just bought a 91 legacy wagon

[saturn]

anything I should know about a 91 legacy wagon... being an older subaru

it has 225,000 miles - original owner

runs strong but the obvious issues -- shifter bushings, struts, exhaust, brakes, spark plugs and wires...

could use some new belts as well

tires are nearing death and one of the wheels is a little bent

but aside from that it runs strong and has the original clutch!!! (it's a 5 speed)

any tips are appreciated :)

actual photo the owner posted to craigslist:

http://images.craigslist.org/010107010209010406200808091c653c2ee79b44cf7d007c0f.jpg

[Bdubs]

What a good find. I have a 91, and I love it.
I recommend visiting http://bbs.legacycentral.org . They are 1st Gen. Legacy specific. There are sooooo many threads on replacing just about everything on your car.

[Reason]

I recommend you stick around because we love the 1st gens just as much. :wink:

Tips, give it a basic tune up and figure out what you want out of the car.

[saturn]

basically I bought it so my wife has something to drive

we're giving her 2003 to her mom since she got caught up in the variable home loan problem... the bank is taking her stuff (including her car)... so we'll continue to pay off the 2003 but the mom is going to drive it so she has something safe...

lauren (my wife) loves older cars (especially subarus) so this one is a good deal... 5 speed wagon, basically the same as the 03 except lighter and a little smaller with less extra stuff.

I'm hoping we can drive it until it falls apart :) I'll probably be fixing the rust on it (I can weld / fabricate) and if the engine goes, turbo LGT swap.

lauren's brother (my brother in law) runs a VW repair shop so he had a few 5x100 wheels sitting around. we're throwing these on to replace the bent up steelies it currently has...

http://www.cmgestore.com/VW08/Elements/d6Q00711492.JPG

sort of like BBS wheels...!

[Reason]

Those are nice rims, post up pics when you get them on?

[saturn]

sure thing

[Huffer]

Nice of you guys to help out Mom...

Has she not had any luck refinancing into a fixed rate mortgage?

[4n70n1n0]

you guys related ?

[Huffer]

Nope, why?

[4n70n1n0]

Nice of you guys to help out Mom...

Has she not had any luck refinancing into a fixed rate mortgage?

Since you referred to his mom-in-law as MOM

I thought you were related

[Huffer]

Ah.. no we're not related. I just thought it was nice he was helping out his mum.

[saturn]

doing spark plugs and wires and air filter on the car tonight, oil change tomorrow... it has a brand new subaru OEM timing belt in the back!

anyone know if Impreza struts are compatible with the older Legacies? I figured I might be able to find some used WRX struts/springs cheap and they'll be a little more stiff/durable than cheap replacement ones from autozone...

[saturn]

changed spark plugs, wires, and air filter. cleaned things up a bit. car runs better but it still has a weird idle -- it'll dip down, jump up, then go back to a normal idle -- know what I mean? any idea what this could be?

[Huffer]

Improve the grounding and clean the idle air control valve...

[saturn]

yeah I figured that but I can't find the IACV, where is it on the 2.2L?

[jey]

If it's like my old 2.2L it's a stepper motor that sits on the intake manifold.

Edit: Just found a picture in a different thread:
http://www.sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?t=10631&highlight=

[saturn]

I found the IACV but I don't see any adjustments on it... I took it completely apart and cleaned it with carb cleaner... still idles weird.

I do have a hole in my exhaust... could that be the problem? I'll probably get it fixed tomorrow...

[saturn]

I'm thinking it might be the O2 sensor (the front one)

is there a way to test it? I don't have a check engine light... and it's a 91 so it's pre-ODB2