72 IH + ‘85 Alaskan = Questionable Judgment...

[Buddha.]

A winter tour of Colorado mountain passes in a really crappy snow vehicle— no big, deal, right? It hasn’t been that snowy lately.

The legend:

What makes the power wagon a crappy snow vehicle?

 

[Nailhead]

What makes the power wagon a crappy snow vehicle?

Here’s my theory after 15 years: 1. Wide tires with high inflation pressures. 2. Low axle gearing. 3. No center diff. 4. Numb steering.

A Subaru will run rings around this thing, and you could read a book while you were doing it.

 

[Nailhead]

The pinion seal replacement I set out to do morphed into this:

Mission creep.


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[Todd n Natalie]

Here’s my theory after 15 years: 1. Wide tires with high inflation pressures. 2. Low axle gearing. 3. No center diff. 4. Numb steering.

A Subaru will run rings around this thing, and you could read a book while you were doing it.

I'll second that. I found this Outback was a monster in the snow.
And we had a lot of snow that year so I really got to test it out....
By the end of that winter the snow banks from me shovelling the driveway were almost level to my eavestrough.

2003 Outback with the 5 speed. Manual's had 50/50 F/R power distribution.

 

[Nailhead]

I'll second that. I found this Outback was a monster in the snow.
And we had a lot of snow that year so I really got to test it out....
By the end of that winter the snow banks from me shovelling the driveway were almost level to my eavestrough.

2003 Outback with the 5 speed. Manual's had 50/50 F/R power distribution.

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In your case, the book you might have been reading would be the service manual; I vaporized two days of my life replacing head gaskets, water pump, et al, in my ex GF’s ‘07. I have disliked Subarus ever since.

They do go well in the snow, though.


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[Todd n Natalie]

In your case, the book you might have been reading would be the service manual; I vaporized two days of my life replacing head gaskets, water pump, et al, in my ex GF’s ‘07. I have disliked Subarus ever since.

They do go well in the snow, though.


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This car was a 4cyl. Was that issue more prevalent in the 6's? I only ask cause that car never had an issue with the head gasket. Well as of when it sold it didn't. Who knows down the road...

 

[Nailhead]

This car was a 4cyl. Was that issue more prevalent in the 6's? I only ask cause that car never had an issue with the head gasket. Well as of when it sold it didn't. Who knows down the road...

So was that hateful ‘07; four cylinders of frustration. The sixes weren’t subject to that issue, IIRC.


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[Nailhead]

Got my Detroit locker third member installed today:

The Memorial Day trip to paradise looms just over the horizon.


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[Sparse Gray Hackle]

In your case, the book you might have been reading would be the service manual; I vaporized two days of my life replacing head gaskets, water pump, et al, in my ex GF’s ‘07. I have disliked Subarus ever since.

They do go well in the snow, though.


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We’ve had Subarus since the mid 80s. They aren’t perfect, but compared to other rigs we’ve simultaneously owned, they’re pretty damned good. I suspect there might have been two lemons that came with that rig.

 

[Nailhead]

We’ve had Subarus since the mid 80s. They aren’t perfect, but compared to other rigs we’ve simultaneously owned, they’re pretty damned good. I suspect there might have been two lemons that came with that rig.

All brand loyalties aside, blown head gaskets are a known issue on Subaru fours from the late ‘90’s to the late oughts/early teens, IIRC. Check out subaruoutback.org for further details, it’s where I got info on the necessary procedures, tools, and parts.

I’m not making this up.


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[Buddha.]

I bought a ‘17 forester new and it burned oil from day one despite proper break in procedure.

Had blizzacks and a six speed. I’d still have it but the wife decided I needed a truck instead.

 

[Todd n Natalie]

So was that hateful ‘07; four cylinders of frustration. The sixes weren’t subject to that issue, IIRC.


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That car was an '03. Not sure if that makes a difference.

 

[Nailhead]

That car was an '03. Not sure if that makes a difference.

You got lucky, apparently.


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[Nailhead]

Last major piece of the puzzle arrived:

5-speed OD transmission. Now the work begins, and Memorial Day is looming really large.


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[Nailhead]

I just took a close look at the shifter:

I’m gonna have to relearn driving a standard transmission.


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