Trident

Will do Josh sidenote: Just snapped an intake bolt. I'm getting the full experience now!

Yessir, I've got OEM cam tower o-rings and intake gaskets that should be arriving tomorrow and FelPro head gaskets that'll be here in the next few days as well. This is the first engine I've ever pulled so I've read, studied & read some more on recommendations, etc Thanks for the pointers!

That makes perfect sense. I guess the only way that would result in mixing is if your rings were in really bad shape....ha. I've got new OEM gaskets ordered so they'll be getting replaced soon.

As reference: http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/topic/141449-tridents-1986-gl-4wd-wagon/ I've pulled my engine for supposed head gaskets problems but in light of what I found in the attached picture I have to ask here. Going by what I've read/seen, that looks to be a halfassed repair job on the intake. Would you replace the intake gaskets and call it good? Maybe even replace them and run the engine out of the vehicle to check. I'd like to save myself the extra work of head gaskets if possible, but thought I'd ask you all. Thanks!

Update: I've got the engine pulled and it's sitting in my shop ready for TLC. Ordered the cam tower o-rings and intake gaskets from the nearest dealer (70 mi. away) and they'll be ready for pickup Wednesday. I've attached a few pics below of the engine and the interior. The last pic is what I found when I peeled the A/C comp. & alternator back. Looks like a messy repair was made on the intake previously.

Nice. That's getting the job done in a pinch! Last night I got the radiator out and lots disconnected, basically up to the point if taking the compressor/alt. loose, before I ran out of daylight. I've been reading a ton and wanted to ask a few things pertaining to what I've come across. - Should I just replace the head gaskets and slap it back together without resurfacing the heads? It seems like I've read a few posts with this line of thinking. - What seals/o-rings/etc. should I definitely get from a dealer? - Those + the FelPro set and I'm good? (as far as soft parts go. I know the hard parts....water pump, etc. should be replaced as well) I hope to have the engine out after work. Thanks guys!

Gotcha, thanks! I was reading over that thread last night actually. I think between that and Miles Fox's youtube vids I've got a pretty good references to tackle this.

^^^ nah, that's just a rainwater gauge So....we do indeed have coolant in the oil. Just drained the oil and it's obvious. I gotta say, pulling the engine is a daunting task imo but if that's what it needs so be it. Thoughts? Pull it and r/r head gaskets, maybe oil pump seal & crank seals?

Just purchased my first Soob, an '86 wagon that has been sitting for approx. 7 years. I posted some info in the intro section, but here's a thread on it's (hopeful) resurrection. Years ago, I drove a '71 VW bus cross country so I'm hoping that experience will be handy when it comes to wrenching on this GL. Purchased for $400 this weekend and towed home. Started the cleaning process, which involved a holy stinkin' terror of a mouse nest in the glovebox. Since the glovebox is lined in that "suede-ish stuff" I think it's a goner. I'll post more pics this afternoon and along the way. Heading to Oreillys today to pick up oil & fuel filters and a new Tstat/gasket. I'm thinking that to start off I need a complete shake down of the fuel, oil & cooling systems. What do you guys think? Any tips will be greatly appreciated by this newb Soob guy. Edited to add: - 5 speed - 155,000 on the odometer - mechanic diagnosed car as needing head gaskets and fuel system cleaning - doesn't look like coolant mixed with oil just going by the dipstick. - mechanic said fuel filter had "gummy residue" in it

The deal's done. $400 and I've got myself a car. Gonna tow it home tomorrow & get elbow deep. Anymore I post will be in the proper GL section. Thanks again guys

Thanks for the nice words guys! alrighty......new update with tenative good news. Turns out, the title was junked last year and the mechanic in posession was never told. So in speaking with the county clerk's office I think I'll be able to go the salvage/junk title route and get her on the road legally. Getting closer now

Kentucky is not a Bill of Sale state so you've basically got have the title signed over. Trouble is, the owner's widow has stated she's not going to help one bit in the acquiring of the title. I just learned of this in the last 30 mins. One last ditch trip to the county clerk's office to see what I can do. A duplicate title was filed for & issued 2 years ago. One year after the death of the owner. The family says they never filed for it. I'm thinking that was done by the executor/executress of the estate. Whew boy, this is a trip.

Ok fellas, update time. I went tonight and checked it out. It's an '86 GL not an '87. 155k on the odometer. No rust at all except for that light surface stuff you see on the hood. Seriously straight car. The interior is good, however mice have moved in and it stinks to high heaven. It's been sitting since 2007. The guy put a battery on it today and shot some ether down the carb and she fired right up. It's seriously depressing somebody let this sit. Oh yeah, 4 new Goodyears on it, dry rotted to bits. The title situation is turning out to be very interesting. I'll leave it at that for now. Thank y'all for the tips, much appreciated.

yeah, sorry bout that. Blown head gasket

Greetings from Kentucky. You guys have a great site & wealth of knowledge here! I've found a non-running '87 Wagon for sale and I'm going to attempt to purchase, license and use it as my DD this winter. It's a 5-spd 4x4 and that's close to all I know about it right now. It's at a shop about an hour away and I hope to go put eyes on it this afternoon. I'll be able to scoop it up for >$500. Now here's the rub, the ad states "No title" and since this is KY I may not be able to obtain one. The only sliver of hope I have is that it's at a mechanics' shop so a lien may be on it & if this is the case it's more likely a title is obtainable. I'll post back after I talk with the shop owner. Thanks! Edit: Ok, just got off the phone with the shop owner. The car has been sitting as his shop for several years with a blown news gasket and fuel system problems. The owner "didnt want to spend that kinda money" so he abandoned it. (This is Kentucky, old Subarus are rare and people are leery of anything that doesnt say Chevrolet or Ford. Ha) The last time he messed with it, he bypassed the tank and ran it out of a gas can and it ran fine (albeit smokey). Any thoughts on whether this one is worth a try?