Need hints on finding a new Subie

[the_bard]

As I've stated in another thread or three, I'll be looking to replace my Subie after the end of this winter... probably late spring or summer. Seein' as I've got all this time on my hands until then (and time to start saving up, too ), I figured I'd start up some research and documentation on exactly what it is I want to replace Subie (my Loyale... not the most original name, I know) with.

 

The engine's still running (and running rather well, if'n you ask me) in my Loyale. So I've got an engine. Driveshafts are still good... front brakes are fair, haven't looked at the rear. Sound system is decent. Interior and body are shot, though I can pull the seat covers out... the previous owner had dogs in the car, and they've torn the original seats apart something fierce. The floor pan is also rusting out... not to the point where it's bad, but I agree with everybody when they say it's gonna get worse. It sounds like a parts car, so I'm looking for something that's gonna be compatible.

 

As for what I want, I'd love to find a good GL body that hasn't been hit with anything other than minor surface rust (the stuff that I'd have a prayer of stopping with some elbow grease and a can or two of POR-15). I don't think I need to worry about the condition of the engine much, since I ought to be able to pull the EA82 out of the Loyale and put it in the GL (and give it a good overhaul at the same time). I'd probably want the old engine to be SPFI, though, same as the Loyale (right? Not sure how to tell on this one), to simply the rewiring. I'd hope for a good tranny... I don't mind the thought of having d/r, and the synchro's are wearing out on the Loyale. I'm getting tired of forgetting to shift into fifth, and subsequently grinding reverse. It's going to have to be d/r 4wd, manual. I've heard the GL's can come in 4 or 5 gears... is there all that much difference between the two? I don't plan on going off-road... 40% street and 60% highway driving, with a bunch of snow thrown in (I'm in Albany, NY, remember?)

 

Those are the major points... I'd also like the touch-ups, like power everything. That Loyale's got me addicted to power locks, windows, mirrors. The power seatbelts I could do without, as I've got a tendency to forget the lap belt, but I never forget to buckle in with manual seatbelts. I could do without a sunroof, too, but it'd be something interesting .

 

Judging from what I want, I seriously doubt I'll be able to find anything remotely close to Albany, NY. First off, everything up here seems to be coated in rust. Most of the Loyale's I've seen around here are ate up worse than mine, the one Justy I've seen looked like it had been dunked in salt water, and I can't find a GL anywhere (have they all rusted away completely?! ). The newer Sube's seem to fare pretty well, and I've seen a Loyale sedan that was in near mint condition, but that's it. Not a single GL that I recognized as such.

 

So I'm probably going to end up looking farther west. Somewhere there's got to be a GL sitting somewhere with a trashed engine (as much as I'd love to stumble across one that's not, I'm not keeping my hopes up) that I can pick up fairly easily. Transportation isn't too much of an issue... I could probably talk my father into taking his truck and double-axle trailer out to wherever we need to go, as long as I'm paying for gas. Last I knew, it had a good sized winch on the front of the trailer... if he took it off, I could always grab a come-a-long.

 

I just have no clue how to go about finding it. I can't imagine that most yards are going to have their inventories on the web, much less going into detail about the car's condition (That'd be one heck of an inventory system, though). I could call around, but where do you start? There's driving out west, too... but "Hey Dad, ya wanna take the truck and trailer out west, searching for a GL that's not rusted out?" ain't gonna cut it, I think. Driving aimlessly from yard to yard in states I've never been to before hauling a double-axle trailer just doesn't sound like a good start to me :wave: .

 

Anybody have any suggestions to this? Feel free to take the screwdriver to the rust spots in my ideas... I've got more than a couple months to find ways around 'em .

[calebz]

Like I said in your other post.. just drive the loyale out her, draga a wagon from the yard, do the swap here and drive your new wagon home. In general, they can be found in the yards, straight and rust free.. I'll keep an eye out for a specific one to match your needs.

[MilesFox]

find a junkyard car if it has no title, swap in your dashboard, and now you "still have the same car"

[the_bard]

Originally posted by MilesFox

find a junkyard car if it has no title, swap in your dashboard, and now you "still have the same car"

 

Huh. Never thought of that. If the VIN and the odometer were transferred over to the new car (swapping out the dash), is it the same car, as far as the good ol' State of New York is concerned? I would assume that they'd put some sort of limitation on it, like the old one not having a title. Never though of it before though... thanks for stirring up the brain, Fox

 

Calebz:

That's a pretty good idea... I was just figuring on giving the engine from the Loyale an overhaul while I was at it (it may still be running reasonably well, but she has hit 220k... while I've got the engine out, I may as well). I've got a feeling that pulling the engine and giving it a good overhaul is going to take some time... I don't want to overstay a welcome, ya know? ;o)

 

P.S.: Thanks for all the help, Calebz, and all the other members that have thrown in suggestions... you guys rock

[MilesFox]

with an experienced hand, an entire head gasket job and reseal can be done in a day.

an engine swap in a matter of a couple hours, if that.

[thealleyboy]

Bard:

 

Email me

thealleyboy@yahoo.com

 

John

[Turbone]

find a junkyard car if it has no title, swap in your dashboard, and now you "still have the same car"

 

I dont know about the 90's, but earleir Soobs have the VIN stamped on the firewall also.

Rob

[the_bard]

I wondered... seems too easy. If you could just swap out the dash, and legally change the VIN number on the car that easily, then it would be happening a lot more often. 'Course, then again, swapping out the dash ain't exactly what I'd call an easy job, from what I've seen of the operation.

 

John, your email is on the way :-). Mine's the_bard at airpost.net

[thealleyboy]

There are at least 3 places I know of: dash, firewall, plate in doorwell.

 

There is supposedly at least one more stamping on the chassis.

 

To do an "identity adjustment" properly would be quite a big job. The dash has to be changed out for starters, and the door plate would have to be drilled out and reinstalled "cleanly" too. You could probabaly get away with spraying undercoating along the firewall to make those markings less obvious.

 

A half-rump roast job will only attract attention from nosy cops. First thing they do on a traffic stop is look thru the glass at the vin plate. If the dash dosen't match the interior, or the tag appears altered, Mr Ociffer will keep right looking (if he's got any sense at all). You'll be accused of driving a "stolen" vehicle, even if it was junked out by the prior owner.

 

If you are caught during an accident situation, you would be in some serious sh*t because the insurance co. won't be legally responsible for paying any claims. Greedy insurance types are notorious for finding stuff like this and invalidating otherwise legitimate claims.

 

definitely be careful if you get a Sube with an "Identity Crisis"...

 

John