Been busy (with two more Subarus!)

[Mike621]

Although some of you already know the story, here are some of my recent car hi jinx.



Around the same time my semester was finishing in May, I parted ways with my 2007 Legacy SE. After seeing several scrapes appear on the car, and cringing to find people parallel parked on top of my bumper, I began to wonder if a brand new car was a good idea for the city. With the opening of All We'll Drive mostly under way, I sold the car in favor for something a bit easier on the wallet.

After looking into a couple non-Subaru alternatives, I recalled hearing that my friend Brian ("Excall"- a member on this board) was leaving for the air force, and that his pearl white 1992 SVX needed to go. After speaking with Brian briefly on the phone, I stopped by his home, and we agreed on a price, and I was off to the motor vehicle office to register the car.

This particular SVX had been sitting for quite some time, but Brian had already jumped it and it was running when Tom and I arrived. Brian had expressed to me that the car had some stalling issues and was in need of rear bearings. In addition to the mechanical needs, the paint on the front bumper was flaking badly and there were various dings and dents from encounters with other doors and shopping carts.

I drove the car back to the shop, after cleaning off some of the windshield so that I would be able to see. There was a film of green slime and dirt on the exterior which I almost immediately began cleaning off.

The car after the cleaning had started:



To date, we have completed several repairs and some desperately needed maintenance on the car.
-Change Oil, ATF, Diff Fluids
-Replace Radiator (old one stress cracked)
-Replace RF Ball Joint
-Replace L&R Rear Wheel Bearings
-Replace Battery
-Replace Transfer Clutches (AWD was non-functional when I purchased the car)
-Installed MB Quart Crossovers because the (aftermarket) Clarion tweeters would not function properly without them.

[Mike621]

-Re-wired tweeters and door speakers

I also replaced the front brakes with cross-drilled/slotted rotors and newer pads and calipers, but I think I may have to go with a set of rebuilt calipers as these are still sticking badly.

I ordered an OEM front end mask to cover up the paint damage as a temporary solution, as the mechanical condition of the car needs to be improved before I can think of performing body work on this car.

In a time constrained afternoon, I hastily refinished one of the many sets of stock wheels in a rushed attempt to have something nicer to put my brand new Toyo Proxes4's on this afternoon.

Today, unwashed...


Although I have gotten a somewhat significant amount of work completed on this particular Pearly, there are some other tasks which are looming in my near future.
-Replacement of Front Seals and VC Gaskets, spark plugs, etc
-Replace LF O2 Sensor
-Replace Coolant Temp Sensor
-Replace Timing Belt, Water Pump, Idlers, etc
-Replace RF CV Axle (torn boot, now starting to make noise)
-Replace RF Tie Rod End
-Have wheel alignment completed
-Rebuild F&R Hood Struts w SPD Components

With all this maintenance on my mind, I also in the midst of things, picked up a 1992 Legacy wagon with just over 68000 miles! I picked it up with what was described as an engine noise, turns out it was a timing belt idler pulley!

After fixing the issue, the car ran quite well, even though it had been sitting for about a year or so. I did change all of the fluids when I purchased the car. On a brief test drive, Eric and I experienced violent shaking in the car at highway speed. When I put the car up on the lift, I noted that both ball joints were EXTREMELY worn. After replacing the ball joints and putting on some fresher tires, the car rode great! I was given an Aiwa CD player by a friend, which we promptly installed to replace the aging stock cassette unit. I also have one pair of Boston Acoustic 6.5s on the way as well.





In the brief time I have owned the car, Jon and I have been using it as a secondary vehicle, and have accrued nearly 2,000 miles of usage already, and it has not leaked a drop of oil!


That all being said, I am VERY happy with my 2 new Subaru's.

[mysvxrocks]

The cars look good! Nice work on the Pearlie. And I love that wagon, lol. What a beast.

[Mike621]

Thank you! The Pearly still needs much improvement.

I'm just glad I had purchased those wheels on a whim, just a few days before I got that wagon!

[redlightningsvx]

Can't you do the POWER mode mod in the wagon? That would be sweet........

[Mike621]

Actually, I'm sure its possible, but I don't really need it for city driving.