The AUSubaru.com.au Forums

G’day all,

Newbie to Subaru and just bought an 89 Touring Wagon. Have to say that this is a great site. I’ve gone through and read a lot of threads on this forum and found some very helpful stuff…but I’ve got heaps of questions. I’ll thank you guys in advance for any info…there’s gonna be a lot of q’s.

First up I just need some recommendations on parts suppliers in and around Bris for general stuff. I don’t have any contacts here (only been here a year and haven’t needed a car till now) I know there’s Scorpion, Sunspares and your usual Repco/Bursons type places. Just wondering if there are any other places that have a good range of Subaru stuff (can never have too many quotes/prices I reckon. Also any Wreckers that you guys have had good dealings with.

First thing I have to do is get some rust fixed. Most is surface but there’s some serious looking stuff at the corners of the windscreen that I need repaired (letting water in too.) You guys know anyone that can do that without a kilo of bog? Also need some new gas struts for the tailgate or a re-gas on my ones…the pivot points on the hinges are worn. Do the re-gas guys have parts? Oh and a drivers seatbelt…mine’s frayed.

After that I want to sort my suspension out. Does anyone do a full bush kit? I’m not a big fan of using urethane throughout but have been reading that they do kits with different stiffness bushes depending on where they are to be used on the car. Have you guys found urethane too stiff? I should say that I want to set this thing up for travel and good handling. Not so much heavy 4wding, although I do want some clearance…need a compromise I guess. Thinking KYB shocks and King Springs (standard) as a lot of you guys use them. A 2” lift kit, just don’t know about tyre size…don’t think I need 27’s so wondering if you guys have experience with 25” or equivalent. Basically I want this car to handle as well as possible on dirt without rattling to pieces.

So that’s it for now but I just have another question regarding engine conversions. I see the EJ22 is very popular and am leaning that way but I’m wondering what the story is with the NA EJ20 listed in the workshop manual section. It lists it as having 140kw and is DOHC 16v. Just wondering why there’s not much talk/use of this engine. Is it a torque issue or are they hard to find. Don’t know anything about them but figure that’s heaps of power and slightly smaller cap + 16v should give better fuel economy…could be way off though.

Again thanks in advance for any info,

Cheers
Al

For new parts on the southside you could also contact John French on Balaclava St at the Gabba.
Bi-Rite wreakers in Tingalpa used to have a heap of older Subaru stuff, not too sure now.

Welcome to the forum Al

Rust around the screen is normal you will have to take the screen out to do it right there will be more then than you think:( but it can be fixed. I don't know anybody that will do it but someone will put there hand up if you ask nicely;)

I had an l-wagon had king springs on it with standard shocks it had a good ride and handle great

It had 27" tyres but there is nothing wrong with 25"

Parts Boxer services know there stuff there at Brendale i get a lot of stuff from wreckers always L's there and try the wanted section on this forum there is plenty of members who have lots of parts at home.

Ej20 engines are fine but there are plenty of ej22's around most use ej22's that have been taken out of turbo conversion cars.

Come down to one of our meetings and have a chat with some members who have done all that work http://www.subaclub.com

Hope it helps

Jan

Boss Wrecking in Tingalpa does it for me. Have to appreciate a wrecking yard that you can still walk into and pull stuff off. They have quite a few L's (sadly no Touring Wagons at the moment)

Welcome to the forum mate

i,m in ipswich and do paint and panel work from home for some extra $$...

Thanks for your feedback everyone. Will check all those places out for sure. I'm used to wreckers where you can take stuff yourself so i'm happy to hear theres a place in Bris thats like that.

I'll come down to the Qld car club, thanks for the heads up Jan.

Chubby37, I'll send you a pm.

Cheers

Just like to give a general Gday and welcome to the forum!

Clean rust
2" body lift
kyb shocks/kings springs
25" wheels (sunnies?)
Ej22 (possibly?)
All that will do very nicely for a tourer.

Ps: Pics and a 'my rides' thread on your car

dont forget you can post in the wanted section for parts as well,or just keep an eye on the forsale section,someone might have what your looking for

cheers leon aka subarute

Thanks Bumpty,

I hope the old grandpa-mobile turns out alright. Will do a thread once things get going. Looks pretty sorry for itself at the moment so looking forward to livening up the old bugger.

As for wheels... I see theres 3 options and only one of them has the correct offset being the Scorpion ones...pricey though. I realise that people from Scorpion are probably members on here so I'll just ask if theres a reason for the pricing...esp on the lift kits which look great btw but big price diff...any particular reason?...materials?

they will tell you there kits are approved,and you may look at it as you a buying a quality brand name product,loke nike,reebok,ect ect

With the sort of tyre you want you shoud not have a problem with the tyre sticking out of the guard at.

Standard sunnies will be fine.

Jan

You could also go the Pug rims, but they are ugly. Check out my L Series for a pic of an L with Pug rims, and 195/14 tyres. They stick out of the guards just a bit.