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When did the L series begin?

Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 9:56 pm
by gx_rex
Just wondering when was the first L series?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/10-84-SUBARU-SPO ... dZViewItem


This guy had this stuff advertised as an Lseries and when i messaged him sayin it was MY he replied with an abusive email tellin me he had been in wrecking businesses for the past 7 years etc. I assume it was after this he changed the title and removed the bit sayin it was L series.

Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 10:55 pm
by BrennyV
‘I BROUGHT CAR FOR ENG BUT WRONG MODEL FOR ME I NEEDED EA82 MODEL AS I HAVE 94 MODEL L SERIES’

I think he’s a very smart ol chap with a great understanding of the English language and also maybe slightly confused fella with a fuckn dodgy caps lock ;)
How may I ask can you confuse a 84 MY Wagon with a 94 L Series??

Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 12:18 am
by tim_81coupe
You'd be surprised at how often mistakes like that happen.

Unfortunately Subaru didn't figure out a model naming system properly until the Legacy era. In a parts book for instance, names like GL, DL, Sportswagon and Enduro carry more weight than a model designation like MY or L series.

It also didn't help that Subaru called the fuglys (72-79) L series as well. I have always reffered to that model as the MV as I've seen it used elsewhere, although Subaru seems to also assign the MV name to Brats / Brumbys.

I've learnt to stay out of the model naming argument. Just have to keep interpreting it myself, if someone reckons they have an 83 L series then good on them. I know thats an MY and thats good enough for me.


EDIT: Funnily enough, I'm pretty sure the first of the L series (as in 4wd Pintaras) started production in 10/84, the supposed production date of the aforementioned MY. LOL.

Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 12:02 pm
by Suby Wan Kenobi
Yes indeed the L series as its commonly known in Oz did start in October 84 but the touring wagon didnt arrive till jan 85

Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 1:12 pm
by stinky
Also to add to the confusing is the term Leoni, which could be mistakely shortened to L series!

Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 4:33 pm
by BrennyV
stinky wrote:Also to add to the confusing is the term Leoni, which could be mistakely shortened to L series!
LEONE!!

:O

Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 4:35 pm
by stinky
that's what I said ( with a slight typo :P )

Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 5:33 pm
by El_Freddo
Yeah, as far as i know the L series Leone's came out in 84... my sister's got one. Dunno when the 4wd's came out.

Getting parts for these models is always fun...

@(me) "yeah, g'day mate, i'm after a _______ for an '88 L series..."

#(parts shop bloke)"is it a DL?"

@"Yep"

#"4wd or Fwd?"

@"4wd"

#"Wagon, Touring Wagon or Sportswagon?"

@"Wagon"

#"Carbie or MPFI?"

@"Carbie"

#"There's no item number listed here for that... giv'us a minute, i'll make a phone call..."

That's about how it usually goes anyway...

Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 7:02 pm
by Alex
LOL no shit!

alex

Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 7:06 pm
by TW83
I know what you mean, whoevere writes these parts manuals need to be shot. Try buying a part for an L series and tell the bloke its for an ej22 in an MY, no idea. Even subaru genuine are clueless.

Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 10:59 pm
by tim_81coupe
For modified Subarus, tell them its modified. That way they will hopefully look outside the square a little.

For any MY parts say its a Brumby. For L series don't get hauled into the whole DL/GL/Leone crap, the major differences are carb / EFI / Turbo, Man / Auto and 2WD / 4WD. The differences between sedans and wagons from a parts replacement perspective are virtually nil.

I used to be a parts interpreter. Its surprising how misleading parts catalogues are, you really have to be a Subaru nut to interpret the damn books. My workmates used to tell me I should've written the Subaru section of the catalogues, I used to ask the right questions and get the right parts :D.

Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 11:48 pm
by AndrewT
hehe its always funny getting asked these "important" questions

"is it 2wd or 4x4?"
"is it manual or auto"
"is it the wagon or the sedan"
"is it turbo or non-turbo"

"ARG DUDE!! It's a damn front wheel bearing - check the part number its the SAME!!"

Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 10:23 am
by Suby Wan Kenobi
L series front wheel bearing 6207 if you own an L series you should know this one off by heart.

As far as other parts go always buy Subaru engine seals, they actually last, bearings are just bearings wherever you go, rod ends and ball joints seem to last a while, engine hoses best ones are from Subaru as is water pumps but cheap ones will be ok provded you make sure you space the pulley back to original spot. Clutch's, Direct Clutch in Bris is the best spot on the east coast. Engine belts get em from a bearing company they are cheaper than Subaru and the same unit. Cam belts always buy a pair and fit them together, you can pay $30 a belt or get them in a pack for $40

Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 8:09 pm
by GTlegs
Refer to my other post about this guys. L-series is the factory designation for all these cars, starting from the uglies of the 70's to the current Legacies/Liberties. Subaru tends to name their models based on the designation. Ie. L-series is Leone, Legacy, Liberty. J-series is Justy, etc

Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 9:04 pm
by Shauno
El_Freddo wrote:Yeah, as far as i know the L series Leone's came out in 84... my sister's got one. Dunno when the 4wd's came out.

Getting parts for these models is always fun...

@(me) "yeah, g'day mate, i'm after a _______ for an '88 L series..."

#(parts shop bloke)"is it a DL?"

@"Yep"

#"4wd or Fwd?"

@"4wd"

#"Wagon, Touring Wagon or Sportswagon?"

@"Wagon"

#"Carbie or MPFI?"

@"Carbie"

#"There's no item number listed here for that... giv'us a minute, i'll make a phone call..."

That's about how it usually goes anyway...
What dildo did you ring ? haha!

Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 9:06 pm
by Shauno
AndrewT wrote:hehe its always funny getting asked these "important" questions

"is it 2wd or 4x4?"
"is it manual or auto"
"is it the wagon or the sedan"
"is it turbo or non-turbo"

"ARG DUDE!! It's a damn front wheel bearing - check the part number its the SAME!!"
Andrew when youve got 20 damn subarus all fwd 4x4 etc etc ITS always better to ask and narrow it down you CANT see the parts from the car selection screen....Try finding parts for hilux's or lcruisers brings new sight into your eyes...

Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 9:08 pm
by Fang
GTlegs wrote:Refer to my other post about this guys. L-series is the factory designation for all these cars, starting from the uglies of the 70's to the current Legacies/Liberties. Subaru tends to name their models based on the designation. Ie. L-series is Leone, Legacy, Liberty. J-series is Justy, etc

...and the E Series is the Libero isnt it?

It is damned annoying that Subaru named their cars this way. I have Japanese brochures that refer to 85-94 cars as the "FF" Leone.

Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2006 4:32 pm
by Rabbitoh
TW83 wrote:I know what you mean, whoevere writes these parts manuals need to be shot. Try buying a part for an L series and tell the bloke its for an ej22 in an MY, no idea. Even subaru genuine are clueless.
You ain't wrong about that, however Subaru at Penrith NSW are very very very helpful and do know what you are talking about.

Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2006 5:00 pm
by stinky
There's several different types of wheel bearings, tie-rod ends, and other bits and pieces that differ over the MY models. It's a real pain in the ass at times, especially as the parts listed aren't always the ones your car wants. I used to always ask for 'brumby' parts because it had the least number of silly questions, but it bit me on the ass a few times on the MY wagon so since then I always go make sure I'm very clear with what model and age it is ...

Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2006 6:04 pm
by dfoyl
>>It also didn't help that Subaru called the fuglys (72-79) L series as well. I have always reffered to that model as the MV as I've seen it used elsewhere, although Subaru seems to also assign the MV name to Brats / Brumbys

I believe MV = Multi-purpose Vehicle, while Brat / Brumby was just used as a sales name for specific markets.

Even using Brumby as a way to narrow down searching for EA81 parts isn't guaranteed, I recently went to buy an air-con belt for my Brumby at Burson's and specified EA81 - the drone behind the counter starts asking which brand of A/C, etc, etc, and I look at the book to find the right model - he's looking up EA82s :rolleyes: So I skip to Brumby's and it's got EA71s and doesn't list the EA81's...so asking for Brumby parts may lead to getting EA71-based parts rather than EA81 parts!

Dean.