new subie have problems

[yellowsubie]

Hello the names ben
i just bought a 1989 gl subaru touring wagon and i love it , im going to be mostly doing water crossings and playing in the mud so what mods do you sugguest?

also it has a over heating problem the temo garuge goes right up on a 30min drive , ive flushed the radiater out got a new thermo stat and uses water very quickly it maybe have a leak? but i cant find where it is so can someone help please
thanks ben

[lowace]

G'day Ben I hate to sya this mate but it really sounds like it could have a blown head gasket if you cant see where the leak is and its using water.I know this as its just happened to me.
Stu

[AndrewT]

If you are going to be "mostly doing water crossings" then you've got fundamentally the wrong vehicle. Should have gotten a diesel. With a petrol engine you will be constantly fighting electrical issues, most of which will occur when you are halfway through your crossing.
But if you must use an L series then stock up on heaps of WD40, disable your engine fans, put a tarp over the front, make a snorkle for your air intake, do your best to plug up holes and shield important wiring with silicon etc. Stock up on a few spare motors too for when it will inevitable take a drink and hydrolock!.

(I hate water lol!).

[spike]

i dont mind water actually
an old inner tube over the dizzy does wonders.
wire everything up high
make sure the engine can run on the alternater alone
make a lot of sheilds basically, you picked the best subaru engine for what your doing though, mpfi make a snorkel easier.

head gasket sounds like your problem but i find all ea82's heat up a lot. all that can really be said hahah. lots of stuff on here to do HG and cooling the engine more

[Busdriver]

"mostly doing water crossings" maybe a boat would be a more suitable choice of transport?