Ratty2Austin

things are looking better for a montana meet- i dont think i can afford the time off and the traveling all the way to WA.. :-\ not this time around anyways.. so I am going to look into a meet with you guys, and see if i can drag some of my WA subie members too- hoping for Hass, and MrCarb, and maybe Randomizer? (Dave,Carl,Troy)? so If i can get friday or monday off.. that will give me a full day in Bozeman!

wow... this sounds like a good idea too and yeah.. try not to make it a commercial event.. the free-er the better right? I would like to help out too, assuming i will be back in the area in time (I vote for late july, like around my b-day )

oh no!!! that sucks! wonder if its the same crazy person that stole the one I ended up buying? (same color even!) hope you find it.. I will let me washington buddies know to keep an eye out for it- good luck!

sounds good- lets talk about doing the conversion! all I would need is the DR.. I can get the adaptor stuff could you help me weld a mount in for the tranny? (to fit into my car) and could you help me out with the center driveshaft?- PM or email me... I really want to do this

well, its was 8º outside the other day, and the pipe and lights are still attached! and.. i hit a few branches with the rack, (while offroading at flatfender farms) and its still here! so the pipe idea was.. ok... its not the best, but it seems to hold up so far... I am going to get some mesh/chickenwire stuff to put over the whole thing soon

we went offroading at flatfender farms in WI, and it was slick... I slid into a tree sideways (not drifting, it was sliding downhill into the tree when i was trying to drive up!) and the next thing i hear, *boosh* there goes the glass on the rear door!! but I went to u-pull-r-parts and got a new door and now its better! although, i have one power door, and 3 manual not to mention, this one needs some color it was a harsh day offroading, the mud was so slick, and the whole "park" was on a hill, so once we got down, we could not get back up (even the jeeps and chevys with boggers it was nasssty.... makes EC 311 look like a beginner trail! but now I know what my imp needs for sure- a low range!!!

andyjo- you cut that poor thing up! here is the project so far.... the lights are not hooked up yet, but that should come tomorrow. I am still trying to find a cheap alternative for the side and rear lights. harbor freight comes to mind

welcome to the board! a good suggestion, from my experience- start with general clean up, tune up (plugs, wires, cap+rotor, disty advance check/adjustment w/timing light, oil changes (all fluids+filters, dont forget the fuel filter near the tank, not just the one up front) and then some fuel system cleaner (not STP brand) and just a tip, many of us have discovered.. that OEM parts work the best (dont go cheap, its not worth it) especially when it comes to the plugs+wires, ect... synthetic oil will work well, by reducing friction in the engine- also reducing the running temp. but it may cause it to leak- so only use it after a reseal! when you drive the car, it helps to bring it close to redline occationally when driving, this will cause the fuel/air/exhaust to flow faster thru the motor, and "clean out" some of the carbon and crud buildup on the valves, ect.. hope some of this may help.. then the big mods come later, (or sooner, if you want to skip the above mentioned and go right for the "EJ22 swap, see the conversion forum for that)

yeah, pvc can be cool this may not be the best looking one, but it certainly works well! pvc is cheap, and very versitile.

stage 1 complete.. the base to which I will add stuff to soon lights and screen to come next

I am putting in a vote for sometime around the week after xmas-ish... not sure on the exact plan yet, but i will be most likley driving back to home for the holidays, so passing thru bozeman will be unavoidable further updats coming soon... when I find out if I go or not...

okie.. its changed! were heading to Flatfender farms with the jeep guys! lets see how my car holds up

hmmm flex huh.. makes sense heres another recent pic to add to the pile :cool: yeah, I am still playing on the curb @ Firestone in St Paul. (fri/sat night weekly subaru meet)

Myself, Freddie's dad with his jeep, and a friend of his in another jeep... we are planning to go up to Gilbert/Iron Range ORV park next weekend (19/20th of nov) to play anyone want to go for some fun? just so you know, we will probably have a seat or 2 for passengers, or you can take a stock subaru up there too, I have seen around the park, there are plenty of stock-capable trails and roads that go thru the whole park.... im looking to see how my new BFGs do offroad ...and to see if the owner(s) of the jeep(s) are willing to do what I would do offroad, cause I know they are more capable than my imp and, are there any good J/Ys up in that area with subaru parts?

I have the OEM roof rails and crossbars (just the gutter rails and top bars, not the ones that screw into the sheet metal) now, but I would like to finish the "rack" soon, so I can mount some lights, and a spare.. maybe a shovel and a come-a-long too...but what material should I use? and where to get it? ideas so far- -PVC pipe.. using 2" pipe, and the 90º fittings and T fittings, I could make a nice 2 layer wrap around "cage" for the top of the imp, and inside the pipe i could run wire for the lights i would mount and the 4 corners (and more in front) or if I glue it up right, i could use it as an air tank and then metal mesh for the "basket" effect... -metal conduit, ive seen it done before, but its kinda ghetto/weak stuff.. not really what I would like to use.... -metal- I would like to use this, but where to buy? and I dont have access to a welder as far as I know unless someone could help me on this one -pre made.. like the yakima/subaru basket, or one from a safari jeep-ish setup..... anyone getting rid of their offroadish setup? have metal?

I feel the same way! sh*t happens.. even when you dont expect it to.. just be safe whenever you can..

mmmm... lots of good info here here is a question, for the rear driveshaft, on a impreza wagon- anybody measure the driveshaft on an EA82 vrs EJ18AWD? i would like to know what I should do about the driveshaft.. EA82 driveshaft bolt on to impreza? or....? I can measure mine (imp) if someone with an EA82 will take measurements of their driveshaft? (rear diff mount to bolts @ carrier bearing to tranny rear output...

I have had many wagons, but my current wagon- 94 impreza L with some minor offroad mods done so far... including a functional snorkel and forester struts. now with BFG A/T tires

hurray!!!!! cant wait to hang out and party again lucky you with your USMB license plate

words of wisdom from the subaru shop itself (and personal experience) best engines.... EA81 (long lasting, strong, easy to work on, but intake and electronics too primitive for modern tuning and always need adjusting...) EJ22 these will run almost forever, and they are easy to work on once you learn the "new stuff" EZ30 timing chain and sealed metal front cover... like making the "new ea81" so far, the least problematic engine in the newer gen cars... EJ20T - also a good strong long lasting engine (EJ20, EZ30 are in the shop the least out of the new gen cars, for engine related issues) the worst- EA82 and EA82T... bad cooling system, weak heads (easily cracked) timing belts that need constant attention, and leak oil like no other! (thanks to the cam towers using only glue, no gasket) EJ25 DOHC (1997-99) HG issues, other strange piston slap... ect.. (and lets not forget the justy engine!) rod-knock!!

why worry about traveling in the snow? we have subarus! last winter,around the beginning of january, both waterwagon and the XT drove from seattle to minneapoils (then to MI) without trouble..... besides, the snow then adds challenge- the point of playing! and just some info, I am approx. 1000 miles from bozeman.... (about 16-20 hrs depending on speed and rest stops)

the diff casing and the stubs are the same on 90-94 legacys, and the EA cars... so they are a direct bolt in.... I am wondering this on my impreza- the driveline and CVs... will an EA82 driveshaft bolt into my impreza? anyone with an EA82 want to measure the 3 points, and I can measure the points on my impreza so we can collaborate a data thread so we can figure this out?

hey! who told you my plans! my time here away from all my friends (read: cars I work on when they come over to hang out :-p) i have had time to get some little things done on the imp, and learn how to live alone in an apartment! woohoo! but yes.. i have -big- plans for this poor car.. muhahahahh....

your only a day's drive from me.. i would be up for it if funding and time off work could allow.... dont expect anything immediately soon, but i will let you know when i will be heading that way (i could come that way for parts exchange/delivery, ect...) but I would sometime love to be able to come visit and play in Montana!

yeah... the stock forester steel 15s dont have the best offset.. i had to BFH adjust the bottom of the struts a little in the rear (about a 1/8" or so at least..) to make them clear.. :-/ fenders needed lots of trimming and pounding,(leading edge of the rear, and trailing edge on the front wheels) but they clear now