New Car Options

[noflers]

Decided to keep it a while longer. I know it will be handy driving around the hills of NorCal with the AWD and all.

So I guess I should do this first.

[DRIVEN]

Doing the full kit is wise. Might consider cam and crank seals too while you're there. Or just do them next time you're in there doing headgaskets .

[noflers]

I wasn't planning on it, but it's a good idea and now that you mentioned it I'll pay closer attention to the seals for leaks. I'll replace if they need it, or I'll wait until the head gaskets go again, but the engine is a few hundred miles from 200,000. I'll be extremely lucky if it makes it to the next head gasket as that was done last year.

Have you used that red clearance tool on the subaru EJ engines manual trans? Gates put out a TSB on it, not sure if Subaru themselves ever did. https://www.gatesaustralia.com.au/~/med ... ngines.pdf I hadn't heard about it until recently. And I can confirm Gates kits are now coming with random Chinese bearings.

[DRIVEN]

That's new to me. It makes sense. Our parts guy usually got us the kits with Mitsubishi belts and NSK bearings.

[flatcat19]

Ha! I didn't know​ there was a tool for that.


An old school guy I know would fold a piece of cardboard and use that as his spacer. That trick stuck with me for the next few sets of heads I did.

[noflers]

I've always eyeballed it as best I could. In-car it's a different story since I cant fit my head in there to look straight at it. Never had premature timing component failures... I just thought that was interesting.

[noflers]

So I think I've decided on a 720. 4x4, MT, KC or bust. Based on price, availability, and function. Aiming for an '84+.

Anyone have any ideas about apecifics I should look for when shopping?

Thinking I'll probably keep the Outback for now. Hoping to be moving into an undeveloped

[DRIVEN]

They're pretty tough little trucks. The only things I remember doing to them over the last 20 years is headgaskets and clutches. Everything else was just regular maintenance items like fluids, tuneups and brakes. Whatever you buy, make sure it runs right. I had one with carb issues that I never did get completely sorted. Lost my ass on it because the guy refused to buy another carb (back when you could buy them) and I probably had his apart a dozen times.

[wayno]

There are a lot of 720 4wd trucks out there for sale, some are dirt cheap but are fixer uppers.

[DRIVEN]

Yeah. I always thought it was odd that 720 4X4s are so cheap while same vintage Toyotas cost so much more. I know offroad guys prefer the straight axle front but I think under normal usage the Nissans are just as tough.

[wayno]

I am not really a 4X4 guy, I have had an 85 Toyota 4X4 that I barely used 4wd, as I recall I drove it in 4wd up to the top of the hill once in the snow to fly my hangglider, otherwise I don't recall using 4wd, but I got so many tickets in that truck that I sold it and I quit getting tickets, it was a shiny black ticket getter, and it wasn't even that fast, but the cops loved to stop that truck.
Right now there are only a few 4wd Datsun/Nissan trucks on craigslist in the Portland area, there were more yesterday or the day before, but they are all over the place in price, cheap and expensive ones.
The Datsun/Nissan 4wd trucks are more complicated in the front than the Toyota strait axle types, more things to break, harder to get it really high, most the hard core 4wd guys don't have stock trucks anyway.

[noflers]

I'll be keeping the truck more or less stock. No lifting or lowering to worry about. Besides, independent front suspension is quite alright with me.

I thought I had a good one on the hook until my last question was how many miles on it. 314,000. Normally that would be alright but I need it to make it down to norcal from Portland and back this year... It sure looks nice though.

[noflers]

https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/cto ... 76148.html

Well that's interesting, but I don't want the flat bed or dually.

[DRIVEN]

Pass

[noflers]

Found out that the truck I posted before actually has had the engine replaced at some point. So the motor is unknown and the body has 300,000+ miles. I'm going to look at it tomorrow and bringing a compression tester.&. If I pick it up I'll be looking at all rubber bushings to see if any should be replaced. If there's anything I learned about trucks from my first it's that old worn bushings are even more noticeable than in a car.

[noflers]

Figured I could provide y'all with some entertainment, even if it's not Datsun...

I think the center diff in my Outback is in pieces... I was moving back up to Bellingham and it happened on the freeway in Seattle. Started with torque bind at cruising speed (any speed really). Then it quickly got worse. Like really quickly... From cruising fine to dead in 40 miles. Fuck. State trooper was nice enough to push my car with his down the freeway to a spot where I wouldn't get towed. Solid guy. Then I ran, literally ran, halfway around Seattle looking a a uhaul place with a pickup and trailer
Had to settle for the smallest box truck and trailer.

Anyone ever had to get a car on a trailer using only your hands and cheap ratchet straps? Yeah, that took me a while... Hahaha

So, when I got to Bellingham, I started searching for a donor. But what I came up with instead is even better.









05 Impreza Outback Sport. The damage to that front quarter is the only damage. And it's only superficial. Runs and drives super smooth. ANNND, I paid $900

[Taterhead]

Yes I have gotten a truck (720) on a set of dollies like that. Never again if I can help it.

Then the dolly tire went flat. 2 tireplugs later and it made it the 20 miles I needed. Going flat again as I pulled into the drive.

Good deal on the Subie. My wife’s ‘16 outback has really
solidified my opinion about them

[DRIVEN]

Congrats on the new car. Sorry about the old one.

[noflers]

Well, idk, this was originally supposed to be a donor... But I feel like it's too nice to be a donor, and I like it. Lol

Dang, tater that sounds awful. I actually had to get mine up on a flatbed. Either way, it sucks. Lol

[Laecaon]

My friend has a 07 Impreza wagon, last year of that body style. It has been retardedly reliable. Good score!