And so the planning begins

ScubyRoo · Post by **ScubyRoo** » Tue Mar 16, 2010 10:35 am

For those that have read my other thread, I no longer have an operating subaru due to a written off body.

I do however, have a mint interior and happy drive train.

I just saw a turbo legacy on trading post but it's disappeared...

I am not familiar with autos at all, and would get rid of it as I just don't like driving autos. However, it would give me my turbo donor box and the right rear diff match for my franken gearbox

I've had a read around on here and on rsl forums, sounds like the auto to manual conversion isn't too hard and I'll have everything I need already.

I'll have a complete donor car of the same series (poor Scoobs

), so from what I've read it'll be a matter of changing the box and tail shaft? Then I can move my offroad suspension and lift kit over, and also switch the dash if need be?

Question would be what the lifespan is like for a d/r box behind a turbo motor... thoughts?

Cheers,
Owen.

someguy · Post by **someguy** » Tue Mar 16, 2010 10:44 am

Looks good, the early GT's are great fun to drive.

The only downfall to it is the auto box which makes a little boring.

But considering you have everything you need to do a manual conversion it will be the perfect car for you.

(I wouldn't be taking it offroad though, the GT's are pretty rare and would be a shame to see it get dented/scratched)

Post by **Captain Obvious** » Tue Mar 16, 2010 7:29 pm

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Subaru-liberty-w ... 27b01f0e0c

Post by **Captain Obvious** » Tue Mar 16, 2010 7:29 pm

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Subaru-Liberty-w ... 3a588b2569

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Tue Mar 16, 2010 9:47 pm

Link not working..

You can install manual transmission you will need donor car's manual parts - thats something I'm planning on doing... with my next newish car... (*whispers* H6 outback!)

Yes a few people have used D/R gearboxes behind turbo if tread carefully - if pushes too hard you'll blow it..

Captain Obvious could fill you in. (but ive forgotten what box he has)
Cheers
AP

Post by **Captain Obvious** » Wed Mar 17, 2010 5:57 am

AlpineRaven wrote:

Yes a few people have used D/R gearboxes behind turbo if tread carefully - if pushes too hard you'll blow it..

Captain Obvious could fill you in. (but ive forgotten what box he has)

standard dual range 3.9ratio that came out of a gen1 ser2 wagon, its getting a little noisey but it had 200k on it when i got it, its been running behind my ej20t with 11psi!! but i dont launch it or anything stupid.

ScubyRoo · Post by **ScubyRoo** » Wed Mar 17, 2010 9:06 pm

Thanks all for your input, and bennie and AP I'll definately be giving you guys a call - any other vic members who would be willing to come lend a hand? Knowledgable or otherwise, the pairs of hands will make a big difference. I'm hoping to get the conversions done in a weekend which I think is doable with enough helpers.

dah the turbo GT has disappeared off TP... bogus.

Instead I've found a gen 1 LX on the other side of the city with a busted auto tranny for $600! The owner is moving over to england and needs to sell it by end of April. I'm hoping by the end of the week! She's interstate and said she'd take some more pics for me when she gets back on friday. It looked to be in pretty good shape, so I'm not sure why its so cheap. Hopefully by saturday I'll know...

As I wrote in my other thread:

I turned the engine over this morning - took the spark plugs out and it turned over by hand no worries - no binding or roughness at all. Moved up to using the starter and no worries there either. Filled the oil up to middle, chucked the sparkies back in and he coughed to life first time, ran a bit rough for a minute or so then settled down to a smooth idle as the computer went to town. Gave it some on the throttle and it was sounding good... I then poked my head around the bonnet and realised I'd just drowned the entire front yard in blue smoke. Turned the engine off after another minute of listening carefully and checking the dash for a low oil light which didn't light up. Let it sit for 10min, checked the oil and the level hadn't budged - phew! Started it up again and let it run up to temp, no gurgling from the cooling system and all fluid levels normal. The smoked turned from rancid smelling and blue to no smell and clear within about 10 minutes of standard idle, revved it up a bit to bring the temp up, the smoked cleared away and exhaust was nice and clean. Tried again an hour later and no smoke, oil level was sweet and engine sounded clean and nice - so stoked! The motor only has about 20,000km on it since I rebuilt it, so I think I'll do a swap with the new car.

So it looks like it'll be an auto to manual conversion and engine swap, then moving the lift kit and outback suspension accross. Hopefully the spare cash will go a long way to getting my new MIG too.

I'll hang onto the busted shell for a while so I can experiment with making new bullbar mounts and rear bar set up before putting them on the new car.

I was hoping this'd give me a donor auto box to source the front diff form, but El_Freddo just sent me a text saying the front diff won't fit with the manual casing

The 4.44 might be too high anyway...

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Wed Mar 17, 2010 9:12 pm

ScubyRoo wrote:Thanks all for your input, and bennie and AP I'll definately be giving you guys a call - any other vic members who would be willing to come lend a hand? Knowledgable or otherwise, the pairs of hands will make a big difference. I'm hoping to get the conversions done in a weekend which I think is doable with enough helpers.

dah the turbo GT has disappeared off TP... bogus.

Instead I've found a gen 1 LX on the other side of the city with a busted auto tranny for $600! The owner is moving over to england and needs to sell it by end of April. I'm hoping by the end of the week! She's interstate and said she'd take some more pics for me when she gets back on friday. It looked to be in pretty good shape, so I'm not sure why its so cheap. Hopefully by saturday I'll know...

As I wrote in my other thread:

I was hoping this'd give me a donor auto box to source the front diff form, but El_Freddo just sent me a text saying the front diff won't fit with the manual casing The 4.44 might be too high anyway...

Awesome...
I take it that yours is an GX isn't it? If in that case you could transfer all electricals from the GX to LX, but you will find a problem with the radio antenna that isnt electric and its located in drivers side piller not in rear right window.

Front diff in automatic is totally different to manual as its opposite.
Cheers
AP

ScubyRoo · Post by **ScubyRoo** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 9:56 pm

Going to check out a 91 GX tomorrow afternoon. The dude rear ended someone at 15km/h, dented in front bumber and bonnet - no damage to radiator apparently. Looked carefully at the photos and the rest of the body is mint... $800 so looking forward to a careful inspection tomorrow night. If that goes well I'll be getting it there and then!

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 8:49 am

ScubyRoo wrote:Going to check out a 91 GX tomorrow afternoon. The dude rear ended someone at 15km/h, dented in front bumber and bonnet - no damage to radiator apparently. Looked carefully at the photos and the rest of the body is mint... $800 so looking forward to a careful inspection tomorrow night. If that goes well I'll be getting it there and then!

Good Luck mate..
Cheers
AP

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 6:56 pm

How's the head going mate? All healed over yet?

Good to hear that you're on to something that sounds like a goer. So what happened?

I thought you'd be waiting a little longer, even though I know you're itching to get another subi on the road!

Keep us posted!

Cheers

Bennie

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 7:15 pm

El_Freddo wrote:How's the head going mate? All healed over yet?

Good to hear that you're on to something that sounds like a goer. So what happened?

I thought you'd be waiting a little longer, even though I know you're itching to get another subi on the road!

Keep us posted!

Cheers

Bennie

Ditto that!
Cheers
AP

ScubyRoo · Post by **ScubyRoo** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 4:18 pm

Hey folks!

Yup allmost completely healed, just a little scab left. Paw Paw ointment is the bomb.

I bought the car, $620... bargained him down from $800

Transmission is shot, as in I think it's been shot! Not running awd either, split front inner cv boots and front bumber panel is bent and bonnet is dodgy. there is definately a hole in the muffler, but hey who doesn't like a bit of LOUD boxer exhaust? It's nice for about 5 min, then it just gives a headache...

I already have plans for saturday and sunday, so monday is the big day.

So far the following will be swapped:
1. Engine
2. Transmission
3. Lift kit
4. Drive shafts and tail shaft
5. L tie rod
6. Radiator (mine is newer)
7. All suspension components and trailing arm brackets
8. Stereo

School holidays this week has meant I really wanted to get things rolling, so finding this subi has worked out perfectly. I'm on school holidays, so anyone and everyone who has some time free and is able bodied, be it during the day or afternoons or evenings, please give me PM or a buzz on 0406 003 763 as any help will be gladly accepted. Beveridges provided.

Photos will of course follow, I'll start a new thread soon detailing the build up of 'Libby'.

Thanks again for the well wishes and look forward to seeing a few (hopefully many!) of you in my garage soon

Cheers,
Owen.

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 11:43 pm

Good stuff mate! I've been super busy lately and the end is not in sight just yet, but I may *MAY* be available in the second week of holidays. I'm really keen to help out with your build of Libby.

Thumbs up on the name too

Cheers

Bennie