TheWanderer Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 (edited) Hey guys, I'm looking at purchasing an 86 GL 4wd wagon (5 sp d/r) and am a bit curious since I'm not familiar enough with the 4wd wagons. Overall the car in question that I'm looking at looks to be in pretty decent shape body wise. Couple of surface rust spots on the rear hatch, but no other rust that I can see (haven't gone to look it over in person though) It has the 2 headlight setup, which I rather prefer over my DL's 4 lamp setup, paint and glass look pretty good for age (no broken glass that I can see), and it looks to have gold wagon wheels (?) of unknown size (thinking 14" but not sure, kinda hoping for 13" though since I have an abundance of good tires). Has a hitch and receiver installed, along with a factory roof rack, which is a bonus (since I am planning to move to the PacNW in about 2 months,,,really the only reason I am looking at it honestly, I need a wagon). From what I gather lurking the forum here, 86 was a crossover year between the EA81/EA82, correct? Main reason I am asking is because I would like to be able to use my 88 DL as a parts car for this 86 if at all possible, so I'm wondering if it may be an EA82 wagon, and if it would be carb'd or SPFI...I'd rather not mess around with a carb'd vehicle but if it is I could always swap over my SPFI stuff from the 88, assuming its an EA82... Rear brakes on this, would they be disc or drum on the 4wd d/r wagon? What are the odds that it would have the LSD? How about towing with it? Essentially I'd either like to tow a small 5'x8' utility trailer with about 200 lbs loaded. Worse case scenario I'd like to flat tow my 88 DL fwd behind it loaded with a few small items. Would the latter be possible? What are some of the main issues I should look for on this wagon when i go check it out? Asking price is $650 obo, but honestly I have a number of about $350 in mind since there isn't much of a market here for them, and it needs a few things replaced (marker light, grill, etc) Edited August 29, 2014 by TheWanderer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scoobiedubie Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 (edited) You don't have the breaking power to pull another subaru. Edited August 29, 2014 by scoobiedubie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheWanderer Posted August 29, 2014 Author Share Posted August 29, 2014 Thats what I figured. I'd either have to granny drive the car and be extra careful, or I'd most likely end up burning the clutch out on the wagon if I pulled the DL behind it. The drive itself is gonna be 1500 miles roughly, and about 85% flat highway. Biggest thing that would scare me about puling another subie behind with the brakes is the up and down through the northern Rockies (more so the downhill part lol). I may end up just parting out the DL and keeping the stuff I need/want to haul in the wagon if I get it. Biggest thing is though, I want the wagon so I can haul my queen sized bed and a recliner, along with the rest of my stuff (clothes, etc) when I move. Plus it has the 5 sp d/r, which saves me having to dump the money into the DL to convert. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdweninger Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 The '86 could be spfi or carbed. Drum rear brakes. The 2 headlight system could be problematic because the lenses sometimes leak and the reflective coating dulls and/or flakes off. Every EA82 I own has the crappy lenses. Whereas your DL has 4 sealed beam headlights... instead of just the 9004 bulb replacement on ea82s. I would not have a problem towing the DL... just gear down BEFORE you head down a 6% downgrade. No LSD. You've got a lot of things to fix / inspect / replace / maintain before you decide to take an '86 over the Rockies. And don't forget about the Cascade Range. Good luck on your trip. Keep your tools handy... you may need them! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
l75eya Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 I would not have a problem towing the DL... just gear down BEFORE you head down a 6% downgrade. Agreed. Well before. Use brakes sparingly to keep from overheating. Any emergencies shift into 4-lo and let clutch out slowly. That's how I'd approach it anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheWanderer Posted August 30, 2014 Author Share Posted August 30, 2014 (edited) Thats pretty much how I was expecting to haul it if I get the wagon. When I drive 5 speed, I dont use my brakes anyhow, usually just downshift way in advance and coast to a stop (thats how I was taught, and every 5 speed I've had has only ever gone thru 1 set of brakes every 2-3 years, never blown a clutch). Its kinda up in the air at this point. If I can get it cheap enough I'm all over it. I talked to the lady tonight that has it, 115k miles on the car and it runs and drives. Going to call back tomorrow and see what the deal is, told her I'd be willing to come out next weekend and get it. Asking $650 but she doesn't seem to speak much english and doesn't know a lick about cars (hoping I can get it for around $300, and should be able to...) I've got a couple friends out in the area from another car group too, gonna see if one of them can run over and have a look see, check it out for me What should I expect to have to fix/replace/work on before taking it over the Rockies and the Cascades? Edited August 30, 2014 by TheWanderer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloyale Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 86 4wd will be carbed. If it's a California car it will be an ECU controlled, feedback carb....which you don't want. also much wiring and connectors changed between 86 and 88. What I would do is get the 86 cheap, and strip it for parts..... easier to put a D/R and all the lights and goodies into the DL (the quad beam is superior lighting and easily replacement bulbs!) than to put the SPFI On the carbed car. I would not even consider towing one subaru behind another over those mountains......not worth the risk at all. Strip one car.....scrap the body for cash and get a small utility trailer if you need to haul parts. 2000lbs is MAX you should try to pull over the rockies and cascades. and that will be a challenge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheWanderer Posted August 30, 2014 Author Share Posted August 30, 2014 Really only considering it because I want the wagon over my 3 door coupe. I have a queen sized bed and a recliner that I need to haul west with me when I leave, and the wagon would give me a much better chance at actually doing that. The fact that its a 5 sp d/r is a bonus since I've wanted one over this fwd DL since buying it, and can't justify putting the money out to do the swap. Its up in the air honestly. I'd hate to see my DL get parted out, especially with it only having 95k miles original on it. But I'd hate to leave it behind if I buy this wagon, knowing that I could use many of the parts in the future... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveT Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 I just had a car hauled by truck from CA to CT. Cost $1000. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scoobiedubie Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 Save your money and buy a wagon at the end of your move, in the city that you move to. 86's are not that great. The loyales get a lot better gas mileage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloyale Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 Save your money and buy a wagon at the end of your move, in the city that you move to. 86's are not that great. The loyales get a lot better gas mileage. ???? either car in good condition is capable of nearly the same mileage.......in fact.....the best mileage subaru wagon I ever had was an 86 carbed. Loyales don't have a D/R.....which is his whole point. I do agree though that it might be better to buy a wagon in the PNW........less chance of rust.....but then again they are getting hard to find for that cheap anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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