Subcompact Overland Upgrades. '84 Subaru

[IdaSHO]

One thing Ive been meaning to check is if I can fit a full-size spare under the hood.

The answer is YES :wings:


So I spent the afternoon in the scrap yard, digging for wheels.

And got REAL lucky. I managed to not only find two excellent wheels with useable rubber, but two that MATCHED the rubber Im running. Not only that, one matches my summer treads, while the other matches my winter treads.... :coffeedrink:



here are a couple shots of the summer wheel I cleaned up and installed. It has roughly 40% tread. Perfect for a super cheap spare.

Wheel flipped with a bit of hardware to allow room for the spare oil bag

I also snagged a clean set of 14" wagon wheels. Eventually these will be modified to fit the Subaru, in hopes of finding a small LT tire for more serious off-road adventures.

 

[day42]

Anything new with your awesome Suby?

 

[IdaSHO]

Not really. Just been enjoying it as a daily driver. :ylsmoke: The wife, pup, and I have taken it on a few quick though, fooling around off road and in the snow.

 

[CMiller]

I also snagged a clean set of 14" wagon wheels. Eventually these will be modified to fit the Subaru, in hopes of finding a small LT tire for more serious off-road adventures.

BFG makes their All Terrain in a 195 75 R14. I've got a set on my lifted Subaru and they go anywhere!

 

[IdaSHO]

Thats exactly the tire Im looking at right now.

And after I get the new 14" wheels blasted and powdercoated, and when funding allows, those will be on order. :ylsmoke:

 

[Saguache]

My second car and first Subaru was this in the hatchback configuration. I loved that vehicle and drove the snot out of it; all over the west. If I look back on my life and think of those moments I should regret I can very easily become fixated on the day I let my first wife (then girl friend) talk me into selling "Gold Bug" to my younger brother (who drained the trans-axle and double filled the oil thereby killing "Gold Bug").

IdaSHO this is a sweet ride, hope we can roll over something together sometime soon.

 

[IdaSHO]

Thanks Saguache!

Im still fighting the "old car blues" with this little car. I ran a VIN check on it a few weeks ago and I found out why...

The clues point to the car sitting in storage for 14 years. :snorkel: So Im slowly chasing down all of the little problems that arise when a car is parked for such a time.


Sooner or later Ill catch up :ylsmoke:

 

[Saguache]

This I understand since my other OL is a 1983 Volkswagen Vanagon. Parked is better than driven and modded by an idiot.

 

[day42]

Cool nighttime pics.

 

[IdaSHO]

So the little subaru is going to get a new heart.

Im already hip deep in a complete zero-mile rebuild.

It will be new, and improved.

Still an EA81, but a newer motor with better flowing heads (larger valves), hydro-lifters, and a whole lot of love. :coffeedrink:

More to come:ylsmoke:

 

[shultzie]

Love the old Subura.....Looks like a great setup. Its a perfect car for north Idaho I lived up at Priest Lake for a few years. Nice country! Keep us updated.

 

[Balzer]

A kid I went to highschool with had a bunch of old subarus. I think between him and his dad they had over 20 at one time LOL. He was fond of the brats and built a few of them to pretty cool little 4x4's. One in particular was orange with white stripes, white roll bars, white nerf bars and white wagon wheels like you have. It was a cool little unit I think he had 30x9.50x15s on it and I know he had swapped in the drivetrain from a newer station wagon. I couldnt possibly tell you what years they where but yours looks newer to me. I can tell you it had much more power after the swap and went from a 4 speed to a 5 speed. I remember that when it did get stuck (rarely) that I could always push it out. That kid also taught me a valuable off road trick of using your spare tire to "bridge" a wash that was too deep. I also remember going over some logs to cross a canal and watching a international scout behind us break the logs and fall in. HAHA your car brings back some good memories. LOL sorry my post doesnt really add any value to your thread, I just wanted to say I think its cool your building that ole subi!

 

[IdaSHO]

5-speed dual-range swap is coming too. :ylsmoke:

It will happen when I install this new and improved motor :victory:

 

[Jim K in PA]

Cool car, great thread. I put many miles on a pair of '84s. Both were autos (ugh). Gutless, but they went anywhere.

The only "issue" with the one I put the most miles on was the typical head gasket failure. Right side at the forward water passage - gasket corroded away and coolant would spray into the CC at idle. I changed the gasket on that side and we drove it for another few years before trading it in for an AWD Safari van.

Not going for the turbo upgrade? It was an option that took the 1.8 all the way up to . . . 125hp. :wings:

 

[IdaSHO]

Getting there :ylsmoke: