The AUSubaru.com.au Forums

Hi,
I'm new to these forums, and to subarus for that matter...
I'm looking at getting an L series wagon and lifting it to take it off road. But **** me if i haven't read like 1000 different names for these cars. From what I understand:
-there was a model of this car that ran from 1980 till 1984
-this was then replace by another model in 1985 which ran until 1995
and that's about it!
I've read thing like GL, L, GL touring wagon, enduro etc...
what do all these mean???arrggh
and which one would you reccomend to get with the plan of doing it up to take it off road?
thanks in advance
edi
---i should add that i've only driven a 1990 honda civic before and therefore have a terrible knowledge of cars and car terminolgy so answers in laymans terms only please!

Ok

There have been several versions of subaru
It started in 1971 with the 1800 4wd sedan, wagon and coupe. Avaliable in 1400 or 1600 engines


The second model was what we call the MY series.
From 78-84 it was avaliable in wagon, sedan, coupe, hatch and ute (the Brumby)
They ran the carburettored EA71 (1.6lt) or EA81 (1.8lt) which are of OHV (overhead alve) pushrod design. Both engines are basically the same, except the EA71 has a shorter stroke. In 1984 there was a MPFI Turbo EA81 that used the same ECU system as the 85-56 L series Turbo
The brumby and hatch contunued production into the 90's with the EA81 engine


85-94 Came the L series, avaliable in wagon, sedan & coupe (although we never got the coupe in Australia)
It came with a new EA82 OHC (overhead cam) engine which had timing belts to drive the camshafts.
From 85-86 it was avaliable in carburettor or MPFI Turbo, which is refered to as the 3 Plug or Flapper MAF ECU system.
From 87-94 it was avaliable in carburettor or a new MPFI or MPFI Turbo system which is also refered to as the 4 Plug or Hotwire MAF ECU system.


DL is the base model, GL has all the extras (like power windows, central locking ect) and the Touring wagon is the one with the raised roof. The base model sedan is known as the Leone and the Leone Royale is the sedan with all the extras

Hope this helps

thats a good subaru history suparoo. good work.

and also welcome to the forum EDI_vicco

thanks suparoo, thats a huge help!
so what would guys reccomend i get? I'm probably looking at getting the newest GL manual i can find with low k's. sound good?
also, what's the enduro?
thanks

Enduro is an L series wagon with factory AC and some stickers on it much the same as the Ski wagon. When on the look out for an L series thier main point for rust is around the front window and under the trims on the wagon windows. But check all spots.

It started in 1971 with the 1800 4wd sedan, wagon and coupe. Available in 1400 or 1600 engines

So it was called the "1800", but wasn't available with an 1800 cc engine ???

Suby Wan Kenobi wrote:Enduro is an L series wagon with factory AC and some stickers on it much the same as the Ski wagon. When on the look out for an L series thier main point for rust is around the front window and under the trims on the wagon windows. But check all spots.

Other options for Enduro were roof racks, bullbar, and the white sunyrasia wheels. I prefer manual L Series touring wagons - but manual ones can be a tad rare.

Nah manual touring wagons are plentiful and would be my choice as well. They come with everything for comfort

white enduros are the best.......lol

ok, my last question...i promise.
what is dual range? do all L-series have it? do i need it?
thanks

Dual range basically means you have a lever you can pull which changes the overall drive ratio down to a nice low range. So your car moves slower for the same engine revs.
It's what makes the Subaru's so capable offroad. I see in your initial post that you intend on going offroad so this is an absolute must for you

EDI_vicco wrote:ok, my last question...i promise.
what is dual range? do all L-series have it? do i need it?
thanks

If you want to do any good-like off-roading (probably why your lifting) it is good.

Duel range means that effectively you get another gearing above your standard box that gives you lower ratios. This is good for steep hills, deep sand driving and so forth. (I'm not too informed so someone let me know if i'm wrong). I dont think all l's have it, some came in single range with awd and so forth.

Technically, you dont need it. But it would definitely be good.

Suparoo wrote:Ok
The second model was what we call the MY series.
From 78-84 it was avaliable in wagon, sedan, coupe, hatch and ute (the Brumby)
They ran the carburettored EA71 (1.6lt) or EA81 (1.8lt)....

Are you dead set sure of this suparoo (just for my own knowledge)? I had presumed the EA71 engines were used in the 71-78 model you mentioned at the top of you post.

LTurbo wrote:Are you dead set sure of this suparoo (just for my own knowledge)? I had presumed the EA71 engines were used in the 71-78 model you mentioned at the top of you post.

Suparoo is right, MY series from 79 had the EA71. In fact the first Subarus in Aust. to have the EA81 engines were equiped with automatics and that meant sedans only at that stage. When the dual range 4WD wagon came out in 1981 (with Subaru that probably means it was released in late 1980 - without checking I could be wrong!) it was the first wagon to have the EA81. For a while the single range wagon had the EA71 and the dual range the EA81. This was when the MY had round headlights rather than the square ones.

i was just looking in the owners manual for my '90 Brumby (MV) and it lists 2wd in the 1600 5sp manual and auto, and the 1800 4sp dr 4x4....then again it lists the tyres fitted for Norway and Sweden too.....

Not all L series had dual range if there is a button on the gear lever then its single range if there is a second lever then its dual range.

sublime wrote:Suparoo is right, MY series from 79 had the EA71. In fact the first Subarus in Aust. to have the EA81 engines were equiped with automatics and that meant sedans only at that stage. When the dual range 4WD wagon came out in 1981 (with Subaru that probably means it was released in late 1980 - without checking I could be wrong!) it was the first wagon to have the EA81. For a while the single range wagon had the EA71 and the dual range the EA81. This was when the MY had round headlights rather than the square ones.

Cheers for that sublime. Did the early 1970's subaru run the EA71 engine aswell though?

Welcome to the forum! Just a quick thing to point out:

EDI_vicco wrote:ok, my last question...i promise.

No such thing as last question, and besides, we love a good question around here (especially if it starts a constructive debate/discussion), before you know it you'll be answering other peoples questions.

Another good thing to look out for in the subarus is the vinal flooring (not hard to find, any base model has them), piss easy to clean out the mud and stuff after a day out and about.

Suparoo: L series leone's started in '84. My sister has one good work on the history though, two thumbs up.

Cheers

mroberts wrote:So it was called the "1800", but wasn't available with an 1800 cc engine ???

Oops... Yeah i didnt know much about the pre MY subarus. I only guessed that they were known as 1800's.
BTW,.. what do we call em?

We should make up a tech article on this subject so it is here for good

For more info on the fuel injection systems, visit Differences between 3 and 4 plug ecu's

LTurbo wrote:Cheers for that sublime. Did the early 1970's subaru run the EA71 engine aswell though?

OK LTurbo some facts!

Subarus from July 1973, which is when they were offically sold Australia wide as opposed to the pervious efforts, were equiped with EA63 (1400cc) or EA63S (1400cc with twin carb.) Early Subarus such as the 360 micro (there is one on eBay at the moment!) and the FF1 were sold by individual dealers. South Australia was the first state to get the FF1, while the 360 was sold ealier in Ballarat, Victoria.

In January 1976 automatic models came with the larger EA71 (1600cc). In May of the same year all models came with the EA71. There was also a twin carb EA71 sold for a short time but this was dropped due to emissions regulations and because the original EA63s developed a bad reputation for being unreliable. The wet sleeve cylinder design allowed the engine block to stretch causing the head gaskets to blow!

My dates were wrong in the previous post. In November 1979 when the 'new' Leone was released automatics came with the EA81 1800cc engine. By October 1980 all modles came with the EA81.

Cheers