Looking at L Series Wagon - advice please

LukeAE71 · Post by **LukeAE71** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 10:47 pm

Hi there,

New here - have a history of modifying many old Corollas in my time but want to try something new.

Today I stumbled on an L Series parked across the road from my in-laws. Tidy as hell on the outside but the clincher... its done 331,000 ks.

I enquired with the elderly owner and he insisted according to his recollection of receipts etc that it hadn't had a new motor installed. I'm thinking to myself surely its not the original motor with that many k's. This thing purred when he started it up.

So I want to know... is this reasonable to expect that it is the original motor? Have they been known to last this long??

Sorry for the newbie style question but Subarus are completely new to me

Oops posted this in the wrong section too - can a mod please move thanks

Post by **TOONGA** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 10:58 pm

welcome to the board Luke, it is very possible that the motor has done 300000km+ and from the sounds of it is on its original owner. if the motor has been looked after then it is quite possible. Ive heard of motors with 600000km+ on them I had an 82 wagon that had at least 350000 kms on it when I bought it. I bet it has never been offroad either

TOONGA

LukeAE71 · Post by **LukeAE71** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 11:06 pm

Thanks for that.

The owner bought it when it had done 280,000 and was originally a country car travelling long distance on freeway to work. He has had it ten years and only done 50,000 ks so he has babied it.

By the condition of the outside the car hasn't had a hard life.

Wagonman · Post by **Wagonman** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 11:13 pm

Although my old girl Lizzie (89 L Wagon) had a engine rebuild at 414000 it is now up to 499410km and has been running on gas/pet since the rebuild, has been offroad alot too and has been quite reliable barring the last incident

My mate has an 87 L Wagon with 360000km i think with original motor still in it.

So its quite possible especially if it has been well looked after and not driven like a retard.

FujiFan · Post by **FujiFan** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 11:19 pm

Howdy there.

Sounds to good to be true! From my preferences, I would rather buy a used car with tiptop body and original hi k's running gear that has been nursed/well maintained. Easier to replaced engine and driveline (cheaper too) than to have a stuffed body/chassis that needs major work. This extends to all aspects of the car BTW. Mechanicals: much less work to replace or upgrade on an as need basis..

Jayman

LukeAE71 · Post by **LukeAE71** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 11:19 pm

What sort of costs could I expect for a rebuild of one of these engines??

I guess if it blows I could transplant a better engine in. I have done an engine conversion before, just can't build motors that's all.

How much should I offer this old guy? He wasn't selling but admitted he never uses it anymore. $1500????

FujiFan · Post by **FujiFan** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 11:23 pm

Transplant is good option. What year, what variant, does it have A/C if so does it work etc. If top spec with working A/C, 1500 clams with long rego soundz good personally.

LukeAE71 · Post by **LukeAE71** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 11:28 pm

I think it is a base model, have to have another look but it had aircon and that worked! I have to have air con..... too many old rollas that were hot as hell to drive in summer

FujiFan · Post by **FujiFan** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 11:37 pm

soundin good so far. But wait for the advice of more experienced guru's in this place. I agree working A/C is damn near mandatory...

spike · Post by **spike** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 11:46 pm

the engine thats in my l now had over 400 k on it when it went in, was over heated about 3 times before aswell i belive no rebuild just head gaskets.

what part of town are you in btw??

LukeAE71 · Post by **LukeAE71** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 11:52 pm

spike wrote:the engine thats in my l now had over 400 k on it when it went in, was over heated about 3 times before aswell i belive no rebuild just head gaskets.

what part of town are you in btw??

I'm from the Adelaide Hills near Woodside.

spike · Post by **spike** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 11:54 pm

ahh ok yeah other side of town from me

engines in the cars have never been a problem
mine runs a little hot, hasnt go that much power and sounds like a b!tch but i havent had much time to work on it so yeah i get over it

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 6:39 pm

With the L's:

Look for rust under the front windscreen, under the car roughly under the windscreen (will pool here if there's windscreen rust, at least this is what I think happens). They can rust out on the rear window and in the lower rear quarter panels behind the rear wheels.

You can tell if its been offroad beyond its abilities by checking the floor pan where the rear passenger's feet would sit, if its rippled or dinged up its usually a certain sign that its been pushed hard offroad.

If its been babied, the interior should show little wear. Typically the tops of the door trims will fade and crack up exposing the white foam underneath. The floor should not have any holes in it where the driver's feet live and the seats no tears.

If there's no lifter tick that's a bonus too, if it has got the tick its not a lot to worry about as these engines are prone to lifter tick, one reason for an engine upgrade

Just make sure you don't get this mixed up with an engine knock - but by the description you've given it doesn't sound like it would have any of this.

If you do get it and it runs hot - two things to do: replace or have the radiator rodded to clear out the cooling passages. The other thing to do is have the water pump replaced if you don't know the history of it.

All the best with the purchase, there's a wealth of information on here for your L - general maintenance/"heavy maintenance" to full on builds and modifications.

Cheers

Bennie

LukeAE71 · Post by **LukeAE71** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 6:12 pm

Thanks for the helpful tips.

Now I know what to look for on these cars. They are very new to me so any help is appreciated

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 8:50 pm

Also the EA82's are prone to leaking oil like sieve...

Cheers

Bennie