Left_coast*9 Posted October 16, 2004 Share Posted October 16, 2004 So how hard is it, or more like how WORTH IT would it be to rebuild or replace a slipping AT in an 86 GL 4WD s/r 4WD Wgn with a fresh one? What would it cost to do it myself? What if you could get an otherwise good condition wagon of this sort, 150K, for around $400, would you guys go for it and fix it? I currently have an 88 DL EA82 5MT s/r 4WD Wgn. and I would be worried about a similar vehicle with an AT being a dog. Thoughts? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calebz Posted October 16, 2004 Share Posted October 16, 2004 A used AT can be had cheaply A manual conversion would be more fun. Its not hard to do.. My waogn used to be an AT car.. but no more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthWet Posted October 16, 2004 Share Posted October 16, 2004 Well... How much do you know or have you heard/read about the Subaru ATs? Many condsider the ATs to be the incomprehesible weak-link in an otherwise solid bit of engineering. What makes you think that the tranny is bad? What so you consider "slipping"? How many miles on tranny? The 3-speed AT transaxle (aka - 3AT) has a couple weak spots. Number one is that it doesn't like being overheated (duh!); doing so causes fluid breakdown and all sorts of gremlins. Number 2, and VERY common, is problems with its "governor", a mechano-hydraulic device on the side of the front final drive (above stub axles) that tells the tranny how fast you are going so it knows when to shift. This thing is an ingenious design that needs frequent maintenance as it ages. It is driven off or the pinion shaft, and its driven gear tends to get stripped (aka - "apple-cored"). If this happens then upshifting will be erratic and wil eventually just stop happening. It also has sliding valve parts that move against springs as the valve rotates. These sliding parts get gummed up (overheated/dirty fluid) and also develop burrs on their edges that need to be removed. Descriptions for this procedure are available, or ask and we will get them for you. The third common thing is a blown vacuum modulator, uses engine vacuum to tell tranny how much load the enigne has. The diaphram ruptures and tranny fluid gets sucked into the intake and creates white smoke. I would suggest you check out these probs before you condemn your tranny. I just replaced a 3AT (with a JDM unit) in my '85, and it was a bear... heavy, and no tranny lift. Most here would tell you to do a 5-speed Manual conversion. Not a lot of sympathy for automatics. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanislru Posted October 17, 2004 Share Posted October 17, 2004 I've done several manual tranie swaps into ea82t's. It's a bit of work cause u have too swap the pedal assembly, clutch assembly, drive shaft, diff, and cv's too. if u can get a dr 5spd cheap go for it. I've got a 3spd auto with 110 000km[90,000mi] on it for sale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Left_coast*9 Posted October 17, 2004 Author Share Posted October 17, 2004 I've got a 3spd auto with 110 000km[90,000mi] on it for sale. Too bad you're in Canada! So are all 370K miles on the same motor w/o a rebuild? Man, that's amazing. Can't wait to take mine that far. I might have to do a head gasket between now and then, but I guess if that's all I have to do then it wouldn't be all bad. late, and thanks for the reply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanislru Posted October 18, 2004 Share Posted October 18, 2004 Well sort of, they are km's so that's about 200k miles. All I've done is clean the rings and heads. Several turbo's got replaced from driving in northern Alberta when it's -40 degrees celsius seems you have to be carefull warming and cooling the car at those temps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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