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just bought an 87 RX, first time sub owner


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1.8T with a slight lifter noise and 219k

5 speed

white now but blue eventually

 

going after the timing belts, water pump, tune up, sea foam and oil change in the morning. The plugs look like they've seen well over their service limit.

it handles fantastic, shifts well and the engine pulls great. Havent done a mpg test on it yet but im sure its better than my 94 bronco.

 

I have to admit at the start i figured it would be a good vehicle to get me by but now I am looking forward to investing some coin to keep it going as long as I can.

 

any advice would be great to build a solid machine. Due to the lifter noise I am either looking at a rebuild or a swap. Looks like im off to do some searching! Thanks

 

Armed

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Welcome to the USMB.

While your doing all that work under the hood, you will definitely want to replace all the coolant hoses. Especially anything close or having to do with the turbo.

Also any upgrades increasing boost will shorten the life of the engine, its not the greatest design from Subaru.

There a few threads in the Retrofit and Old School forums that will explain a lot of this.

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yeah ive been cruising several topics and can see mixed feelings about the

EA82T. It seems that some are satisfied with it while others are seeking more power

 

I dont feel the need to mess with the turbo other than adding a cooler and boost gauge. I was figuring on a rebuild to begin with concerning the lifter (which has been mentioned as its nickname) but havent gotten far in my research just yet regarding internals and options. After some reading I think this is the way I'm leaning

 

I have read to upgrade the radiator to a dual core which has been added to the list

 

Havent given much thought about suspension although i was tempted to read up on lug conversion

 

gearing is interesting and i definitely want to shorten the shifter.

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As far as the lifter goes....the HLA needs MMO.

 

Hydraulic Lash Adjuster needs Marvel Mystery Oil.

It usually breaks up the gunk in the lifter and gets rid of the TOD (Tick O' Death).

A short lesson on old school Subaru abbreviations.

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...and i definitely want to shorten the shifter.

 

Like this??

 

l.jpg

 

It was done a rather low tech way of just cutting the shift rod shorter, fitting a leather forester knob (WRX would work too) and a universal shift boot. Use a 12mm 1.25pitch (I think...) tap to rethread the rod. Make it as short as you feel like. I think I took off about 2 inches. It still moves the same # of degrees, but your hand is still moving less distance since its now closer to the pivot point. The knob is shorter than the stock RX knob too...

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As far as the lifter goes....the HLA needs MMO.

 

Hydraulic Lash Adjuster needs Marvel Mystery Oil.

It usually breaks up the gunk in the lifter and gets rid of the TOD (Tick O' Death).

A short lesson on old school Subaru abbreviations.

 

ahh the great sound of acronyms!

 

I used seafoam after doing the timing belts, pulleys, water pump, upper rad hose, coolant temp sensor and an interesting belt setup as the a/c compressor is no longer there. So far after a couple of trips the tick is either super quiet or gone. I put some in the oil as well and plan on an oil change about 125 miles or so from now.

 

Thanks for tip Flow. Not sure how tall you are, but does the shifter being shorter change the way you sit from previous (just out of curiousity)? I'm gonna try this

 

 

i'm not quite sure what to do but i'm missing the trim piece on the driver rear quarter so you can see the seat belt retractor through the hole. The trim and window dressing all the way around needs some help but what are your thoughts on that trim piece?

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