Subiesport's 1978 DL -- stranded!

[ricochet]

(accidentally posted in "older" forum previously. please reply in this thread)

 

Okay, so you know I have a 1976 DL sitting in pieces. Well, with a baby daughter on the way (rah!) I needed to fast-track the historic project and get it out of the front yard. So I ran out and picked up a 1978 DL being sold out of Sequim (you may know the one I'm talking about) since it was already running. It's sporting an EA71 IIRC.

 

Anyhow, picked it up. Ran great. Took the ferry across to Edmonds, started and stopped the car several times. Each time it fired up without a single hesitation.

 

Then, I hit 405. Troddling along I didn't realize I was going over 60 (didn't even know it *could* go over 60) by a smidge. And, after what was several miles at this pace I realized that the engine was starting to loose power and there was a small amount of metallic clanking noises when i added throttle (piston slap?). When i let off, it went away. About a minute later it lost power completely and I rolled to the side of the road with lots of steam coming from the engine. No signs of cracked headgaskets, and the exhaust was clean before the issue.

 

There is no temp gauge so I couldn't be certain that was, indeed, overheating. Though i expect that was the case. Went back with another vehicle (three hours later) and attempted to both compression start and jump start. The starter cranks the motor, but there's clearly not even the slightest indication it wants to fire. Pulled the plugs and they were drenched with fuel. I didn't check for spark. Should have, but forgot at the time (it's been a long time since I had to trouble-shoot carbed car).

 

Things I noticed when i tried to start it the second time:

 

radiator was practically empty when i came back. I filled it.

 

There's some liquid dripping on the passenger side of the engine, over the back piston. I think it's radiator fluid, but not certain. Not sure if its relevant, but that's what I see.

 

Car started and drove very stong for 60 miles before this. Did I push the car too far and break something in the process? Think something broken from the get-go and it finally gave way?

 

Thoughts? Comments?

 

Oh, and where the HECK is the hazard signal switch? Somehow I managed to turn it on and cannot find it again for the life of me. Had to pull the fuse so it would stop draining the battery. Had two other people look and they can't find it either.

 

I see it now, "How to trouble-shoot your early-model subaru when stranded on the side of the road" -- might make a good tech feature for those less experience with these little beasts (like me!)

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Ryan Douthit, Publisher

Subiesport Magazine

http://www.subiesport.com

[Jibs]

Did you check the air cleaner? You'll know it's the headgaskets if ya see the milkshake, or in the oil filler there'll be white paste. Other than that I'm not too good at figuring those things out. The hazard light switch is on the steering column on the passenger side halfwat between the wheel and the dash maybe?

[RenaissanceMan]

I had a similar issure with this on my brat at the dunes when my radiator blew up... turns out the heat screwed up my points, or my theory is that the steam washed the grease off the lobe follower... POINT BEING (haha) take the distributor cap off and be sure the points are opening and closing. I think its like a 22mm socket for the crank pulley, (or a crescent wrench), and stick a matchbook in there... or some thin piece of cardboard... or a feeler guage, or something, and solve the problem if they are not opening. Seriously this sounds bizzare, and I dont know what was up, but check it. My brat died EXACTLY as how you describe it, and had the exact same no-start once I tried firing it up again after it died.

 

-Mike

[ricochet]

It's a newer distributor cap, and there's plenty of spark (ask me how I know ).

 

So, yeah, going to test compression next.

 

R

[970subaru]

did you drain the oil yet? if not, drain it through a cheesecloth or fine metal screen to look for some metal bits.

[maximumBRAT]

if it were me, i'd smear it on something and taste it.

sweet="radiator fluid" or antifreeze

 

look for color too.. idk.. if it's leaking as much coolant as you say, filler up and watch her drip when it's idling.

 

In addition to what they said^^

(yay subiesport)

~Laura.