Offroading Subarus

Where we modify and drive flat fours

Outback Storage and Sleeping System

Wanting my new Gen3 Outback to be a tourer/camping rig I set out plans to live out the back of the car. I needed enough room to store tools, recovery gear, food, burners, chairs, esky, etc. But I also wanted to fit two people in the back. First thoughts were drawer systems. After much thought that idea became too complicated, wasteful of space and heavy. As I wanted the back seats easily accessible while touring… Read More

November 29th, 2010 by Phizinza
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The Subaru Loyale Camper

Written by N. Stokely One day as I was pulling weeds in a friend’s yard, I happened to notice a seemingly abandoned station wagon sitting on his property. Closer inspection revealed it to be a 1992 Subaru Loyale 4WD. At the time, I was in between cars (mostly on a bicycle) and very short on cash, however, I inquired about that lonely old subie. My friend said it had sat there for about 3 years… Read More

October 12th, 2010 by Phizinza
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Driveshaft (or sometimes known as Axle) removal, re-booting, replacement

*Taken from one of my posts on USMB* Here are some quick simple instructions, a FSM would be much better to follow. Jack up one front side of the car. Take the wheel off and then undo the 36mm axle nut. It’s normally bloody tight on there and needs to be, use a 36mm socket and breaker bar to get it off, you might need to stand on the breaker bar. You can also use… Read More

December 29th, 2009 by Phizinza
Posted in Repairs | Comments Off on Driveshaft (or sometimes known as Axle) removal, re-booting, replacement

Loveday 4×4 Riverland Challenge 2009

This year we raced in May and again in October. Our first race last year we managed a 2nd place in class, last may we got 3rd place in class and this race we got another 3rd place in class! After this race the car was stuffed, it started bending at the firewall like a banana and the windscreen had popped out a bit on two corners. As usual we went through a lot of… Read More

October 30th, 2009 by Phizinza
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Loveday 4×4 Mud Dust & Music 2009

After the race in last October (2008) the car needed some repair. It also needed another engine as the previous engine was used in my road going Leone. We replaced the front struts, put a new engine in, fixed the rear torsion bars (they were sagged). We moved the seat belt mounts to the rear seatbelt mounting position to hold the driver and co-driver down in their seats better. Put some more paint and stickers… Read More

May 4th, 2009 by Phizinza
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Headlight Relay Modification

Because of how Subaru wired their headlights in the 80’s you get between a volt and 1.5v loss at the filament. This is because the power for the headlights must go through the steering column dip switch. Even though the headlights have relays on the positive side they are still powered through that switch on the negative side. I can’t really quite understand why they wired like this, and it gets worse… The principle behind… Read More

April 6th, 2009 by Phizinza
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Subaru Tri-hybrid FT4WD Transmission (centre locking differential)

The idea behind this was the ability of having AWD while not losing the 4WD advantage. Aussie’s won’t know much about the FT4WD gearbox I am talking about and American’s won’t know much about the dual range (D/R) EJ gearbox either. But I will explain everything here. Just so you know, I spent 5 months reseaching this before I bought anything or even pulled apart anything for that matter. The idea spawned from wanting to… Read More

December 29th, 2008 by Phizinza
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Electronic distributor swap for EA63 and EA71 vehicles

Written by Caboobaroo, from USRM I have done a conversion from points or older electronic distributor to a newer electronic distributor for EA71 vehicles. It was very easy to do because the hardest thing to do is the distributor timing. Anyways, you will need 2 parts to do the conversion. First, you will need a distributor from an ’83-newer EA81 vehicle. Second is the coil and bracket to match it since you will be eliminating… Read More

December 28th, 2008 by Phizinza
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83 Subaru Leone 4dr 4WD – CD Player Install

Installing a CD player in an old Subaru isn’t as easy as other cars. Subaru obviously decided to be mindless drones when they made it so the space between the console and heater box as too small to fit a standard depth radio of the time and now cd player. Using the Sedans console piece I made a spacer for the CD player out of wood because it is easy to work with. I then… Read More

November 8th, 2008 by Phizinza
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83 Subaru Leone 4dr 4WD – Radius Rod Mod

As said in my Previous article, Fender Cutting, I installed custom adjustable radius rods. This is to change the horrid negative caster to positive. Here is a picture that try’s to explain why this is a good mod. So now you know why, this is how I done it: I got radius rods from a 81 Toyota Crown which is a Sixth generation. But these being only available in Australian, Japan and some UK areas… Read More

November 8th, 2008 by Phizinza
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83 Subaru Leone 4dr 4WD – Fender Cutting to fit Kumho 27×8.5R14’s

Because I decided to do this project without a lift kit I needed to do a lot of fender cutting. The main reasons for this was to be original, affordable and I can fit the tyres without a lift so why? Luckily because of my custom radius rods the tyres fit in without rubbing the back of the fender wall (where you feet are). Unluckily the wheel sits to far forward now and rubs on… Read More

November 8th, 2008 by Phizinza
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83 Subaru Leone 4dr 4WD – 5 Speed Manual 4WD Conversion

Because the Leone Sedans only came in 2WD here I had to convert it to 4WD. I decided on using the standard 4WD torsion bar out of a EA81 style Wagon because they are a direct bolt in and have more suspension travel then the EA82 style coil over swing arm setup. I also decided on using a 5sp D/R EA82 gearbox because they have better gearing, better low range and a fifth gear for… Read More

November 8th, 2008 by Phizinza
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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… Read More

November 8th, 2008 by Phizinza
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Loveday 4×4 Riverland Challenge 2008

Friday we got there at 3pm, done scrutineering. Friday night we helped some of our competition (81 green wagon called Kermit) change a clutch. Saturday morning we then helped another Subaru driver (driving a red EA81 wagon completely stock) grease up his disty and plug up the grill. Racing started at 11am Started off bad, first heat about 30meters in my brother drove into a large hole… Floated for a bit then sunk 10″.. Engine… Read More

October 30th, 2008 by Phizinza
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