83 Subaru Leone 4dr 4WD – The idea
This is the first page in collection of pages about my 83 Subaru Sedan. This page describes the plan before I got it and I’ll show you a picture of when I got it.
The idea was to use a EA81 style Coupe body and the 4WD gear from a Wagon. But when time came to buy this new Subaru it came clear that finding a Coupe in good condition for cheap wasn’t going to happen. However I found a great little 2WD Sedan at a place in South Australia here called Subareck. For $250(AUD) I got the body without engine or gearbox. I also grabbed a 4WD rear torsion bar while I was there.
So the plan was set out:
Use EA81 Dual Carburetor engine from my old Brumby.
A EA82 5sp D/R from a mates car, using the diff and synchros from a jap import crash test S/R 5sp I bought a while ago.
4WD Wagon Torsion bar and 4WD fuel tank to gain 4WD in the 2WD Sedan.
3.9 ratio welded rear diff from a previous project to match gearbox.
27×8.5R14 Kumho Venture M/T’s.
Cut fenders to fit 27″ M/T tyres with no lift kit.
Use longer radius rods to adjust castor angle and make fitting front tyres easier.
Run my old EA81dc y-pipe into 2.5″ exhaust with 1 muffler at the back.
Pioneer CD player and UHF radio.
Rola Roof Racks from my old Subaru Liberty.
This is what my new Subaru looked like at the wreckers waiting for me to take it home
Next Page – 4WD 5sp Conversion
I bought my first Subaru back in 2005, it was a 89 Brumby, flair red. I lifted it, fitted Kumho 27″ MT’s. After a while I swapped the dual carb EA81 it had with an EJ22 bolted on a custom gearbox which used EJ D/R casing, EA82 5sp low range and an RX centre locking diff. Once I sold the Brumby I got a 83 Leone. Converted it to 4WD, put the Kumho’s on it, added a 5sp and drove it like I stole it. I then upgraded to a 99 Outback. It was hail damaged so I repaired it myself. I fitted it out with some storage and a mattress. I now have a 87 Brumby that I’ve resprayed with two pack urethane in Waratah Red. I am planning to fit an EJ with PT gearbox and a little bit of lift. It’s another project in progress.
Phizinza – who has written 50 posts on Offroading Subarus.