at the exact level will make a difference.

Sweet! Any pictures or point me in the right direction for a writeup or info on what to modify?

Vehicle swap is done! And look what happened to follow me home the other day! Can I swap the shift levers off the wagon or do I need to hunt down EA82 stuff for that too?

If you're not smelling a burn smell and you're not finding crud in the pan I'm thinking you're okay. I've seen that color come out of smooth transmissions before. Probably just old.