Description

Subaru E10, E12 1987 Repair Manual

If you are working on a 1987 Subaru E10 or E12, do not reach for some generic Chilton or Haynes book. Those reprints skip the changes that matter. This is the Subaru E10, E12 1987 Repair Manual straight out of Fuji Heavy Industries – 230 pages of actual factory documentation. I have torqued enough head bolts to know: one wrong spec costs you a comeback. This supplement covers exactly what changed between the 1984 base manual and the 1987 model-year E-series. You get the genuine OEM torque values, not someone’s educated guess.

1987 E-Series Specifications

Page 3 of this manual is the specifications section – labeled SPEZIFIKATIONEN in the German original, but the data is unit-agnostic. It lists curb weight, overall length, wheelbase, engine bore and stroke, compression ratio, idle speed, spark plug type, and battery rating. For the E10 and E12, you get separate columns for two-wheel drive, four-wheel drive, and body variants (DX, SDX, Grande, Minibus). That level of granularity matters when you are ordering a starter for a JDM-market van or checking if your transmission matches the spec sheet. Every number comes from the factory, not a third-party compilation.

Does This Manual Cover Engine Rebuilding?

Yes, the 1987 supplement includes the full engine mechanical procedures – disassembly, inspection, reassembly. Because the manual is a supplement to the 1984 base manual (Pub.-Nr. G601GGA), it only documents the changes for the 1987 model year. If you need the basic block teardown steps, you still need the 1984 book. But the 1987 supplement gives you the updated piston ring gap, valve clearance specs, and torque sequence for the head bolts specific to the E-series. Without these updates, you will guess the angle-tighten step and risk a blown head gasket. The supplement also covers the new carburetor and ignition timing adjustments for the 1987 emissions package.

3 Reasons to Trust OEM Documentation Over Aftermarket

First, the wiring diagrams in this manual are specific to the E10/E12 chassis harness – not a generic Subaru diagram that leaves out the rear heater circuit or the optional A/C relay. Second, the torque values are the ones used on the assembly line, not converted from metric to inch-pounds by an editor who forgot to carry the decimal. Third, the troubleshooting trees follow the original Fuji logic. If the engine cranks but won’t start, the manual walks you through the fuel-cut relay, the ignition module ground, and the crank angle sensor in the correct order. Aftermarket books often skip the step that says “check the engine ground strap” because it does not appear in their condensed version. That strap costs you a day of diagnostics.

Get the Right Torque Data for Your E10 or E12

Look in the specifications section – page 3 gives you the overall vehicle data, but the torque values are scattered through the engine and transmission chapters. The manual spells out each fastener’s tightening sequence: cylinder head bolts in three stages, main bearing cap bolts with an angle gauge, and flywheel bolts with a dry torque spec. Do not use a generic Subaru EA-series torque chart – the E-series has a different block casting and different thread pitches. I have seen what happens when someone uses 52 ft-lb on a rod cap that should be 36 ft-lb plus 90 degrees. It is not pretty. This manual gives you the exact number, and it is the same number the dealer techs used in 1987.

Specifications Section: What You’ll Find on Page 3

Page 3 is the master spec table. It includes curb weight (empty and GVWR), number of seats, engine type (OHV, 4-cylinder), bore x stroke in mm, displacement in cc, compression ratio, firing order, ignition timing at idle (degrees BTDC at rpm), idle speed in neutral, spark plug make and model, maximum power and torque in PS and Nm, battery capacity, alternator output, clutch type, and transmission gear ratios. If you need to verify that your E12 is supposed to have a 3.70 final drive or a 4.11, it is right there. The table also splits between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive, so you can confirm which differential you have before you order bearings.

FAQ

Can I use this manual for a 1986 Subaru E10?

No. This is a 1987 supplement. It only covers changes from the 1984 base manual that apply to the 1987 model year. For 1986, you need the 1984 manual with the 1986 supplement.

Does the manual include wiring diagrams for the fuel injection system?

The 1987 E-series uses a carburetor, not EFI. There are wiring diagrams for the ignition system, charging circuit, and optional A/C. No fuel injection schematics because the vehicle did not have them. If you need carburetor adjustment specs, page 3 lists idle speed and timing.

Aftermarket manuals will sell you a reprint of a reprint with faded scan quality and wrong page numbers. This Subaru E10, E12 1987 Repair Manual has been scanned from an original factory binder – you get every page, every footnote, every torque chart. For other Subaru body repair manuals, check out the Subaru BRZ Body Repair Manual Introduction Pages or the Subaru Impreza Body Repair Manual. The Subaru BRZ Body Repair Manual Section Index also covers collision repair specifics. For general automotive repair industry information, see Automotive Industry Overview and Automotive Industry Overview. Access the Factory Manual and stop chasing ghosts in aftermarket books.