Identify your Subaru

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 5:54 pm

This is a trial thread where I will compile information, and with the input from other members, this will become a sticky with 100% correct information

First of all, the best way to identify your Subaru is to have a look at the VIN plate. It is the shiny alluminium plate riveted to a panel inside your engine bay.
It looks like this

Now the what you are looking for is a string of letters that starts with either JF1, JF2 or JF3
After this will be 2 letters, these tell us the chassis code for each model

For the 1980-1984 models normally known as the 'MY Series', 'Leone' or simply '1800'

AB sedan

AF hatch

AM wagon

AT Ute (up till and including 1984)

AU Ute (After 1984

AW coupe

These came with a 1600cc or 1800cc pushrod engine known as the EA71 or EA81 that look like this

Usually identified by the distributor at the front of the engine and a blue "kidney bean" shaped air cleaner.

These were coupled to either a 4sp manual or 3sp auto transmission, both in either FWD or 4WD, with wagons and utes having the option of dual range.

This will get updated regularly with more information on other models

Post by **TOONGA** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 5:59 pm

nice of you to cleverly sneak in a photo of what looks to be a twin carb motor

I would love to own that white hatch or that white coupe

TOONGA

FROG · Post by **FROG** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 6:22 pm

Gannon wrote:First of all, the best way to identify your Subaru is to have a look at the VIN plate. It is the shiny alluminium plate riveted to a panel inside your engine bay.
It looks like this

Most excellent thread Gannon

when ordering parts from Subaru you will be asked to supply VIN number,
the body model code can be helpful in most areas when looking up part numbers but full VIN is preferable (by me anyway

)

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 7:00 pm

The next model to come along was the 1985 - 1994 Leone model that is usually refered to as the L Series

AC Sedan

AG Coupe

AK Touring Wagon

AN Wagon

AX Coupe

The engine used in this series was the EA82 which has a timing belt and over head cams. It came in 4 variations... carburettored, single point fuel injected, (except Australia) mulit point fuel injected and multi point fuel injected turbocharged.

EA82 carby

EA82T turbo

The manual gearbox was also upgraded to 5 speeds and had several variations like single and dual range, FWD and 4WD, and a very rare full time 4WD. The 3sp auto was carried over and a 4sp electronic auto was available to the top spec Vortex and turbo L series models

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 7:26 pm

I cant find any info on the first 1971-1979 Leone's, so if anyone can shed some light on these model codes.

Liberty's up next

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 9:39 pm

HAND UP ! ! The EA71 - did it have the exhaust port poke out the front rather than underneath like the depicted EA81? Saw one the other day at a now closed wreckers yard.

Was there two designations for the Vortex Series 1 and 2 ? The difference in the front bumper?

possible to delete these whenever

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 9:48 pm

Nah it was the EA62 had exhaust ports on the fronts and backs of the head, these were the "true' dual exhaust port EA's and revved its silly tits off

Grab it, it is super rare, and i believe was only 1400cc. But with a little work, the heads will fit an EA81

It even had a super cool exhaust manifold that grouped the correct cylinders for proper scavenging.

This thread is a draught, i'll make a proper one with no posts in between the info and delete the original. Thanks for the heads up on the Vortex (or AX coupe as we can now call it )

guyph_01 · Post by **guyph_01** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 10:25 pm

Cool, very good thinking, I think paul has a pic of a MPFI engine that he has for sale. not the best pic but yeah. Also, i think you need a better pic for the l series touring wagon:) use mine:p hahahaha

Oh and for the gen1 libs, Would you include the low roof wagons that didn't come to WA?

Remember those thread posted by a member of a black wagon with a cool rear spoiler? Would you stay with the AUS delivered cars? as theres so much variables in trim, digi dash, etc etc ohhh and that awesome quad light setup for the EA82 that dobo found:)

But yes definitely use this thread so people can add there extra info and make another with only the details and pics as the sticky:)
Quite a bit of research to be done to include all of that, would be cool tho:)

sublime · Post by **sublime** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 1:06 am

Gannon wrote:Nah it was the EA62 had exhaust ports on the fronts and backs of the head, these were the "true' dual exhaust port EA's and revved its silly tits off

Grab it, it is super rare, and i believe was only 1400cc. But with a little work, the heads will fit an EA81[/I])

Engine could be a EA61(1100cc), EA62(1300cc) or EA63(1400cc). Most likely it is a EA63 as this would be the most popular of the early Subaru engines. Most did not survive due to head gasket issues with the wet sleeve cylinder liners.

EA63 heads can be modified to fit the EA71, I believe this is not possible with the EA81.

The original Leone from 1972 was identified by chassis numbers. The following are model numbers with examples of a chassis number in brackets (These are right hand drive only):

1972 - 73
Coupe GSR - A22S2TR (eg A22-218936)
Coupe GL - A22S2SF (eg A22-218277)
2 Door Sedan - A22A2SF (eg A22-235208 )
4 Door Sedan - A22A4SF (eg A22-226199)
4 Door Station Wagon - A62A4SF (eg A22 - 200822)

Later models like my 1978 4WD Wagon are as follows (The chassis number is now called a Vehicle Identification Number - VIN):

1977 - 81
Station Wagon 4WD (Aust) - A67F4UR (eg A67-011001)
4WD MV (This is the Brumby) - A69A2UR (eg A69-002001)

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 9:19 am

I won't be grabbing it due to space and finance and no need. The old wrecker who is 'just there' at the yard cleaning up for the take over shifting saleable parts to a new retail location likely knows its value especially if I ask about it. Over valued a rat or possum poo infested rusted brakes, oak leaf collection, dud engined 85 FWD Vortex @900 bucks !

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 9:21 am

should also start with the sixties stuff? or at least first into Oz - uglies and they had a ute too !!

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 4:18 pm

Im still working on them, their information is a little harder to come by

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Sat Aug 06, 2011 8:25 pm

TOONGA wrote:nice of you to cleverly sneak in a photo of what looks to be a twin carb motor

I would love to own that white hatch or that white coupe

TOONGA

Looks like single carby to me

discopotato03 · Post by **discopotato03** » Sun Aug 07, 2011 12:51 am

Easy , its generally the only 25 yr old car in the street .

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Sun Aug 07, 2011 8:18 am

discopotato03 wrote:Easy , its generally the only 25 yr old car in the street .

I live in a small rural town and I was only saying to somebody the other day, that that apart from the occasional WB Holden ute or similar vintage Falcon, there are at least 10 L series driving around, 3 MY wagons and easily a dozen Brumby's. But there are no where near as many Nissan, Mazda, Holden or Fords of the same vintage. The only exception is the Toyota Hilux, they are everywhere

Silverbullet · Post by **Silverbullet** » Sun Aug 07, 2011 9:07 am

discopotato03 wrote:Easy , its generally the only 25 yr old car in the street .

Know the feeling, I like pulling up at lights and looking around to see if I've got the oldest car there...usually win

Unless there's some old Corollas or some such. Recently seen alot more MY's and L's around my area though, wonder where they came from.

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Sun Aug 07, 2011 10:55 am

RSR Paul is correct but does not explain why!

Why is twin carbs air filter housings have a wing nut from each carby , so two wing nuts, single carbs have three wing nuts with the central one through to the one carby!!