Robert M

Lot of work...long list of parts to be changed! If all else fails, you could have a shift kit installed in the transmission. This will make the car shift WAY more positively and strongly! But, you may want to add a tranny cooler. This is a generic solution, I'm a newbie at the Subaru site. My wagon (87 4wd GL with most options and low miles) isn't quite running yet, but it will!!!)

Decided to add some info to my previous post, maybe it will help if someone wants to try and figure this one out. First, the car ran great getting here, even with the leaky pump and running on a battery w/o the alternator. Now it has new alternator. fuel pump, and tune-up parts. The pump comes on when the key is on. But, I did rewire the pump to a heavy black wire coming out of the fuse box, one shown on the diagram as a hot lead when the key is at on or start. I grounded the other wire. I wondered: what if there is a voltage drop when the car is turning over and the pump isn't getting enough juice? I saw a thread where someone hooked up their fuel pump to the hot side of the coil, with a switch (for safety). Think this could be the problem? It's the only thing I actually changed on the car, the fuel pump wiring...???

Very nice wagon! Thirty-two years old and just now reaching middle age, perhaps... Had one thought, but it's no big deal: You may consider pulling off the air cleaner and painting it to match the body...:cool:

Welcome from another newbie... I live in Seattle. Once, I saw a Brat that had been painted in the Seahawk NFL logo colors. Looked like factory work, but I don't see how. I love the wagon I just bought.. and I may get the thing running soon. I'm actually trying to get a fuel question answered over on another thread. Even with the wagon not running, I look at it and am glad I sold my old Toyota. I know I'm going to have a lot more fun in the wagon this summer...

Quote: I have heard if you are coasting in neutral at fifty and it's making the noise, it will diminish when you put on the brakes, if it's the wheel bearing. Something about relieving the load for a moment...

About the 'tick of death,' first determine if the sound is in the top end of the engine or down below. Hopefully, it's on top. If you adjust the valves properly, and it still does a bit of a ticking, and you know it IS in the top end, you could try this: Change out to a good 20-50 oil, and use a quart of one of the really good additives, not STP. You've seen this stuff, looks like honey coming out of the big bottle. Works for me in some other vehicles, haven't tried it in a Subaru yet, but I will.

The wires going to the fuel pump were reversed. (duh on me) A big thanks to everyone who tried to help on this thread, especially KStretch55 who said: Check for polarity reversal. Car is running and will be licensed this week! HI, My name is Robert and I'm a pretty good mechanic, but a newbie. I live up in Seattle, and this is my first Subaru. When I'm not working, I write science-fiction and crime stories. You can read some of them and check out some fantastic pics from NASA at http://www.freewebs.com/adventurebooks. Check out the free Mars Poster, if you can find it. It's there somewhere. Well, it drove here okay, although the fuel pump leaked and there was no alternator.It's an 87 GL 4wd wagon with non-turbo, single-point fuel injection, 1.8L. Body is very good, everything else works, it only has about 150K miles. I changed out the fuel pump. It seems to work. New alternator, and a tune-up. Car turns over, but no gas is getting to the fuel filter, or very little. Not enough to start the car. Also, under the hood, a small relay keeps clicking about every two seconds when the key is on. I don't think it's keeping the car from getting gas. This car sat for a long time with not much gas in the tank. I added five gallons. Gas runs out freely from the in-line (tank side) when you pull it off the fuel pump. Turn on the key with the out-line disconnected and the pump runs, but little or no gas comes out... I have two brand new pumps I've already bought and tried, so I don't think it's the pump. The old pump leaked and the previous owner bypassed the normal wiring to the relay. I rewired the thing, grounding one wire, and hooking up the hot lead to a wire coming out of the fuse box. This fuse box wire shows it's a hot wire when the key is in the on position. When I switch on the key, the pump runs, and runs....and runs....no gas to filter up front, or very little.??? When I pour gas down the throttle body, it starts right up for a few seconds until the fuel runs out. Any thoughts on this one??? What the hell...I look at the wagon and just KNOW I'm going to have a lot more fun in this one than in my old Toyota. Sooner or later...