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Pre Vin number decoder.


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Hey everyone, I'm on mobile right now so it's hard to search for previous entries, I've finally gone out to check on that 78 brat in town here. I've got pics I can upload after I get home but I was wondering if anyone can help make sense of an old pre vin number on the brat. A69L 015993.

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Back home...about time, but I got a few good pics of where it sits at the moment. I'm hoping that I can get a great price for it, I'm just out of college as of the 17th, so I'm broke as a joke. We'll see, and I'll keep you all posted. It's been sitting in this spot since around '95, ran when parked. ANY suggestions, truly important things to look for?

Have some pics!
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Looks great for sitting so long.

 

Mice will have left deposits. Check the ducts. Don't be afraid to take the dash out first thing. Then attack the heater unit. You're sure to have acorns or your local rodent fair. Pull the seats out, and get the entire carpet out carefully. There are snap downs , don't just grab and yank.

 

Remove the cowl which is the louvered piece in front of the windshield. Then get all the pine needles etc. out from down inside there. With the carpet and dash out go look for pin holes where the rust is from the debris.

 

Even areas where people don't get much rust that area of the vehicle is notorious.

 

You may need a windshield gasket. Going to be tough but not impossible. We may have to investigate yet another group purchase.

 

I think you should drop the gas tank and treat it accordingly , and blow out / flush any fuel lines.

 

We'll have more to offer. Lots of help here.

 

You appear to have a solid body there. If you scored it for a couple-few hundred you'd always be able to get that back easy. Scrape up some dough and good luck !!!

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Don't be afraid of it sitting so long buy it, don't try to start it before you do some preventative measures. I would drag it on my trailer first stop car wash blow all the grime off you can.Under-hood and under-carriage. Be careful under-hood! take it home pull dash and interior clean clean clean (stooopid mice) Soak the cylinders with Marvel Mystery oil, spark plugs and old oil  that will show you  a lot about the care or lack of.  Brakes and new rubber lines I never cheap out on. This is a nice find if the price is right. If you cant stretch your post college budget then kick it to a fellow Idahoan :D  

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All I have to do is wait to hear back from the guy so I can negotiate the price. It looks like I'll be getting help in the name of a graduation present, which is just... Absolutely incredible.

From what I saw its got really thin metal on the top of the fenders next to the hood on both sides, typical wheel arch rust holes, and is absolutely disgusting with grime and animals... In fact we found 4 kittens less that 2 weeks old in the bed. Already took those home, before the brat finalized, nursing them now. Bonus! Anyone want free kittens? Lol. Set a trap for momma, but no luck :(. If somehow it just doesn't work out I'll post the name numbers and pm the address for anyone interested, but I WANT this beautifully ugly beast. It will give me a great opportunity to take my time and use my auto body college degree for personal enjoyment. I'd not be getting the brat to flip it, but to have it be my trusty best friend... Or worst enemy, given my past experience with used cars.

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I just bought one of those too, not too rust, but rahter stinky.  I paid $200, but it felt like I was paying to haul his scrap away.  Either way I cleaned mine up and it fired on the first try.  Bled the brakes and gav it a light clean and it's still fresh.  Go get it man, just be ready for some work.

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I know this is a loooooong shot, but does anyone have a source on fenders for the first gens? Fender flare kits, or even knowledge on making fiberglass molds for things like fenders? I've seen hood scoops also, where do these come from?

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Remove the fenders and get rid of the foam tape Subaru used. That's what starts the rust in the "thin metal" spots you mention.

 

You can probably fix those fenders well enough. Some still exist but they are hard to find. Try Danny W known here as "drivesubies" , and on eBay as "dannybreadman". He has them new!

 

Good luck !

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69L-002001 to A69L-026000 Std 2 Dr Brat 4x4 4 Speed 4x4 1600cc 1.6l gasoline engine 4 Speed Yup! Just what I thought it was! Thanks ironworkerboomer!

Have you made the deal yet? I am making my pilgrimage to a 1981 Brat on the Montana side of Idaho. I have been trying to buy for the last 6 years or so. The owner tells me every year he is going to make and electric car out of it. :banghead: 

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  • 1 month later...

Sooo, I just got the brat back to a place it can sit for a little bit until we close on this new house. I'm still showering off the rats nests and bird skull/spider web/utter filth....*shudder*.
The gentleman on the left in the orange is the son of the guy who owned it. My dad is on the right.

 

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There is a little bit of rust here and there, in the usual spots, but overall I think she'll be running after the first available weekend I get to work on it with my dad.
Woo!
Be honest, what does everyone think?


~DOOGAN

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Be sure to re-read my post way up top. You most definitely want (need) to lift that cowl out and clean and inspect the firewall down where you're going to pull crap out from.

 

But overall , like I said just above , you really are more lucky than you think. Couple of spots - yes get them ASAP - but just looking at the wheels and engine bay tells me it's mighty solid with very little exception by Rust Zone Standards.

 

Guys out your way might think that rot is horrendous and beyond workable. But we know otherwise.

 

That guys beer gut is a thing of beauty! Lol

I'm going to start doing sit ups and crunches so I don't end up a strong resemblance ! Lol

 

Have fun with your dad! And enjoy! Don't let any dark spots spoil the project. You're going to have a fine Brat when you're done.

Cheers!

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the story of scoring that brat belongs here http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/topic/134459-the-subaru-search-and-rescue-thread/?hl=%2Bsubaru+%2Bsearch+%2Brescue

 

I can smell the rat piss from the photos of the interior from here.  Whats the story with the redneck snow plow set up on the front?  Did it come with the blade?

 

Congrats on an awsome unearthing!

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The Brat was solely used as a snow plow for the gentleman's driveway, Bought in '92, parked in (around) '95.
The plow was to be removed as a part of the sale/trade, so it didn't come with me. :)


I had no idea that search and rescue board was there. :/ new guy syndrome.

Thanks everyone, I can't wait to get rolling on it.


~Doogan

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Very cool find!

 

I have a set of 1976 fender flares.  I'd like to get copies made, but they're just sitting in my friend's basement in Missouri.  They're in okay shape, as they were used on a race car for at least one baja run.  a few chips/cracks, but they could be used to make excellent first-gen copies!

 

I'm now living in Ireland *lived in Spirit Lake, ID for a while*  loved it!

 

I'm refinishing a 78 Coupe here shortly *it arrives this weekend!*  So once I get it roadworthy, I'll start looking into getting the copies made.

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  • 1 month later...

Mostly cleaned up, everything but behind the dash, likely stuck here until winter. :( Now accepting cash donations lol.
 The seats and carpet came out smooth and are now incredibly clean and complete for the age. The seats are worn but not bad, the carpet has 1 hole where the go foot sits. ONLY rust that was found in the interior is under the drivers side seat rail, about 3 inches long, but surface rust only.

~Doogan
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