1986 Subaru Leone 4wd Factory Turbo

Rebuilt · Post by **Rebuilt** » Sat May 26, 2012 5:02 pm

Hi all, bought this wagon just a week ago and finally have had a chance to post some pictures. Its my daily driver and is smooth and clean.

Righto have a look, Ill be on a little later after work to tell the history as I know it and also to gleam some info from the knowledgeable ones

Oh my names Heath by the way, back soon......

AshR · Post by **AshR** » Sat May 26, 2012 5:08 pm

damn that's a tidy wagon. where did you find that?

Rebuilt · Post by **Rebuilt** » Sat May 26, 2012 5:09 pm

More Pics

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Sat May 26, 2012 5:57 pm

Nice wagon, so I'm guessing its an import. Does the VIN number start with JF1AK5 or just AK5
JF1 would mean it was sold new in Australian from Subaru, AC/AN/AK means it was imported privately from Japan

Are you sure its an 86, that engine has a hotwire air flow meter and the interior and front grill is of the later series 2 type, which suggester that it was made after July 1987.

Still a nice example of a genuine GT wagon

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Sat May 26, 2012 6:40 pm

private or grey import by the tits on the front guards and everything else, being turbo wagon, Touring Wagon at that. Like the oil pressure guage, soft yellow butter cutter spare, spats or deflectors we should call them......

Real nice sleeper hubcaps - same as my GLTA has on - from 86 built TW
3 speed part time 4WD ? or E4AT 4 speeder AWD ?

Rebuilt · Post by **Rebuilt** » Sat May 26, 2012 7:13 pm

Back for dinner then of to work again, so heres a couple of answers. The gentleman I bought if of told me it was an 87 model, but the rego paper says 86 ?. Ill have to look under the bonnet tomorrow and decipher the Japanese.

Its the 3 speed auto and shifts real smooth, part time 4wd which you activate via console button then gear selector orange button to lock it in.

Theres a few small blemishes and things that need to be fixed which I will photo tomorrow and start asking for words of wisdom. Any info/help will be greatly appreciated.

A little on the history, it was a private import bought by an elderly gentleman that put 80,000km on it then the 2nd owner who I bought it from owned if for the last 7 years and put a further 80,000km on it doing Barossa Valley runs as he makes wine down there.

Took it to the regular mechanic whos been looking after it and he basically gave it a big tick, told me to check the trans/diff oil monthly to top it up due to small leak and that's about it.

Things that I need to look at doing, exhaust is the original and rusting out, leak from trans/diff up front somewhere, needs new tires ( I actually bought 13 inch sunraysia rims from username) today so I will probably fit them with new rubber in a couple of months when I hit the wear indicators on current tread. And lastly the front strut mounts are cracking so will look at getting replacements at some stage.

Ok more info/photos soon, let me know what you think or what I should do to keep it in tip top shape.

Back later

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Sat May 26, 2012 7:23 pm

A contender for Nulons G60 auto transmission stuff ?

Vacuum Control Diaphragm and kickdown solenoid, low, drivers side of the tranny screws in the side,

Mine was loose and leaked, found loose on disposal

You got the 4WD action on kickdown, braking and wipers on with th console button IN function I think.

sven '2' · Post by **sven '2'** » Sat May 26, 2012 11:31 pm

That is one cranking rig you have - well done!

Rebuilt · Post by **Rebuilt** » Sun May 27, 2012 6:46 pm

Hers a couple more photos. Numbers from the engine bay for someone to explain

, and the hood-lining that I need to replace along with the front strut tops. Would be great is someone could point me in the right direction for those strut top replacements.

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Sun May 27, 2012 9:51 pm

Well, no deluxe air bag suspension in this baby ! Gravity ain't a favourite thing of mine to work against with the hood lining - sort of needs careful removal for starters - maybe advice of a trimmer before you even touch it.

We still need a Japanese member for translation purposes eh ?

Rebuilt · Post by **Rebuilt** » Sun May 27, 2012 10:27 pm

steptoe wrote:Well, no deluxe air bag suspension in this baby ! Gravity ain't a favourite thing of mine to work against with the hood lining - sort of needs careful removal for starters - maybe advice of a trimmer before you even touch it.

We still need a Japanese member for translation purposes eh ?

Hi Steptoe, thanks for the interest. Have you tried taking out the hood-lining ? From what I've read I need a trip to Clarks rubber to get the new backing and then to spotlight to choose the fabric.
I was planning on having a crack at the removal when I get two consecutive days off next month. Slow steady, my only concern is braking any of the trim.... Might just be easier to get a trimmer to do it ifs on the hard side of things, what do you think ?
What do you suggest with those strut mounts ? Should I replace just that part or perhaps do the whole strut/spring in one go ?

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Sun May 27, 2012 10:42 pm

When I see a hood lining like that I see foam sheeting that has seen better days and should still be attached to the fabric. A Camry of same era , visions still haunt me, and I was just a bystander watching the guy touch it and become worse.... I also hate the necessary working position for this task. All depends on your abilities and tolerance.

You likely need to assess the whole suspension - if you have passed a safety inspection all well and good, those cracks may not be a concern. A new suspension will always feel great and strut tops are not included when you buy new struts and springs - that is all extra !

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Mon May 28, 2012 6:31 am

On the VIN number, 'A' means its an L series and 'L' means raised roof wagon. I was of the belief that 'K' was the raised roof wagon. I'll find more info after work

thunder039 · Post by **thunder039** » Mon May 28, 2012 8:55 am

nice clean wagon, goog to see there is few out there

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Mon May 28, 2012 10:13 am

Nice ride Heath

you should get plenty of good years out of that old girl.

It looks like a 87 model for us in Aus but Japan cars are generally about 7-9 months infront of ours, so it could be an 86 model and having 3 speed auto it seems to be the series 1 model.

What are your plans for her? Lift and offroading?

Cheers,
Paul

Rebuilt · Post by **Rebuilt** » Mon May 28, 2012 2:15 pm

RSR 555 wrote:Nice ride Heath you should get plenty of good years out of that old girl.

It looks like a 87 model for us in Aus but Japan cars are generally about 7-9 months infront of ours, so it could be an 86 model and having 3 speed auto it seems to be the series 1 model.

What are your plans for her? Lift and offroading?

Cheers,
Paul

Hi Paul, decisions,decisions..... Im currently back studying so in the interium it is my daily driver and work machine

Im currently studying nursing then onto paramedical science so to coincide with that Im working in community services so my little wagon is running about between our more mature members of society and can be seen doing taxi services to and fro around Adelaide.

Current plans are replacing those top strut mounts, and then onto the exhaust (need some advice on diameter exc for this as I need to replace from the cat back). Have a set of 13inch sunraysias that I will most likely put some light truck tires on to open up the possibility for some soft offroad camping. At the moment Im content to restore and renew to keep the old girl running not sure how far Ill take it.

Very much open to suggestions.

Talk soon

Heath

Venom · Post by **Venom** » Mon May 28, 2012 4:48 pm

I think upgrading by need is a good way to go. Get out and do what you want to do with it. If it is deficient in some way, then look at the best way to address it.

username · Post by **username** » Mon May 28, 2012 5:17 pm

She's a sweet ride. Fixed up that indicator yet?

Cheers,

Jake

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Mon May 28, 2012 5:57 pm

2.25" from bottom of cat back will do you nicely, very happy with same on mine, has no trouble flowing at 6500rpm. Came with exhaust so no idea of cost. Has long hotdog resonator in usual spot , muffler at rear.

Brumby Kid · Post by **Brumby Kid** » Mon May 28, 2012 6:31 pm

Stock y pipes?

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1986 Subaru Leone 4wd Factory Turbo

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