G'day all, introduction and queries

[jim]

Wow great website people, my name is James and i'm from the central coast NSW. I have owned 2 'L' series sportswagons and absolutely love them. The first one I bought off my mother as she had it since brand new, it had 200,000km's on the clock but still drove better than most cars the same age and km's. I took it on may trips to the snow, 4WD trips and on one to frazer island (have pics to prove this), the punishment this car took and still kept coming back for more really amazed me. I put an exchange engine, clutch, radiator, water pump, powersteering pump, alternator, battery, 14" speedy rims in at 240,000km's and kept driving it to 460,000km's. By then rust was starting to get the better of it as cars do when salt water enters the equation, several times on frazer it was high tide and we got caught in wash outs, I looked out the side window and saw that the ocean way half way up the door just over the plastic moulding, also I have a jet ski and need 4WD to put it in at the local boat ramp which is under a foot of sand. Anyway with that car dead I started to look for a replacement last year, after checking out about a dozen bad examples I found a '93 sportswagon with 180,000km's on the clock and 12 months rego for $3500. The shocks were gone, it pulled to the left but the body was straight and rust free, the underbody was clean and had no signs of being off road, the engine bay was clean and motor sounded good, the gearbox was tight and changed gears cleanly. My only concern was that it pulled to the left but as the body and driveline was the cleanest i'd seen I took a punt and bought it for $2700. So I got it home and put the 14" rims on, installed new shocks all round and replaced all oils and filters, plugs, leads, rotor button, distibutor cap, belts etc. Then walking round the back I noticed that the rear left wheel was leaning in badly. It was only when the 14" speedy's went on that I was able to notice this, a trip to the wreckers and 1 rear main trailing arm later problem solved, the wheel was straight and the car now drove straight. The gamble paid off. After 18,000km's of driving it round last week the engine just shut down, I felt a jolt through the drive line followed by the oil, brake and battery lights coming on. I suspect the timing belts snapped but will confirm this in the next couple of days.
Which brings me to my query, is there any recommended places that might have low km EA82 engines if I need a replacement and how much should I expect to pay? I realize they are getting long in the tooth now and fewer and farther between.

After stumbling onto this website i'm quite amazed at the car modifications performed on here, I wish i'd found it earlier as I love the lift kits, turbo engine conversions, bull bars, wheels etc. Keep it coming it's awesome, especially the photos and video's of off road stunts.

Any advice appreciated

[Gannon]

Hello and welcome to the forum. Sounds like you're gonna fit in well

If you have photos of your past ride, please dont hesitate to show us. You can up-load them to here AUSubaru Coppermine

If it is just a timing belt and you are handy with the tools. Go buy a Haynes or Gregories Manual, a replacement belt and change it yourself. Shouldnt take much more than 4 hours.

EA82 engines are non interference and thus dont do damage if a timing belt snaps.

[jim]

hey thanks Suparoo,

I've had the haynes for 10 years and had a read the other day, I didn't see it mention that the engine is non-interference but this is welcome news so thanks mate.

[AlpineRaven]

Nice and welcome!
Cheers
AP

[wrxtc]

welcome jim both my and dibs family live on central coast from koolewong to ourimbah welcome to the site and enjoy cheers mrs dibs

[Subafury]

sounds like youve had a blast with the ol L series and there much more to come welcome