Driving across Australia, What supplies/spare parts ?

^ Agreed ...

An EJ-253 if possible. The head/camshaft/inlet manifold design alone is worth it over the EJ-252 (?) in the series I SG engine.
 
^ And absolutely nothing wrong with that either, Twink.

It sure helped me with my understanding of all these things. Not that I am any kind of expert, but at least I have had that experience to guide me and helps me to learn more.
 
NachaLuva,
Photos of last Simpson X`ing in subaruforester.com if you wish to search. I posted about 15 or 18 months ago a few photos.
Might be able to find a few from the Cape in the archives.
First Simpson was with the QLD Subaru Club in 2004, Cape York in 2008, second Simpson in 2012.
All good.
Need a few mods though and the 1.6 low is excellent.
 
I figure it'll help me diagnose problems when they arise if I have an engine to explore and look at.
 
It won't do you any harm ... :iconwink: :ebiggrin:.

Unfortunately, all modern engines are so intimately controlled by and integrated with electronics at every level, so almost all "engine" problems are difficult or impossible to fix outside of a fully equipped workshop. A Scangauge II is almost obligatory if you are contemplating trying to fix many faults. That also requires the car to be OBD II compliant. The Scangauge I was selectable for OBD I or OBD II, but the version II is only OBD II compliant, and the first version is no longer available.

The good news is that modern engines are also far more reliable than old engines, if maintained reasonably well. And they tend to last far longer. They are built to tolerances that even Rolls Royce could only dream about in the 1960s!

In my youth, it was a commonplace for most engines to need major repairs after about 60,000 to 100,000 kms. Even my brother's Hyundai Elantra has done around 300,000 kms without major repairs. It has had about 3x rebuilds of its air-con and a few other things though. Not bad for a really cheap car IMO.
 
I'll be honest, I really like tinkering, it's a 50/50 that I'll lose some vital part or accidently break something
 
It would, but I want the experience
Click to expand...
If you want an experience do what my old man did. 13 trips across Australia in various VW kombi's. Not many spare parts, just tape, cable ties ect. Not sure how he's still alive. Your car should be able to do it with out a problem, it's just if you have a problem and can't fix it it could be fatal.

The number one thing is knowing your car well and problem solving.
 
^ I agree, Red.

That's why I stressed upthread that Twink should make certain that his car is up to it before he leaves Perth.

There is little if any possibility of fixing anything complicated out in the bush; and almost everything about a modern car is complicated.

That having been said, an SF is far less complicated than any SG. The SF is very similar in most respects to my '93 Impreza. Far more so than it is to any model SG, or later.
 
That's a bit dramatic isn't it? I'll be taking a epirb
 
ateday, we cant hijack this thread but I & I'm sure many others would like to see more vids & pics from you plus hear what mods you've done & more about those trips.

Post you're vids in Video Clips
Photos in Picture Gallery
& I'd love you to post a thread in Trip Reports of your adventures

Twinklz, I can appreciate what you're saying how getting your hands dirty is the best way to learn...it sure is! But if you're able to, I would def go a EJ25 over a EJ22, even if it is bored out to 2.3. Plus there are advantages to a stock EJ25, it will be heaps cheaper, also more reliable unless your builder has specific experience with that engine build, plus things like HGs, etc become a question mark. The EJ25 is a great engine, why not rebuild that for ultimate reliability.

Basically, if it ain't broke, don't fix it :iconwink:
 
Well, if anyone is willing to trade a EJ22 for a ej25 I'm keen to trade but I'm making do with what I have
 
I have to disagree Ratbag. The SF and early SG are very sinilar underneath.
More so than a 21 year old impreza to a SF that is half it's age.
The computers and techbology alone ia much more advanced than an origibal GC8 Impreza. Having owned and stripped down nearly 20 Subaru's in the past 5 years I have a fair idea.

Twinkles, are you building a custom gearbox? If so when and what mods?
Why stroke the EJ22, personally I'd leave it as is because they are so god damn reliable. Plop it in as is.
What are you doing about the computer and tune when you change to the 22?
 
Im keen to swap the ej22 for my spare ej25 plus some cash. Pm me for details if your interested. ..

You said you bought a whole liberty? Im keen on some parts if your going to wreck it.


EDIT: I have a siezed EJ253 you could rebuild if your planning to rebuild one.
 
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Gidday Taza

taza said:
I have to disagree Ratbag. The SF and early SG are very sinilar underneath.
More so than a 21 year old impreza to a SF that is half it's age.
The computers and techbology alone ia much more advanced than an origibal GC8 Impreza. Having owned and stripped down nearly 20 Subaru's in the past 5 years I have a fair idea.
Click to expand...

'93 Impreza to 2014 = 21 years old; '98 Forester to 2014 = 15 years old. That's not exactly half its age ...

All I was saying is that they have far more similarities than differences. Having checked out NL's SF, it is all but identical to my Impreza. Even built on the same floor pan, AFAIK. Main differences are not all that easy to spot ...

However, both had an accelerator cable that was attached to something mechanical; and early version EJ donks; etc. Most of the peripheral gear in both is mechanical, with the ECU controlling the basics of the engine, fuel, combustion, and timing functions and little else. From the SG onwards, the cars are bristling with electronics and sensors that didn't exist in the earlier cars.

Of course they were different, but not as different as the changes from the SF to the SG.
 
I'll be putting a Leone low range and a ej25 5th in, with reinforced gears and heavy duty clutch
 
Yeah aftermarket lsd and complete rebuild underneath
 
If the engine is reliable and not blowing smoke or doing anything bad, id stick with it till after the trip as it is a proven motor and known to be reliable.


Anywho, im the other guy going along on this trip! Just bought my 2002 Outback limited yesterday from a fella in Sydney (picking it up in 2 weeks, road trip back to WA! :D) which will be the vehicle used in this trip.
The main trek through the outback is through "The Outback Way" from Uluru to laverton WA. There are other smaller treks but thats the longest stretch.

I will be removing the rear seats and building a false floor with sections, maybe drawers, something that wont interfere with the spare wheel well while still maintaining usable space. I have 2x 20l water jerry cans which i intend on putting inside the car below the false floor behind the front seats. I also have 4x steel fuel cans, the roof rack im putting on is coming off my Falcon (which im selling!) which is done up for touring (has 2 jerry can holders already). Not sure how many fuel cans to take but i can fit four up there easy, spare tyres also probably going up there, depends what i fit inside the car. Do wanna keep the bulk of the weight down low.

I like to travel as light at possible, having gone across the nullabor several times and have done a trip to the Alice from Sydney via everywhere else a few years ago, havent had any issues with not having anything i needed nor any car trouble haha. Do keep a box with cable ties, tape, gaffa tape, rope, ratchet tie downs, 4wd recovery kit, hand light and such things.

Roof rack, bash plate, UHF and lights will be installed soon after i pickup the car, bullbar, upgraded shocks (i aim for Koni's) wearing King springs and a 30mm strut lift will be on the cards and the false floor rear sectioning thing. Apart from that, tyres and a service incl full checkover! Will be doing other minor bits n bobs but thats the jist of it. We will probably pool money for a SPOT beacon.

Simple thing driving through the outback, the planning is so time consuming haha.


Are HF radios any good? Do we need one?
 
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