Educate Me on 2nd/3rd Generation Subaru Wagons

[Pint]

I'm a Subaru newbie. Looking for a DD and light expedition vehicle for weekend explorations, fishing, camping. Love the 2nd/3rd gen wagons. I've seen a couple in VA where I'm moving for $1,000 - $1,600 with lots of maintenance done. What do I need to watch out for? Want 4wd for the winter and off road, but also a reliable DD. I can do basic maintenance like fluids, belts, hoses, brakes, etc. Any info would be greatly appreciated!

Edited April 25, 2010 by Pint

[idosubaru]

Cars101.com is a subaru site with all sorts of year/model info on it. It's really hard to cover it all but I'm going to cover things that are important to me and maybe to you. Engines and trim level are the major differences, so you'll want to tell us what you're after there.

 

EJ22's are better engines but EJ25's are in the nicer trimmed models with more options and all the OBW's except the 96 Manual trans OBW.

 

Most Legacy wagons have the EJ22 except the GT and OBW - which have the EJ25. If you want leather, heated seats, nicer trim, etc, you'll want the GT or OBW or you can get any wagon you want and swap those parts in.

 

EJ25's have headgasket issues, piston slap, and more internal engine failures as well. You can search here or google for info on all of those issues.

 

You can get a lower end wagon and install the OBW struts to give it a lift.

 

The impreza Outback Sport is a fantastic ride too, they all come with EJ22's up until 2001 or so. They're a little on the smaller side though and a little bit lower end than legacy's. But i'd recommend test driving one, we owned one for years and it was great for us.

 

The EJ22 went to interference engine and more expensive timing components and less reliable timing tensioner in 1997. So a 1996 or earlier is actually a better motor if everything else is equal. If you get a 1997+ EJ22 it's still a great motor but you'll want to ask for suggestions here on proper timing belt procedures and it'll be more expensive. Ebay kits are $280 for those instead of the earlier EJ22's which are only $80.

[GeneralDisorder]

By Gen-II I take it you mean EA81 bodies from '80 to '84?

 

If that's the case then you want:

 

'82 to '84 wagon (earlier were handicapped in a variety of ways).

SPFI conversion or Weber swap.

5 speed D/R swap.

6-lug conversion or Pug wheels.....

 

Maybe a mild lift for some light truck tires to help your traction - the lift helps to accomidate the tires without needing as much cutting and bashing.

 

80/81 were mostly EA71's and '80's are single range 4 speed's. The wireing has it's disadvantages for swapping in FI, the fuel pump is in the engine bay, and the alternator's are externally regulated - very primitive so it's best to stick with '82 through '84 models.

 

You might consider a hatchback instead - similar body style - a little less cargo room but a shorter wheel-base so they take to lifting and wheeling better than the wagons.

 

Otherwise - what do you want to know? They are basically indestrutible unless you completely abuse them from a maintenance standpoint. The EA81 is quite possibly THE best Subaru engine ever made from a reliability and off-road perspective. No timing belts, and dead reliable. EJ22's have the reliability but also have the timing belts and many exposed tensioner and idler bearings that go with them. Personally not my choice in a Gen-II unless you are going to t-case lift it and put the engine out of harms way.

 

GD

[Pint]

Sorry, like said I'm a newb to Subaru's...I'm looking at early to late 80's models. Are there years, models, options to watch out for? Really want a manual tranny 4wd car with hi/low transfer case. Like the larger wagons so I can sleep in the back when camping.

[GeneralDisorder]

The best years are '82 to '84 for the 2nd gen (EA81 body style) - more rounded than the '85+ wagons. They would be carbed but can be swapped out to a Weber or the later Single Point Fuel Injection (SPFI). They come with the 4 speed Hi/Low transmissions (known as a Dual Range, or D/R around here). Those can be swapped with the 5 speed from the later models. They are a bit lighter and simpler in a lot of ways. Mostly people love them because the EA81 engine is just plain bullet-proof.

 

The best years for EA82's (Gen-III) is '88 and '89. In those years you will find the GL models that have the 5 speed D/R as well as the bullet-proof SPFI injection system. The engine itself is not highly regarded however - the EA82 has troublesome timing belts, a weak cooling system, and tends to develop more head gasket issues than the EA81's while only netting a mere 16 more HP. Lots of folks take the '88/'89 models and swap in either an EA81 with a few mods or an EJ22 for a ton more power and reliability.

 

Basically for '80's wagons - you want '82,'83,'84,'88, or '89. Depending on your preference for body style and what changes you are comfortable making in order to swap out the bits that are troublesome in each. Unfortunately the "ultimate" model of wagon doesn't exist - you have to build it. There are problems with all of them and you have to pick/choose the right parts from different years to get the "perfect" combo.

 

GD

[Pint]

Great info...thanks!

[idosubaru]

If you can find one in decent shape (many are old ill-maintained and not worth putting much money into now), the EA82's are actually very reliable. Like GD said the SPFI is simple and fairly straight forward. Keep them from overheating and running out of oil and they'll essentially last as long as you care to maintain them.

 

Timing belt kits are cheap on ebay and very easy to do. Do the timing belts, clean the idle controller, do a full tune up (plugs, wire, cap, rotor) and it's not hard to get 100,000 miles out of an EA82.

 

You're more likely to need stuff like alternators, CV boots, etc....like any other 20 year old car.

[rxleone]

If you can find one in decent shape (many are old ill-maintained and not worth putting much money into now), the EA82's are actually very reliable. Like GD said the SPFI is simple and fairly straight forward. Keep them from overheating and running out of oil and they'll essentially last as long as you care to maintain them.

 

Timing belt kits are cheap on ebay and very easy to do. Do the timing belts, clean the idle controller, do a full tune up (plugs, wire, cap, rotor) and it's not hard to get 100,000 miles out of an EA82.

 

You're more likely to need stuff like alternators, CV boots, etc....like any other 20 year old car.

 

Yeah, I'd agree with this. I've even driven an EA82T about 500km (about 350 miles) on a blown head gasket and blown turbo (which was strangely enough a VF44 - the car had been an STI-converted rally hack in its day) oil seal. Went through about 5 litres of oil but made it relatively intact. Almost didn't sell it - it was the most bulletproof EA82T I've ever seen.

 

I had my brother drive it for a while while following in my Legacy - was an interesting sight to see the blue smoke spiralling out of the exhaust. Damn turbos!!

 

 

My hitachi-powered EA82 has done pretty well too. Its on 230,000km, and I'm yet to have a serious problem with the engine. The wheel bearings, and CVs however..... :banghead:

[Yo'J]

For camping in the back of either ea81 or ea82 you had better be short. The ea82 have just an inch or two larger cargo area but both are just under six feet for flat area. In my 82' wagon, I tore out my rear seats and decked to back out in ply that folds down when the seats are forward for space. That might be an option for you if you only plan on having a two seater.

[Pint]

It would just be me and I'm 5'9". Haven't tried to lay down in one. Would be nice to lose the tent!

[NV Zeno]

It would just be me and I'm 5'9". Haven't tried to lay down in one. Would be nice to lose the tent!

 

I'm 5'8"/140 lbs. I have to kind of lie diagonally to fit, but I can straighten out all the way, with a few inches to spare.

 

1983 Wagon.

[Yo'J]

I'm 5'9 152lbs and with a ply-wooded rear deck you get not a trace of corrugated rump roast-syndrome and can sleep two! ( not to hijack but) I got a twin size sheet of memory foam and its plush:cool: Had I known comfortable it really is when I had my last ea82 I'd a chucked the rear seats in that too! Storage for the gear and speaker boxes built in. Sometimes it sucks to not have extra seats though. Its amazing how much space they take up.

 

I've camped in both ea's, just not a legacy and I'll say, they both suck unless you modify it.

 

Whos camped in a lego? size and number!

Edited April 28, 2010 by Yo'J

[Uberoo]

I haven't camped in a wagon, but I did do something in the back of my legacy sedan that isn't quite "G rated"...

[GeneralDisorder]

I haven't camped in a wagon, but I did do something in the back of my legacy sedan that isn't quite "G rated"...

 

Try that same thing in the cab of a Brat. And I'm 6' 2".....

 

I'll bet I have used over a dozen Subaru's of various vintages for that activity.

 

GD

[Yo'J]

Still nothin' like a Lincoln Continental for party of three, as long as your not "sleeping"!:grin:Leather is easier to clean.

 

So what more does the OP want to know?:lol:

[Uberoo]

Try that same thing in the cab of a Brat. And I'm 6' 2".....

 

I'll bet I have used over a dozen Subaru's of various vintages for that activity.

 

GD

 

Open the pop tops and go!!!