Buying a '86 GL Hatch...What to look out for?

[GCH_PNW]

Hi all,

 

I'm looking at potentially purchasing a 1986 GL wagon (130K) for sale locally, and was wondering what common issues I should be looking out for (aside from the typical rust and leaks).  Any gurus care to lend the insights of their knowledge and experience?

 

Thanks!

G

[BEECHBM69]

You said rust. 

 

We are all going to say rust. 

 

Did I say rust? 

 

Everything else is fixable, depending on how much you want to work on it. 

 

Good luck!

 

Dan

[DaveT]

Read a lot of the threads for the common items.

[GeneralDisorder]

Beware - the parts for these cars and engines are becoming obsolete. Subaru has no interest anymore in maintaining the inventory for them. Critical things like oil pumps are NO LONGER AVAILABLE new at any price, from any source. Best to move on to the Legacy platform. They are just as cheap and a much better platform as well. 

 

GD

[DaveT]

If it's all original, [it's 30+ years old] it probably needs a reseal from the head gaskets up.  All new hoses. 

#1 way to blow head gaskets is to run low on coolant.

 

The alternator will need a brush at about 150K miles.  Every one I've had wore the same brush out within a few 1000 miles of 150K.

 

Like GD wrote, parts are going NLA.  So as long as you are prepared to deal with that, rebuilding, making things, have a shop, etc. and have another car for backup, ok.  If you want 1 car to rely on, and pay someone else to fix, forget it, go to a newer version.