Looking at getting an L series

technophile · Post by **technophile** » Sun Apr 22, 2012 9:22 pm

Hi all, have been reading over some of the posts over the last week, but this is me first post. I am currently looking at the possibility of buying a 91 L series. What are the main things to look at when making an inspection. Also the guy also has a gen2 ej22 for sale which I am also considering getting, apparently he has everything required "just" to swap it in. Eg. Adaptor plate, custom h/d clutch, exhaust headers, cut down wiring and ecu, piping, fuel pump etc. will it really be an "easy" swap. Also the ej22 has 210000 on the clock, should it be rebuilt or anything before it goes in. It has a dual range front wheel drive 5 speed gearbox plus a load of other stuff. The ea82 in it ATM has 240000 on the clock and is completely. I intend to get this as my first car and I am looking for you opinions.

Please feel free to ask me any questions regarding the car to help you in giving me an answer.
Thanks

Post by **Alex** » Sun Apr 22, 2012 9:45 pm

How easy the swap is depends on how much mechanical knowledge you have.

I definitely wouldn't really do a swap without abit of experience / willingness to learn.

Otherwise, a lseries is a good car if you do right by it. Bare in mind it's a 20+ year old car.

Sent from my HTC Velocity 4G using Tapatalk 2

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Sun Apr 22, 2012 11:00 pm

Main thing to look for is rust under the windscreen - this is where they typically start to rust first.

Other than that make sure everything functions and that it drives well. Check the usual with the engine and gearbox.

The EJ22 conversion is a tried and tested upgrade, probably best to be done after you've got it on the road and got to know your L series a little more.

Also learn about what's involved in an EJ22 conversion - there's plenty of info about that on here

Cheers

Bennie

guyph_01 · Post by **guyph_01** » Sun Apr 22, 2012 11:59 pm

technophile wrote:It has a dual range front wheel drive 5 speed gearbox

I doubt that very much. Dual range in the liberty was Always AWD

I'm keen to help you have a look at the car / cars if you want and talk to you about it all. I've done about 4 conversions:)

Is the car your talking about that freshly resprayed L series on gumtree? If yes all the parts he is selling for the ej conversion he bought it off my mates car that rolled. Good engine and parts. But he bought it from us much cheaper than what he is asking for....

His did spend quite a bit on his L tho.

Hope it helps.

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 12:09 am

guyph_01 wrote:I doubt that very much. Dual range in the liberty was Always AWD

Ah, it's an L series Guyph!!

Cheers

Bennie

guyph_01 · Post by **guyph_01** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 1:05 am

El_Freddo wrote:Ah, it's an L series Guyph!!

Cheers

Bennie

hummm i thought he was talking about the sellers other car. I that case i'm pretty sure the engine was from Greg's brumby.

technophile · Post by **technophile** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 9:47 am

Ah, it's an L series Guyph!!

Sorry, but what is a L series Guyph (reference to Guyph_01?)? Is that good or Bad.

There is only one car, the L series, the EJ22 and all other required parts are not in a car. they are just individuals parts. the dual range FWD is in the L Series, that is the only transmission.

taza · Post by **taza** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 12:08 pm

I think I know the car your refering too. It's an EJ20 I thought?? Posted on Gumtree..... I know the guy and have seen the car if its the one im thinking. It's $1500 too?

Got a link to it?

If it is the same one that background info on the EJ to go in it is thats it's in 100% good condition. Was out of a T-Boned Forester that had its major 200,000km service done with the timing belt, water pump and had a full service history. The guy is now working away up north and doesn't have time to finish the conversion as when he is back hes busy catching up with friends and family.

If you want to come and have a look at a L-series im happy to show you mine. I got mine for $300 as a sencond car while my Forester is repaired(about $1000 put into it to get it road licenced and running properly). Great little car for a P-Plater if you ask me(I am a P-Plater. lol). As stock it owns offroad as I found out this weekend at two rocks!

Taza

MTB92 · Post by **MTB92** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 12:27 pm

Pretty sure thats not the one taza, his has no adaptor plate or any machined flywheel or any of the small stuff. And the l is not licenced which is why it is so cheap.

taza · Post by **taza** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 12:31 pm

MTB92 wrote:Pretty sure thats not the one taza, his has no adaptor plate or any machined flywheel or any of the small stuff. And the l is not licenced which is why it is so cheap.

Oh ok. Opps

Thats a good buy though the one of Jay-Jay's!

taza · Post by **taza** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 1:14 pm

I found the one your looking at.

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/alexande ... 1001514521

For $6000 with the EJ22 or $4500 without. That is very very steep for a car thats 22 years old. For $6000 you could get a newer Forester or Outback with all the electrics, much more comfortable and the likes.

I sent you a PM too with the one im talking about. Atleast for it at that price you would have money to spare to make it more nicer with new seats or the likes.

technophile · Post by **technophile** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 2:04 pm

What kind of price would be reasonable for the l series and ej22? Also how does the FWD work with 4x4?

Post by **Alex** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 2:14 pm

an already converted l-sereis would be worth $4500 (and it would still be expensive)

the 4wd box works by leaving it in fwd on the road, then you pull the leaver to get 4wd, then another notch up and youll get low-range 4wd

alex

guyph_01 · Post by **guyph_01** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 2:19 pm

technophile wrote:What kind of price would be reasonable for the l series and ej22? Also how does the FWD work with 4x4?

When you lift the 4wd lever the gearbox chnages from Fwd to 4wd hi or lo.

Yeah its steep but he did a lot of work to the car. a lot. Maybe 4500 or 5000 including the ej engine and parts.

Mine, i never added but i'm pretty sure i've spent 7000+ easy with the two ej conversions etc etc.

But yes like teza said, you could buy a much newer, much more comfortable, stronger easier to mod with less strength camber etc crap issues, with less rust like the forester or outback for $6000 easy. I'd buy a forester as its got the better gearbox and would be much better offroad.
If something happens to my L series i'll upgrade to something newer.

MTB92 · Post by **MTB92** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 12:34 am

taza wrote:Oh ok. Opps

Thats a good buy though the one of Jay-Jay's!

yeh, it is. the ej20 engine is in absolutely superb condition. to buy a 2nd hand one and then fix it to the condition his is in would cost nearly all of that on its own. plus a low k's l series, and all the other stuff he had already done to it. the only thing is the time to put it all together.

Alex wrote:an already converted l-sereis would be worth $4500 (and it would still be expensive)

the 4wd box works by leaving it in fwd on the road, then you pull the leaver to get 4wd, then another notch up and youll get low-range 4wd

alex

the only thing is, that one has been done up. all rust removed, complete respray, looks like engine tidied up, sports exhaust, etc. for someone who wanted a car in almost perfect condition it is probably reasonable. for someone looking for a first car to thrash on the beach, grind the gears, hit cars in carparks etc its probably not great.

sven '2' · Post by **sven '2'** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 7:25 am

taza wrote:I found the one your looking at.

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/alexande ... 1001514521

For $6000 with the EJ22 or $4500 without. That is very very steep for a car thats 22 years old. For $6000 you could get a newer Forester or Outback with all the electrics, much more comfortable and the likes.

I sent you a PM too with the one im talking about. Atleast for it at that price you would have money to spare to make it more nicer with new seats or the likes.

Have to agree - looks very very clean though.

Have a drive of the first generation Foresters - they are a very smooth, quiet ride, even with high Kms. And you will have all the goodies as well

Even very good Ls these days are worth no more than a couple of grand. (I paid $12K for mine back in the day!!!)

Post by **Alex** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 7:34 am

It doesn't matter how much money is spent on a car. At the end of the day its still 22 years old and only worth a couple of grand.

'no time wasters or retarded offers'

Lol, what a knob. The most id pay for everything is 3500, as would any other sane human being.

Sent from my HTC Velocity 4G using Tapatalk 2

taza · Post by **taza** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 12:33 pm

Alex wrote:It doesn't matter how much money is spent on a car. At the end of the day its still 22 years old and only worth a couple of grand.

'no time wasters or retarded offers'

Lol, what a knob. The most id pay for everything is 3500, as would any other sane human being.

Very wise words from someone who has been there and done that with 3 engines in his L-Series (Wanky Wagon)

Personally I think I spent way too much on a first car getting the Forester. Its a great car, very capable offroad, easy to mod, economical but $10,500 was too much. If I were to do it again I would definately get another Forester (although I kinda wish i had an L-Series but I'd rather the foz) but probably spend about $7000. For that price now you can get some good ones with only ~200,000km, some even have a full service history which is even better.
In doing the Forester thing though definately go a manual over the auto.

Through 2" lift in it, some all terrain tyres and its good to go most places (within reason). Plus they are 10x safer than an L-Series. They have 4x anti-locking brakes vs the l-series standard 2x front brakes. AWD over FWD with in the wet is sooooooooooo much better, more powerful to begin with and just a nicer car allround.

Just my 2 cents worth

Taza

taza · Post by **taza** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 12:39 pm

Something like this.

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/morley/c ... 1001280644

Or this.

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/south-la ... /358219024

Then just check the usual things like oil leaks, if theres underbody damage from offroading (very important as it may mean its had a hard life), etc..

guyph_01 · Post by **guyph_01** » Mon May 14, 2012 8:05 pm

If your still looking maybe buy this

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/maddingt ... 1002285168