Ratty2Austin

SO heres the new plan! (this all of course depends on if I can get the time needed off work!!! but asssuming that goes well, (finding out tomorrow) I will be driving my wagon with my younger brother, and the XT with its new owner- we will be taking the I-90 corridor to I-94, to the Minneapolis area- leaving Seattle on either the 27th or the 28th, (thurs or fri) and hopefully arriving in MN on saturday eve or sun morning- then time to say hello and do the wagon exchange, and fly back home on monday the 31st... so it would be helpful if I could get phone numbers and addresses for those people along the I-90 corridor in case anything happens along the way, or if you want to see the legendary wagon and my award winning XT! so also, if there is anyone who can help us out for tips on our crazy winter adventure up and over the contental devide and such... winter road/highway conditions.. tire/chain requirements? (i have never used or owned a set of chains!!!) so lets get planning! remember, the "for sure" still has to be determined... (time off of work needed)

there are a few good pics.. no offroad action, unfortunately.. but a good pose shot in front of the resturaunt! http://usmb.net/gallery/album302

if I can manage the time off, I would be most excited to go along!! I could help with repairs, advice and definately, video and pictures! (I can burn DVDs of the finished video) and I most certainly would enjoy camping! I have not yet been to that part of the country, and I would love to see it! now to figure out the time off of work thing..... :-\

either way, as long as its an EJ22, then you will have better luck with not blowing a HG... the DOHC 2.5 '97 to '99 modles, were pretty bad from what I have seen and heard... there was also a recall on 98-99 DOHC 2.5s and 00-02 SOHC 2.5s with the headgaskets leaking, which they made a chemical to add to the cooling system which almost always fixed the problem (yes, it even stops leaks! I have seen it work myself!) the 97 OBS should be a very good reliable car! (i am actually in the market for one myself )

back in the day when i bought the 81 hatch from JZigi, it had only one rear axle.... (yes.. that was it.. no fronts!) and that was a fun drive home! it would peel out its right rear.... if i gave it any gas other than granny driving! but it made it!

it seems that a few people have messaged me about my XT as well, who live over there.. so if there was a way to deliver both cars.. that would defaetly justify my trip out... but... this means a second driver.. or 2 trips... or... a trailer capable of taking both cars? is there a possible half way point? where we could meet up and save time or... ?? just possibilities.. and another thought.. i have parts, and access to parts that are NOT RUSTY.. fenders and doors and such... and other old parts- (EA stuff!) that I could possibly bring along to sell.. to help pay for the trip over and back... these are just some of my ideas- anyone know of a good spot along there to meet and turn back? i kinda used up my vacation, so my trip back would have to be quick! another idea- if my xt is bought by someone (thats also in the MN area) I could have Freddie fly out, and teh 2 of us could drive both cars to MN, and I could fly home.. could be done in 3 days! (only one day off of work needed which is do-able!)

dont make me come visit!!! it cant be that bad! at least there is a board member there!

so, pizza tomorrow at noon! Freddie, Myself and her dad and his friends will be there tomorrow! we will have a few offroad vehicles, probably no subarus (unless the outback girl comes too, but it needs a clutch soon) hope people can make it at least to say hi!!!

hmmm... you know i could possibly help offer advice on repair and such if you need it... today I am actually trying to find a party or something to do for Freddie and I for new years... does anyone know if there is a good place to party around here tomorrow night? something cheap/fun? ive also got someone here who has an '00 outback wagon, and she is thinking of having me or someone (cheper than a dealer or shop) do some work on it.. like T belts and oil pump.. and she needs a clutch.. I would like to see if one of you guys could help us out! tools to borrow for a day, or maybe she would pay one of you for the work if your looking for some side jobs

I will be on my way to the airport soon... Just doing a final packing and checking stuff before i leave!!! See you soon in MN!! (tomorrow at 6am I will be landing!!!!)

ive got a whole bunch to choose from here

oh yaaa.... he he he... yep!! getting close!! tuesday morning at 6am i should be arriving at the Minneapolis airport... wonder if there will be any snow for me to see there

bump... anyone?

hahahahhaah!! thats Troy's wagon.. its a big pile of $*^! at best..(sorry troy.. but I have ridden in that thing.. ) but it does have a weber, and an engine that I put headgaskets on.. (the only thing left on that poor car thats still working) his board name is urabusravanger i think? he doesnt really use the net much.. just sits on his PS2 and gamecube all day... except when he is working at lowes one of my friends from high school... so we can pick on eachother

I use 4wd all the time in my wagon on dry pavement and whatnot.. but thats because I DO have excessive mods including 27" BFG A/T tires, powered by an EJ22 with a 5spd D/R tranny at 3.9 diffs... i have actually dumped the clutch once with it in 4wdLo, and i peeled out all 4 on dry pavement trying to move out of the way of traffic but in 2wd, the power in 1st and 2nd is to much for traction to handle, so i put it in 4wd, then once i reach 3rd gear shift, or need to corner (without wanting to slide the rear out using 4wd) i just push the lever back down to 2wd gently (it works without binding on mine!)

I use all EXCEPT arco (i think their gas is part water?) but i have found that it gunks up the valves and combustion chamber, and even injectors.. 87 oct. 89, 92 doesnt matter to me :-p

I remember someone taking some video shots of my wagon at evans creek, on 17th of october.. one of the shots was doing some insane hill climb! I would like to know if I could get a copy of that video? I could meet up with ya, and if you have DV (firewire) on the camera.. i could just import it right to my computer! thanks in advance! (before the 19th would be nice, I have some people in MN that would like to see such footage!)

I guess thats what its going to be! new years day! (the day the most people have available right?) well, it looks like I will be in a jeep...(Freddie's father's jeep) and he just said that I am not to damage it, at all... so what would you guys rate this offroad area as far as getting stuck/dents/broken parts? is it a difficult area? or is it just a nice mudhole? :cool: anone have any pics of the place by chance?

hey! dont worry! I am a pro with the offroadin, maybe I can show you how to 2-wheel it hatch patrol style :-p

Hmm... all the dissin' on the jeeps! (i feel bad now, I will probably be in a jeep.. but hopefully we can take Freddie's 4-runner)

I belive that would work for me, and Freddie (who I will be with) I just need to verify with her... Sat. the 1st gets a vote from me!

hey, will this be running in time for me to see it in action this Dec?? well, I would like to see it anyways! comparing it to the EJ22 swap.. looks like that is more difficult! if I do another conversion.. I would with an ea81 body (brat or something ) and use the EJ25T or EJ20T.... with the matching tranny.. and just get custom axles and driveshaft... if I go 6 cyl, then it will be a EZ30 from an 02 or 03 H6 wagon the catch is... money and time... both of wich I lack at the moment! but now I know how to do it all!! cool hatch to say the least!!! I hope you get it driving soon!!!

lifting it doesnt make it roll out in corners :-P I have cornerd my lifeted monsterwagon without its sway bars in, and it still hasnt left the ground!!! (it fishtails though!)

easiest way to do this... tools needed : lugwrench (19mm) breaker bar and 36mm socket pliers or something to remove cotter pin from the 36mm axle nut (2) 14mm wrenches (2) 12mm wrenches 3/16" punch tool (for the axle DOJ roll pin) prybar BFHammer (peferable to have a soft ended one to not damage the core axle) step 1. set parking brake and remove cotter pin and break loose that big 36mm nut on the axle step 2 raise car and remove wheel and nut with the washers (pay attention to which way the conical washer was removed it is dish shaped ever so slightly and it can undo-itself if installed wrong) step 3. remove axle pin from the DOJ using an reasonable hammer tool and the 3/16" punch.. (you may need to release the parking brake to get the pin to line up where you can hit it with the hammer, then set it again) step 4. remove bolt that holds lower A arm to the cross member (14mm both sides-a bolt and nut) step 4.1 if needed, remove one link bolt to the sway bar (12mm bolt+nut) to release the arm (so you can pull the whole thing away form the tranny) step 5. pull arm assebly away from tranny, the DOJ should slide right off of the tranny, let it flop down and then whack the end of the axle and hammer it thru the bearings and hub... it should slide thru and pop out the other side... (this usually needs a lot of whacking force to get old axles thru the bearings...) step 6. once axle is out... pop the new one in its place in reverse order of these instructions... the hard part- when sliding the new axle in, it will be hard to get the part into the bearings- there are special tools made for this.. but you can "simulate" these special tools using some metal spacers- use the axle nut and old bearings or similar shaped things to pull the axle thru the hub assemblyif it is a lot of trouble, you may need to pull the brake disc off and stuff, but it should go in. good luck! (btw, I can do on-site work for a small fee ) just for the record... I have done many axles.. my record time for one is about 15 minuts start to finish without power tools!

wow talk about location exchange... whistler is only about 3 to 4 hours north of where I live just so you know, I will be staying in Excelsior....