Perkul8r's Postal Wagon

[Perkul8r]

Figured I would start a thread now that I am starting to do some work on it. This will be a long long rebuild, but I will update when I have new stuff.

Anyway, a while ago I picked up a 1996 Legacy Postal Wagon. I have been wanting one for as long as I can remember, and I didn't wanna pass this one up. I knew the thing needed a ton of work, its been in my area for years and we dont have the nicest roads or drivers. I checked the car out, and still wanted it but feared they would think it was worth gold cause it was a rhd car. I couldn't believe it when the guy told me just to match scrap price, which in our area is like $35 a ton, but I gave him what I had, $125 lol.

I knew the motor was bad, hence why it was at the repair shop, but wasn't sure of how bad. Upon startup it was very clear it was rod bearings. I needed to get it home, so threw a demo plate on it, and drove it home. Knocking engine, slipping trans, and smoke galore.

It made it home, barely, but it did.

My plans so far are:

Manual trans swap, replace motor, unsure which route I will be going, but it will be a turbo motor. And redo interior exterior as time and budget allows.

Here's some pics I have of it currently.

[Perkul8r]

Short vid of what the motor sounds like after the drive home. Supposedly the guy driving it on his mail route hit the oil filter on something and ran it low on oil. The guy attempted to put a new filter and oil in it, but the damage was already done.

[Perkul8r]

I know the rhd cars have some differences than the lhd cars. The first one I ran into is the pedal assembly when wanting to go to a manual trans. After searching, and than getting help on the facebook page, I ended up ordering a set of GC8 RHD pedals from a place in Australia. I got them in just over a week. The install went smooth. I literally, unbolted all the auto trans pedal assembly, than just bolted the manual trans assembly in its place.

I still need to get a master cylinder for the clutch, but am in the works on getting that.

[Alphius]

Sweet! It's long been a daydream of mine to do a similar build with a RHD wagon. It'll be cool to see the swap take place here.

[Perkul8r]

It will be a unique car where I live for sure. It will just be a long build. Just moved, trying to get a house and what not, so only spending very little on needed or hard to find items for the car right now.

Luckily though, the salvage yard near me has a ton of 95-99 wagons so more common parts will be readily available.

[Perkul8r]

Got another needed item for the project. Legacy SS turbo cross member.

Was hoping to pick up a rhd master cylinder for the clutch from a member on here today, but moving last weekend took a toll on my wallet.. Hopefully I will still be able to get that this week.

[Perkul8r]

Got my clutch master cylinder today. Was finally able to buy it. lol.

Now just gotta get trans/motor figured out and maybe I can get into a driver.

[Reuben]

Let me know any bits you need for RHD, I'm happy to help.
Cool wee project anyway, go the RHD!

[Perkul8r]

Let me know any bits you need for RHD, I'm happy to help.
Cool wee project anyway, go the RHD!

Thanks man. I know I will need alot of parts once it comes time for the interior. Have been searching for a some wiring right now. Was hoping to find a front clip but thats been a no go lately.

[Perkul8r]

Little update. sadly after moving for work, and than having to move again, I had to sell this car. I just couldn't keep hauling it around while working. I ended up selling it to a guy that works for the post office, and he is gonna put a motor in it and use it for work.

So a little time goes by and I started looking for another Subaru. Wasn't looking for another postal wagon, figured I would never find one around here. Well as I was cruising the local classifieds last sunday i came across a Postal wagon near me. Went to check it out and see what was up with it. Car ran and drove, but needs more body work than the last one. But it ran so that was a plus. Got a good deal on it and I took it home.

After a quick cleanup...and I mean quick. I can see it needs quite a bit of body work. No rust though. And it at least had the passenger seat. So I can drive it and work on it little by little.

I still have my pedal set and engine crossmember so those will be going into this car at the right time.

[r3v_v3ng3]

I don't know what it is but thats how filthy my rhd wagon was also. Your first one is about the equivalent of dust/dirt on mine. Which I ended up tearing it down just to wipe as much dirt/dust off the car.

[Perkul8r]

This one I think is worse than my first one. In the pics I've already wiped it down and vacuumed it. I couldn't stand even getting in the car with how much dirt there was on the inside.

This one will probably get interior completely taken out and cleaned from there.

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[Perkul8r]

Wow...so after a couple things went south with work I had to sell this car. I never thought I would see it again. So about 2 weeks ago I threw up a wtb ad locally and had a guy message me. Surprisingly it was the guy I sold the car to. The guy was having some issues with the car and just wanted it gone.

Went and checked out the car and it was about the same as when I had it, but the interior has really gone down hill. He was using it for mail delivery so it happens.

When I checked the car out, the guy had stated that it would randomly stall and ran like poo. And he wasn't joking. Wouldn't even make it around the block at his place. I did buy it and had it towed over to my Sis-in-laws place on Saturday. I had looked at the car two weeks previous so in that time I researched the issues it was having. Without having the car around I was kinda shooting in the dark, but from what I read the MAF has issues on this car. Luckily the salvage yard had a nice 96 that I was able to pull some parts off of.

So after replacing the MAF and the IACV the car runs much better. Every now and than it still has a sudden stutter, but it only lasts a second and clears right up. Its not throwing any check engine codes right now so not 100% on what it could be.

Overall I am happy to have it back. It needs a bit more work now than when I had it, but eh...these are non existent around my area so gotta work with what I can. And I cant wait to start getting it more of a daily driver again.